Crystal Ball

[StugeronSteve]

Lot of retrospective topics floating around on SB just lately, how about a bit of Scuttlebutt prophecy. It's no good trying to predict the future of SB itself, you never know form one day to the next which direction it's going to go, but where will the UK (sorry to be parochial) leisure boating scene be in 5-10 years from now (raggie and mobo)?

Is lack of marina space going to continue to drive up costs, or will the golden goose be slain. What effect is legislation going to have? We can see light dues just around the corner, fuel duty increases and compulsory training etc. What other legislative gems can we forsee? Are we going to see limitations to leisure boat freedom/access become a bigger issue? Where will on board technology go from here? Will environmental issues have a bigger impact on the way in which we enjoy our pastime.

It would be interesting to know where the AWB manufacturers see themselves going. Will the growth in boat ownwership continue, or will we see the second hand market completely swamped, as high maintenance costs start to hit the owners of "affordable" new boats?

Your thoughts are invited, but lets not get too depressive!



<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[steve_cronin]

Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at.....

the Labour Manifesto when it comes out.

Now that they've gotten rid of one "Toffs' Sport" they'll be ready to start on another.

Personal ownership of assets isn't PC in a socialist state you know.

I make a point of not letting my clients know that I have a boat and NEVER call it a yacht. When I'm in Greece I'm away "On family business"

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at.....

I used to know a pensions advisor who went out seeing clients in a new Ferrari, claimed it demonstrated his standing within the industry. I always thought a Volvo might be a little more astute and leave the Ferrari in the garage for weekends (with Julie?).

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[Sea Devil]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at.....

They are planning on building another 900 berths here in La Rochelle (2007) to add to the 3000 already in Minimes.... My annual fee for 36ft is €2500 = £1725 - and it goes up each year although the waiting list last year was 2 years now its possible to get a berth immediatly....

I can never understand why so many people buy new boats and then for the most part don't seem to sail them much - mind you they are very inexpensive 2nd homes - no CGT - no rates etc but there must be a limit to how many people actually want boats - isn't there?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing</A>

 

[jimi]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at.....

Interesting
My thoughts
Boat ownership tends to be 50s/60s the current increase we see is due to the post war baby boom and will sustain itself for a short time.
In the longer term it will fall off markedly as peoples interest become more virtual than real.


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[steve_cronin]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at.....

.Oh, my BMW is considered a "symbol of success" and if I run over 30 months in replacing it they usually remark upon it but the yacht? They see that as a symbol of filandering.

A VAT inspector once told me that ownership of a boat starts the alarm bells a-ringing, in their ever so structured minds, to look for fiddles.

My neighbour, of asian origin tells me that in his community, ownership of a yacht is seen as money squandering. He also can't believe that anyone would want to sleep on a boat as small as 44ft! (Possibly something to do with status and an implied association with the poor boat people of the Gangees)

Steve Cronin



<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[Twister_Ken]

Boats as second homes

The Beneteau dealer in Cherbourg last weekend was wondering about that, because many of his English customers order extras which make the boat more comfortable to live on, while his French customers want extras that will make the boat go faster. When one of our number suggested he offered them to the Brits with masts and keels as options he didn't dismiss the idea out of hand.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[StugeronSteve]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at.....

There was once a rumour doing the rounds that the revenue were requesting details of boat owners from marinas. In order, one would assume, to check whether these people had adequate "visible" wealth.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[Evadne]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at....

If you think Tony is a socialist, you haven't been paying attention recently (for the last 5+ years). Private finance? It's no different to the croneyism we had when the last lot were in charge.

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[StugeronSteve]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at....

New labour, new socialism?

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[StugeronSteve]

Whoops, sorry, just remembered, the future's McDuff!

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[Evadne]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at....

Sorry, a socialist is someone who thinks people are more important than money, a capitalist thinks that money is more important than people (though it's not usually put quite like that). Tony is not a socialist. IMHO.

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[RupertW]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at.....

Sailing IS a New Labour sport - done mostly by normal people who prefer the smell of latte to manure . The main New Labour thrust is getting rid of people who are "odd", like Tories, country folk, the unemployed and unkempt neighbours.

I think we could end up going back to a pre-industrial sea without lighthouses, buoys outside harbours or boats fishing. Might be the odd wind-farm to avoid.

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[StugeronSteve]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at....

It's interesting that there has been at least one company considered, by Tone and Co, as being suitable for dealing with public finances, that Mrs T. wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[Ohdrat]

TK will have a MacGrotty water ballasted Trimaran which will cruise under Ferrari OBs at 80 knots and under sail at 50 knots. He will be about to set off on the Vendee Globe in it .. just to prove a point. It will not have teak decks.

Jimi will have renovated an old gaffer and be just about to launch it after 10 years of work

Kim Hollamby will be able to see what we are doing on our PCs before we’ve even logged onto SB!

Radio Comms Agency will require that we all have Big Bro type camera’s onboard at all times so that they can see what we are doing wrong. Fines will be electronically issued for misdemeanours such as reporting floating freezers in the wrong place..

Cherbourg will have Anti Butt Mines placed around it.. these will consist of unmarked creels/pots with fetid crab meat that will float up and explode over invading butt yachts.

I will have completed Badmington on my new horse and mown down our Tone (by accident of course) in the gallop for the finish.. (well why on earth was he wondering around on the track in the first place?)

Stingo will have returned from world cruise having written volumes of best sellers about cruising in a suitably tongue in cheek SB style.

The RCD will ban any boat older than 3 years from EU waters whilst single skin tankers plough thro the our waters at 50 knots with only one crew on board relying totally on auto pilot and DSC vers. 2


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[StugeronSteve]

Oh no. It isn't just me, I've had that dream as well. The bit at Badminton was very pleasant though. Looking forward to Stingo's volumes too, bet he's lookin to trade in that AWB for a McDuff right now.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[Capt_Marlinspike]

After the next election when Tone looses, as he has now p*ssed everybody off, we will have Mad Mike Howard in charge. This is a good thing as taxes will be slashed and we will all be able to go out and buy new boats. This will of course lead to a glut of cheap boats on the market, so even more people will be able to afford to go sailing. This will then cause the marina owners eyes to gleam at this new potential source of cash.
SO the new thing will be offshore marinas. These will be massive off shore platforms with space for thousands of boats. Access by helicopter or fast ferry.

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[Sybarite]

Re: Crystal Ball - not necessary: just look at.....

When I first came to France we had to declare boat ownership on our tax declarations (along with second homes, airplanes, horses ) as elements of level of living. They were not taxed - your declared income just had to be in line with your life style.

John

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[Guest]

One topic ...

A topic that is not mentioned anywhere that I can remember is the Inspection of Boats ..... in Baltic I have to have an annual isnpection of my boats ..... for compliance with Safety regs, general construction and suitability for use. A Licence fee is paid and my Technical Survey book is stamped. The boat should carry a Technical Number ..... sort of like car reg# painted on the hull.

So watch out when Licencing arrives ..... it may extend to an MOT on your Boat !!


<hr width=100% size=1>Cheers Nigel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gps-navigator/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/searider/

 

[jonjo]

Re: Young ambitions

I had an interesting chat with a young woman who had just left university with a degree in marine surveying, she was working at a brokers while reviewing her long-term career options. She had concluded the most promising future lay in inspecting or enforcing some form of government marine regulations.

It’s sad that twenty-something people are reduced to such ambitions.

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