Boatone's looking at boats ......

boatone

boatone

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Advancing years and SWMBO's comfort (and mine if I'm completely honest) are likely to lead to a change of craft in the near future.

Whilst I continue to harbour thoughts of the occasional trip down the tideway I have to recognise that my boating will be largely restricted to the non tidal so the obvious options would be Haines/Broom/Sheerline. However even 32 footers of recent vintage seem inordinately expensive and have a certain air of waterborne caravanning about them.
All the usual arguments apply - shaft(s) or outdrives, single or twin, displacement with keel or shallow draft hull etc etc. but flying bridges or command decks are definitely not in the running.

Would you all think I'd lost my marbles if I confess to starting to view some of the better sports cruisers through eyes more focussed on enjoyment than common sense?
 
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boatone said:
Would you all think I'd lost my marbles if I confess to starting to view some of the better sports cruisers through eyes more focussed on enjoyment than common sense?
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Oh my gawd are you trying to start a riot :) you know what you are supposed to buy but agree what fun is that, just buy it then everybody will tell you what a lovely boat it is.
 
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boatone said:
Would you all think I'd lost my marbles if I confess to starting to view some of the better sports cruisers through eyes more focussed on enjoyment than common sense?
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It's never common sense to buy a boat full stop!
 
jaws said:
It's never common sense to buy a boat full stop!
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Certainly agree with that. Absolutely no reasonable rationale for boat ownership other than enjoy it and can afford it - but for heavens sake don't try and justify the fiscal side of it.

This is not really a budget issue. The real problem is a distinct lack of boats that tick our joint boxes, let alone at a half way reasonable price. SWMBO wants comfort down below, preferably not dated and definitely not a flybridge or aft cabin layout as she doesn't want to be up and down all the time - had enough of that with the Pedro. Don't want too big - 32/33 feet would be adequate, but island bed a definite plus.
I like a boat that looks and feels like a boat, preferably with a keel and a couple of reasonable (not elderly) engines on shafts. Shallowish draft needed for river.

New Haines 32S is excellent fit out (including island bed) but smallish single engine and a bit "caravanny - also no seating for crew to watch the river go by, even Helmsman seat is a bit like a bar stool. New foldback doors arrangement between cockpit and cabin is excellent and haven't seen anything else that comes close as an entertaining space. A class boat but not the little ship I would like.

The other boat that ticks many of the boxes is the Sheerline 950 TriCab. Good space and layout (although no island bed) but what a pain to get on and off for the more mature boater ! We have got very used to the rear gate/bathing platform on the Hardy which is excellent when in the marina. The Haines has similar but the Sheerline has what looks like a gate recess but isn't ! Doesn't come with a bathing platform as standard and climbing over the transom means stepping onto the seating - quite a pain.

Haines 32S is very recent model so no such thing as good second hand yet - minimum £150K. Once you've seen this model you wouldn't want the earlier 31 !
Sheerline 950 10 year old model in good nick asking seems to be around £90k - £100K - lot of money for a 10 year old 31 footer !

This could well be last boat we buy so more intent on being happy with decision from both our points of view. Trouble is nothing seems to really fit the bill regardless of price.
 
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What you really need Tony is a 30' Narrow Boat with a 10 hp outboard. Grow a beard, get a nice bobble hat and and old wheelbarrow to carry on top.
 
Thats kinda what he was saying...:p

However, I thin there is a case for buying a boat within the right price range.

£30k buys a cracking 30' boat, with economical Diesel on shaft. If you choose wisely and keep it nice, it won't depreciate much at all, and £5k a year will cover all the costs.

£30k tied up and £5k a year won't buy much in the way of holidays for a family of four during every Summer weekend with a few longer trips thrown in, and certainly not the fun that Boating will get you with a good club behind you!

Drop down to a 25 footer and the costs drop once again, £3500 pa should berth it in a lovely Marina with all the bills paid if you're lucky and do some of the simple tasks yourself.

The trouble is, when you want a Gin Palace, the costs escalate hugely, while the pleasure escalates somewhat less, as most of the fun comes of your own making.
 
boatone said:
But you wouldn't let me visit you if I did that, Byron ! :D
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that's a benefit isn't it?

sounds like the not going up and down stairs is the biggest decider here, not sure how you can avoid that on boats unless you go for a narrowboat or a pontoon boat or perhaps a submarine...

always a compromise somewhere...

agree on the island bed, took me 8boats to get one of those and would not be without it now.

don't believe the workmanship is there on new boats certainly not at the prices they quote, ultimately the beancounters rule these days and boats are built to a price, great shame.

if I had your kind of budget, would go for something about 10-15years old where all the gremlins have hopefully been sorted and the initial depreciation has happened.

what you buy is up to you, but ian is right, after all these years you know what works and what plainly doesn't.

there are lots of great boats around, just not from sheerline. :)
 
apollo said:
sounds like the not going up and down stairs is the biggest decider here, not sure how you can avoid that on boats unless you go for a narrowboat or a pontoon boat or perhaps a submarine...
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Couple of steps up from fore-cabin/galley to saloon ok but not then up another level to FB or command deck - although she may be convinced if other aspects tick the boxes. A sedan style would be ideal - hence Haines 32 being much in favour. Just wish it looked a bit more like the Hardy and had proper helm/nav seats!
Had a bit of a crush on the Linsenn 29.9 Sedan for a while but they've rather crammed everything in and don't like the general feel of the interior although its got great riverbank appeal. Getting on and off again rather difficult.

10 years old or so ok - but dead against dated look of older Brooms etc as, indeed, am I ! :D
 
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Scandinavian or Dutch,they know how to build a boat
Nimbus 345 etc,any of the Dutch open cockpit models are almost flat floor,transom gate etc,and they all look like boats not caravans:)
 
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