GBRanger
New Member
If we're spared long enough we plan to spend semi-retirement with a few years of summer cruises - up to 6 months on board - interspersed with winter respites working at home in Harrogate. Pointless looking too far ahead but aspirations at the outset include;
West coast of Scotland
SW Ireland
SW England
Brittany
NW Spain
French Canals
There's the first 6 years sorted
The challenge for the next couple of years is deciding on & buying the best floating compromise - ideally one boat that will last as long as we do.
Therefore the ideal boat will;
- have comfortable accommodation for two, occasional visits by a couple of guests, pref decent double berth & roomy cockpit
- be easily handled by fit couple who will age gracefully from 55 to 65 (+ springer)
- be suitable plying all of the above cruising grounds,
- must be well adapted to canal / river exploration - suggest draft less than 1.2m, air draft (mast down & carried) less than 3m, minimal mast overhang, relatively powerful engine (always led to believe that this equated to 6hp per ton - no idea what this means for a cat!) & robust
- needs to carry two bikes
- be sea kindly
- be new or second hand (preferred) price up to £125 max - but preferably a whole lot cheaper
- 30 to 38 ft loa
.............. and not essential but would be nice to have
- capability of doing Brittany canals (further reduced draft & air draft)
- potential for 'least stress' Atlantic crossing & intercoastal highway
- ability to cruise comfortably in Greek islands
Very interested in views on boat choice especially from you lucky people who are doing or have done anything similar.
My own thoughts at this stage centre on lift keel, cats & bilge keel & cat - with possible contenders being
Southerly 115 / Ovni 345
Westerly Seahawk / Oceanquest, Moody 346
Gemini 105, Prout (33 & below), Summer Twins (possibly a bit on the broad side but like twin engines) very curious about seeing Dazcat Voyager when they've eventually made one
PS - if Chris Robb reads this think yourself a lucky man with a thoughtful & considerate SWMBO'ed - this Springer arrived as a complete surprise on my 50th birthday - no discussion, no forewarning no anything - I walked in the door & he was there - all ears and enthusiasm !
If I knew how to post a picture it would be here -> /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
West coast of Scotland
SW Ireland
SW England
Brittany
NW Spain
French Canals
There's the first 6 years sorted
The challenge for the next couple of years is deciding on & buying the best floating compromise - ideally one boat that will last as long as we do.
Therefore the ideal boat will;
- have comfortable accommodation for two, occasional visits by a couple of guests, pref decent double berth & roomy cockpit
- be easily handled by fit couple who will age gracefully from 55 to 65 (+ springer)
- be suitable plying all of the above cruising grounds,
- must be well adapted to canal / river exploration - suggest draft less than 1.2m, air draft (mast down & carried) less than 3m, minimal mast overhang, relatively powerful engine (always led to believe that this equated to 6hp per ton - no idea what this means for a cat!) & robust
- needs to carry two bikes
- be sea kindly
- be new or second hand (preferred) price up to £125 max - but preferably a whole lot cheaper
- 30 to 38 ft loa
.............. and not essential but would be nice to have
- capability of doing Brittany canals (further reduced draft & air draft)
- potential for 'least stress' Atlantic crossing & intercoastal highway
- ability to cruise comfortably in Greek islands
Very interested in views on boat choice especially from you lucky people who are doing or have done anything similar.
My own thoughts at this stage centre on lift keel, cats & bilge keel & cat - with possible contenders being
Southerly 115 / Ovni 345
Westerly Seahawk / Oceanquest, Moody 346
Gemini 105, Prout (33 & below), Summer Twins (possibly a bit on the broad side but like twin engines) very curious about seeing Dazcat Voyager when they've eventually made one
PS - if Chris Robb reads this think yourself a lucky man with a thoughtful & considerate SWMBO'ed - this Springer arrived as a complete surprise on my 50th birthday - no discussion, no forewarning no anything - I walked in the door & he was there - all ears and enthusiasm !
If I knew how to post a picture it would be here -> /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
