Cabin Boat or Motor Home

[Bigplumbs]

Having had a cabin style boat for some years we recently bought a smallish motor home. I never thought we would do this but like many, recent years sort of pushed us in this direction. We still have the Sealine and the Motorhome but I am surprised to say that if push came to shove and we had to sell one I think we would sell the Sealine and keep the motorhome..... I never thought I would feel like this but now having both I know which is used the most and is more versitile...... Using the motorhome in conjunction with a Sib is I feel a very good option.

Given that motorhomes are in some way comparable in price to boats of similar size etc I was wondering if others who have both feel the same.

Our boat is a Sealine S24 and our Motorhome is an Autosleepers Nuevo 2004. I suspect they are both worth the same if sold

Interested in peoples views ?

 

[Martxer]

If you had 8 motor homes would it still be the case that the auto sleeper would be used more than the sea line?

 

[Bouba]

I had a motor home and I loved it and miss it (she floated away during a flood) but I could never justify it...for many many thousands less I could stay in a nice hotel and eat in nice restaurants

 

[oldgit]

Two types of folks.
Those whom just being out on the water, no matter how, becomes a lifelong curse. sometimes it gets them early in life ..... sometimes later.
......and
Those to whom owning a boat is the ambition, something else shiny will invariably attract their attention and finding a tail back on the M25 will be less of a challenge than the 05.30 inshore weather forecast on R4. ?

 

[Bouba]

I’m lucky to live in an area where both motor homing and boating are extremely appealing pastimes and have the climate to do both year round. But I’m at the stage now where I can’t cope with another toy...the pool, which used to be my job, especially the spring commissioning, I have now handed over to a professional...the estimate for the engine service on the boat is six grand...so a lack of physical prowess coupled with ridiculous maintenance costs..mean no more toys for me

 

[jakew009]

I’m lucky to live in an area where both motor homing and boating are extremely appealing pastimes and have the climate to do both year round. But I’m at the stage now where I can’t cope with another toy...the pool, which used to be my job, especially the spring commissioning, I have now handed over to a professional...the estimate for the engine service on the boat is six grand...so a lack of physical prowess coupled with ridiculous maintenance costs..mean no more toys for me

What engine is it that costs 6 grand to service? Or is that 3 grand a side? Still seems extreme

 

[Momac]

I terms of accommodation space your motorhome is superior to a S24.
I used to have a S23 which is much the same as your S24. In the end the lack of space was the main issue. So I changed to a F33. The accommodation space in the F33 is superior to any motorhome.

As far as can be seen from your posts and videos etc you don't seem to use the S24 to stay overnight.
Sell the boat and the motorhome and buy a newer/bigger motorhome.

 

[Momac]

...the estimate for the engine service on the boat is six grand

Are you going to pay that ? Seems like they got the decimal point in the wrong place.

 

[ashtead]

I wonder if you can use a Sealine like a caravan in terms of space and range -I sure you might sell that , buy a large rib and have lovely holidays in the motor home for a couple of years parked up in Devon or wherever using the Rib etc for day trips . Many seem to park motor homes in car parks and launch the rib from a nearby slip. Best advantage of motor home would seem to be range eg a touring holiday whereas a Sealine seems rather cramped for a trip to say Channel Islands etc.

 

[Minerva]

For a number of years we had a small campervan, which got used solely for weekends away through the winter and a boat for the summer.

They complimented each other very well indeed.

 

[Bouba]

What engine is it that costs 6 grand to service? Or is that 3 grand a side? Still seems extreme

One engine plus generator...425 hp Cummins six cylinder 6.7 liters...and a Onan 6 kw generator
The biggest part of the bill (appart from labour) is the intercooler,,they will remove it and take it to their workshop to clean.

 

[Bouba]

Are you going to pay that ? Seems like they got the decimal point in the wrong place.

Right now I am going through all the old receipts to see how this price stacks up...there has been a lot of inflationary costs since covid...labour is probably one of them

 

[Greg2]

We have been considering a motorhome for several years but I am with oldgit - being on the water is in my blood and has been since I was a lad so never as a replacement for the boat, more complimentary as described by Minerva.

The trouble is once you start to consider it you get into the motorhome versus caravan debate, which we have never fully resolved. We keep talking about hiring a motorhome and give it a go to see if we like it and really must get round to it!

 

[nicho]

We have a 2022 Swift Elegance 835 caravan, and a Sealine S34. The plan was to sell the caravan if we got another boat, but it hasn’t quite worked out like that! We now intend to keep both. We have several trips in the van booked, Yorkshire, Lake District, Snowdonia, and enjoy the ability to visit more distant parts of the U.K. and tour the local countryside. It has aircon, underfloor heating 4wd motor mover, auto levelling and every mod con going so covers all weather and SWMBO loves it. Towing is fine, and plodding along motorways at 55/60 mph gets in nobody’s way. However, the boat remains our number 1 priority - just being on the water in the marina is so relaxing - we go with intentions to visit people nearby, but chill out so much, we mainly stay onboard. Of course, when the weather picks up we will be visiting Solent marinas and beauty spots as usual. Both activities complement each other, and we will be continuing both while at our “great” age (77/80) we can still manage them.

 

[nicho]

We have been considering a motorhome for several years but I am with oldgit - being on the water is in my blood and has been since I was a lad so never as a replacement for the boat, more complimentary as described by Minerva.

The trouble is once you start to consider it you get into the motorhome versus caravan debate, which we have never fully resolved. We keep talking about hiring a motorhome and give it a go to see if we like it and really must get round to it!

We bought a new 8 metre motorhome early last year, and towed a Peugeot 107 behind it on an A frame. Touring in a motorhome can be very restrictive, so a small car in tow is essential imo. However, it lasted 3 months - the noise, rattles, and lack of space compared to our previous twin axle caravan drove us mad (not to mention the constant gearbox stirring trying to coax performance from the 1.0 litre 107) Luckily last year, motorhomes were in very short supply, so the dealer literally gave us our money back, and swapped it for a new caravan they had in stock.

 

[Greg2]

We bought a new 8 metre motorhome early last year, and towed a Peugeot 107 behind it on an A frame. Touring in a motorhome can be very restrictive, so a small car in tow is essential imo. However, it lasted 3 months - the noise, rattles, and lack of space compared to our previous twin axle caravan drove us mad (not to mention the constant gearbox stirring trying to coax performance from the 1.0 litre 107) Luckily last year, motorhomes were in very short supply, so the dealer literally gave us our money back, and swapped it for a new caravan they had in stock.

Thanks for sharing your experience - we like to see things when we travel and it is stories like this that have contributed to us holding back on getting a motor home.

 

[Offshore57]

We actually went from towing a Ring 21C to a motorhome, and having used it a few times (notably a fab long weekend at the British Grand Prix) we decided we were not done with boats and sold the motorhome and bought our next boat, a SeaRay 270 Sundancer which we used from April to November for 5 happy years.
it was purely that we couldn't afford both and boating won. Not only the money side, but there are only so many weekends and breaks available in which to use these things. We are now liveaboards and we are lucky enough to have a great rib as well so life is great. On occasion I do miss the motorhome but not enough times to warrant having one again.

 

[Bouba]

When it comes to making a hard choice…a hotel can substitute for a motor home…but than on the water experience is hard to duplicate.
Of course Bigplumbs (that’s a name from someone who isn’t shy…or a horticulturist) idea of a motor home towing a boat is the perfect amalgam

 

[Offshore57]

Motorhome and a boat can be great, especially the way Bigplumbs does it, but launching boat of 21-28 feet or so with a motorhome can be a challenge even at the best slipways, so some assistance would probably be required particularly at recovery. A lot of raceboats are towed with motorhomes but there is usually a handy 4x4 around for launching etc.

 

[Momac]

Owning both a boat with accommodation space and a motorhome would be too much for me.
Its hard enough to put in enough time on one boat to justify its cost.

As far as motorhome vs camper van is concerned the camper van option has been ruled out by the chief officer.

We may go to a motorhome eventually but only when the boat becomes a physical issue or possibly if boat running costs escalate.

In a motorhome a fixed bed layout rather than a drop down bed would be our preference and this usually comes with a garage for folding bikes.

Quality of fit out of motorhomes varies quite a bit. Some are very poor to the point of being hardly fit for purpose. You get what you pay for.

It seems to me running costs with a motorhome are potentially more manageable than a boat. I believe secure storage is a fraction of marina fees. We know a location near home with storage that is also a lakeside campsite so the odd weekend could spent without travelling on the highway. Rather like spending the weekend on the boat in the marina which we intend to do this weekend.

I am no expert on motorhomes but Hymer , Rapido and Adria are brands that seem to be okay in terms of build quality.