Thinking of buying a cruiser boat/yacht yearly costs please

[Portofino]

The problem with the European or indeed channel hopping trips is the low carrying capacity for essential safety kit .Spares and even fuel + water .
Also I suspect looking at the few pics it’s designed for American lakes .
Sure water its water and it doesn’t know the salt concentration , it’s not that it’s the waves and swell travelling at speed .
Hull shape looks inadequate for a chop in the sea offshore .
You would tire out with the slamming and banging basically.
Waiting for sea calm windows or turning back will make any EU trip challenging .

A retirement adventure sure , it can be done with planning , time and deep pockets waiting out the sea states .
But it will be far from glamorous, more expeditionary with a strong hint of survivalism sprinkled in .

Channel crossing is about its limit on a calm June day .But you can’t choose which day , you will be governed by the sea states ( weather ) too much because of the low dead rise and small displacement and crews comfort levels .

Its a lake / river boat keep it there .

 

[BruceK]

That boat claims to be "certified" for carrying eight passengers to sea. In a 24ft mobo, that needs a bit of investigation before you flash the cash.

That's a standard US Coastguard plaque they stick on. Has more to do with seating, boat length and draft etc rather like our 12 passenger coding. Mine is for 10. If I had 10 in it it wouldnt perform very well. Be a bit of a pig.

Thanks for the reply I think we can both agree to scrap the turkey idea lol so where do most people who own a boat sail just to parts of the UK and France? I was thinking only doing an abroad trip once a year then other times sail more UK territory. But say spain nearest part to England would that be possible plus the fuel costs involved in that?

As mentioned in several places what that boat represents is a weekender designed for coastal hopping. A category C boat. To do what you envision you want to look for a catagory B boat plus what is often termed as a "passage maker". That's a whole different league and $$$$$. You would be best sticking with a "blue water" sailing yacht for that kind of expedition.
Having said all that most mobo's you'll see in a marina are CAT C and some certainly can and do make those sort of crossings. We had a member here called @Whitelighter who did something similar in a 34 foot Mobo and also a sports cruiser much like yours. So I suppose at the end of the day it comes down to size a lot. 24 foot is considerably smaller than 34. Probably less than half the volume and less than a 1/3rd the weight. and that might give you a better perspective on how much you will be tossed about when the waters get rough.

 

[New to boat life]

Just to clarify, you mention 'yacht' in your OP and 'sailing' since. Are you considering both sailing and motor boats, or just motor? The answers to your questions will vary quite considerably for a yacht or a mobo.

Hi just a motor boat I done abit of pratice sailing wasn't really my cup of tea to much work involved dealing with the sail, wind speeds and capsizing lol.

 

[New to boat life]

Dear NTNL
I've read your replies but comparing to a cruise ship does worry me. Sorry.
Have you sailed (with sails) or had any experience on a motorboat?
If not then I'd suggest you do a level 2 powerboat course. 2 days around 350£. Will give u great insight to what a 20-25 foot boat (often done on a rib mind) will do and the limitations and safety issues.
Crossing the channel even to France will then have some perspective for you.

As per other post, then look at loads of boats for what might suit u.

Don't let comments put u off, its a big learning curve.

The cruiseship comparison was ment to be taken lightly lol i just ment I thought most boats could handle the sea just rougher the smaller they are.
I've done a couple of practice sailing sessions but isn't what I'm looking for but I'm looking at booking a long weekend on Norfolk broads soon.

 

[BruceK]

On the upside, your 24 foot would be half the running costs of a 34 foot (34 still being a small boat but now twin engined) and how far you'd like to coastal hop is up to you. More over you have the opportunity to trailer it so it holds many advantages over 34 not withstanding the option of not keeping it in a marina mooring long term. This could drastically reduce ownership costs from upwards of 6k a year to less than 1.5k excluding storage, fuel etc and trailer maintenance. It's a perfect day boat, and competitive weekender for 2 and for the money if you tow, will smash a passage maker hands down for what you want to use it for if you tow from destination to destination. There is a lot to be said for going small and realising the adventure. Dont let the negative comments pull you back, just understand their is a compromise to everything

 

[ShaneAtSea]

Has anyone actually take a 25ft sports cruiser from the UK to spain under its own power ? I suspect not .
Via the french rivers /canals maybe? But its hardly a day trip. Over a couple of years perhaps.

Ive been through the Bay of Biscay a few times on a cruise ship and it was never pleasant so i wouldnt want to make that journey on a small boat.

However, it is possible as this guy took a Princess V39 from Mallorca to the UK

 

[Seastoke]

A 24ft diesel would be quite heavy.

 

[East Cardinal]

24ft planing motorboat on a 3500nm trip may be possible but nobody sensible would actually try!
There are boats designed to do that sort of trip and there are those that should stay in sight of land.

Small planing hull boats are day trip boats for river lake and inshore coastal work.
I took one from Pwllheli to Conwy, that was far enough!

 

[BruceK]

I took one from Pwllheli to Conwy, that was far enough!

Aah Bardsey Sound. Yes, in a small boat that could put hair on your butt.

One time I hit it at 25 knts and still making the revs was reduced in the length of the boat to 14 knts still with the wake behind me. The boat didnt know the difference but everything inside it sure did!

 

[New to boat life]

Has anyone moored near to London, docklands, Essex or Kent? Yearly mooring price just basic nothing fancy

 

[petem]

Serious passage making in a 24ft boat would be arduous and potentially hazardous. Not to mention expensive in fuel lol.

I suspect 99% of owners of such boats won't ever take it more than 25 miles from their home berth lol.

 

[madabouttheboat]

Anything is possible, but realistically it ain't gonna happen. I had a boat like the one the OP is looking at and did some serious cruising in it (for its size) but the furthest I went in a single hop was around 150 nm. I did take it from the east coast down to the Channel islands and that was quite a feat, but what is being proposed is 100 times more adventurous. If you had unlimited time and funds, and could take the coastal route only moving when weather allowed, waiting out bad spells, then it would be doable, but then I think you would likely fall foul of the 90 days in 180 rule. Buy the boat, use it in the UK, take a trip across the Channel once you feel confident in doing so, and i think you will quickly come to the same conclusion that it is simply impractical. Alternatively, buy a decent sailing yacht.

 

[ShaneAtSea]

Its probably cheaper, safer and better for your boat not to motor for 4000 miles in a old 24ft boat.

There are loads of companies that will ship it from Mallorca to Southampton and you'll probably save money. And you wont drown

Sevenstar Yacht Transport | Sailing schedules

 

[New to boat life]

Its probably cheaper, safer and betetr for your boat not to motor for 4000 miles in a old 24ft boat.

There are loads of companies that will ship it from Mallorca to Southampton and you'll probably save money. And you wont drown

Sevenstar Yacht Transport | Sailing schedules

So it's more of a toy than a machine lol also never been on a small boat is a 24ft livable or just weekend stays?

 

[petem]

Its probably cheaper, safer and betetr for your boat not to motor for 4000 miles in a old 24ft boat.

There are loads of companies that will ship it from Mallorca to Southampton and you'll probably save money. And you wont drown

Sevenstar Yacht Transport | Sailing schedules

Would be cheaper to stick it on a trailer and tow it behind a suitable pick-up truck.

 

[ShaneAtSea]

Would be cheaper to stick it on a trailer and tow it behind a suitable pick-up truck.

Yeah but then you have to get a vehicle, trailer, licence, fuel, ferry, hotels, food.....and you have to drive through France

 

[V1701]

A major factor is whether you're working & hence would have to enjoy your boating within your annual leave allowance and weekends or whether retired and have all the time in the world. Have you a partner and/or kids? If so having them on board (literally and metaphorically) is also paramount cos if they're not you'll have even less time for boating. In the UK you can't plan very much due to the vagaries of the weather. BUT - loads of us do it and love it, you're doing the right thing by trying it out on the Broads first to get a taste, hope you enjoy it...

 

[petem]

Yeah but then you have to get a vehicle, trailer, licence, fuel, ferry, hotels, food.....and you have to drive through France

Nah, you just pay someone else to do it. Shipping will be a lot dearer.

 

[Momac]

Ive been through the Bay of Biscay a few times on a cruise ship and it was never pleasant so i wouldnt want to make that journey on a small boat.

However, it is possible as this guy took a Princess V39 from Mallorca to the UK

V39 vs 24ft sports cruiser are a world apart.
The person that did it in the V39 was very experienced I believe ?

 

[snowbird30ds]

The boat in the link would be ok on fine days for hopping between thames/ramsgate/crouch/blackwater/orwell/deben/ore/broads and wells from broads and maybe humber(and onto inland waterways) from wells (I did it in an old RLM31 @ 7 knots) and the odd run to the garlicy smelling place over in eu land but spain/turkey ?? I instantly thought wind up.
I started out from gt.ouse in cambs. and did slow hops from kings lynn, everywhere was a full tide away with no bolt holes so it can be done in small boats just takes planning, just forget foriegn trips.
EU does like qualifications but doesn't like red diesel, and they may also want vat to be paid as we are no longer in their club.
Go for it and enjoy the learning curve, just bring your money with you....