Reccomendations please

[Grantb]

Hi all, I'm looking into buying a speed boat for my family and I,(2 adults and a child of 7), we would like to be able to use it in lakes rivers and on the coast.
My budget is £5000 max, I want something big enough for us yet not to big that it takes up my whole drive! what should I be looking at???

Thanks' in advance.

 

[Wiggo]

Grant, whereabouts are you? Not many places in the UK where you could take a speedboat on lakes and rivers, I'm afraid.

 

[Grantb]

Hi I'm from bury in lancashire about an hour or so away from lake Windermere, I believe you can take boats on there but restricted to 12 knots...

 

[clydeoutboardservices]

also it depends on if you dont mind getting wet, will you need good storage etc i.e. a fast cabin cruiser ( slower but the most comfy and lots of storage) a speed boat ( half way between the other 2 options) or a rib ( great fun v good in waves but get wet a lot with v little storage)

Dave

 

[Ranworth breeze]

I agree that there is now no scope for a speedboat on engish lakes with the ruling on Windermere a fe years ago, my business partner now takes his speedboat up to Loch Lomond in Scotland there is no speed restriction on there other than the usual built up area's (a bit like it used to be on Windermere)

Regards
Alan Hood
Ranworth Breeze

 

[landlockedpirate]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Lots of places you can take a boat round here. Windermere is a great place to learn and the speed limit isnt as enforced as it used to be You can also use the River Lune in Lancaster, River Wyre at Stannah or Knot End and of course North Wales, all fantastic in there own way and no speed restrictions.

At 5k you have a huge range of options, so I will get the ball rolling. 17ft American bowrider, late 90's with inboard 5.0L mercruiser. Lots of space, will hold its value, can tow behind normal saloon and feels modern but I would not want to be in one on a lumpy sea.

Late 90's or early 00's Fletcher, outboard engine, less space than the bowrider but great hull and safer in a bit of rough water. Quite 'sparse' fit out.

Early 90's sub 20ft cuddy. Somewhere to get out of the rain, more protection if it gets rough, needs a bigger car to tow it. By this age they can be getting a bit tired.

Lower powered outboard cruiser (Shetland etc) good for all the area you have mentioned, lots of accomodation for the size but small cockpit, older than all the other suggestions and needs bigger car to tow it.

The more information you give us, the better suggestions the forum will make.

 

[Mike k]

Hi I'm from bury in lancashire about an hour or so away from lake Windermere, I believe you can take boats on there but restricted to 12 knots...

Grant

I am just up the road from you and enjoy lots ( well some in this soddin weather) of boating in Liverpool bay- i looked at all the local marinas and felt that for closeness liverpool was favourite- if you are trailiering you can get out through the marina on the slipway or at New brighton or at Knot End maybe other places but by going coastal you can get a good blast unlike the lake.

let me know if you need any info

good luck

Mike

 

[just add water]

Grant

spend some time having a good look around your budget is really spot on for what you want we live in bury and spend our life on windermere kids and there mates love it never be put off by the speed limit its down to common sense it really is spend a weekend on windermere and you see everything from jet ski ,water ski , mobos doing 35 knots but they are sensible with it we all live and enjoy the lake together if i were you i would look round the lake at what is for sale privately rather than all the over priced web sites what we did was hired one off the little hire boats trawled the lake looking at all the boats with for sale signs you wont believe what you will find it takes us an hour and 10 mins on a friday night to get there and with what you want to buy 3 mins to drop it in the water no mooring fees enjoy have one summer on the lake and it will get you it did us but you will hit one problem next season with all the family and friends that want to visit you at the weekend you will be back on the forum asking whats 6 berth should i buy
kenny

 

[Ranworth breeze]

The speed limit on Winderemere is 12mph outside of the three area's at the south and northern ends and Bowness which are down to 6mph.

The last poster is correct you have no problem launching these days at the slipway near to the ferry. We have been in the past before the speed limit when people were queuing all day to launch and nowhere to leave trailer and car. These days there is plenty of room to park both the trailer and car and there is hardly ever a wait to get into the water.

It is a pity that the Goverement and the qango that runs the lake district allowed the death of water sports and a downturn in the economy of the area.

Regards
Alan Hood
Ranworth Breeze Boat Syndicate
www.ranworthbreeze.co.uk