Newbie questions (please be tolerant!)

[NobbySideways]

Hi there,

I'm Jon, live in Dorset not very far from Poole. I've been out a number of times on my friends Cuddy boat over the past two or three years and realise this is definitely for me. I'm keen to get out there (planning to do my RYA Powerboat 2 shortly) but would welcome some advice please.

I think at my budget I need something I can store at home on the drive, which means it needs to be capable of being towed by someone who can barely park in a supermarket (me). As a result I was looking for something along the lines of a Shetland 500, or Mayland Maestro. My budget is £2000 tomorrow, or more if I wait and desperately save my pennies. Realistically I think I'm looking to spend about £3500 in around 8 to 12 months. The boat would be used for weekends and short holidays as a couple, so basic accommodation for two would be perfect, but able to carry my family (four of us). I've no real interest in sail; I tried it and didn't enjoy it to be honest. I'm also not worried about speed; comfortably puttering along suits me fine. Outboard preferred so I can take it into my garage to service and maintain. So on to my questions:

1) Would you say I'm looking in the right direction? Is this the sort of boat that suits my needs/budget? Would this be suitable for trips along the coastline?
2) Can you suggest some makes/models to look for please?
3) Are there any common pitfalls you would care to share?
4) Any other help or guidance?

I'm very grateful for any assistance you can render. Many thanks.

 

[jfm]

Sounds good
Your suggested boats fit the bill, and zillions are for sale all over the internet. modern outboards are good
I would just stop and think whether you really want accommodation, ie beds. You could, and that's fine, but are you really going to sleep on it with no heating, shower, loo? And with your home up the road? As you live close by, why not get a great day boat, eg a 6 metre RIB or something. You can fill that with 2,4,6 people and have a great blast, then moor up by a pub for lunch, (because you're not going to have a great kitchen in the shetland anyway).
I'm only throwing this in as food for thought and if you are sure you want a cabin and sleeping space then go for it.
There will be lots of good suggestions on here so ask away, and I hope your plan comes together

The main pitfall is that boating is addictive. We all started out innocently with Shetland 500 or similar, then ten years on you find you have a near cruise ship, crew on the payroll, and fuel delivered by articulated tanker lorry. Take care....!

 

[BruceK]

Bump.

Hi and welcome to the forum. I'd have to be honest and say that at your budget you will be looking at a project boat that you will in all likelihood need to spend more money to fix up. Things you will need to be wary of will be deck, stringer and transom rot. Bear in mind that an auxiliary engine, radio and lifesaving equipment will also add a significant amount to your required budget. Be wary of getting a canal or river boat in your haste to have a cuddy accommodation. I would maybe compromise unless you can get a larger budget together and go for a day trip boat. For 3.5k you'd get a reasonable condition SeaHog Hunter 15' or Wilson Flyer etc that have a good rep for sea kindliness. Again check for any transom or deck rot. Most of the boats in this class have significant wood content in their composite and liable to rot if they havent been cared for properly.

EDIT > JFM beat me to it but I agree with him.

 

[BruceK]

Sounds good
The main pitfall is that boating is addictive. We all started out innocently with Shetland 500 or similar, then ten years on you find you have a near cruise ship, crew on the payroll, and fuel delivered by articulated tanker lorry. Take care....!

This is true. I started out with a 19 foot speed boat cuddy also in your price range. A Sea Ray Seville that in addition to a two berth cuddy could fold it's cockpit seating flat for two more and with a canopy was passable for a overnight camper. It lasted me a year before I ended up with something several time in order of magnitude. Surprisingly it was a great little inshore sea boat, and rather versatile, so shows that sometimes thinking slightly outside the norm can work too.

 

[rbmatthews]

We've had a lot of fun with our Shetland F4, both in doing it up for what we want, and for the trips we have done in it. It's not for everyone, but having something easily trailerable gives you a lot of options of where to go. We've lived on it for 2-3 weeks each year for the last nine years too.

Have a look at our blog below if you are interested.

 

[gjgm]

South coast is expensive..I am not up to date with launching fees around Poole, but I suggest you check as it will bite hard into your budget. Poole Harbour can advise, no doubt.
Also, trail from home is indeed the cheapest, but any trailer with brakes will need alot of maintenance -stuck into to salt water is not helpful! Just do an Internet search on trailers to see 1000 quid will be a basic second hand trailer , never mind the boat !
What you will be buying in terms of assets is, essentially, the engine and trailer, not the boat- the hull is almost worthless !!
Fuel, repairs,launching, even messing about in Poole Harbour will be a big chunk of your initial outlay. ...can be done,but go in with eyes wide open!

 

[XPS]

I would consider JFMs suggestion of a rib, just make sure it has a decent size console and screen so you can duck out of the UK weather ..

 

[CLB]

Its gonna be tough to find a usable package for £2k. Don't dismiss a decent boat sitting on a good trailer but without engine. Most of the engines on these old boats are wrecked anyway so getting a bargain because it doesn't have an engine could work in your favour. You don't want to go fast so you could pick up a nice used four stroke 9.9 or 15 which should be reliable, cheap to run and quiet compared to the old smokey two stroke usually associated with £2k boats. Just had a quick look on ebay to see what's on offer and the best that I can see at the moment is this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shetland-...170541?hash=item4b021f91ad:g:cGsAAOSwepJXVdi2
Its a bit over budget but I reckon a couple of hundred over your £2k would get it.

 

[NobbySideways]

Some excellent answers, food for thought and great advice. Many thanks to you all.

I'm quite happy with a certain amount of Fixing up, thats part of the appeal (just finished a ground up resto of a Triumph GT6 and looking forward to learning new skills). As for spending the night on it, I do think thats quite a big part for us, but agree there is some flexbility in what we want.

Thanks again for your help, especially those who have suggested possible boat types and supplied their own experiences. I'll be reading the blogs and such tonight.

One point, CLB mentions engine choices. I don't really have much concept of the size of engine suitable for a boat of the size I'm looking at. Whats the power envelop you chaps would suggest? 10 to 30hp? Wider? Smaller?

Thank you

 

[Bigplumbs]

Its gonna be tough to find a usable package for £2k. Don't dismiss a decent boat sitting on a good trailer but without engine. Most of the engines on these old boats are wrecked anyway so getting a bargain because it doesn't have an engine could work in your favour. You don't want to go fast so you could pick up a nice used four stroke 9.9 or 15 which should be reliable, cheap to run and quiet compared to the old smokey two stroke usually associated with £2k boats. Just had a quick look on ebay to see what's on offer and the best that I can see at the moment is this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shetland-...170541?hash=item4b021f91ad:g:cGsAAOSwepJXVdi2
Its a bit over budget but I reckon a couple of hundred over your £2k would get it.

The boat in that link is excellent value and looks in very good condition. Only thing looking at the pics I am not sure if that is a road legal trailer. Very nice engine included for that price. I would snap that little boat up quickly

Dennis

 

[maverickofpoole]

You should be able to find something suitable within the top end of your budget.
All the boats suggested would be suitable for your suggested use but would only sleep 2 or be ok for 4 on days out.

Safety should be your prime concern so allow for decent life jackets vhf radio and maybe flares

Don't forget to allow for slipway charges which can be quite high eg an annual pass for Cobbs Quay (very good slip and parking) is I believe around £500. The local slip at Baiter is a long shallow slip which can make launch and retrieve difficult at times especially as it tend to get very busy, cheaper though at about £10 a time including parking and daily harbour dues.

Some information about Poole Harbour http://www.phc.co.uk/leisure_pw.html

If you need more info about boating in Poole just ask, I have been playing on the water here for over 40 years :encouragement:

 

[mm42]

In terms of budget a few things not to forget:

* LIfejackets for all your crew, and a couple of rearming kits, cheaper lifejackets have water soluble pellets to fire them and if you take a big wave over the bow, or they get left in a wet area (lockers etc) they can fire, you'd not want to go to sea with one crew not having one, nor would you want to lose a day's fun whilst you try and find a replacement, so have a few spares.
* VHF Radio, a boat mounted set transmits with much more power than a handheld so has more range, the aerial is usually much higher too, so further range. A handheld (from £50) is a wise backup in case you lose power.
* Your Short Range Certificate, essentially the training and licence to use the VHF radio.
* Basic safety gear, flares etc
* Some decent waterproof clothes, in an open boat if a wind or swell picks up you don't want to be dripping. Sailing kit can be expensive so have a look at eBay for bargains, lots of people take up boating then run out of time or money so sell their kit on. Alternatively general outdoor gear will do the job without attracting boat tax.
* Seastart membership, akin to AA/RAC cover for the sea, a prudent choice when buying an older boat

Have fun finding the right boat for you, don't rush in (easier said than done!) and enjoy, being out on the water is great fun.

 

[mlines]

Poole slipway charges:

Cobbs Quay = £50

Rockley Park = £40

Baiters = Free (but you pay a car-park charge)

There are a couple of others (Salterns - do not seem to welcome trailer boaters), one on the Wareham river which is nearly an hour from the sea.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Poole slipway charges:

Cobbs Quay = £50

Rockley Park = £40

Baiters = Free (but you pay a car-park charge)

There are a couple of others (Salterns - do not seem to welcome trailer boaters), one on the Wareham river which is nearly an hour from the sea.

Those slip fees are very expensive in my view (apart from the free one of course)

Dennis

 

[wipe_out]

Cobbs Quay have a season ticket for the slipway which if I remember was £550 for unlimited use of the slipway.. So if you think you will launch more than 11 times in a season then that maybe an option..

My brother uses Baiter to launch his jet ski and 19ft bow rider because it's cheap but the slipway is very shallow so you have to take the boat/trailer out a long way, by hand, to launch and the same when you return.. You can't launch straight off the back of the car meaning you need some crew with you.. Also means it's pointless for larger boats that can't be man handled..

This season we have our boat in Rockley Park boat yard on the trailer and it includes unlimited use of the slipway and saves the hassle of towing through the season.. If you are short handed they will launch and recover with the tractor and jet wash the boat for you when you get back, this costs an additional £20 per time.. This is great if you are going solo or want to get going quickly..

In the winter we will store the boat on the driveway at home..

 

[NobbySideways]

I think it might be Baiter we were launching from with my friends boat. I struggled a little bit there as I am missing my right leg, I'll have a little look around. I've got a fair while before I pounce as I want to do my courses, and of course the dreaded trailer towing course...

Thanks to everyone who has assisted.

 

[Bigplumbs]

I think it might be Baiter we were launching from with my friends boat. I struggled a little bit there as I am missing my right leg, I'll have a little look around. I've got a fair while before I pounce as I want to do my courses, and of course the dreaded trailer towing course...

Thanks to everyone who has assisted.

Trailer towing is no real biggie. After a short while that will come naturally.

One golden rule. When reversing and looking in your mirrors. Have your hand at the bottom of the wheel and move you hand in what ever direction you want the rear of the trailer to go

Dennis