Boat Sales

To look and get some ideas of what is around and what it might cost try Walton Marina, Shepperton Marina at Shepperton Lock and also at below Walton Bridge opposite Walton Marina, Thames Ditton Marina. That way you can wander over some boats, not necessarily buy, and compare style, quality, comfort, accommodation and prices. Engine fuel options will vary prices on otherwise identical boats, with diesel being the safer, more economical option but costing more to buy.

Then, try the Boats for sale here, and elsewhere on the internet (Google). Good luck.
 
Now on the Petrol vs Diesel argument, I have to say that IMHO a small Petrol boat is not an issue, as long as you take a few logical precautions.

These would include a bilge blower, a good working LPG alarm and a well maintained fuel system.

You could then run a 25 footer at only half a gallon an hour at River speeds, and enjoy a lot more performance than the tiny Diesels should you want to go Tidal!

As the nice man said, they cost less too, but also the engines are cheaper to maintain, as the ignition or carbs cost less to replace or maintain than the DPA systems on old Diesels. We're talking old Ford Cortina technology here, either way, but the Petrols were popular then, and still are in these old vessels.

See Thames Boat sales website, very nice honest people and a good range of stuff to tempt you... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
like my good friend no regrets have owned both petrol and diesel. The old watermota was great and fuel efficient in terms of MPG but before the cost of diesel rocketed actually costly. Carrying petrol cans on board and worrying about where i could fins a garage in walking distance....not fond memories more a pain in the but. Love the new nanni diesel and love filling up on the river without hassle. Still carry petrol for the outboard and generator but less than before.

if first boat, buy single engine imho for cost effectiveness, pref diesel and whatever the budget 12k or 300k it will be the best thing you ever did again in imho and this lotg on here aint so bad either..enjoy
 
MDL at Bray Marina now sell Petrol riverside too!

I also remember the cans.... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
I remember our first trip up to Abingdon and being so low on fuel i was convinced Tristan had turned into an air fueled hybrid before hybrids lol. The guy at I think they are called Red something or other just down from the hire boat place stayed open for an extra 20 mins waiting for us to arrive, the drink I gave him was well earned. SWMBO was not amused at my lack of planning lol.

O the days of the petrol fueled water-mota that after over 40 years service idiot here blew to bits for the lack of turning on the raw water cooling stop cock pmsl....still finally the lady is getting her new kitchen which obviously came 2nd to the new engine :-)
 
"Now on the Petrol vs Diesel argument"
If you are looking at a small starter boat and your budget only runs to boats costing a couple thousand or mebbe even a few hundred pounds , a single smallish petrol engine may be your only option,many of us started out via this route.
The thing to really avoid would be the larger 33ft plus petrol powered stuff which you will see advertised at very attractive prices and would appear to be an absolute bargain compared to their diesel alternatives.
Usually a couple of 3.5 litre 4 cylinder Volvo petrols lurking in the engine room but in some cases even a pair of V6 engines, with a pair of expensive to maintain outdrives quietly corroding away on the back..
Although safety would not be my main concern,old petrols are just so ....£$%&£ unreliable, as you may find out having the thing stall on you just before some urgent manoeuvre going into into a lock /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I have recently bought a boat from Adam Straw at Boatsales247 based at windsor racecourse marina, he was very useful informative and would happily recommend talking to him.

if you google boatsales247 you should find him.

All the best, simon
 
[ QUOTE ]

Usually a couple of 3.5 litre 4 cylinder Volvo petrols lurking in the engine room


[/ QUOTE ]

Or worse still, a pair of 3.5 litre 3 cylinder Volvo petrols.... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

We saw an otherwise lovely Fairline sunbridge with a pair of 5.0 litre V8's tucked under the floor...

Now can you imagine the cost of a Sunday morning trip to Cookham and back. 4 hours at 2 gph each...

16 Gallons, say Eighty quid....... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Mind you, it was cheap, no doubt about that, and at £10K less than a Diesel, there's a lot of sixty quids in £10K....

160 days later, you'll be at break even. Thats Five or ten years for some people!
 
So how good on fuel d'ya reckon a Princess 32 with a 130 hp petrol engine will be? Anyone owned one?

Looking for a good diesel is tricky. Or maybe i'm not looking in the right places.
 
That'll be a marinised Volvo 240 GL car engine, possibly a twin carb version, so reckon around a gallon an hour on the River, perhaps a tad more, depending on the bottom, and the state of tune.

If you get a twin carb model, it's easy to buy a 240 DL manifold and carb from a breakers, get it serviced (Service kit around £40 plus an hour or two to clean and fettle) and fitted, which will make it run sweeter and use less fuel, although a drop in power will be noticed once tidal, say 20bhp loss.

The engine is a good one though, and assuming the dissie cap, rotor arm and leads etc are replaced, a doddle to service too.
 
Sounds fairly cheap to maintain myself then. Going looking around at some in the flesh again soon so will be interesting.

Have loads of ideas for what type of boat to buy. Starting with the smallest -

Fairline Holiday 23 Mk III. Reason being that I can tow it myself and dump it where ever I like for the summer months.

Seamaster 813. quite a few diesel examples out there to be had which speaks for itself. Plus the lack of a hardtop unlike the Birchwood has, makes it easier to lob ropes up when locking. Could single handedly cope with that.

Birchwood Countess. Just like the look of it for some reason. Don't shoot me for it please!

Fairline Mirage 29. Ok just give me one with a single engine and my wallet may just cope. Good size and ideal layout for me.

Princess 32. Ok ok, i've found some friends and could use the space that this boat has. Plenty of em out there, but as i've said it must have one engine really. Two outdrives would cause me lack of sleep.

Has got to be good for the river and further afield though, so any thoughts will be gratefully received.
 
Are you getting near 50?

If so you NEED an aft cabin.

Bray Marine Sales has two Broom 30s that you could look at, easy to handle. Nice boats. Only snag is that is what No Regrets has now.... /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif


Still... that helps bring the prices down!!
 
Re the two Brooms at Bray, one has 2x Perkins 45hps, and the other has a single Perkins 45hp.

They handle so well that No Regrets has armfulls of silver cups for boat handling (mind you, Mrs No Regrets is the really talented one. He is only along to feed the dogs!).

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Its my 40th at the weekend and hopefully still far enough away from Broom 30 ownership at the moment.

Have you not been tempted by them at all?
Oh go on go on go on. You know you want one really. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

What would you say to a nice Broom 30? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]

What would you say to a nice Broom 30? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Hello "No Regrets"! (It is a beautiful example of a Broom 30).

But a little small for me I am afraid.

I am currently in the middle of trying to buy a Birchwood 33.

But as I am 50 next birthday it has a nice comfy aft cabin with a fixed double bed with a proper mattress. And an aft heads compartment reserved for SWMBO.

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Oddly there is now a young couple in the BCC who own a Broom 30. They are probably the youngest members in the club, but he knows a well built boat when he sees one!
 
There is also a single engined Broom 30 for sale at Penton Hook.

Go on, you know you want one...... /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I'm alittle unsure as to what goes on in these aft cabins reserved for those of 50 plus years and slightly afraid to ask. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif


I walked past a shop selling some net curtains the other day though and stopped to admire them. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Hmmmmm - Frilly lampshades, nice.
 
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