Still searching, advice please

[oldmonsty]

Hello all
Once again I went off in search of my ideal, this time to Chichester,where I went to view one boat (mis-described by broker yet again)and happened upon a Neptunian 33 which looked and felt very 'right'. It is however neither a bilge keeler nor under 30' but it seemed to me maybe worthwhile to consider and perhaps forget the cheap(ish) 30' mud berth. Any comments?

 

[Chrissie]

Consider the costs of mooring, in the same harbour a boat that can sit on the mud at a cost of £1200 a year, would cost as much as £3600 a year if it has to go on a deeper mooring such as a marina, ((26ft boat, Portsmouth Harbour used as example)

There are other considerations, each time you want to scrub her off, a bilge keeler can be done between tides on drying piles, but lifting in and out by crane £350 or more, but costs aside, go for the boat that makes your heart flutter, its so much easier to shell out the cash when you love your boat.

 

[Poignard]

Don't waste any more of your life, perfection is available.

Buy a Twister!

http://www.twister.org.uk/sales/index.php

 

[rob2]

You don't need a bilge keeler to dry out between tides! Moor up to the scrubbing piles and you can scrub off or do minor underwater work between tides. I have "cheated" and applied Coppercoat antifouling so the scrubbing off is reduced to a quick rub over with a pan scourer.

Many scrubbing piles are free to use, e.g. in the Hamble if you have a local mooring or my club's piles - before settling into the bar whilst awaiting the tide for departure. Even when charges are made, they are usually quite reasonable. Manouevring onto piles is a good exercise in boat handling, but don't forget you ladder for getting upand down when there's no water!

It's true that moorings for a fin-keeler can be expensive, but there are still some good deals, though usually with a waiting list. I have just got a Hamble Harbour Authority mooring for my 28 footer, although the mooring can accomodate up to 32 ft, less than half the price of a contractor's mooring. I was on the waiting list for three years but had less of a wait than most as so many people seem to demand at least 40 ft for their first boat, so the smaller moorings have faster turnover.

Rob.