Complete Idiot! (Me).

[Charles Stones]

Good afternoon.


I am a complete novice to boats and boating, but always dreamed of owning a boat.

Within the next year I hope to be in a position to buy a boat, hopefully in Italy (Tuscany) to use for family trips around the area. I know I will need to obtain a boating licence.

I would like it to be capable to travel to along the coast to Sicily, and across to Corsica and Sardinia.

Ideally I would like to (eventually) be able to take around 8 people on board, not to sleep, but just travel, but have space for 4 people to sleep for one or two nights.


My questions are:-



Should I get a big enough boat from day one or buy a smaller boat and then trade up in a couple of years once used to boating.

What sort of boats should I be looking at, I have no idea. I want something that is safe and reliable, ideally built in the last 10-15 years and not spending more than £100’000 but ideally £50’000. All all boats REALLY the same quality?

What are the ongoing costs (roughly). I can’t find any information about storage fees in Italy. Is it best to leave in the water all year, or remove from water over winter? Am I better off with a large trailer boat, or something that needs storage in a marina? (I guess we will use it on and off from May to September).



As I say I am a complete idiot, so please bear with me.



Regards







Charles.

 

[BruceK]

Welcome. You have passed the bar required for boat ownership.

To start off what type of boat are you after as the options are quite wide and a completely open table will get you answers from RIBs, cuddy, sports boats and sport cruisers and everything French inbetween

 

[CLB]

I'll start by saying you want something at least 35ft long.

By no means a perfect solution for everyone with similar criteria, but something like this would appeal to me to meet your requirements: Fairline Phantom 38 Used Boat for Sale 1999 | TheYachtMarket (yes I know its older than your preference, but size and quality is more important than age for your needs IMHO)

I would go straight for the right boat, rather than building up to it. Nothing to be gained by going smaller to begin with.

 

[Charles Stones]

Good afternoon Bruce.

I guess a sports cruiser, but no real idea the main differences are, the main thing I am looking for is to be able to travel is safety with around 8 people in relative luxury. So table, seats and area to prepare drinks food.

Idealy a roof to protect children from the sun.

 

[Sneds]

Have a look at the types of boats being used in the area you are looking to use yours in

Agree, buy the right boat first time but difficult to know until you've owned it and used it for a year or so

Speak to owners in the area you are looking to keep your boat, most will be more than happy to talk about their boats, for hours and hours and to offer their experience and input

Good luck and keep the forum infomed (please) quite interested in which way you go

 

[Charles Stones]

Many thnks for all your advice, could I ask if Bavaria is a good quality boat?

 

[Bouba]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the world of boating. This is a great forum for making sure the boating dream doesn’t turn into a nightmare, or at least to find condolence when it does?
My first thought is that if you buy an Italian registered vessel and use it in Italy then you will probably need to get a license, if you want to cross to Corsica etc then you need a higher level license. But you probably can get tuition in English

 

[Portofino]

I know Italy very well having cruised the coast Tuscany way to Elba , Roma , Naples ......across to Corsica.
look no further than an Itama 38 .

We are based in Liguiria with a 48 thats outside your budget. They do a whole range the 38 fits your criteria .
Tend not to depreciate if thats important ? Worth factoring in .

https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/brochure - Itama 38, 1995.pdf?token=AWyDtmHsFx2eVui4ONLu4pYNA3NY-S1HndsxEkPMtz_lu75q9bVb7GtA88GsdfcRY1Lki8bSdq5uARVwrM6PbeCqko7kskvUwvvCKTdxdJ0asViNUCQ9Kq3L2t-zXNfGvsW_rCldUkxcldtS8Y5ehZcS5vYtTq89dDcnwJxHXoylPoVX8IvRN_QB3XMxAorBWB0

Hanger it in the winter plenty of Yards on that coast some up the rivers .

Sea keeping is king for your propose with the use age .
Porto Vecchio on the SE corner of Corsica has a Itama only marina and most of the sort after places have Itama dedication pontoons .

Is this what you are thinking use age wise ....theses guys go from Tuscany across to Corsica.

I,ll try and find some more pics .

 

[BruceK]

OMG Look at that bow rise on the 50! Does the helm come with a periscope?

 

[stelican]

who's looking past the foredeck with that sunbather.
Very high spray rail (lift rail) on the persuit boat.

 

[Portofino]

Normally run fast and flat .... How ever he ( 50 helm ) might be fully fuelled that’s over 2 T behind the engines .
+ 500 L of water + folks + tender @ the back ....so a tad of tab me thinks would be appropriate.
They are all subtly different .
Without turning into a Boatbore .....the 50 is not a Amarti boat it’s a Bulgari / Ferretti incarnation ....and no prizes for guessing its was a flop sales wise .

The 38 , 46 , 42/48 ,56 , 60 are the pure and there’s absolutely no argument the best .
@ Bruce Its a 38 i have suggested .

 

[BruceK]

Just casting some of your stinky bait Porto. 2nd vid much better.

 

[stelican]

That 38 hull motion looks perfect

 

[Chris H]

Go big or go home !

 

[Portofino]

That 38 hull motion looks perfect

Very manoeuvrable despite this guys “;cousin “ who’s a gel coat guy

seriously a lot are refurbed and brought up to date .Quite a few on here instantly dismiss old boats so narrow down to today’s offerings .How ever as have I always been consistent guys it’s the basics in the hull , CoG , deadrise , power plant - shaft s .
The rest you can fix . In fact the old Factory site on the Taber in Rome + many other yards inc one around St Trop do refurbs .

So med spec island hopping for £ 100 K .......take a look at this .....remember it’s an outdoor life

Baia B 40 is another boats that many modernise / refurb .....as a alternative .
Pershing 37 another £ 100 K contender ...just ,

 

[Portofino]

Go big or go home !

We managed with a 37 ft outdrive Portofino 35 to get from where you are ( Cote d Azur ) to Corsica, Elba and up round the Ligurian coast .
Remember it’s his first boat and consider berth fees while his touring about .

Having said that they did a Itama 45 in the 80 ,s with twin GM 762 hp ....that’s a big step for a newbie on many levels inc + 2 x the fuel bill over the 38 with old school reliable CATs for circa 100 K

 

[Chris H]

We managed with a 37 ft outdrive Portofino 35 to get from where you are ( Cote d Azur ) to Corsica, Elba and up round the Ligurian coast .
Remember it’s his first boat and consider berth fees while his touring about .

Having said that they did a Itama 45 in the 80 ,s with twin GM 762 hp ....that’s a big step for a newbie on many levels inc + 2 x the fuel bill over the 38 with old school reliable CATs for circa 100 K

What was the name of your portofino?

 

[Portofino]

What was the name of your portofino?

Pip of Poole .
It went to the Baltic the guy already had one on big German lake near his home and wanted another for the sea .
He was a Lotus dealer in Germany .

 

[BruceK]

That 38 hull motion looks perfect

looked like it was porpoising a bit to me. A little bit unbalanced like he needed some trim in. CoG to far back I reckon, dead rise too steep creating drag and a monster hole behind the transom . All the usual failings. Needs a more fuel efficient flat arse and lighter engines to help it track straight and true like this one

 

[Charles Stones]

Good Morning all.


Thank you for your replies, I get the feeling that £100’000 is not going to buy me the right boat.


We can go higher, what sort of budget do I need to go to in order to get a suitable boat? I like the idea of something more like this Yachting and Boating World - News, Forums & Boats For Sale but are these suitable? As I say I really have no idea, also what will on-going costs be for storage and birthing?



OR (and please, this is not what I think is best but might be wrong) could boat sharing be better for me, my feeling is that it could be nothing but trouble unless you know the other parties well, which I won’t.