first time buyer

[thamesS23]

Good morning all. I'm looking to buy (early next year) our first inland cruiser. I want something that me and the girlfriend can comfortably use for long weekends, so reasonable room inside to sleep and do basic cooking, plus would also want something that it practical for day use on hot days for about 6 people max, ideally room for us all outside without being to cramped. I will want to use it on the thames (around marlow) and will have a budget of around £8000 - £10000. So far I quite like the look of a shetland four plus 2, but would be interested in any other suggestions. Also would a boat like this be suitable for going up the tidal part of the thames (upto london bridge)?
Would really appreciate any advice anyone could give

 

[Nautorius]

Hi and welcome,

The shetland is a great starter boat, and lots around in various condition. If using on the Thames ensure the boat already has a BSS Certificate with a min of 2 years left as if it has Gas on board it can be expensive to get it through the test.

Other boats to consider are;
Viking 23
Birchwood 22/25
Teal 22 (aft cabin)
Freeman 22
Princess 25.

All good boats with different Pros & Cons. Best idea is to check a few out and find the layout which best suits you. Then look at as many of that model as you can find for sale (or owned by freindly chaps). Then you get a good gauge for price/value.

Buy the best boat with the best engine at the best price......then spend a fortune running it!

Paul

 

[tcm]

hi.

I would v strongly recommend that you choose a marina where you'd like to base the boat - and then buy it from an outfit that you feel comforatble with that operates out of that same marina. This way they are more likley to know the boat, be able to help and of course have a vested interest in making sure the boat is right for you.

imho

 

[thamesS23]

thanks for that - I have looked at a few of those other boats (at least on the internet). The impression I get is that the other types like the freeman and viking, seem to come with more facilities inside, which is fine, but as a result seem to cost more. Therefore the ones that fall within my budget, seem to be a bit older, compared to the shetlands which are probably more basic inside.

 

[Nautorius]

Yeah,
We are at Bray Marina and they have about 8 suitable boats around 10k. They have a good shetland 4 + 2 for sale etc. Check out their website at Thames Boat sales - Bray. The good thing about our marina is that the majority of boats for sale are on a viewing pontoon so easy acess etc.

I have no connection, I am just based there.

Cheers

Paul

 

[tcm]

that is exactly the sort of advantage of buying and staying local. Frexample, you know the boat is "good" cos you have seen it and praps know the previous owner, where to get it fixed or serviced and so on.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Seamaster, if you can find one in budget, more headroom below. Quite happy down to St Kats/Limehouse.

Norman 24, if you find a good one, they are quite long in the tooth but no more so than a Freeman. Mostly outboard powered. If you want to dip a toe in, as it were, and check that this is for you, a decent nick Norman 20 can be had for half (or less) of your budget and with more than 30HP on the back is also quite capable of doing the Tideway. Pretty fair size of cockpit, very low headroom though.

Hardy Pilot is worth looking at too, accommodation for two with a third at a pinch.

Petrol is expensive on the river, portable tank, folding trolley and supermarket pumps is an issue that you need to consider.

Six in comfort in the cockpit is pushing it with a sub 25' centre cockpit boat IMO. I'd reiterate Paul's comment on BSS, walk away from a river based boat without one, or make a new cert a condition of the purchase.