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

Understand your problem, in your size and price range if you want something newish (8-15 years old) then most boats that offer decent layouts and accomodation have outdrives because that is
the only way to provide the space. If you go for sensible shaft driven stuff like the Sheerlines, Haines or Dutch stuff it is all a bit traditional design and staid to look at, agree about the poor helm position etc... and they all seem a bit expensive for what you get!

This is why you see so many sports cruisers on the river they provide most of what people actually want if you ignore some of the practicalities of maintenance etc...

Having owned a twin outdrive boat on the river for some 9 years with occasional sea use I too would think twice about buying another if it was purely for river use. The main reason though is because
they are twins not because they have been hideously unreliable. Reliability has been good, but I have spent more on reconditioned props than bellows and outdrive oil, twins are just too vunerable on the river, and although the handling options of twin outdrives make shafts feel very limiting I don't think there is any real justification for the extra cost of twins on the river.

It is a bit difficult to sort out the truth from the myth's though, Sports cruisers of this size are perfectly suitable for river use, they don't wander about, have proper side decks and cockpits etc... the same as the shaft driven Sheerlines which also have the same number of large canopies which would put me off more. I guess it really just comes down to the devils egg whisks or not, however in fresh water these do seem to be much more reliable.
 
"10 years old or so ok - but dead against dated look of older Brooms etc as, indeed, am I ! :D
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During our on going search for a decently priced boat, you can can sometimes briefly widen you horizons when seated at the computer.
One such lapse led me to have another look at Brooms, specifically the European. Always liked the lines of the boat compared to the "glasshouse on a bathtub" appearance of some (all ?) of the others.
A glance at the interiors bought back reality. If you like the 1940s Green or PINK velour with tassels on the lightshades and the kind of swirly carpets that Brentford Nylons could only dream about.... look no further.
Sigh.Back to looking at Fairline.Princess et al................ :)
Am not a Broom hater...love em to bits just wish the interiors were a little more modern...even the 18th century would do.
 
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Wavey said:
Not sure why you feel the need for twins if you're going to be almost exclusively river cruising. It just restricts your ability to moor in some places.

http://www.norfolkboatsales.co.uk/used-boats/broom-34-sedan-mawe-172.asp

Sorry Tony, couldn't resist trying to get a Broom in here somewhere :)
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Funny enough was on the new version of this on Brooms stand at SBS. I was really impressed with the attention to detail and the workmanship. Seriously Tone if you like the Haines, I think you would like this too.
 
oldgit said:
During our on going search for a decently priced boat, you can can sometimes briefly widen you horizons when seated at the computer.
One such lapse led me to have another look at Brooms, specifically the European. Always liked the lines of the boat compared to the "glasshouse on a bathtub" appearance of some (all ?) of the others.
A glance at the interiors bought back reality. If you like the 1940s Green or PINK velour with tassels on the lightshades and the kind of swirly carpets that Brentford Nylons could only dream about.... look no further.
Sigh.Back to looking at Fairline.Princess et al................ :)
Am not a Broom hater...love em to bits just wish the interiors were a little more modern...even the 18th century would do.
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I agree that a lot of classics look horribly dated on the inside, but they only need updating. All the basics are there; nice wood etc. What's not to like apart from Formica work tops, and draylon? All easily changed

I met a NB owner who was in the market for a new floating caravan as his 10 year old "paint was looking a bit tired".
I assumed he bought a new Barratt home every time his house needed decorating.
 
Actionmat said:
I agree that a lot of classics look horribly dated on the inside, but they only need updating. All the basics are there; nice wood etc. What's not to like apart from Formica work tops, and draylon? All easily changed
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And you get a hull with some girth in it, the older less fancy outdrives are not money eaters like the modern ones, oil and bellows at less than £50 a time.
You have a cabin/wheelhouse layout which does not mean you have to climb high steps to move about as the engines are at the stern allowing low steps between wheelhouse and cabin (good for people like me with nackered Knee's) the only real drawback with older drives is you have to remember they are there in shallow water and alloy props are easier to bend.

So; a cheaper boat that is more comfortable to use, cheaper to run, engines that run forever (prob already have) and a style that has stood the test of time. with the money you save formica can be covered in veneer (at least you would have real marine ply underneath) and you can re-trim in pink shag if you like and still be quids in and have a boat you can still sell in a few years. (unless you do the pink shag thing)

A complete recon Enfield drive is app £2K fitted, how much to have a gimble bearing and bellows fitted to a Mercruiser?
 
boatone said:
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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Well of course it's your choice but my wife and I are in our sixties and we find that more space is better than less, so I think a sports boat will be quite cramped and not afford you the comfort you mention! Good luck with looking though, it's all part of the fun!
 
Tony.
Have got some medallions and knock off Rolex somewhere if you intend going down this route....Hmm.... might even have an 8 track of Barry White "hits" and all.
You might also have trouble finding a sports boat with the required pair marinised Montego engines ....................:)
 
We had a look at the new Haines 32 offshore at SIBS Tony and they have made some very sensible improvements, including a system to turn the end of the settee into a navigators seat so that SWMBO can see where you are going.
 
We owned this from new up until last October, it was sold to a serial boat buyer and re appeared for sale a couple of months ago.

http://www.nya.co.uk/viki32-1-for-sale.html

NYA as I am assure Greg2 will attest are always up for trying to get a sale for the current owner so room for movement on the price I am sure.

It is not mainstream I grant you but the price reflects that beautifully put together with a great beam for the size and Island berth. Purchased from BoatShowrooms from new we had her on the Norfolk Broads for 2 years where she was very happy tootling around (single Yanmar 240hp) but we moved her salt side where we cruised the East Coast and continent equally happy at sea, she never missed a beat in all the time we had her.

Sedan style with decent swim platform for one level boarding, bow thruster to aid handling and woodwork throughout, it is a lot of boat for the money. She is happy bimbling around rivers or will cruise at 14 knots at sea, a classic crossover class of boat, this class seem quite popular at present.

We swapped to our current boat last October only because we want to go slightly bigger with a bit more power being fully sea based.

Nothing to do with NYA but just flagging the sort of craft available that might fit your needs.
 
It looks fairly high freeboard for the old codger to get on board if he is unable to back in and get off bathing platform.

However yes, nice looking boat!
 
Has anybody mentioned to him the Gloriana is up for sale.
We could buy him a replica of Nelsons admirals uniform complete with the hat !

Boat problem solved........ he could parade up and down in front of Windsor Castle.........keep him occupied for days. :)
Not sure how long before Maggie would be forced to maroon him on convenient Ait tho !
 
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