Dumb question for Scots cruisers

[Deleted member 36384]

I assume it's the Halmatic Butler 40 for sale. That is a nice boat and at a good price, so I would be wanting to delve a bit more to find out why it is so low a price.

With a boat like that you can easily move around. One thing that has not been said is that in Scotland the weather really is variable to the point that you can decide to position yourself in the good weather areas with ease. It just requires a bit of effort and familiarity with weather reports and predicting e.g. go North of Mull and into fog or stay south and in good summer weather. It is easy to be head of hindsight such is the available weather services.

The food in Scotland is stunning and the deep fried pizza is the typical fare of the fish and chip shop if that is your thing. Scotland's Larder, like any regional larder, is fantastic once you get in amongst it. For example http://www.piggery-smokery.co.uk (no connection except as a customer).

You can stay right int he heart of Edinburgh now on the canal network, although you would have to now round the top of Scotland to get there. With a boat like that I would seriously move around all summer in Scotland. Early spring, late summer, late November all tend to be good from my experience on the West Coast.

Like anywhere, treat people as you want to be treated and all will be OK. Most folks are not arse holes, although Scotland has its fair share of those as well.

 

[gordmac]

If you fancy it do it or regret it! Inverness wintering is a good suggestion and with a boat you can move around easily. Spending maybe a month or so in deepest winter elsewhere an option?
We are generally very friendly and helpful here.

 

[Quandary]

I am not sure if anyone answered your second query about diesel prices. Of course they are on their way up again after a bit of a fall back a year or so ago, on the 60/40 split you will be paying around £1 per litre, perhaps up to £1-15 next year, it varies a bit ( Scottish Canals in the Caley are the most expensive place I have found) if you can take 1000 litres or so you may get a deal. As a liveaboard you may be able to convince someone that none of it is for propulsion which brings it down to around 70p.
It is not cheap and is likely to get dearer.

 

[Robin]

My thanks to all so far. Early Doors yet but the idea is certainly evolving fast. THe Scottish location bit started mostly with the specific location of a boat that looked interesting, a single engine trawler style mobo, that just happened to be located in Clyde Marina a place that looked quite interesting and in a spot close by some attractive cruising destinations. But of course it could always be moved elsewhere by sea or road. Our UK pension income and meagre remaining savings are all in pounds sterling and hit drastically by the exchange rate fall post a stupid Brexit vote so we have to be careful not to dwindle those more by long distance boat hunting/commuting. Living on a boat again appeals as it combines plain living with leisure pursuits and unlike dirt property ( Which we now have insufficient funds left for in most locations) comes fully furnished and dodges council taxes too which all helps towards general running and mooring costs.

 

[Blue_mischief]

..........you will be paying around £1 per litre, perhaps up to £1-15 next year, it varies a bit (

If you fill up at a working port it's a lot cheaper. I paid 45-48p litre in Leverburgh and Kinlochbervie last August.

 

[Robin]

I assume it's the Halmatic Butler 40 for sale. That is a nice boat and at a good price, so I would be wanting to delve a bit more to find out why it is so low a price.

With a boat like that you can easily move around. One thing that has not been said is that in Scotland the weather really is variable to the point that you can decide to position yourself in the good weather areas with ease. It just requires a bit of effort and familiarity with weather reports and predicting e.g. go North of Mull and into fog or stay south and in good summer weather. It is easy to be head of hindsight such is the available weather services.

The food in Scotland is stunning and the deep fried pizza is the typical fare of the fish and chip shop if that is your thing. Scotland's Larder, like any regional larder, is fantastic once you get in amongst it. For example http://www.piggery-smokery.co.uk (no connection except as a customer).

You can stay right int he heart of Edinburgh now on the canal network, although you would have to now round the top of Scotland to get there. With a boat like that I would seriously move around all summer in Scotland. Early spring, late summer, late November all tend to be good from my experience on the West Coast.

Like anywhere, treat people as you want to be treated and all will be OK. Most folks are not arse holes, although Scotland has its fair share of those as well.

Thanks, very informative and makes good sense. You are right about the boat BTW. Maybe it is having the single engine that lowers the price, actually a good point in my case, we had a twin engine here to live on and no advantage much and yet costs double to service ,time and money. PRicewise I have been surprised at prices away from the whizz bang designer mobos. Even the rag and stick stuff of middle age seems to have dropped a lot since we left as there are a couple or three Westerlys worth looking at too

AS for cuisine, good fresh fish/shellfish appeals for home cooking, deep fried pizza or mars does not

 

[Robin]

If you fill up at a working port it's a lot cheaper. I paid 45-48p litre in Leverburgh and Kinlochbervie last August.

Paradoxically diesel hereabouts is about 80p/litre versus petrol at 55p I think we could live with the prices, with a suitably sipping, displacement mobo.

 

[Robin]

Thanks, very informative and makes good sense. You are right about the boat BTW. Maybe it is having the single engine that lowers the price, actually a good point in my case, we had a twin engine here to live on and no advantage much and yet costs double to service ,time and money. PRicewise I have been surprised at prices away from the whizz bang designer mobos. Even the rag and stick stuff of middle age seems to have dropped a lot since we left as there are a couple or three Westerlys worth looking at too

AS for cuisine, good fresh fish/shellfish appeals for home cooking, deep fried pizza or mars does not

Just heard that particular boat is under offer already so most likely a missed opportunity..

 

[ProDave]

I take it you are used to sailing? so have a look at rag and stick boats. They have the obvious advantage of no fuel cost when under sail. Of course they are generally slower than a mobo and generally have less accommodation for a given length so yet another compromise in the great scheme of things.

Another "place" not mentioned is the Forth and Clyde canal. Not so convenient for a rag and stick as you have to drop your mast to transit it, but if you end up with a Mobo, then Glasgow, or Edinburgh, or anywhere in between can be your winter home.

 

[Robin]

I take it you are used to sailing? so have a look at rag and stick boats. They have the obvious advantage of no fuel cost when under sail. Of course they are generally slower than a mobo and generally have less accommodation for a given length so yet another compromise in the great scheme of things.

Another "place" not mentioned is the Forth and Clyde canal. Not so convenient for a rag and stick as you have to drop your mast to transit it, but if you end up with a Mobo, then Glasgow, or Edinburgh, or anywhere in between can be your winter home.

60 years of sailing flappy things around 2000nm/pa should qualify as being used to sail, whereas a year of mobo live aboard and I'm really still a beginner, but they tend to have more space per foot LOA and being shoe box shaped helps..

 

[Malo37]

Caledonian Canal would be much better for a livaboard in my view. Not so restrictive and you can move East/West coasts as it suits you. I would also consider the French canals (all 5,000 miles of them)

 

[Romeo]

You can stay right int he heart of Edinburgh now on the canal network.....

You won't get there in a decent sized trawler yacht though. Union canal has headroom of 8 feet 10 inches, and channel depth of thee and a half feet. Heart of Inverness is a better bet if you want to live in comfort.

You could however stop over at Granton or Port Edgar for a while.

I would not choose my home on the basis of where a boat is currently located. Choose where you want to spend the time first, and then find the boat.

 

[macd]

I would also consider the French canals (all 5,000 miles of them)

As would I. But someone fleeing the US because of the decline of £sterling might not find them so attractive.

 

[Robert Wilson]

You won't get there in a decent sized trawler yacht though. Union canal has headroom of 8 feet 10 inches, and channel depth of thee and a half feet. Heart of Inverness is a better bet if you want to live in comfort.

You could however stop over at Granton or Port Edgar for a while.

I would not choose my home on the basis of where a boat is currently located. Choose where you want to spend the time first, and then find the boat.

+1

In my own 'umble opinion and with six years of "experience" of sailing up and around the northwest, I would happily state the location really is the best cruising ground - heat, weather, midgies, pizzas all taken into account.
However, I have to agree that the facilities and "life" may be more attractive over at Inverness and/or the Caley Canal.

Good luck with your ponderings.

 

[Robin]

As would I. But someone fleeing the US because of the decline of £sterling might not find them so attractive.

Indeed so, plus the potential for loss of reciprocal health cover post actual Brexit. Healthcare insurance currently costs us around $800/month in the USA but being without it here would be unthinkable, my stroke alone cost $43000 for the hospital stay and another $20000 for medics, radiology etc. Could not take that hit again, these people are vultures, better to give them the body to chew on:disgust:.

 

[Quandary]

If you fill up at a working port it's a lot cheaper. I paid 45-48p litre in Leverburgh and Kinlochbervie last August.

You used to be able to buy it at that sort of price in Mallaig too as long as it was into containers so they could say they did not know it was for leisure use, unfortunately the Revenue seem to have caught up with them since.

 

[Quandary]

BTW If you have a Cally Canal annual license, that covers you to visit and use the other Scottish Canals, they usually tell you that your stay other than in your home canal is limited to two weeks but do not seem to rigidly enforce it. Canal charges are usually less than half nearby marina prices but you have to put up with severe movement restrictions, for instance, the Crinan is still closed on Sundays at Easter, and just now is closed from 15-00 weekdays and all weekend. There are waiting lists at many locations but the new liveaboard pontoons in Muirtown Marina, Inverness, were only slowly filling up last year.
There or E.L.Tarbert would be my recommendations unless you like solitude.

 

[Jcorstorphine]

Tarbert Marina have a residential rate of £200 ish per metre per year (2015 figure) Might be down at Clyde Marina tomorrow to view a yacht so will have a quick look see if you wish.

 

[Robin]

Tarbert Marina have a residential rate of £200 ish per metre per year (2015 figure) Might be down at Clyde Marina tomorrow to view a yacht so will have a quick look see if you wish.

It would be useful information, thanks. The boat that started the question is sold and off the options now, but I keep seeing other potentials in the general area, usually priced rather better than darn south in money country.,

 

[Jcorstorphine]

It would be useful information, thanks. The boat that started the question is sold and off the options now, but I keep seeing other potentials in the general area, usually priced rather better than darn south in money country.,

Have send you a PM with details of another similar vessel.