Next Boat

[TerrifiedTony]

Firstly can I thank all of the regulars on here, I have learned more about boating (well at least in terminology) from these forums in just a few nights reading than I could have hoped for.

The problem is of course that it is only in the mind, shafts v outdrives, planing v semi-displacement, diesel v petrol (at least that ones easy!) etc etc. What I really need is experience and thats where you lot come in !

Six months ago I decided flying lessons were solitary and expensive so decided to drop the solitary part and I bought a Shadow 26, for most of you on here that means 5 knots max on a single 43 HP Volvo Diesel. However, the damage is now done, I love the sociable aspect of boating and I am timidly looking forward to getting estuary/sea bound but have only just started the day skipper courses.

My big worry is that after pootling around at 4 knots for 6 months I may not actually enjoy anything more adventurous so my question is (finally) what is so wrong in buying a Sealine 310 for use solely on the Thames if I turn out be be a big sissy. I know the outdrives will be more expensive to service but will it really be impossible to maneuver due to the planing hull, if so why do I see so many going in reasonably straight lines every weekend ?

I have looked at most mainstream manufacturers boats that I can afford and unfortunately most of the ones I can afford (75K ish) that are semi displacement do seem a little dated...does brown draylon ring a bell with anyone ?

Anyway, perhaps a long winded way of asking for advice on moving from a starter boat which has been a perfect introduction into something of an unknown future boating career.

Stands back and waits to be blasted about the draylon !

Thanks
Tony

 

[joanne2]

We have followed a similar pattern although without the flying lessons ! Enjoyed two great years at Bray Marina with our previous and first boat, a Birchwood 25. Sold her early September. We have over some time looked at many drayloned, neglected and smelly boats whilst trying to work out what we really wanted and afford (affording it is the difficult bit which we did not think about too much!). Ended up looking at older and larger boats which generally were as above and compromised on Fairline Corniche with shafts which should suit us well. We love being on the river and therefore wish to be sensible over size (and as ever cost) yet still have a reasonably modern craft. As per my post we wish to go to sea, although like you we are a bit scared and again the diesel thing and shafts seem sensible. Everyone we spoke to advised against strendrives and petrols for our envisaged use. Talk to the sales people at Bray who have a sensible view (we are buying elsewhere but Domonic's and Mark's advice very useful). Good luck and make sure you really know what you are aiming for and something will come up. It took us about a year to work it out and I think we are doing the correct thing !

 

[byron]

Personally I think the boat you have at present is ideal for the Thames, the Sealine 310 you will find a bit skittish at slow speeds and not the best bet as a dual purpose craft.

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[oldgit]

Re: Next Boat(s)

Everyone here can give you vital info on boat buying,but sooner or later buyer fatique will set in and out of desperation the purchase of whatever boat comes closest to your present requirements will fit the bill.
You can console yourself with the knowledge that over the coming few years, any decisions you may have to take about the purchase of your next half dozen boats will not get any easier.
You just make a different set of mistakes.
Go ahead and buy whatever takes your fancy at the time. It will almost certainly be not quite right anyway.
Getting on to the water is the main thing however you achieve it. IMHO

B.....y hell where did all that wash come from.
Er looks like a B....m to me.

 

[burgundyben]

I have first hand experience of driving a 310, it was a bastard to park, as Byron says, you'll find it v skittish at low speeds, the 310 replaced the 305 and in that sense was a vast improvement, but the build quality of older sealines is not great, probly ok on a river though, the one I drove got bashed to cherbourg and back from the solent on a regular basis and fell apart alot. An awful lot, I know as it was my job to fix it.

For sale, 1970 Triumph Spitfire-sold, 1947 Lambretta, 1922 Great grandmother, PM for details.

 

[burgundyben]

BTW, great user name.

For sale, 1970 Triumph Spitfire-sold, 1947 Lambretta, 1922 Great grandmother, PM for details.

 

[Guest]

Re: Next Boat(s)

"and out of desperation the purchase of whatever boat comes closest to your present
requirements will fit the bill."
Is that how you ended up with the P33 then. Before you looked at Brooms I guess

"The Med has got me" (no not the Medway the other Med)

 

[Guest]

Their right about the 310 being a bit skittish on Thames in cross winds what with planning
hull / out drives.
I would'nt worry too much about what the boat looks like, the Birchwood 33 makes a good river boat
twin diesels on shafts, aft cabin for comfort plus keel, makes it easier to handle
If you intend spending many nights on board you will soon want for better accomodation.

My first boat Princess 32 was a fine boat but missus soon got fed up with limited accomodation
so short listed 5 aft cabin boats, sent the list to Bob Dale at Penton Hook (who I bought the P32
from) The Broom 37 came along, and has proved to be excellent to handle, great accomodation
plus a good sea boat. Pity shes up for sale (only cos I moving abroad)

"The Med has got me" (no not the Medway the other Med)

 

[oldgit]

Re: Next Boat(s)

Could not afford the curtain cleaning bill plus when you buy a broom people speak to you in a LOUD voice asking if you want to sit down or need to use the toilet,and ask if they can collect your pension/shopping etc.

B.....y hell where did all that wash come from.
Er looks like a B....m to me.

 

[Guest]

Re: Next Boat(s)

Thats rich coming from someone who calls himself Oldgit

"The Med has got me" (no not the Medway the other Med)

 

[TerrifiedTony]

Re: Next Boat(s)

Thanks for the comments so far, sorry for the delay in rejoining the debate but I couldn't resist dashing down to Bray from Warwick to see if the part exchange was actually where I left it ! It was so the search continues.

Couple of points..yes Joanne I do/did use the people at Bray. Mark sold me the Shadow and Dominic is always open to offering advice but even he has a level where my novice questions start to make his eyes glaze over ! Thats why I have found this forum so useful, type a word into the search engine and off you go with page after page of wit and wisdom.

I think on balance the replies have proved what I already suspected there is no one size fits all answer in boating and I will defer to oldgits advice, grit my teeth (and cheque book) and make at least a slightly better guess than I would have done what now seems a lifetime ago and then get ready to do it all again in a year or so's time. At least I know the Sealine wouldn't have been right for me just now so I will think again based on comments. So watch out for Lazy Dreamer she may be tranformed from a Shadow 26 into a Broom 37, I am quite looking forward to all the people on the Thames treating me with the respect my age deserves..not sure about being shouted at though.

Thanks, I will watch for an opportunity to add to the wisdom of this forum one day.

TT

 

[halcyon]

Re: Next Boat(s)

One observation, before you right off any boat , if you thought you liked it, get a trial before you right it off.
What suits one person may not suit you, thers must be around 500 sealine 30/305/310's running on lnland lakes, rivers, estuaries, and open sea, as they are not all on the market, some other people who sail them must like them and think them satisfactory.
By getting a trip out, you have lost nothing, but have gained experience, from this you can judge your next choice. If you think a Broome 37 is the boat for you, do a search, find one on a river and one at sea, go and have a trip out, could be that you spend 2 years saving for something you do not like when you get it.
At the end of the day it's your boat, not the forums


Brian

 

[TerrifiedTony]

Re: Next Boat(s)

Thanks Brian, I was only joking about the Broom! I agree with your comments and in a way thats what oldgit (why do I always feel guilty typing that name ) was saying and I agree. The big problem is of course that I know of no Broker that will let you try out a boat unless you hand over a 10% deposit. I well understand there are thousands of fender kickers out there and someone once described the Bray/Windsor/RYB marinas as the land of dreams but I think any salesman worth his commisssion should recognise the difference between genuine interest and someone living in lah lah land.

As a relative newcomer I find it amazing that I can't try two or three boats with different configurations before I hand over 75 K. I am sure oldgit is right about making mistakes but it should be easier than this !

Off the soapbox now......

 

[halcyon]

Re: Next Boat(s)

Tony

Out of interest spoke to one of my contacts at RYB, if they have a 305/310 in for sale that is on the water, and you are concidered genuine, they are most happy to take you out, no deposit required.

Call in you have nothing to lose.

Brian

 

[TerrifiedTony]

Re: Next Boat(s)

Hi Brian

Thanks for the info simply proves life is full of coincidences. That 310 is the boat that started this thread and I am in direct contact with the owner and have asked RYB to pop round and give me a part-ex value on the Shadow.

I know I am talking against myself a little here but the idea of asking for advice on here was to avoid wasting RYBs time if it wasn't suitable. I think some good has come out of the exchanges and that is a) enhanced my appreciation of the boating fraternity and b) made me realise you simply have to have the courage of your own convictions after listening to all the advice.

Its interesting that although RYB have made this offer what I would really like to do is take out Oktagaon (310 66K) Jaymar (328 72k) and Chouha (S28 75k) and see what the differences for the money are etc etc. If RYB would do that I would be almost obliged to buy one of them.....wouldn't I ?

Cheers
Tony

 

[nicho]

Re: Next Boat(s)

I can concur with that - we have owned 5 different Sealines( the latest an S37 - now sold and going to a sailing boat instead!), all bought from RYB. They usually have a good choice of second hand boats, and having a run in any of them that are on site is not a problem (usually includes a quick sprint onto the plane as well -SSssshhh!!) We were on the Thames for five years and had a 255, 290, 310 Statesman and F33 until we went to the Solent (Hythe Marina). The boats all had outdrives, and were not a problem direction wise. Bear in mind fuel costs if you are going to sea eventually, and choose one with diesels. Whilst these generally do not like travelling distances at tickover, the cost of petrol at planing speeds does not bear thinking about!!

I can also recommend Phil Hutchins at Hutchins Marine Services (see ads in MBY Magazine). - he's as honest a broker as you will get (he's ex Sales Director of TYB)

 

[halcyon]

Re: Next Boat(s)

Glad to see you making some progress.

Really a case of deciding what you want to use the boat for, and then deciding which will meet your criteria. I'm biased, having loved the 30 from 1984 when it came out, it does offer all year boating if a heater is fitted, was as a sport boat is Summer based.

If you have any charging/switchgear question on the 310 or 328, drop us a PM.

Brian

 

[oldgit]

Re: Next Boat(s)

Def a good idea to try before you buy.Most on forum are happy to take people out on their pride and joy and will do it for just the fun of giving you a demo.
Clive was kind enough to take me for a run in his B***m and I can now appreciate the advantages of that particular type of boat.
When I am very very old and rich I may buy one,but being young and able to move without the aid of a zimmer, it will have to wait.
Try to look at all types of boats and try to see beyond what may be superficial attractions of certain styles of craft.Practicality and ease of use are in my opinion more important than styling.Ie can you get to the front of the boat without having tightrope or contortionist skills.

B.....y hell where did all that wash come from.
Er looks like a B....m to me.