jhr
Well-known member
After months of delay and prevarication, I have finally succumbed to insanity - and soon, bankruptcy - and I am now the proud owner of a 2 year old Sea Ray 215. We need to rename her, and Mrs jhr has suggested “At Last” as a suitable name. I can’t think what she means.
I picked her up on Saturday and took a run down Southampton Water and round to the Beaulieu River – perfect conditions and a smooth comfortable ride, getting about 24 knots at 3250 rpm, with plenty more in hand, reinforcing the impressions I gained during the sea trial a week or so back. A bit of a chop off Lepe Spit was handled reassuringly, but with a deep V hull and fairly heavy build, it’s what I would have expected. In any event, I don’t intend to go out headbanging in rough weather just yet (if at all), though I think she’d cope with it better than a lot of small sports boats. The 5.0l Merc is obviously going to imbibe petrol with enthusiasm but early indications are 3 – 3.5 mpg at cruising speed, which I can live with.
It’s interesting, incidentally, what some people regard as essentials. According to the Brokers, the vendor was eager to point out that she is equipped with lots of kit which, in a way, is true (CD player, extra seat in the cockpit, lots of covers etc.). But, at the risk of disinterring an old chestnut, I’ve had to get flares, VHF, and a fire extinguisher (the engine has an auto system, of course, but there was nothing in the cockpit). I will also be getting a GPS if I ever have any money again though this is a luxury, rather than a necessity – we managed OK with a chart, almanac and compass at the weekend….
However, there has already been enough discussion hereabouts on the subject of how much kit you need on a boat of this size, methinks. I am not ordering the toaster just yet. ;o)
Did we have fun? Oh yes, indeedy, although incipient hysteria and new boat nerves on my part weren’t helped by the fact that we were followed up the Beaulieu River by Tom Cunliffe in Westernman, who was probably observing every c*ck up I made and who will no doubt write them up in a YM article very, very soon. Still, I didn’t hit anyone, so my boat handling skills have not entirely atrophied with age and neglect.
So – a pretty good day, all things considered.
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I picked her up on Saturday and took a run down Southampton Water and round to the Beaulieu River – perfect conditions and a smooth comfortable ride, getting about 24 knots at 3250 rpm, with plenty more in hand, reinforcing the impressions I gained during the sea trial a week or so back. A bit of a chop off Lepe Spit was handled reassuringly, but with a deep V hull and fairly heavy build, it’s what I would have expected. In any event, I don’t intend to go out headbanging in rough weather just yet (if at all), though I think she’d cope with it better than a lot of small sports boats. The 5.0l Merc is obviously going to imbibe petrol with enthusiasm but early indications are 3 – 3.5 mpg at cruising speed, which I can live with.
It’s interesting, incidentally, what some people regard as essentials. According to the Brokers, the vendor was eager to point out that she is equipped with lots of kit which, in a way, is true (CD player, extra seat in the cockpit, lots of covers etc.). But, at the risk of disinterring an old chestnut, I’ve had to get flares, VHF, and a fire extinguisher (the engine has an auto system, of course, but there was nothing in the cockpit). I will also be getting a GPS if I ever have any money again though this is a luxury, rather than a necessity – we managed OK with a chart, almanac and compass at the weekend….
However, there has already been enough discussion hereabouts on the subject of how much kit you need on a boat of this size, methinks. I am not ordering the toaster just yet. ;o)
Did we have fun? Oh yes, indeedy, although incipient hysteria and new boat nerves on my part weren’t helped by the fact that we were followed up the Beaulieu River by Tom Cunliffe in Westernman, who was probably observing every c*ck up I made and who will no doubt write them up in a YM article very, very soon. Still, I didn’t hit anyone, so my boat handling skills have not entirely atrophied with age and neglect.
So – a pretty good day, all things considered.
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