South Coast - Cheap boating option

[ylop]

Foulks might be an option - mid river berth is bang on my top budget. Will need a tender - but at least it's a "proper" berth rather than a swing or trot.

Have you experimented with swing v what you call a “proper”, presumably mid river pontoon? That seems to me like the worst of both worlds! When we moved from marina to swing we realised that the time you lose in the dinghy going to the mooring cancels out the time you save not adjusting fenders and fore/aft/spring lines etc.

 

[ontheplane]

Microsoft Forms

Put your name down. I think for sub 8m you won’t have to wait long

Have done - very reasonable pricing

 

[Sianna]

Drivers is a non-starter sadly - £187 inc VAT per month + £62 every time they launch you - so if I launched 20 times in the season, that would be £3483 for the season - so that's out as well

Boating has really got beyond the reach of the "normal" man these days!

I am pretty sure I could find a decent marina for less than that (although I understand the benefit of dry stack)

So still looking - Maybe Bucklers and the 4x4 is the way to go after all....

it's all bloody expensive, but Bucklers is a lovely location, we have been there for 6 years now.

 

[jon and michie]

Does anyone know any other - cheaper - marinas?

You could try Cabins Boatyard they have a slipway

 

[Hot Property]

Or Foulkes? Top of the Hamble under the bridge?
I don’t know their prices but it looks as if it shouldn’t be too expensive

I've been at Foulkes for 10 years.

Friendly boatyard slipway available. I have 24 hr access on a pontoon.

Cheaper berths are available that dry out.

I leave my boat in the water 364 days a year, just a haul out for outboard maintenance and a quick jet wash.

I have Silic One rather than antifoul. If your boat can do 20 knots or more it's worth considering.

What boat have you bought?

 

[ontheplane]

I found Foulkes was too dear for my budget sadly.

I have an offer accepted on a Crownline 242CR with a 250hp Mercruiser Diesel and Bravo III - should be a nice boat - does need a lot of work but the price reflects that.

Once I've had a sea trial I'll be more forthcoming.

 

[ontheplane]

it's all bloody expensive, but Bucklers is a lovely location, we have been there for 6 years now.

Are you in the boat park or on a Mooring there?

A space came up, but I'd not confirmed on the boat yet so couldn't commit. I certainly haven't ruled out Bucklers on a trailer with a 4x4 - If you are in the yard I'd be interested to know how you get on with the Slipway? It's looks a pretty shallow slope so it concerns me I'd have to put the trailer in pretty deep to float the boat off.

 

[ontheplane]

I've been at Foulkes for 10 years.

Friendly boatyard slipway available. I have 24 hr access on a pontoon.

Cheaper berths are available that dry out.

I leave my boat in the water 364 days a year, just a haul out for outboard maintenance and a quick jet wash.

I have Silic One rather than antifoul. If your boat can do 20 knots or more it's worth considering.

What boat have you bought?

How do you get on with Silic One? I have considered it, and also Copperbot - the boat I've offered on has conventional antifoul but it's been kept ashore so not sure it will still be working, may need a light abrade to activate it.

 

[Boaty_Pete]

If the slipway is a shallow gradient requiring overly dunking the vehicle, you could consider beefing up the jockey wheel and making up a solid pole towbar extension. ie towhitch to towball on a scaffold pole.
I've done that and it worked very well, except reversing can only be just backing into the water.
I used to chock the trailer at the water edge, disconnect the car to pull forward 5ft and install the extension.
If you're not carrying it around because you're based there, your's could be longer if req.
I carried mine, and 5ft was enough on the angle of slip I was using.
It was a faf for the 1st or 2nd time but then became easy, and only added a couple of mins.

 

[Hot Property]

How do you get on with Silic One? I have considered it, and also Copperbot - the boat I've offered on has conventional antifoul but it's been kept ashore so not sure it will still be working, may need a light abrade to activate it.

Well this is my 3 rd boat I've applied it to!

It works for high speed planing hulls.

The normal waterline scum rubs off with a microfibre cloth.

Any physical abrasion such as logs etc are touched up on the annual lift and hold.

It's super slippery and the 24 ft boat in my profile photo gained 1.5 knots on top speed.

It doesn't work for everyone but superheat6k of this parish was suitably impressed with it he did his Corvette 32 as well...

 

[Elessar]

Drivers is a non-starter sadly - £187 inc VAT per month + £62 every time they launch you - so if I launched 20 times in the season, that would be £3483 for the season - so that's out as well

Boating has really got beyond the reach of the "normal" man these days!

I am pretty sure I could find a decent marina for less than that (although I understand the benefit of dry stack)

So still looking - Maybe Bucklers and the 4x4 is the way to go after all....

Unfortunately “cheap” is subjective. The way you are counting small numbers of ££ is a worry.

Read scubadoos post about trailer boating.

If you launch it yourself you will not go boating 20 times per year. It’s too much hassle.

So you can adjust these prices at drivers.

I also worry about your choice of boat. An inboard diesel with a bravo 3 drive does not service itself. Look at the prices of bellows, filters, anodes and oil. That’s before you buy any spare parts. Getting the drive off to do the service can be done DIY but it’s not a beginner job - can you do this sort of thing? The servicing and repairs of the engine could make £3k or whatever at Drivers seem trivial.

Altogether and reading between the lines I think you may have unrealistic expectations about how cheaply you can run a boat.

I’m sorry to throw a bucket of cold water over what should be a cheerful thread and double apologies if I’ve read between the lines wrongly.

 

[Hot Property]

Unfortunately “cheap” is subjective. The way you are counting small numbers of ££ is a worry.

Read scubadoos post about trailer boating.

If you launch it yourself you will not go boating 20 times per year. It’s too much hassle.

So you can adjust these prices at drivers.

I also worry about your choice of boat. An inboard diesel with a bravo 3 drive does not service itself. Look at the prices of bellows, filters, anodes and oil. That’s before you buy any spare parts. Getting the drive off to do the service can be done DIY but it’s not a beginner job - can you do this sort of thing? The servicing and repairs of the engine could make £3k or whatever at Drivers seem trivial.

Altogether and reading between the lines I think you may have unrealistic expectations about how cheaply you can run a boat.

I’m sorry to throw a bucket of cold water over what should be a cheerful thread and double apologies if I’ve read between the lines wrongly.

Maybe the OP might consider a slightly smaller outboard cuddy?

Engine maintenance cheap as chips. Easily towable behind Mondeo sized diesels.

My current boat is an AMT 200, 20 ft with 150 Honda.

Easily towable but also conveniently on a pontoon mooring.

Best of both worlds for me...

Stock photos...

 

[Hot Property]

I found Foulkes was too dear for my budget sadly.

I have an offer accepted on a Crownline 242CR with a 250hp Mercruiser Diesel and Bravo III - should be a nice boat - does need a lot of work but the price reflects that.

Once I've had a sea trial I'll be more forthcoming.

Is that the one in Sheffield?

The current owner has knocked £10k off the price but if it needs lots of work then it's still way over priced.

Remember, you are buying an engine with a boat attached!

Bigger boats can absorb the maintenance costs so stern drives are workable.

Smaller boats have a disproportionately higher cost.

Leaving the boat in the water all year round will present many challenges with corrosion and fouling.

I just lift my outboard clear of the water and fresh water wash the internals.

There's a reason that boats like the Crown line are cheap, you will need deep pockets so don't worry about berthing fees......

 

[Hot Property]

I've seen a Bella 620 which is very similar to my AMT.

It's on FB marketplace.

Was £15k now £10k. With a trailer.

It has an Optimax 200 (2005 vintage). These were good engines but a 20 year old one can be very expensive to repair. The boat is rated to 150 like mine so Insurance issues ahead...

Sell the Optimax for £1,500. Spend £1,500 on getting the trailer road legal.

Buy a Honda/Merc 150 for 8-10k.

You will have years of boating from that combo.

40 knots top end if that tickles you....

I was going to make a low-ball offer around half the asking price. It's been for sale for ages and a few days before Christmas is a good time to do a deal!

Log into Facebook

 

[Elessar]

If it is the Sheffield one it looks nice. I can see why it appeals to the OP. It’s been on inland waterways so will need a good sea trial at speed.

Just don’t underestimate the cost of running a boat. Berthing isn’t the expensive bit!

I doubt the trailer is road legal. Edit I take that back the boat beam is only 2.59 and you are allowed a trailer width of 2.55 ( many American trailers are too wide but this looks ok)
Need to check towball is metric not imperial (they are very similar and will fit but will jump off) tyres and lights are UK legal.

Even so I think trailer sailing a boat of this size is a mistake. It’s good to move cruising grounds or to take it home for winter or for maintenance but not to launch every time.

 

[Elessar]

I've seen a Bella 620 which is very similar to my AMT.

It's on FB marketplace.

Was £15k now £10k. With a trailer.

It has an Optimax 200 (2005 vintage). These were good engines but a 20 year old one can be very expensive to repair. The boat is rated to 150 like mine so Insurance issues ahead...

Sell the Optimax for £1,500. Spend £1,500 on getting the trailer road legal.

Buy a Honda/Merc 150 for 8-10k.

You will have years of boating from that combo.

40 knots top end if that tickles you....

I was going to make a low-ball offer around half the asking price. It's been for sale for ages and a few days before Christmas is a good time to do a deal!

Log into Facebook

If budget boating is the objective this is a far better buy. The crown line is in a different league accommodation wise and running cost wise.

I’d not sell the outboard until it starts to play up though.

 

[ontheplane]

It's identical to the one in Sheffield - but is not that one...

Pros
The engine and sterndrive are in excellent condition - the owner is an ex motor engineer so that bit is good - it's the rest of it....

Needs a sagging headlining fixing / replacing.
The Diesel heating is (at best) cheap Chinese rubbish - and he doesn't know how it works. I intend to rip out and put in a proper heating system.
The Dash switches markings have all worn off - so they need replacing and we also need to work out what they do!
Needs a new Canopy.
Would benefit from a good cut and polish
Needs a modern GPS plotter, it only has an old fishfinder at the mo.


Needs a trailer (doesn't have one) or keeping on water.

Ignoring the trailer (which will be separate to the boat and should keep it's value)...

I think the above will mean spending about 5000 / 7000 on the boat - and I think I will have a really nice boat that still owes me the right kind of money.

In good nick, what do the collective think a boat like that would be worth?

 

[ontheplane]

Maybe the OP might consider a slightly smaller outboard cuddy?

Engine maintenance cheap as chips. Easily towable behind Mondeo sized diesels.

My current boat is an AMT 200, 20 ft with 150 Honda.

Easily towable but also conveniently on a pontoon mooring.

Best of both worlds for me...

Stock photos...

I agree the outboard cuddy is a good shout for day boating - but with 2 kids and 2 dogs I need something a bit more accommodating for any overnight stays on board.

I may well make the wrong decision on this first boat which is why I want to keep the costs down so I can re-sell for what it owes me or thereabouts. I've had a lot of boats, but my partner is new to it so I don't know how it will go - she may love boating or may not and I might find boating with 2 dogs too much like hard work.

If that happens I can sell out and maybe go the dayboat route - but we live 2 hours from nice areas to boat so I don't know if dayboating will work.

I've also considered boat share or one of these monthly subscription boat club models - but all they offer for anything like a sensible price is small ribs - to be able to use a decent weekend boat they are £800 + a month - I don't want to pay out £10k a year or thereabouts to go boating.

 

[ontheplane]

Unfortunately “cheap” is subjective. The way you are counting small numbers of ££ is a worry.

Read scubadoos post about trailer boating.

If you launch it yourself you will not go boating 20 times per year. It’s too much hassle.

So you can adjust these prices at drivers.

I also worry about your choice of boat. An inboard diesel with a bravo 3 drive does not service itself. Look at the prices of bellows, filters, anodes and oil. That’s before you buy any spare parts. Getting the drive off to do the service can be done DIY but it’s not a beginner job - can you do this sort of thing? The servicing and repairs of the engine could make £3k or whatever at Drivers seem trivial.

Altogether and reading between the lines I think you may have unrealistic expectations about how cheaply you can run a boat.

I’m sorry to throw a bucket of cold water over what should be a cheerful thread and double apologies if I’ve read between the lines wrongly.

I am aware that the costs can be high - that's why I want to keep the berthing "sensible"!

I ran a Rinker 260V with a Mercruiser 5.7 carb petrol back in the day - so I know the servicing can be a bit "chewy" - however I would hope to keep thinks sensible - I can do Oil and Filters and so on myself - I'd get the drive serviced professionally though.

 

[westernman]

South Coast - Cheap boating
An oxymoron.