To upsize or not

[30West]

I grew up working at marinas, most boat owners lived an hour or two away and had to be pretty dedicated to use their boats often. Each use was a commitment. I vowed to never own a boat, but my family really wanted a boat, and I found a killer deal on an aft-cabin 40'. And I realized, I live two miles from a marina. So now we pop out to the boat all the time when we see it is going to be a nice sunset or someone wants to hang out or whatever. How far you live from a good place to keep it will make a huge difference in how much value you get out of it, without sacrificing other parts of your life.

 

[rubberduck]

We have just upgraded, having had little use of the old one due to work & health issues. We will be keeping the new one on the Isle of wight which we love from a couple of holidays when the kids were small, & will be a new cruising ground for us with lots to explore. The east coast & Thames became same old same old, although we still plan to put her in St Kats in the winter as a cheap apartment in comparison with hotels in London.
We also have the advantage of time next year, with kids off hand & eldest one taking over the running of the business, with us on the end of the phone if needed.
Apart from our liking the south coast in general, with time we can now go there for several days at a time, a luxury new to us.
Still plan to explore the rest of the world so have gone used this time, mindset being if it does sit there unused for a while, its not costing millions in the great scheme of things.

 

[colhel]

. the S28 has nowhere reasonable to store the bikes.



Thanks Gary

If Carlsberg could think of a reason to upgrade.....

 

[rafiki_]

I think those of us with UK based boats struggle to justify them at this time of the year. Rafiki is out of the water, and being hosed down with cash in prep for next season. Doesn't feel like a great thing to do. However, nor did cycling on Saturday morning, with temps just above freezing. I am very much looking forward to next May and beyond when Rafiki will once again give us some great weekends and extended trips. My bike will sit quite happily in the cockpit when we are on the move, and on the bows when we are moored.

 

[BruceK]

I think those of us with UK based boats struggle to justify them at this time of the year. Rafiki is out of the water, and being hosed down with cash in prep for next season. Doesn't feel like a great thing to do. However, nor did cycling on Saturday morning, with temps just above freezing. I am very much looking forward to next May and beyond when Rafiki will once again give us some great weekends and extended trips. My bike will sit quite happily in the cockpit when we are on the move, and on the bows when we are moored.

Amen. But as you say, it also adds spice by giving you something to look forward to but also a nice book mark on fond memories. I must confess by the end of the season the family begin to tire of the weekend jaunts to the boat. A winter break actually serves to revitalize the passion.

 

[julians]

I think those of us with UK based boats struggle to justify them at this time of the year. Rafiki is out of the water, and being hosed down with cash in prep for next season. Doesn't feel like a great thing to do. However, nor did cycling on Saturday morning, with temps just above freezing. I am very much looking forward to next May and beyond when Rafiki will once again give us some great weekends and extended trips. My bike will sit quite happily in the cockpit when we are on the move, and on the bows when we are moored.

I dont think its just uk boaters that suffer from this, i always question whether its worth the considerable cost, especially over winter when the boat doesnt get seen for 6months.

 

[benjenbav]

By the time our children had more or less grown up it had become clear that I was the only one in the family who liked spending time on the boat and so visits to the boat went from being a shared experience to being me, on my own, doing a 150 mile round trip to carry out routine maintenance. I wanted to spend my free time doing things with my wife and daughters whilst they still wanted to spend time with me, so the boat had to go.

I loved the time I had as custodian of all of my boats, but I haven't missed not having a boat and reading this thread has made me realise that (other than a commercial ferry) it's been three years since I even set foot on any sort of boat.

So, I would say that, if all you can think about is the next boat and how you're going to enjoy it: go for it.

If, on the other hand, it's not a big deal to you and you think that, just maybe, it might be worth doing: have another think about it.

In the end, do what you want. But work out what you want first. Good luck with the choice!

 

[oGaryo]

Thanks for the advice guys. We've come to a decision after much soul searching and recognise that right now, boating isn't high on the agenda with the youngest lad going to Uni next year requiring our financial support and several social commitments outside of boating.

We're going to keep Bizzy Bee until June 2018 then sell her after she's looked after us at the IOW Festival again in Island Harbour.

We'll no doubt get back into boating at some point as it's a hard thing to shake from the blood once bitten but for now, other things must take priority.

We'll be looking for some form of flexible berthing deal between April and July/August time on the assumption we sell her during peak season so no point in taking out a full annual berth in 2018 /2019.

All the best Gary and Debbie

 

[volvopaul]

Thanks for the advice guys. We've come to a decision after much soul searching and recognise that right now, boating isn't high on the agenda with the youngest lad going to Uni next year requiring our financial support and several social commitments outside of boating.

We're going to keep Bizzy Bee until June 2018 then sell her after she's looked after us at the IOW Festival again in Island Harbour.

We'll no doubt get back into boating at some point as it's a hard thing to shake from the blood once bitten but for now, other things must take priority.

We'll be looking for some form of flexible berthing deal between April and July/August time on the assumption we sell her during peak season so no point in taking out a full annual berth in 2018 /2019.

All the best Gary and Debbie[/QUOTE

Hi Gary , may or may not be your thing but the upper Hamble marinas which your boat will go under the bridge easily at HW charge On a quarterly basis, Eastlands is 3 months with 3 months to quit notice, I think Cabin is the same , and Foulkes when I was there was 1 month notice, not sure about RK, the big players want a full years rent, could try Universal as there a family run Marina, ocean quay is another at least you can talk turkey to these people .

 

[oldgit]

We have around 100 boats on our moorings and without a doubt the bigger the boat the less it moves.
Its mainly the tiddlers still seen leaving their moorings in mid winter or on impromtu summer days out, the 50ft plus brigade rarely move but once a year or only on the odd special organised event.
Some boats not much under that length have not moved for years.
At 30-35 feet it is possible to still single hand your boat, over that and you do need assistance and if none can be found the boat and you go nowhere.
With a small boat at least you can just rock up and go, the bigger the boat the more organising that needs to done and at some point the thought of all the preparation really does start to become a pain.

 

[Elessar]

I think those of us with UK based boats struggle to justify them at this time of the year. Rafiki is out of the water, and being hosed down with cash in prep for next season. Doesn't feel like a great thing to do. However, nor did cycling on Saturday morning, with temps just above freezing. I am very much looking forward to next May and beyond when Rafiki will once again give us some great weekends and extended trips. My bike will sit quite happily in the cockpit when we are on the move, and on the bows when we are moored.

taking a boat out for the winter is such a waste of a boat!

 

[[2068]]

I think if you’re not making good use of the boat right now Gary, then this does make some sort of sense. It’s definitely not the case that upgrading to the SC35 has expanded our horizons: I did plenty of crazy stuff like Belgium to Hayling in one day on the S28. Upgrading from a 24 to a 28 did, though: twin engines and being able to make good progress in less than ideal conditions were game changers.

Part of the problem is that single handing a larger boat in anything other than a Force zero is not straightforward. You can get the boat in the right place, but leaping off and trying to haul it into position or getting round to lassoo a cleat is not as easy when 7900kg of fibreglass decides it would prefer to go the other way. It’s dead easy if you have two people: you can stay on the helm, and your crew sorts out the lines.

Somewhat fortunately, Mrs FP is still into boating when it’s reasonably warm, but Mini-FP is now almost 14, and has her own agenda. Coming with us is mandatory some of the time, and she can bring friends, drive the boat, etc to be involved. But there are plenty of clashes, and you can’t keep dumping your teenage kid on other people or leaving her alone on a regular basis, so this wipes out another set of boating opportunities.

Ultimately it’s all about priorities: if you are spending shedloads of money on marina fees and maintenance for something that isn’t a priority, then “Rearrange your life so that boating IS a priority again”
...easier said than done.

.

 

[Bouba]

I had half the problem that the OP had. In other words, the other half would rather cycle. Me, I prefer boats so this is how I solved it

It’s the Hobie Mirage Eclipse
The wife loves it and I can always persuade her to come boating now. We anchor in any picturesque bay and she takes the Eclipse miles at a speed of up to five knots, sometimes I accompany her in the dingy

 

[oGaryo]

Thanks for the advice guys. We've come to a decision after much soul searching and recognise that right now, boating isn't high on the agenda with the youngest lad going to Uni next year requiring our financial support and several social commitments outside of boating.

We're going to keep Bizzy Bee until June 2018 then sell her after she's looked after us at the IOW Festival again in Island Harbour.

We'll no doubt get back into boating at some point as it's a hard thing to shake from the blood once bitten but for now, other things must take priority.

We'll be looking for some form of flexible berthing deal between April and July/August time on the assumption we sell her during peak season so no point in taking out a full annual berth in 2018 /2019.

All the best Gary and Debbie[/QUOTE

Hi Gary , may or may not be your thing but the upper Hamble marinas which your boat will go under the bridge easily at HW charge On a quarterly basis, Eastlands is 3 months with 3 months to quit notice, I think Cabin is the same , and Foulkes when I was there was 1 month notice, not sure about RK, the big players want a full years rent, could try Universal as there a family run Marina, ocean quay is another at least you can talk turkey to these people .

Thanks Paul useful advice I'll give them a look over.

 

[rafiki_]

taking a boat out for the winter is such a waste of a boat!

Bit of work going on Mark. Rather do it now than in the summer.

 

[gjgm]

As you say... a personal choice...
I can't help thinking that you are trying to combine two hobbies that don't really obviously combine.. and borrow 30k to do so...
If cycling is your current thing..go and do that...the sea will always be there in future years when the knees are knackered !
Taking a boat to go somewhere to go cycling..does that really make any sense?

 

[rafiki_]

As you say... a personal choice...
I can't help thinking that you are trying to combine two hobbies that don't really obviously combine.. and borrow 30k to do so...
If cycling is your current thing..go and do that...the sea will always be there in future years when the knees are knackered !
Taking a boat to go somewhere to go cycling..does that really make any sense?

Great cycling on the Isle of Wight, and the New Forest. South Down Way great on a MTB.

 

[gjgm]

Sure..but do you need a 40ft boat to go 5 miles by sea in order to cycle!
I just think the boating will be in the way of the cycling and the cycling in the way of the boating.
Now if you said coastal walking I can see the logic of a boat !
But, each to his own...

 

[Bazzer]

We had the use of 32 ft bavaria sports boat, found we didnt get down as much. we now have a 42ft flybridge and use it every week all through the year, more space means you can have others to stay with you, more home comforts plus loads of other benefits.

you cant take it with you so you might aswell spend it and enjoy it

 

[Greg2]

A year and a half on I’ve virtually stopped looking at boats for sale, one of the reasons is the price of boats and the thought of mooring charges again.
.

Having sold recently with the intention of buying again we are now finding that we are not quite sure what to do. Always been keen boaters but now enjoying not having the associated costs and less certain about the wisdom of having a chunk of money invested in a depreciating asset. Prices are also a factor as is the long term future re fossil fuels and diesel in particular. Not sure we want a boat enough to take the plunge at the moment, which is a little unexpected given that it has been a massive part of our lives. Might change of course