Recommend me...

[ST840]

An 11-12m motorboat that my wife and I can moor relatively easily in or around the Hamble/Beaulieu or Cowes/Folly area, and live aboard. Not looking for a modern plastic fantastic, but a solid Grp boat that's 20-25 years old and around £100-120k. Twin engine shaft drive.
This is a 5-6 year plan for us so starting to look at options.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Tranona]

Perhaps that is because very few people live aboard motor boats - at least with a view to long term cruising lifestyle (except perhaps in European inland waterways). Leaving aside choice of boat, living aboard any boat in the UK is becoming increasingly difficult so you may find actually getting a berth more challenging than choosing a boat - particularly in your chosen area. Marinas are not residential and most specifically ban living aboard on a permanent basis, although many accept longish periods interspersed with periods cruising - for example winter only contracts.

Most MOBOs are designed for short term use - weekends and holidays in nice weather so while they have good accommodation for their size they are difficult to keep warm and dry in the winter months plus they usually have lots of machinery and equipment that is not designed for long term use which invariably means high maintenance. Displacement or SD types are the most suitable, but the choice is not good in the UK because the market is dominated by planing boats.

You have a healthy budget and although the absolute numbers of boats available at any one time might be small, the variety will be high, so perhaps the best thing is to have a look at boats you think might suit and assess how you might actually live on each of them. Doubt you will get much feedback on the living side, but likely to get some on the qualities of the boat itself.

 

[Aardee]

If speed isn't a consideration maybe something steel & Dutch would tick a lot of boxes?

 

[ST840]

If speed isn't a consideration maybe something steel & Dutch would tick a lot of boxes?

It's mainly for living on but will be used too like popping around the Solent/Poole etc but not crossing the channel. But I can't sit there at 6knots so I'd need to be able to cruise above like 12knots minimum.

 

[PlanB]

We had a Princess 435 - the aft cabin made it a great liveaboard.
We lived aboard for 12 years - but in pre-Brexit Spain.
For the two years before setting off, we kept the boat in Chatham Maritime. I can tell you that winter aboard (and we only did odd nights) was not much fun - and that was somewhere that had great showers where you could go for a warm.
As Tranona said, finding somewhere where you can live aboard is now very difficult.
If you can, have look at a Fairline Turbo 36 or one of the Broom aft cabin boats.

 

[ChromeDome]

Personal experience (2x) from Friesland (NL) holiday hires:

An all season (therefore properly insulated, double glazing, central heating, full pantry) 10,50 m steel boat, 3,75m wide, layout for two persons (king size double bed, separate shower and WC) made for very comfortable stays during A) an early spring and B) a mid summer holiday.

Designed for canals so low clearance, but sturdy and a joy to be on. Single engine and a top speed of 5-6 knots, so probably not for much off shoring.

However, I'd suggest you browse that market for Dutch vessels. If taking it from NL, note that they have big companies specializing in hull maintenance and refit, quite many are well preserved despite age.

Thousands are rented, later up for sale.

 

[Graham376]

Maybe a bit bigger but Traders come to mind, three couples we know have lived aboard ones of various sizes. None of them used to travel far due to fuel costs. Typical one here -

 

[kashurst]

If you want a bit of speed and space and good to live on I would look at the Sealine F43. More modern design and a good boat.
But winters on fibreglass boats can be hard. They are difficult to keep warm. Overnight condensation in bedrooms can become a problem and stuff will get damp. So good heaters - proper electric ones and a dehumidifier. I find diesel heaters dry out the air too much. Maybe consider a few nights/week in a local travel lodge if a big cold spell is coming.

 

[ST840]

Maybe a bit bigger but Traders come to mind, three couples we know have lived aboard ones of various sizes. None of them used to travel far due to fuel costs. Typical one here -

Love this! Defo one to look at in the future, thanks!

 

[ST840]

Personal experience (2x) from Friesland (NL) holiday hires:

An all season (therefore properly insulated, double glazing, central heating, full pantry) 10,50 m steel boat, 3,75m wide, layout for two persons (king size double bed, separate shower and WC) made for very comfortable stays during A) an early spring and B) a mid summer holiday.

Designed for canals so low clearance, but sturdy and a joy to be on. Single engine and a top speed of 5-6 knots, so probably not for much off shoring.

However, I'd suggest you browse that market for Dutch vessels. If taking it from NL, note that they have big companies specializing in hull maintenance and refit, quite many are well preserved despite age.

Thousands are rented, later up for sale.

View attachment 195416

Any specific makes and models to look at over others?

 

[ChromeDome]

Any specific makes and models to look at over others?

We had both from Heegstra in Warten. Systze built them himself, I don't know where the drawings came from but they went under the name Wiidfleet 10.5.

Heegstra since have scaled down but still are in the business (Facebook shows). The boats are still around, one named Freule here Freule | De Driesprong Yachtcharters B.V.

Albeit, for your use something a bit differetn might be in play.

I specifically remember Smelne for their finish, but budget, age and maintenance of course is important.

A web search for best Dutch finish and quality returns

• Linssen Yachts: Highly respected for quality displacement motor yachts, built in Maasbracht since 194931.
• Vri-Jon Yachts: Produces robust motor yachts and cabin boats, typically ranging from 8 to 18 meters in length1.
• Valkkruiser: Well-known for steel motor yachts/cabin boats, though specific current models may be harder to find1.
• Gruno Motoryachten: Builds custom and semi-custom steel motor yachts15.
• Altena Yachting: Established since 1969, specializing in motor yachts and cabin boats1.
• Aquanaut: Offers steel motor yachts ranging from 7 to 19 meters1.
• Smelne: Known for custom-built steel cruisers and powerboats1.
• Steeler Yachts: Focuses on steel and aluminum explorer yachts, offering custom solutions for long-range cruising4.
• Babro Yachting: Builds luxury steel motor yachts with over 40 years of experience5.
• Boarnstream Yachting: Over 60 years of Dutch craftsmanship, specializing in semi-custom steel motor yachts7.

 

[ChromeDome]

As an example, for your inspiration of a slightly bigger boat:

Here

 

[ST840]

As an example, for your inspiration of a slightly bigger boat:

Here

These do look nice, but seeing as I'd want to do some visiting on it too, I'd need a boat that travels a bit quicker than a snails pace in the Solent. Appreciate they're ideal on a canal, but not on the coast for me!

 

[ChromeDome]

Point taken.

Do not forget that boat GW decides how many HP you need to move at X knots, and that these horses must be fed.

Steel commonly weighs more than you'd think

 

[Sticky Fingers]

As I suggested on the related thread, several Broom models would suit; or the Sealine F43/430 or an Atlantic 38 or 42 if you can find one in budget.

 

[Tranona]

These do look nice, but seeing as I'd want to do some visiting on it too, I'd need a boat that travels a bit quicker than a snails pace in the Solent. Appreciate they're ideal on a canal, but not on the coast for me!

The problem with this sort of boat is that they are virtually unobtainable in the UK and economically and practically almost impossible to import. They are designed for the conditions in their local market and have limited following in the UK. There are plenty of older UK boats that will fill the bill, either semi displacement or the more staid planing boats such as the Brooms and Haines.

 

[Offshore57]

We have lived on a Princess 415 for 5 1/2 years, in the Solent area....still enjoying it and work from home. Yes the winter isn't that pleasant but cosy enough with electric heating and dehumidifier running at night. The spring and summer pay you back ten fold for the chilly walk to the shower block in the winter. Plenty of safe parking. A good berth with a lovely view is nice too, but thats blind luck sometimes..
We are lucky enough to have a rib as well, so we can run over to the island or wherever we want at weekends etc.

 

[ST840]

We have lived on a Princess 415 for 5 1/2 years, in the Solent area....still enjoying it and work from home. Yes the winter isn't that pleasant but cosy enough with electric heating and dehumidifier running at night. The spring and summer pay you back ten fold for the chilly walk to the shower block in the winter. Plenty of safe parking. A good berth with a lovely view is nice too, but thats blind luck sometimes..
We are lucky enough to have a rib as well, so we can run over to the island or wherever we want at weekends etc.

Where do you moor if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Offshore57]

PM sent with more info.....

 

[Flynnbarr]

We have lived on a Princess 415 for 5 1/2 years, in the Solent area....still enjoying it and work from home. Yes the winter isn't that pleasant but cosy enough with electric heating and dehumidifier running at night. The spring and summer pay you back ten fold for the chilly walk to the shower block in the winter. Plenty of safe parking. A good berth with a lovely view is nice too, but thats blind luck sometimes..
We are lucky enough to have a rib as well, so we can run over to the island or wherever we want at weekends etc.

Fair play to you for sticking your head up over the parapet so to speak……many don’t due to the ramifications for themselves and the marina.