LeeME3
Member
Hi, been lurking for a year or so but finally got round to joining proper. I very much enjoy reading the huge diversity of posts on here.
I’m into my second year of boat ownership and the inevitable ‘upgradeitis’ is starting to bite! Current boat is a Palomino 24 with a Perkins 4108. I know the P24 is just a basic boat with limited abilities but she has been perfect for my first year and we’ve had lots of fun in her, 150 hours in 14 months (inc 6 out of the water) so we’re getting the use of her. More importantly she’s been a great boat to learn on. I’m Thames based so the Perkins is fine for the speeds I want to do. She is 4 berth but all in one cabin and is more a floating camper van than a boat you’d want to spend more than 3 or 4 days living on. I’ve restored several classic camper vans so do have some transferable maintenance skills, I’ve sorted the electrics and am slowly improving the body work.
Anyway we’d like something a bit bigger next, but interior accommodation is the requirement rather than length per se. A separate cabin for the main bed and a shower would be nice together with a slightly bigger galley with space for a fridge. Also really want a sociable outdoor area for up to 6 if poss.
I’m not fussed about getting up on the plane and doing 25 knots but, equally, the ability to go tidal / coast hopping would be good as I certainly explore further each year. I guess 10-12 kts off-shore (but not out of sight of land) would be nice especially if it can be achieved with relatively decent economy. The posts about huge twin engines planing at 0.8 MPG are fascinating but the thought of over £2000 in fuel alone to get out of the Thames and along the south coast isn’t for me just yet! Fully aware that no boat can do everything I’ll accept more compromise on sea abilities than river as she will still be river used 80-90% of time. Mitigation will be only going coastal in decent weather!
I’m comfortable with one well looked after engine but not at all averse to 2. Must be diesel though. Would prefer shafts but accept legs are more likely in this sector.
I see a lot of nice 30-35ft cruisers on the Thames that look lovely but on closer inspection they often have twin engines totalling 300+ hp. Surely that’s actually quite difficult to keep slow enough on the river??? Also those boats seems to have planing hulls so, again, are they not a bit of a pain to sail at displacement speeds? I wonder if say 2 engines totalling 150-250hp is where I need to be.
I quite like flybridge (fully accepting bridge height issues and wind effect) - Princess 30DS looks a nice boat but, again, isn’t it really designed for sea use and therefore a pain on a river? I guess I really want a semi-displacement hull but they seem few and far between.
Budget up to £30k, bit more if I don’t change for a few months. So, grateful for any thoughts and ideas. And feel free to correct any of the assumptions I’ve made above!
Meanwhile, I suspect shall continue emhiyng my P24 and intend to take advantage of her small size to get under Osney bridge in one direction and down the K&A in the other while I can!
I’m into my second year of boat ownership and the inevitable ‘upgradeitis’ is starting to bite! Current boat is a Palomino 24 with a Perkins 4108. I know the P24 is just a basic boat with limited abilities but she has been perfect for my first year and we’ve had lots of fun in her, 150 hours in 14 months (inc 6 out of the water) so we’re getting the use of her. More importantly she’s been a great boat to learn on. I’m Thames based so the Perkins is fine for the speeds I want to do. She is 4 berth but all in one cabin and is more a floating camper van than a boat you’d want to spend more than 3 or 4 days living on. I’ve restored several classic camper vans so do have some transferable maintenance skills, I’ve sorted the electrics and am slowly improving the body work.
Anyway we’d like something a bit bigger next, but interior accommodation is the requirement rather than length per se. A separate cabin for the main bed and a shower would be nice together with a slightly bigger galley with space for a fridge. Also really want a sociable outdoor area for up to 6 if poss.
I’m not fussed about getting up on the plane and doing 25 knots but, equally, the ability to go tidal / coast hopping would be good as I certainly explore further each year. I guess 10-12 kts off-shore (but not out of sight of land) would be nice especially if it can be achieved with relatively decent economy. The posts about huge twin engines planing at 0.8 MPG are fascinating but the thought of over £2000 in fuel alone to get out of the Thames and along the south coast isn’t for me just yet! Fully aware that no boat can do everything I’ll accept more compromise on sea abilities than river as she will still be river used 80-90% of time. Mitigation will be only going coastal in decent weather!
I’m comfortable with one well looked after engine but not at all averse to 2. Must be diesel though. Would prefer shafts but accept legs are more likely in this sector.
I see a lot of nice 30-35ft cruisers on the Thames that look lovely but on closer inspection they often have twin engines totalling 300+ hp. Surely that’s actually quite difficult to keep slow enough on the river??? Also those boats seems to have planing hulls so, again, are they not a bit of a pain to sail at displacement speeds? I wonder if say 2 engines totalling 150-250hp is where I need to be.
I quite like flybridge (fully accepting bridge height issues and wind effect) - Princess 30DS looks a nice boat but, again, isn’t it really designed for sea use and therefore a pain on a river? I guess I really want a semi-displacement hull but they seem few and far between.
Budget up to £30k, bit more if I don’t change for a few months. So, grateful for any thoughts and ideas. And feel free to correct any of the assumptions I’ve made above!
Meanwhile, I suspect shall continue emhiyng my P24 and intend to take advantage of her small size to get under Osney bridge in one direction and down the K&A in the other while I can!
