Complete Idiot! (Me).

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.
That’s a nice boat, fully loaded. Those engines are the best in the world. 11 years old hardly used. The owner could be interested in a quick sale.
 
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 .
First boat I looked at was a portofino 35 but was in Cannes, could be a good boat for the OP but it’s a slippery slope this boat buying, I started looking around 35ft and £100k, after seeing a few, wifey said she needs minimum two bathrooms and would be nice to have 3 bedrooms if one only houses your bags/ clothes.
 
First boat I looked at was a portofino 35 but was in Cannes, could be a good boat for the OP but it’s a slippery slope this boat buying, I started looking around 35ft and £100k, after seeing a few, wifey said she needs minimum two bathrooms and would be nice to have 3 bedrooms if one only houses your bags/ clothes.
You are a lucky lucky man. Your wife wants you to have a bigger boat. Mine would be happier if I was into canoes
 
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 ,
Very Nice boat.
 
You need to do a bit of dock walking local ie in Tuscany down to Naples and “when in Rome do as the Romans do “.

Was hoping those u tube links would illustrate the type of boat usage they tend to do ,around your budget in your proposed cruising ground ,Apologies looks like ihave failed miserable judging from the link you have dredged up :)

Your brief was up to 8 pax day trips and family of 4 overnights.
Now you chuck in share ....assume another family right ?

That won’t work inho for newbies amongst other woes there will conflict with time use age in the peak ....can I assume kids hols ?

Figure at least 10 % of the buy price for the annual running costs ..
Google marina rates for the location or send an enquiry .
Here is a nice one for a newbie

Marina | Marina di Punta Ala
It’s very close to Elba and the other Islands .I have stayed there it’s ideal for Families.
As far a berthing then ball park another € 10-12 K on top of the 10% .But you need to personally enquire ,
Figure that all in .Does not matter if 5 months it’s in a hanger it works out more or less the same as in the water .All depends exactly where you are .
An overnight in Elba typically nearer €200 for 12 M in August .Others down the coast nearer €100 they vary depending on location and the time of year which translates into demand .
You need to research the berth availability before acquiring a boat .
Pay particular attention to the beam, it’s the width not the length thats important. That might slim down the choice.

A shaft drive boat will cost you less to run in maintenance than a aged outdrive boat .
Talking from experience here btw .But more in fuel .
Fly bridge Vs open ...open the examples I have illustrated, Itama , Baia , Pershing is subjective .
I said very early it’s all about outside space .
Where are they all going to sit ? It’s torture sat inside in the summer btw .
How big Is the table ...outside where they are going sit and to eat ?
Where are they all going to be able to lye down ...rest , sleep sunbath and find cool outside shade when @ anchor ? Ditto when cruising ...it can be uncomfortably wet and bouncy on some boats bow sunpad s like the one you have linked btw .
Think about a wooden floor coverings folks tramping about dripping in water .
Think about additional fridges + ice maker easily accessible after a swim ...ie in the cockpit .
With little ones and wife ( making lunch ) think about access up steps to a fly bridge .They look great tied up the dock or pictures but on the move ?
Seating when it’s choppy I find it’s best comfort wise ,everyone can face forwards and keeps there eyes on the horizon .
It does blow up in the afternoons where you plan to boat .Don, t spoil the day with a lousy ride home .

Cruising nearer 30 knots in my experience is far better than nearer 20 knots .
Italians are not shy of showing you along this this coast ....think there psychi with cars + driving , cloths etc .Its all about style pace and grace .
I think you would tire chugging round there @ 20 knots in a 12 M floating caravan .Don,t get me wrong fly bridge comes into its own above a certain size when the upper space opens up to meet the outside living criteria of Med boating and certainly trumps open sports boats in northern climates...think Atlantic + N Sea ......But Tuscany in the season @12 to 14 M nah !
 
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My experience is I would echo the advice to go for what you want first time. Wife & I hankered after a boat for some time with a plan to retire and potter around europe. I'd done lots of small boat stuff (dinghy sailing, canoeing and rowing) so have a good feel for the water. We decided to have a trial week so rented a boat on the Shannon - just to see if we could live together in such a confimed space more than enything else - and that sealed the deal. You can rent some nice craft and whilst it's river expoloration, you get a good feel for life afloat. Then we started looking. Almost immediately realsied we had to double our budget (£60K to £120K) and after lots of looking around and daily visits to yachtmarket (TheYachtMarket) eventually settled on a 1997 Princess 420. Have had her for 18 months now and just about got used to her. We're moored on the Broads and have had huge help from the guys at NYA (New & Used Boats For Sale in Norfolk | Norfolk Yacht Agency) who run a fantastic cruising club and with whom we had 3 sea trips last summer. Now still visit yachtmarket every day for interest but still realise that best decision to go big first time rather than have the uncertainty ( and cost) of changing.
 
Very Nice boat.
Yep they work well there thats the typical use age pattern .
Obviously if the OP was based in the Orkneys this is not appropriate .

Mine was commissioned by a big Hotel on Capri as there taxi boat , they still run one last I heard its a XL 51 .
XL use the moulds and same site / yard on the Taber .Although theses days mostly take back the boats they made under Amarti and refurb / refit .
They are super helpful and great for putting me in touch with the original suppliers etc .
The FG dealer in Roma put me on to them .
 
I'm not sure about that either Porto. I take onboard the claimed advantages of a sedan or FB re winter use in the UK but tbh I found when you are sitting at anchorage you feel disconnected from the sea. A canopy made with bimini top with drop down sides is both warm (sometimes too hot) and gives a lot of flexibility of use. But even with all the sides up you still feel connected with the sea and I just dont get that feel when in an enclosed salon. Conversely in the Med where its hot I would have thought you have the advantages of both with a FB. Outside space on the FB (that would be too cold in the UK for the most part) and inside air conditioned space. What am I missing?
 
I'm not sure about that either Porto. I take onboard the claimed advantages of a sedan or FB re winter use in the UK but tbh I found when you are sitting at anchorage you feel disconnected from the sea. A canopy made with bimini top with drop down sides is both warm (sometimes too hot) and gives a lot of flexibility of use. But even with all the sides up you still feel connected with the sea and I just dont get that feel when in an enclosed salon. Conversely in the Med where its hot I would have thought you have the advantages of both with a FB. Outside space on the FB (that would be too cold in the UK for the most part) and inside air conditioned space. What am I missing?
He’s off Tuscany and when or if he gets going like in the vids I linked they only gonna be wearing 90 % of the time one piece of clothing ......swimming outfit .

Chilly sub 25 degree temps or how to boat in those temps , I have not factored in my responses.......btw that both air + sea :)

But I agree on the open air connected feel irrespective of ambient temps ....up to a point perhaps this is a little OTT , not good for ladies hair doos :)
 
It's not just the storage and berthing - the maintenance and fuel has to be taken into account. The latter depends on several factors, but my old Princess 435 did 50-100 litres per hour, depending on speed.
The rule of thumb for annual running costs is always said to be 10% - I wish!
 
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.


I would take the older Fairline that I linked to earlier over that newer Prestige every time.
 

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