Hi. New here. New to boating. Need advice

[Kelpie]

You can install a conventional house shower unit on a boat, right ? Or do you need a special boat one ?

Erm, not really. Depends what you mean by 'conventional house shower' (electric? Pumped? Boiler fed, UVC fed?)- none of these options really work on a boat where you don't have space for a huge hot water tank or a gas boiler, and a 9kW electric shower is likely to be well beyond the capacity of your shorepower connection.

Plus, having a shower aboard fills your boat with condensation. Most people find it better to use shoreside facilities, or adapt expectations and use a tin mug in the sink (not as bad as it sounds, honest).

 

[Tranona]

Thanks Bru. Sorry to impose but I have a question.

What's the difference between this longbow ...

http://www.boatshed.com/westerly_longbow-boat-225023.html

.... and this longbow ?

http://www.boatshed.com/westerly_longbow-boat-225607.html

The first longbow is only older than the second by a couple of years, yet the second longbow costs twice as much. My inexperienced eyes can't see much difference other than the fact that the second boat has newer furnishings and a cleaner interior. But that shouldn't account for the 10 grand difference, should it ? Or could it be because the second longbow has a bigger engine ?

Newer and much better engine. Freshwater cooled and could have a calorifier fitted for domestic hot water. Better electrics, particularly big bank of new looking domestic batteries, reasonable electronics, modern (newish looking) cooker, recent replacement of much of the rig. Clean neat and tidy. Asking price probably a bit ambitious, but you won't find many boats of that age looking as good - at least not for sale.

BTW there are some excellent books, including from the RYA on buying a used boat which are well worth reading. They deal with both identifying differences between boats to help your choice of type and tips on what to look for when viewing. Using these guides and looking at a few boats will get you up the learning curve quickly.

 

[Bru]

I've been attempting to drink a pub dry (and I'm not kidding) so I think the question about the relative merits of the two Longbows has been fairly well covered

Both look good for the money, the more expensive one initially may in the end turn out to be the cheaper option (but not neccessariy)

 

[dannylacose]

@kelpie, Bru, Tranona

Big Thanks. I'll take away what you've said and think about it.

 

[laika]

Fair enough. Yours is the voice of experience and I'll defer to that.

Should we question Tranona's long term experience of holding down a "conventional" job as a liveaboard? I hate to say "9-5" as no "9-5" job I've ever had is less than "8-6".

I admit that I have a pontoon berth. My Hugo Boss suit probably wouldn't withstand the water the way Alex Thompson's does so thankfully I don't need to deal with a dinghy ride.

The main issue with deserted pontoons here has been dog crap you can't see in winter when it's dark, but that's a special Brighton issue. Not sure what the issue with shared facilities is: they're not generally busy at 5:30 am.

Location is something the OP can doubtless work out. I don't own a car and I confess my commute has been pretty much untenable thanks to the southern rail industrial action.

Focusing on Tranona's initial point about suits and ironing.... On the suit front...everything in your boat is susceptible to mould. Even with dehumidifier running most of the time this is a constant fight. If you have a high degree of sartorial sensitivity you may want to start compromising. Keep your Jermyn Street bespoke stuff in storage or at a friend's and trade down to St. Micheal to avoid distress.

On the ironing front...really the saloon table plus tea towels is a PiTA and you don't have space t put up an ironing board on a 12m yacht, never mind a Jaguar 25 (I've thought about doing an extreme ironing video in a bosun's chair...). I noticed some tabletop ironing boards in lidl a couple of weeks ago but no experience of using them. Depending on your circumstances some cleaners do 5 shirt launder and iron deals.

 

[Bru]

I thank the Gods that my working rig consists of whichever pair of jeans is least manky and the nearest thing I can find to a clean T-shirt (rejecting the ones that are standing up without the benefit of any internal support)

I do have a very large collection of undergarments (no Calvin Klein, all bought in bulk from the supermarket!) 'cos frankly doing the laundry is an absolute PITA (I'm currently in the situation of travelling back to the bricks and mortar every two to three weeks to spend a few days with my wife who wasn't, after all able to give up work last year so I try to do the washing then)

I really wouldn't want to be doing with having to have a clean ironed shirt and a suit to wear every day. Not saying it can't be done (people do it after all) but damned if I'd want the hassle

 

[dannylacose]

Ha Ha. No Hugo Boss for me either. My work clothes are a plain white shirt and a pair of black trousers. Sartorial elegance isn't required, not when you're running electronic surveillance, or doing escort duties, or just plain guarding.

Shirts I can generally pick up for three for a tenner in Primark. For trousers though, I prefer Marks and Sparks, mainly because I don't have to iron them. Can't go to work looking rumpled though, so those shirts are still going to have to be ironed. But I figure where there's a will, there's always a way.

 

[Bru]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Folding-I...er-/302222242451?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

 

[dannylacose]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Folding-I...er-/302222242451?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

That would definitely work.

 

[Bru]

That would definitely work.

Yup and at that price I might stash one in a locker to go along with the iron just in case - if I can figure out which locker I stashed the iron in when we changed boats last year!

 

[pragmatist]

I wish you great fun with this venture - sure you will have. Living aboard can be very pleasant until it blows a real hooly when you get no sleep. So a sheltered berth might be a good bet - rattling halyards are a absolute PITA - especially if you're off on a long day's work.

I'd suggest a couple of things - one : buy a boat it may be reasonably easy to sell on if you're thinking of upgrading. You seem to be looking at Class boats which ticks one box but if you buy one that needs some upgrading to be attractive to a future purchaser then make sure it's not going to cost too much or you may end up out of pocket.

Two: Heating - we fitted a Dickinson diesel heater (from the main diesel tank with a small in-line pump) the first winter we had the boat (20 years ago) and it keeps the boat dry, cosy and even has a glass door - closest you're likely to get to a log fire on a boat Definitely one of my first purchases if we ever change boat. Even gets too hot in spring and autumn but if you open all the hatches it dries the boat out brilliantly and is economical on diesel.

Best of luck.

Penny

 

[dannylacose]

I wish you great fun with this venture - sure you will have. Living aboard can be very pleasant until it blows a real hooly when you get no sleep. So a sheltered berth might be a good bet - rattling halyards are a absolute PITA - especially if you're off on a long day's work.

I'd suggest a couple of things - one : buy a boat it may be reasonably easy to sell on if you're thinking of upgrading. You seem to be looking at Class boats which ticks one box but if you buy one that needs some upgrading to be attractive to a future purchaser then make sure it's not going to cost too much or you may end up out of pocket.

Two: Heating - we fitted a Dickinson diesel heater (from the main diesel tank with a small in-line pump) the first winter we had the boat (20 years ago) and it keeps the boat dry, cosy and even has a glass door - closest you're likely to get to a log fire on a boat Definitely one of my first purchases if we ever change boat. Even gets too hot in spring and autumn but if you open all the hatches it dries the boat out brilliantly and is economical on diesel.

Best of luck.

Penny

Great words of wisdom there, Penny. Thanks.

 

[shan]

We have a 26 ft boat (Beneteau First 26). No diesel or yukky loo smells and most certainly no condensation.
Loo is a fresh water electric flush and we have a pull out hand shower in the heads, with hot running pressurised water. A bilge blower deals with condensation after a shower. We also run a dehumidifier in the boat.

We converted the ice box to a fridge and keep a large Coleman on the pontoon or in the aft cabin if we plan to spend several days on the boat.

All the lights are LED and we have Eberspacher heating. We tried tube heaters and an oil radiator but it's not very effective in the depths of Winter.

With planning and lateral thinking, you can make most things comfortable and practical. The first thing we learned was don't be put off by the 'sailing has to be cold, miserable, damp and smelly' brigade to be proper sailing.

 

[Bru]

Sailing has to be cold, miserable, damp and smelly to be proper sailing

I do not do proper sailing

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Me neither. Warm. Dry. Heated if needed.

 

[shan]

Agreed - and definitely no tinned pies or ration style eating or packet sauces!! I have even cooked roast duck in the boat, roast potatoes and parsnips plus greens and starters and pudding for 4 people in the boat, without breaking a sweat!

 

[pragmatist]

Agreed - and definitely no tinned pies or ration style eating or packet sauces!! I have even cooked roast duck in the boat, roast potatoes and parsnips plus greens and starters and pudding for 4 people in the boat, without breaking a sweat!

Any invitations going ?

 

[shan]

Well, if you ever venture to Swansea Marina, you never know. :encouragement:

 

[laika]

most certainly no condensation.

Are you actually a full time liveaboard in the uk winter?

 

[shan]

I don't but I have spent extended periods on the boat in Winter, which is why, an Eberspacher (or Webasto or equivalent) is so crucial. Ours is a 2kw D2 with 3 outlets - one in the heads, one in the aft berth and one in the saloon (fairly open planned if you have ever seen a Beneteau First 26. We made a point of replacing all the hatches and windows and ensuring no leaks. We also run the dehumidifer on 60% when not there and the at least once a day on continuous if we are there (if possible). The other useful thing to do is leave the hatch open 2 inches and run the heating. Good airflow through the boat and keeps things dry (I have actually managed to dry dish towels and a wetsuit in the boat this way).

As previously mentioned, the heads has a bilge blower to extract air at a rather high place. Works well after a shower and after one of Mr Shan's 'Smellies'.