nicho
Well-known member
Just thought I'd let you know, that as an ex stinkie, now owning a sail boat, and having just returned from 10 days in a Haines 38 (hired motor boat - looks like a Broom, and actually very nice) on the Shannon, I can confirm that I will be sticking to a boat with stick and rag.
Understanding we were either on a river or Lough (though Lough Derg is 24 miles long and very lively indeed in an F6), the boaty bit was totally boring - nothing to do, no sails to trim, nothing. We had a great time nevertheless accompanied by a couple of (motor) boaty friends, watching the "no experience" crews of hire boats up to 40' long, with a single, low powered engine, and no help from a bowthruster, try to get into the locks in a F6/7 - complete and utter carnage, but (I'm ashamed to say) VERY funny. These guys, never having been on any boat before, get 15 minutes of tuition only, and many had no idea of even how to tie up a boat!! I felt sorry for the owners of their own boats on the Shannon, who live in fear of being savaged by the hire boats, and they often are!!
The weather was crap, with unbelievably strong winds (up to F9 in the gusts on a couple of days), and very heavy rain - two days of sunshine in 10!. The Guinness was a good as ever though.
No, we'll be sticking with sailing.......!
<hr width=100% size=1>
Understanding we were either on a river or Lough (though Lough Derg is 24 miles long and very lively indeed in an F6), the boaty bit was totally boring - nothing to do, no sails to trim, nothing. We had a great time nevertheless accompanied by a couple of (motor) boaty friends, watching the "no experience" crews of hire boats up to 40' long, with a single, low powered engine, and no help from a bowthruster, try to get into the locks in a F6/7 - complete and utter carnage, but (I'm ashamed to say) VERY funny. These guys, never having been on any boat before, get 15 minutes of tuition only, and many had no idea of even how to tie up a boat!! I felt sorry for the owners of their own boats on the Shannon, who live in fear of being savaged by the hire boats, and they often are!!
The weather was crap, with unbelievably strong winds (up to F9 in the gusts on a couple of days), and very heavy rain - two days of sunshine in 10!. The Guinness was a good as ever though.
No, we'll be sticking with sailing.......!
<hr width=100% size=1>
