I now have something to aspire too

[Seahope]

Although still in our first season of boating, SWMBO is already looking at much bigger boats 'for interest only' she said. The largest we saw this weekend was 45'!

As well as looking at sports cruisers we also checked out a flybridge and I think I could seriously consider moving to one of those next. All I need is a lottery win (tricky since I don't play it) or a promotion or two. I had thought I had stopped being 'hungry' for promotion, but a desire for one of these lovely larger boats could easily change my mind. I can imagine how much fun it would be to helm one of these across the channel and then down to the Med.

It is nice to dream

We did take out some work colleagues out today on a fun jaunt across the Solent to Cowes, which was thankfully quiet and very pleasant. I am glad I chose today rather than yesterday to take them out though as the weather was just so much better!

 

[duncan]

dreaming is great fun!

on a more serious note I always believe that you should get a larger boat to do what you are already doing more comfortably, safely etc - not to do things you aren't already doing because your boats 'not big enough'

 

[hlb]

Why.

 

[duncan]

Why.

because a huge number of people get a bigger boat to do things when it's not the size of the boat that's the restricting factor.

generalisations are always dangerous, but I feel this one is pretty sound.

 

[volvopaul]

Although still in our first season of boating, SWMBO is already looking at much bigger boats 'for interest only' she said. The largest we saw this weekend was 45'!

As well as looking at sports cruisers we also checked out a flybridge and I think I could seriously consider moving to one of those next. All I need is a lottery win (tricky since I don't play it) or a promotion or two. I had thought I had stopped being 'hungry' for promotion, but a desire for one of these lovely larger boats could easily change my mind. I can imagine how much fun it would be to helm one of these across the channel and then down to the Med.

It is nice to dream

We did take out some work colleagues out today on a fun jaunt across the Solent to Cowes today, which was thankfully quiet and very pleasant. I am glad I chose today rather than yesterday to take them out though as the weather was just so much better!

With your wife in favour your already halfway to your dream boat, and you take out the workers could be classed as a charter so get it coded for the cheap fuel!

 

[Seahope]

because a huge number of people get a bigger boat to do things when it's not the size of the boat that's the restricting factor.

generalisations are always dangerous, but I feel this one is pretty sound.

Certainly my current boat is Channel capable, except perhaps if there is fog as it has no radar, but I know I'm not (yet).

I don't think a 30' boat is safe for the Bay of Biscay though and I would be interested to hear from experienced formites how big a boat needs to be to tackle that safely?

For myself, I need to learn basic diesel engine maintenance before I venture too far afield and gain more practical experience in close quarters boat manoevering - especially backwards into my berth

Even if I carried spare fuel filters, impellers etc. as recommended, at the moment I wouldn't know how to fit them. I have read a book on diesel engine maintenance but that is no substitute for having an experienced engineer to show me how and to ask the 'stupid' questions of.

 

[Seahope]

With your wife in favour your already halfway to your dream boat, and you take out the workers could be classed as a charter so get it coded for the cheap fuel!

You are assuming I charged them, which of course I didn't. I won't say I received nothing as it would have been rude not to accept their kind offer of a 'free' lunch for SHMBO and I, but only at a pub. I bought the ice creams later on though after our very pleasant stroll along the promenade

 

[volvopaul]

You are assuming I charged them, which of course I didn't. I won't say I received nothing as it would have been rude not to accept their offer of a 'free' lunch for SHMBO and I, but only at a pub. I bought the ice creams later on though after our very pleasant stroll along the promenade

Nice one, good luck with your hunt the world is you oyster at the moment for motor boats maybe a px is the answer, got avery nice phantom 46 fly I look after thats for sale if your in that bracket, pm me if you need an engine survey and seatrial etc.

 

[Seahope]

Nice one, good luck with your hunt the world is you oyster at the moment for motor boats maybe a px is the answer, got avery nice phantom 46 fly I look after thats for sale if your in that bracket, pm me if you need an engine survey and seatrial etc.

Yes, that was apparent. There are a lot of very nice boats available and some seem to me very keenly priced. While SWMBO likes the idea of a bigger boat I don't think she would let me buy once if I suggested it, probably it would lead to divorce

 

[duncan]

my post wasn't intended to reflect capabilities - boat or people.

however, in response to your question there are times when few sensible individuals would set out acroos Biscay in less than an aircraft carrier! the only real physical limitations for motor boats are fuel capacity and consumption, after that it's about the conditions, forecasts and, as you have rightly recognised, an approprite degree of self reliance and safety equipement (you cannot handle all possible mechanical issues from the perspective of 'fixing them', just as you can't ever have the safety equipement for every possible eventuality either (although a certain Happy1 on hear once set out to prove you could !)

You don't need radar to cross the channel, but without it you need to be sensitive to conditions and prepared to both turn back on the way out, and stay put on the way back if conditions suggest - unless your are hlb in which case you can't turn back without radar because of the black smoke...

My real point was that I have seen too many people get a 'bigger boat' because they think it will enable them to go places they haven't been - on the South Coast it generally only enables them to do the same thing but in more comfort, (slightly) worse conditions, maybe more safety and possibly more style...

Bishop's recent post on his trip had some relevance here - whilst on the othe side hlb's exploits over the years go a long way to illustrating the point that it's what you do with it that really counts.

I'm sure it will all work out well for you - and I'll but the beer in St PP nest spring

 

[Seahope]

my post wasn't intended to reflect capabilities - boat or people.

<snip>

I'm sure it will all work out well for you - and I'll but the beer in St PP nest spring

Duncan, thanks I will look forward to a beer with you in St. PP next Spring.

 

[hlb]

Although still in our first season of boating, SWMBO is already looking at much bigger boats 'for interest only' she said. The largest we saw this weekend was 45'!

As well as looking at sports cruisers we also checked out a flybridge and I think I could seriously consider moving to one of those next. All I need is a lottery win (tricky since I don't play it) or a promotion or two. I had thought I had stopped being 'hungry' for promotion, but a desire for one of these lovely larger boats could easily change my mind. I can imagine how much fun it would be to helm one of these across the channel and then down to the Med.

It is nice to dream

We did take out some work colleagues out today on a fun jaunt across the Solent to Cowes, which was thankfully quiet and very pleasant. I am glad I chose today rather than yesterday to take them out though as the weather was just so much better!

Well you wont be going to the Med for a start. Not impossible. But not really practical.

M Farter has cruised many times, from The Solent, at one end, to France Brittany, CI's, Scilly Isles, Wales, Ireland and IOM. Not forgetting Birmingham once. Oh and just up from Blackpool tower, Glasson Dock.

Most of it based in Plymouth, then a move up to Wales. All under her own steam and smoke.

You dont need a particularly big boat, or a new one. Well maintained and well founded yes.

Dont forget. An older say. 35 ft boat, is about the same as a newer 40ft boat, maybe even bigger. It's just that they dont measure the same way.

 

[MapisM]

Well you wont be going to the Med for a start. Not impossible. But not really practical.

Yeah, but. If we were interested in practicality, we wouldn't be boating at all I reckon...

 

[[2068]]

because a huge number of people get a bigger boat to do things when it's not the size of the boat that's the restricting factor.

generalisations are always dangerous, but I feel this one is pretty sound.

Tis not a good one, imho.

We have gone much further in the 28 than we ever did in the 24, cos it is twice the weight, two engines, and doesn't feel like you are about to die if you do get caught out in an F6.

It's incremental increases from 30ft upwards: A 35-38fter will probably get you to all the places you need to get to in sensible weather, and additional increments in size are adding the comfort and additional space factor.

 

[MapisM]

I can imagine how much fun it would be to helm one of these across the channel and then down to the Med.

If by "much fun" you mean in reaching new destinations, fine, but don't expect more fun from helming as such.
Actually, between a small(ish) sport boat and a big(ish) F/B, helming the latter is surely more boring than the first, AOTBE.

 

[AndieMac]

Seahope

Having fun in, or viewing your boat as 'suitable' doesn't mean you or the boat have to be capable of crossing large bodies of water.
You don't need to be beaten up in the Bay of Biscay to gain a sense of achievement.
If you are serious about exploring distant waterways, get a trailer for it, or have it transported.
The boat appears to be a good size for reasonable cost relocation expenses and berthage.
Sometimes taking the next big step in upsizing (and associated issues) also takes out the relaxed fun in what attracted some people to boating in the first place.

 

[AndieMac]

If by "much fun" you mean in reaching new destinations, fine, but don't expect more fun from helming as such.
Actually, between a small(ish) sport boat and a big(ish) F/B, helming the latter is surely more boring than the first, AOTBE.

Agree MM, sitting at the helm of a large passagemaker on auto-pilot, is like being on a long haul flight from Oz to Britain.
Being at the helm of a small mobo is more like a Cessna flight, negotiating air space between mountain tops and the cloud layer.

 

[duncan]

Tis not a good one, imho.

We have gone much further in the 28 than we ever did in the 24, cos it is twice the weight, two engines, and doesn't feel like you are about to die if you do get caught out in an F6.

In a sense your observation is pretty much exactly what I was trying to get across - you would appear to have gone off, presumably enjoyed the overall experience of 'cruising' and concluded that you would appreciate a bigger boat for more comfort and feelings of safety. Distance itself isn't really the issue - although leg length should certainly be a function of comfort and the ability to eat, drink etc on the move. Having run Plymouth to Poole in one afternoon last week (because the crew wanted to get home and the weather was worsening by the minute) I would have to be the first to agree that in a significantly larger boat the crew experience would have been very much more enjoyable (as of course would be the periods in port etc).