What sorts of improvements can be made to a boat?

[Hoplo]

Like a lot of people it seems during the COVID epidemic I now want to buy a boat. I have not owned a boat before and have not been brought up around boats. So I have little but not no experience with both sailing and motorboat. So I am looking for a little advice.

I might start a new thread about advice on what sort of boat to buy. But the advice I want here is after I have bought a 2nd hand boat what kind of improvements can I easily / relatively inexpensively make (I appreciate nothing is going to be really cheap on a boat!). So what sort of things should I really make sure the boat has compared to things I can add later? And are the things I should look out for if I want to do upgrades later?

The boat I am likely to buy will be somewhere between the 27 foot to 40 foot range if that makes a difference to your answers. While I don’t intend to be a full time live aboard I would be aiming to spend several weeks at a time on the boat (Then flying or getting a train home for a few weeks before returning to the boat). Mostly but not exclusively in marinas once I have got some experience. Initially just in the U.K. but ultimately around Ireland and Europe too if I like the lifestyle.

1) If after a few months I felt the need for a generator how practical is it to fit one? This is not something I would be comfortable fitting myself so would the cost of having one fitted be too high? Also is space an issue? Would I need to make sure that the boat has spare room and access in either the engine room or a lazorette to fit one at all? Or is it just better to buy a boat with one if I think there is any chance I want one later?

2) A Blackwater tank. Again I would not be comfortable fitting one myself so the cost would include having that professionally done. Not all the boats I have been looking at online seem to have one. And as in the future I might want to cruise the Belgium canals or go to the med being at least able to retrofit one would be important to me.

3) Adding a grey water tank. Hardly any boats I have looked at have these - but some places - Belgium? Seem to require them?

4) increasing the size of an existing fresh water, black water or grey water tank. Is it practical to do this if I am constantly refilling or emptying these?

5) Adding an inverter and possibly extra Domestic batteries if I find I need a bit of extra power outside of a marina but don’t want to go the generator route.

6) Adding a cockpit or Flybridge fridge and / or bbq where there isn’t one but is a space for one.

7) Adding a washer/dryer and / or an oven if the boat does not have one.

8) And finally and perhaps most importantly as I intend to part time home work from the boat. Internet access. Is there anything I need to ensure the boat has which I can’t easily add later to ensure I can connect? At least while I am in a marina.

Thanks!

 

[Seastoke]

Well for all that stuff you will need a big boat , at least you understand what you want. How do you know you like boating and your wife , do you know the running costs . I always think a boat is like a swimming pool , I fancy one can afford one but after a time will I use it , doubt it .
we hired boats , on the broads , then tried Caledonian Canal , from now would be a good time as it’s going to rain a lot , it does on a boat. A lot of boats Have been sold to newbie boaters recently, I would guess a good percentage will be for sale at the end of next season ps a lot of advice will be based on your budget. Good luck

 

[Wansworth]

Pencil rack,hook for tea towel......the list is endless once you get the bug

 

[Seastoke]

Pencil rack,hook for tea towel......the list is endless once you get the bug

Is that for your pencil skirts.

 

[Wansworth]

Is that for your pencil skirts.

If it was a skirt it would be a Kilt!

 

[Richard.C]

I would recommend you actually go and look at a few of the boats before getting into too much detail. There is quite a large difference between 27ft and 40ft, just getting on board boats will help you in your thoughts.

 

[ashtead]

One way of considering what extras you might need is to look at the specifications in boats in your market size which I guess might be upper end. So let’s say a 36 to 40ft boat and take a look at say a beneteau trawler extras list and move on from there . Generally if buying secondhand I would try to find boats with your list of items fitted provided the items such as a generator are newish. Some of the things listed are quite big so that space might influence your choice but you end up in trader country if looking at older boats. You don’t say a budget but that will ultimately influence how many champagne items you can get for your beer money.

 

[Simi]

What ever you buy it will not be what you first thought as you use your boat you will find your requirements are different from what your first thoughts where
My advice would be not to spend to much on your boat after you have bought it as you will probably sell it relatively soon after you get it and you are unlikely to add value unless it’s a wreck you will need 40ft to have enough space for 4 people comfortably
My first thoughts where we needed a fly bridge boat but the 3 after have not been
Buy a popular make it will sell easier

 

[C08]

A good heater gas or diesel is a must also a high output wind generator plus solar panels. You should be able to site 200/300W without much difficulty on a 40ft boat. Exciting - enjoy.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

An icemaker, drinks cooler, coffee maker and cigar humidor are all essential onboard equipment in my opinion, followed by a wide screen TV and airconditioning. What more does a bloke need on a boat?

 

[Hurricane]

What more does a bloke need on a boat?

A good woman

 

[DavidJ]

Suggest you and your better half sign up for a course. 2-3 days, you’ll probably live aboard learn a lot and come out with an ICC qualification which you can then rent a boat abroad. If you think that’s expensive, that’s nothing compared to owning one.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

A good woman

Yes you are absolutely right M. Without my SWMBO efficiently carrying out crewing duties whilst I sit on my arse driving the boat, I probably wouldnt even own a boat

 

[Bouba]

The trick is to make going from home to boat as smooth as possible, so very much like a holiday home. And it’s those home comforts that can make or break the project. The little things like a toaster and coffee machine, while some people need a dishwasher and washing machine. You have used your gut instincts and identified the underlying need for electricity. Without electricity you are camping, with it you are cruising. So look for a boat with a generator already fitted (it’s expensive to add it latter), don’t go for a portable unit, they are noisy.

 

[Sneds]

An electric toilet. Seriously.
And an extra fridge, heating, a gas cooker and a mattress topper from Ikea, an electric carving knife to cut it into the right shapeWe have a Genny, seldom use it and if we do it’s only ‘cos we can!
A TV, 12v if you aim to spend time off grid, not many do, depends on your location
All governed, of course. By the depth of your pockets
Great question to post btw

 

[Jamie Dundee]

A good woman

I’d rather suggest a ‘bad’ woman....

<goes and hides behind JK Rowling>

 

[Hoplo]

Well for all that stuff you will need a big boat , at least you understand what you want. How do you know you like boating and your wife , do you know the running costs . I always think a boat is like a swimming pool , I fancy one can afford one but after a time will I use it , doubt it .
we hired boats , on the broads , then tried Caledonian Canal , from now would be a good time as it’s going to rain a lot , it does on a boat. A lot of boats Have been sold to newbie boaters recently, I would guess a good percentage will be for sale at the end of next season ps a lot of advice will be based on your budget. Good luck

Thank you. To answer some of your points - I don’t know for sure that I will like boating but I think I will. I have taken a short course (Powerboat level 2) which I enjoyed and I am going on holiday to the med soon. My extended family are chartering a sailing catamaran. Not the same of course but should give me some idea of living on a boat. I also intend to hire a boat myself this autumn. Probably on the Thames as it’s reasonably close. Before I actually buy a boat.

Many of the Marina websites seem coy about how much they charge for berthing a boat. Especially visitor rates which I know are higher Than annual rates. But I shall be giving up the flat I am renting as I move from office to home working which will save me about £1000 a month. That should pay for most of the mooring fees unless I try and stay on the south coast which is not my plan. The river Severn, Wales or NW England are much more likely spots. Or possibly Essex for the first few months.

I appreciate there are plenty of other costs - engine servicing, insurance, anti fouling etc. But I shall continue to work so those costs should be manageable.

I don’t want to spend more than about 150k on the boat itself. I have been considering buying a smaller / cheaper boat first. Both to learn about boats on and limit my initial cost in case I don’t like it. But then I will lose money when I upgrade the boat a few months later (which will eat into my budget) and I know I will want to invite friends and family to occasionally overnight on the boat. It’s tough to find a sub 30 foot boat where its possible to invite more than one couple.

 

[Hoplo]

One way of considering what extras you might need is to look at the specifications in boats in your market size which I guess might be upper end. So let’s say a 36 to 40ft boat and take a look at say a beneteau trawler extras list and move on from there . Generally if buying secondhand I would try to find boats with your list of items fitted provided the items such as a generator are newish. Some of the things listed are quite big so that space might influence your choice but you end up in trader country if looking at older boats. You don’t say a budget but that will ultimately influence how many champagne items you can get for your beer money.

I definitely intend to buy a used boat as within my budget I could only get something smaller than I would want long term. Fine for me to learn on but meaning I would want to upgrade fairly soon And take the initial depreciation hit.

 

[Megs20Burt!]

In my (very) recent experience of buying a boat, here is what I have found.

1. fix a budget and try very hard not to exceed it, that will focus you on what is currently available in the market, it is currently a seller’s market, so, people may just hold out for a higher sell price. And when you find the boat you want, secure it quickly with a small deposit (if possible) and buy subject to a survey. When we were looking, there seemed to be loads of boats ‘just’ beyond our budget and they all seemed better than the ones we could afford! We ended up placing a deposit on three boats before we bought the boat we now own. The survey results on the previous two were shocking including a 2011 boat that looked immaculate.
2. decide where you will use your boat, not just now, but over the life of your ownership. That will help you decide what category boat you will need, this will further narrow down your search.
3. get the missus involved in the entire process right from the start, often she will see boating different from you and not necessarily like what you like. This will narrow your search further again.
4. pick your engine type carefully, diesel or petrol? Single or twin? There is a world of difference in cost between them. In the marina where we have our boat, those that have big petrol engines don’t venture too far because of the cost. At £1.58 per litre, petrol boats get expensive very quickly. Also, petrol can be difficult to find around certain areas of the coast and this can limit your potential cruising grounds.
5. size does matter on boats, the difference between a 28ft and 34 ft is incredible and a 40 ft seems like a ocean liner! Think through the size really carefully as cost just mounts the bigger you go. Cleaning and maintenance increase along with length. We saw many boats where the owner had either given up or the maintenance over time got away from them and boats really suffer if not used or maintained. You may not need the size you think you do.
6. try and follow your head and not your heart. This can be really difficult if you are new to boating (as we are). Listen to experienced people, but filter out their bias.
6. If you follow the above, by now your search criteria should be manageable and you can begin to identify what boat types you don’t like. We were all over the place and spent many hours trolling through marina listings etc and then lots of driving to view boats that were complete rubbish.

hope you find the boat you want...?

 

[DavidJ]

Just to give you some idea.
I‘ve got a Sealine S37 in the Med. Sealine have historically been good at creating great internal space. So two can live quite happily for a few weeks. Grown up guests we would limit to a couple of days (maybe more if they’re generous!)
Marina fees £5000 incl elec, water, parking, washrooms.
Overnight stops In another marinas £60 plus.
servicing £3500
Always new bits each year, this year canopy £2000 The same next year for something else.
So your £1000 per month fits well.