TerrifiedTony
New member
Hello All
Just a short update on the boat buying saga. The story so far, Bought the first boat (Shadow 26) in June 2002 and kept it at Bray, loved every minute of it so sold it before Xmas and started looking for something bigger and better, tested a Sealine 310 and a 328 but got the first laxative effect when I found out how much it cost to service them. Had a brief affair with a Birchwood 340 AC but the finance company decided I was far too old to pay all the dosh back before I popped my clogs so sheepishly asked Bray for my deposit back..strike two! I should point out at this stage following everyones advice on here that I would change boats rapidly I was trying to skip a generation and had increased the budget to 100K. Not sure if this is flawed logic?
Took some diacalm and went in search of a Sealine S34 and finally found one at Walrus in Southampton and had the survey and sea trial yesterday. A word of warning to fellow novices "don't assume a service invoice means everything is well" The outdrives had been serviced in October but the oil was still heavily emulsified. Top marks to the surveyor/Walrus they got the engineers back, found the problem (two 5p washers had perished) and they drained and refilled the oil while the boat was still lifted, but at the time...strike three!
And now for the ultimate, as a seasoned (well six months or so) boater I went out for my first sea trial. Just as we entered clear water the surveyor turned and said "now this is where we try and break the engines". Wooooosh...strike four,five and six! Even my brand new Helly Hansen Coastal Skipper jacket didn't prepare me for the resulting excitement/fear/apprehension/tingling feelings, mind you it also wasn't helped when the surveyor said my HH jacket was the equivalent of chequered plastic driving gloves. We got upto 40 knots (sorry, see I am already getting into the swing of this) well, it certainly felt like 40 even though it did read more like 27 on the display.
So, now I hand over the deposit..strike seven! and next week the balance..strike eight!
Well after all this I need a rest from excitement so I am bringing her back to Bray for at least the next season. Anyone got any experience of the S34 or similar on the Thames ? Any advice other than its going to be a pig to handle would be appreciated and I suppose I should join Joanne and Nick on Feb 1st at the Bray CC although if I don't calm down I may well be asking everyone for a group hug !!
Cheers
Tony
Just a short update on the boat buying saga. The story so far, Bought the first boat (Shadow 26) in June 2002 and kept it at Bray, loved every minute of it so sold it before Xmas and started looking for something bigger and better, tested a Sealine 310 and a 328 but got the first laxative effect when I found out how much it cost to service them. Had a brief affair with a Birchwood 340 AC but the finance company decided I was far too old to pay all the dosh back before I popped my clogs so sheepishly asked Bray for my deposit back..strike two! I should point out at this stage following everyones advice on here that I would change boats rapidly I was trying to skip a generation and had increased the budget to 100K. Not sure if this is flawed logic?
Took some diacalm and went in search of a Sealine S34 and finally found one at Walrus in Southampton and had the survey and sea trial yesterday. A word of warning to fellow novices "don't assume a service invoice means everything is well" The outdrives had been serviced in October but the oil was still heavily emulsified. Top marks to the surveyor/Walrus they got the engineers back, found the problem (two 5p washers had perished) and they drained and refilled the oil while the boat was still lifted, but at the time...strike three!
And now for the ultimate, as a seasoned (well six months or so) boater I went out for my first sea trial. Just as we entered clear water the surveyor turned and said "now this is where we try and break the engines". Wooooosh...strike four,five and six! Even my brand new Helly Hansen Coastal Skipper jacket didn't prepare me for the resulting excitement/fear/apprehension/tingling feelings, mind you it also wasn't helped when the surveyor said my HH jacket was the equivalent of chequered plastic driving gloves. We got upto 40 knots (sorry, see I am already getting into the swing of this) well, it certainly felt like 40 even though it did read more like 27 on the display.
So, now I hand over the deposit..strike seven! and next week the balance..strike eight!
Well after all this I need a rest from excitement so I am bringing her back to Bray for at least the next season. Anyone got any experience of the S34 or similar on the Thames ? Any advice other than its going to be a pig to handle would be appreciated and I suppose I should join Joanne and Nick on Feb 1st at the Bray CC although if I don't calm down I may well be asking everyone for a group hug !!
Cheers
Tony
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