First Boat - channel crossing, sea fishing, wife satisfying...

[justk2012]

So,

I've hit my forties, my kids are rapidly growing up...and I've decided I want to get a boat and have a few years on the water with them while I can.

I am trying to figure out the right way forward...and have loads of questions and would appreciate help.

Training wise - I am willing to do my RYA tickets through to yachtmaster. Do my VHF ticket etc.

Which boat? Here are some things I'd like to do:

1) Fishing - so a nice fishing deck at back (downeaster style kind of thing ...but not necessarily that big)

2) Get to the channel islands (eventually with experience and with other boats for safety)

3) A fairly decent cruise speed for 2...25Kn ish?

4) Not scare the wife....parker 660 probably too small; 10yrs possibly too old...

5) Not disgust the wife....a head under a cushion in the cabin simply won't do

6) cost - I dunno...I could do 20-30K near term and 60-80 in a couple of years

7) baby steps (maybe graduate up)...small first (profish 660?) for fun and learning and forget cruising later...

8) how important are unsinkable hulls, 2 motors vs 1 ??


Sorry for complete newbie dump!

thanks for any help

K

 

[justk2012]

fyi....I've been looking at:

smaller things like parker/profish/leidi 660

and also

larger things by boston whaler, grady white, intrepid, wellcraft, edgewater (pricey!!!)

 

[CLB]

You have a couple of paradoxical statements in your list.

An ideal boat for no 1, will likely fail no 5, taking into account no 6.
Your budget in no 6, is probably incompatible with your requirements in no 4.

For all the statements, bar the budget, I would suggest a Botnia Targa 31
For all the statements bar the fishing requirement, I would suggest a Sealine 290

You could perhaps get something like a Failrine Corniche that might tick all the boxes, but again, its not an ideal fishing boat.

I like Parker boats and think they are underrated, but can't see you getting one for the current budget that does all the above.

So, whats more important, Fishing or your wife's comfort and happiness?

 

[gordmac]

Have you thought about running costs? Petrol or diesel? Outboard or inboard?
Running costs go up quite a bit with speed and size.
Merry Fisher 805 might do you but won't do 25kn.

 

[BruceK]

I understand you have to start somewhere but the reality is most people wet their appetite on their first boat but quickly change direction / ambition when they have a few sea miles under the belt. I started out in a small cuddy cabin speedboat that was a throw away purchase to confirm I liked it and better yet didn't spend my fishing time chunking my guts out. Or the wife and kids for that matter. Within a year I progressed to a 34 foot sports cruiser having proved the desire. I'd say you are not far off what I wanted to achieve except for No4.
As for fishing off a sports cruiser. It is very doable if you have either fold away cockpit seating or happy to fish from the deck. I have and do both. It is not the ideal fishing platform and I am at pains to ensure that anything landed, baited etc is done from the swim platform from trays mounted to the handrails and no hooked rigs allowed past the upper cockpit. So far all has gone reasonably well.
I particularly enjoy lure fishing and that can be done from the foredeck, but more often than not I will anchor in a bay. Drop the wife and kids off on the beach and then fish from the tender where I can get in close to the bluffs and deeps. So useful is the tender in that respect I have to confess that most of my fishing is done from it.

Even the admiral has taken to the fishing bug

rear cockpit seating partially folded away for a trip, but you get the idea

Thou shall not pass son

 

[BruceK]

I might add when not in stinky mode she does scrub up passably good enough for an old tub so as not to be a complete embarrassment for the admiral when required. So it is possible to have your cake and eat it.

 

[justk2012]

Thanks for all the replies

After having read more into the level of skill and training required to safely go offshore to Jersey etc....and following Bruce's experience...I think this really should be split into 2 phases

1 - accessible, affordable first boat - fishing with some but little cabin luxury. Learn the ropes...whilst also quicker to make happen.

2 - if its all going well..i get experience and get more to yachtmaster o/s level...then step up in size....at a time when the moeny will be easier to buy something very nice

 

[justk2012]

P.s. she is indeed a cracker...

Very interesting to see how you use her...and also how much you've ended up using the tender

Thanks

 

[BruceK]

:encouragement: good luck. My learning curve was steep but the times aboard my little boat are some of the fondest

tight lines!

 

[BruceK]

P.s. she is indeed a cracker...

Very interesting to see how you use her...and also how much you've ended up using the tender

Thanks

Ah the tender is a godsend. If you enjoy lure fishing it will get you in places that will infuriate land and boat fishermen alike. Coupled to the cruiser to get you there in the first instance it's all win - win

 

[CLB]

:encouragement: good luck. My learning curve was steep but the times aboard my little boat are some of the fondest

tight lines!

Bruce, you might want to back that throttle off a bit, it looks a tad shallow ahead

 

[BruceK]

Haven't a foggiest why it's full open. No problem, she had a neutral safe start.

 

[TheOrs]

:encouragement: good luck. My learning curve was steep but the times aboard my little boat are some of the fondest

tight lines!

What boat is that?

 

[BruceK]

Just a little cuddy cabin speedboat. Sea Ray. Surprisingly very sea kindly and before I knew better used to take her out in all sea states up to F4 going 5. She rode a short chop surprisingly well, a very dry boat and took a beam sea without much roll. Looking back on it I shudder. But there you go, steep learning curve as I said, and never felt in danger. So much fun from a boat that cost less than what I now pay for a seasons maintenance.