Thames motor boat

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petie

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Have sold my South Coast motor boat and have it in mind to buy a small (25 foot or so) motor boat for poddling about Thames/ Shepportonish area. Not to keen on the 240 hp plus boats on offer and would welcome advice re low suitable low powered boats.
 
Do you want to sleep on it, do you want entertain on it, might you want to go further afields than the Shepperton area?

It can get a bit addictive you know, when you get to know a few people - mentioning no names of course!
 
thames Boat

Hi
certainly would want to sleepover and do a little cooking and would go up and down river as far as possible. An Aquador or Merry Fisher type boat would do me fine but they all have big engines which would be ticking over at 6 knots or so. What I think I need is something with no more than a 30 or 40 hp engine. So far, cannot find one. All thoughts welcomed.
 
Birchwood 25?

Cracking vessel, as used by most of the Thames forumites over the years!

You'll be able to travel down to Docklands, and up to Oxford, sleeping 4 with no problems.
 
I may know of a Birchwood 25 based in the Windsor area that is about to go on the Market... the owner is eyeing up a bigger boat....
 
I think my mate still wants to sell his Norman . Although hes not trying very hard :rolleyes:
No outboard but the price reflects that . Its a very tidy little boat when washed .


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Thames Cruiser

There are several possibilities depending on your budget and preferred lay-out.
Sheerline/Pedro/Broom/ etc etc. Also there is a vast choice of 'old but good' boats around Project/RLM/Ocean etc.

Best to get around the brokerages and have a look and perhaps a chat to some owners of the type that catches your eye.
 
Thames Boat sale

Thanks for all the response. The Birchwood 25 design looks about right to me and if they were a bit younger with diesel I would have gone down that route.
 
Birchwood

All respect to your good taste :-) we love our Birchwood 25 she is a 1978 but still looking good and as solid as a rock. Standing headroom throughout sleeps 4 comfortably and 6 if the weather is as now or there is heating in the cockpit the cockpit seats convert into a large double in addition to the inside births

There are some Diesels around that have been re-engined, mine being one after a rather expensive error on my part killed the old watermota. Very fuel efficient she is now as well although even when petrol she only consumed about 3/4 gallon at Thames speeds.

Best of luck with your search, mine is not for sale yet lol


N
 
Further to my comments above, my friends Birchwood 25 Executive (one of the last built) is now officially up for sale.

She has just been issued with a new Boat Safety Certificate & has a brand new cooker. Shaft drive, Watermotor Sea Tiger (1600cc Ford petrol).

Offers around £9000. Lying Old Windsor. (Mooring can be arranged).

PM me for contact details.
 
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Why does it have to be diesel though?????

My old B25 had the Sea Tiger engine, and what a cracking piece of kit!!

Seriously, stop reading too much into websites, and listen to owners.

The petrol engined Birchwood is as sweet as a nut at River speeds, very economical, and if they lasted 30 years without blowing everybody into smithereens, why7 the hell should they spontaneously combust as soon as you buy one?

The petrol Birchwood was probably better than the Diesel of the period.

Modern diesels are great, but old Diesels were a bit crummy in some way, such as a lack of power and refinement.....
 
Just spoke to my mate and he wants 1.5K . Depends what you want to do i suppose but for a river boat to diddle about on you cant go wrong IMO .

Edit . He does have an out board and remotes but the outboard keeps conking out . I think its a fuel problem myself . Its only a 9.9HP ( i think ) so maybe part x it for a new 4 stroke 15 - 20 HP .
 
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All the above is very good advice from "them 'as knows".
Solutions from residents are very sensible when reading the OP's initial post. Reading on, he's (obviously) looking for a newish boat with loads of bling. Makes a statement, and looks good.

What residents have offered are vessels that work in the Thames environment, and after a season of the Bling Boat, he may realise that too late.
If he bought an old banger, umm - mature vessel, he could find out if the transition from roaring about Darn Sarf was for him, and disposing of said mature craft would not lose him a lorra money.

But advice is boring, 'cos folks state what needs to be, and not necessarily what he wants to hear.
 
Thames Boat

True Blue is probably close to the truth with his comments but the builders of the Contessas, Rassys, Pedros. Nimbus Boats etc that I have owned over the last 40 years or so,would not, I fear,appreciate being referred to as builders of "Bling" boats. All sold, as quality boats , without loss. On mature reflection, what I envisage is something like a Nimbus 320 with a non bore polishing 40/50 Hp engine. I appreciate the comments and advice which has been made available and I am grateful for it but if it keeps me happy to find what I want , why not do it?
 
I was going to let matters pass -

petie said:
No its not a waste of time as what I said would suit does not exist. Why so hostile?
Click to expand...

BUT methinks the point is that you came on here with a fairly unspecific request, and members here jumped in to help with some suggestions.

You then came back with a much larger vessel with a tiny engine. Given that you say you have many years experience, don't you think your ideal was a bit like rocking horse poo?

I spent some time composing my reply, as did others - then your requirements make the thread look like a troll.

Apollo came back with a not unreasonable question, given the above issues. I don't think he's being hostile, merely frustrated.

If you had said up front that you were looking for a large cruiser with a very small engine, then "we" could have focused our replies on that, rather than waste our time in looking at what are now suggestions that could in no way meet your aspirations.

:mad: :mad: :mad:
 
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