Our first year, and now we have a dilema.

[Ramage]

Last time out on the boat we had 5 teenagers (only one of whom was mine).
They have plans to borrow the boat....

However, it is true Marian and I went on the Bray upriver cruise as a crew of two. Lots of room for two on a 33 foot boat! We have pretty much sorted how two people can handle the boat in locks.

You know you want a bigger boat (sinks can be changed by the way). Look for Broom, Princess or Birchwood. Two engines for manoeverability, obviously diesel, preferably on shaft. You can redecorate/re-upholster the interior.

Enjoy boat shopping!

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

Last time out on the boat we had 5 teenagers (only one of whom was mine).
They have plans to borrow the boat....

However, it is true Marian and I went on the Bray upriver cruise as a crew of two. Lots of room for two on a 33 foot boat! We have pretty much sorted how two people can handle the boat in locks.

You know you want a bigger boat (sinks can be changed by the way). Look for Broom, Princess or Birchwood. Two engines for manoeverability, obviously diesel, preferably on shaft. You can redecorate/re-upholster the interior.

Enjoy boat shopping!

I don't hear many comments about Princess or Birchwood and have wondered why. A few Birchwoods look interesting sizewise...

 

[Ramage]

They have some at Bray & Penton. Look at as many boats as possible before deciding.

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

They have some at Bray & Penton. Look at as many boats as possible before deciding.

Definately.. We are going to write a list of what we want, then research which boats fit best, then start looking around and do some viewings.

 

[No Regrets]

Not just personal choice then...

No, it's amazing how wrong some people's 'personal choices' can be! Often boats are bought because of the way they look, instead of the way they function, which usually leads to a short ownership period.

You get the huge twin engined boats smoking around the upper Thames, never getting a chance to plane, creating loads of wash though, and so on...

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

No, it's amazing how wrong some people's 'personal choices' can be! Often boats are bought because of the way they look, instead of the way they function, which usually leads to a short ownership period.

You get the huge twin engined boats smoking around the upper Thames, never getting a chance to plane, creating loads of wash though, and so on...

They get the chance going tidal though. Best of both worlds. Being able to cruise the Thames in a boat they love, then going tidal having power enough to make it a thoroughly exciting and safer experience with engines that cope well. Wash is not an issue if the person in control is sensible and keeps to the speed limit on the Thames. Any boat on the Thames can cause too much wash if they choose to.

It is personal choice, and there is no right or wrong. Look at the amount of people that buy cars capable of immense speed, drive at 30 mph around town, then have to stick to the speed limits on the motorway. They have cars that look good and it makes them happy. Then theres the Nissan Micra people that tootle along at 30 everywhere..

What are you doing up at 4am?

 

[boatone]

Wash is not an issue if the person in control is sensible and keeps to the speed limit on the Thames.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. There are many boats on the river that cause unacceptable wash before they reach the 8 kilometres per hour, over the bed of the river speed limit. Also, when heading upriver against a flow, strictly observing the stated speed limit can result in a significantly higher speed through the water creating even more wash.

 

[Chris_d]

Unfortunately, this is not the case. There are many boats on the river that cause unacceptable wash before they reach the 8 knots, over the bed of the river speed limit. Also, when heading upriver against a flow, strictly observing the stated speed limit can result in a significantly higher speed through the water creating even more wash.

8 knots Tony you've been down with the muddites too long

 

[boatone]

8 knots Tony you've been down with the muddites too long

Oops yes, should be 8 kilometres per hour = approx 4.2 knots !

grovel, grovel, tugs forelock etc etc - original post now corrected.

What many people do not realise is that the byelaws do require people to take wash into account rather than just the speed limit itself:

Safe Speed 26 - The master of every vessel shall navigate such vessel at all times at a safe
speed and with due care and caution to prevent avoidable damage or unreasonable disturbance to persons, other vessels or moorings or the river banks and in such manner as to show reasonable consideration for all persons
and property in upon or about the Thames or the banks or towpaths thereof or any land of the Authority.

Maximum Speed 27 - The master shall not navigate a power-driven vessel at a speed over the bed of
the river greater than 8 kilometres per hour.

 

[Chill]

So the big question is Whats your budget?
You will struggle getting a bigger Sealine without a flybridge unless you go for one of their latest models!
Thing is most of the bigger boats will not give you any more accomadation than you have at the moment. We were looking for somthing with a third guest cabin but have given up for the moment as there is nothing suitable. That includes the Sealine F43 as the aft cabin bed is like sleeping in a coffin!
What we would like (Princess 45) will not go under Cookham or Windsor bridges and the earlier 460 is just too long.

 

[HONEYMOMMY]

So the big question is Whats your budget?
You will struggle getting a bigger Sealine without a flybridge unless you go for one of their latest models!
Thing is most of the bigger boats will not give you any more accomadation than you have at the moment. We were looking for somthing with a third guest cabin but have given up for the moment as there is nothing suitable. That includes the Sealine F43 as the aft cabin bed is like sleeping in a coffin!
What we would like (Princess 45) will not go under Cookham or Windsor bridges and the earlier 460 is just too long.

We are honestly not sure what we will choose, and will spend some time enjoying travelling round, climbing on wet and probably frozen pontoons during the next couple of months looking at anything that we think may be the one. If history repeats itself we will then end up buying the first one we looked at..

 

[Chris_d]

How about a Sealine 365, http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/U0hQVzAxLVNIVzEyMzl+U0hQVzAx=-Sealine_365_ambassador.html huge inside and now very cheap, large sports cruisers depsite what some will say do make very good river boats, large sociable cockpit and outdrives mean all those out of the way secluded riverbank moorings are accessable by tiliting the drives.

 

[dash300]

How about a Sealine 365, http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/U0hQVzAxLVNIVzEyMzl+U0hQVzAx=-Sealine_365_ambassador.html huge inside and now very cheap, large sports cruisers depsite what some will say do make very good river boats, large sociable cockpit and outdrives mean all those out of the way secluded riverbank moorings are accessable by tiliting the drives.

Nice boat up until you mentioned the word outdrives.

 

[Chris_d]

Nice boat up until you mentioned the word outdrives.

Wouldn't disagree shafts are fit and forget, but drives if working well offer a lot of avantages on the river, tilt up to access shallow moorings, remove rope plastic bags etc.... directable thrust and excellent manouverability, engines right aft so lots of room for mid cabins and large accomodation. Of course downsides are increased maintenance, but its not a deal breaker.

 

[Richard Shead]

How about a Sealine 365, http://www.boatshop24.co.uk/U0hQVzAxLVNIVzEyMzl+U0hQVzAx=-Sealine_365_ambassador.html huge inside and now very cheap, large sports cruisers depsite what some will say do make very good river boats, large sociable cockpit and outdrives mean all those out of the way secluded riverbank moorings are accessable by tiliting the drives.

depends if you went for the three engined job.....

 

[Chris_d]

depends if you went for the three engined job.....

"Triple ace" used to be a forum member, the boat lived above Cleeve lock, very economical on the centre engine only and superb handling with the two outside engines running.

 

[No Regrets]

You don't need much power for going tidal these days!

The speed limit all the way down to the barrier is 8knts down to Wandsworth and then 12knts thereafter I believe, and downstream of the Barrier, or even West India Dock, there's nothing to see for many many miles.

We happily nip down to the pool of London on only 50hp, trundling down at 8-9mph where possible (And trust me, the Rowers and moored boats can limit a surprising amount of that trip!) with utter reliability, and the single screw has never picked up anything, as the keel tends to knock most stuff out of the way first.

I have never wanted any more power (And it wouldn't make any difference with a displacement hull anyway) and on the upper reaches cruise along in silence at the limit using virtually no fuel.

Sometimes, less is more.

After watching at least three friends with outdrives have to spend a lot of money with smashed props, debris removal and rather nasty emergency calls due to water ingress, I would never buy a boat with outdrives, full stop.

 

[CX54WEK]

You don't need much power for going tidal these days!

The speed limit all the way down to the barrier is 8knts down to Wandsworth and then 12knts thereafter I believe, and downstream of the Barrier, or even West India Dock, there's nothing to see for many many miles.

We happily nip down to the pool of London on only 50hp, trundling down at 8-9mph where possible (And trust me, the Rowers and moored boats can limit a surprising amount of that trip!) with utter reliability, and the single screw has never picked up anything, as the keel tends to knock most stuff out of the way first.

I have never wanted any more power (And it wouldn't make any difference with a displacement hull anyway) and on the upper reaches cruise along in silence at the limit using virtually no fuel.

Sometimes, less is more.

After watching at least three friends with outdrives have to spend a lot of money with smashed props, debris removal and rather nasty emergency calls due to water ingress, I would never buy a boat with outdrives, full stop.

Props send them away for refurbing change them in the water.

Debris removal again can be done in the water.

Water ingress can happen on any boat however it is propelled.

Give me outdrives every time. We can sneak into many a mooring that a deeper drafted shaft driven boat couldnt dream of getting onto.

 

[Chris_d]

Props send them away for refurbing change them in the water.

Debris removal again can be done in the water.

Water ingress can happen on any boat however it is propelled.

Give me outdrives every time. We can sneak into many a mooring that a deeper drafted shaft driven boat couldnt dream of getting onto.

Lets not start a shaft vs outdrive war but certainly shouldn't close your mind to either option, they have pro's and con's, I have owned both and yes drives are a pain to maintian but offer advantages on the river. Have had a deep draft shaft drive boat rafted off me many times as there was no other option for them.

 

[No Regrets]

Five years on shafts, zero maintenance costs, zero damage, zero debris.

Whats your score....

I need 2'6" and thats for thirty feet of very heavy duty GRP with over 5 tonnes displacement. I doubt you have any advantage!