Which boat...?

thejonesey

thejonesey

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Having done all my boating on the South Coast, I have always enjoyed the open sea but the recent move to Shiplake has got me thinking that it would be nice to have the boat on the river and then make a trip to the coast each summer. (I teach, so I have the time to do it but is this practical?) I have, virtually, no experience on the river and was wondering what boat would do the job for up to £90k. We had been looking at a 40 foot Princess or Fairline but I wonder if this would work.

I am aware that I am going to save ££££s in fuel but are there any hidden costs of keeping a boat on the river other than the licence? Plentiful marina spaces? Benefits/drawbacks of river life?

Apologies for so many questions but I am not sure where to start on this one! I would welcome a chat with anyone who boats in this area or has had similar experiences.
 
I think the only hidden cost is a BSS ( MOT) but to be honest i think thats a good thing as it checks all your gas and fuel lines are up to spec . I small price to pay to check your boat is in tip top condition . Other than that everyone is totally up front with telling you how much money they are going to tuck you up for :D Go for it !
 
Being at Shiplake, you have two "marinas" on your doorstep - Val Wyatt's and Bushnell's which could mean a walk to your boat (fab:), but as you know they are pretty full especially for larger boats.

Further downstream is Harleyford and Temple, but they are both bulging, so I wouldn't say that spaces are plentiful; probably more "available" if you book now for next season.

T&K at Caversham, a bit more of a conventional marina (to my mind a marina has loads of pontoons and boats in serried ranks) and their pricing policy means there are always spaces....

How does the Thames compare with the coast where you have been? You could be in for a shock.
 
Many thanks for the advice! I will go and look up our local marinas although it sounds like I might have to wait!

I have only ever rowed on the Thames (not something I should admit here really) so taking our own boat on it would be very different. I would like to get down to the coast at summer time - is this done?
 
I have my eye on a 40 footer to replace our Ocqueteau. Given that we would be based at, or around Shiplake, would this be too big, totally inappropriate for river use? ....Please be frank? Air Draft 4.03m but could be hinged to 3.5. Draft .98m Beam 4.22m

I promise to post less questions and more info in future and hope, even, to meet some of you! I think I may have seen Mr Boatone today at Shiplake Lock around 11am? Only guessing but I saw a rather lovely Hardy 27 with the TMBA sticker in the window and am now putting 2+2 together?

Rob
 
Hi Jonesey.

"Too big" is my first thought. Depends on how many people you will have aboard of course...

So: First question back is why do you want something of that size?
 
In response... there are four of us + a dog but size is because we like to spend time aboard and ultimately what to use it to go abroad each summer. In summary we need a sea-going boat that is happy on the river with space for two adults and two kids plus guests occasionally.
 
I was exactlty in your situation when I moved out of Brighton. Used to enjoy the open sea a lot and cruised all the south coast from Eastbourne to Isle of Scilly! but then boating on the river is another experience....

For some people it can be quite boring, especially if you are used to just "weekend cruise" like we all do in the sea. You can easily do like 80+miles /day in the sea and go quite far and then back next day which is a good weekend cruise! but a weekend on the river won't give you much... especially if you want to be back to your mooring...

So you end up mostly in a situation of A to B/B to A and A to C/C to A, where A is your permanent mooring!

I work full time so I can't plan long holidays on the boat, but even if I was retired (won't happen until the next 37years...!) I don't think I would have done more than one or two long cruises on the river each year.

I know many here won't like it if I say boating in the sea is MUCH more interesting than the river!

The advantage (only!) is that your boating is not really affected by the weather and in terms of preparation you are less bothered generally. No need for flares!!! ;)
 
thejonesey said:
I think I may have seen Mr Boatone today at Shiplake Lock around 11am? Only guessing but I saw a rather lovely Hardy 27 with the TMBA sticker in the window and am now putting 2+2 together?
Click to expand...
We were indeed passing through Shiplake at that time and had an excellent lunch at the Great House at Sonning before returning to Henley later in the day.
You should have made yourself known - you must have been pretty close to spot the TMBA sticker!
 
boatone said:
We were indeed passing through Shiplake at that time and had an excellent lunch at the Great House at Sonning before returning to Henley later in the day.
You should have made yourself known - you must have been pretty close to spot the TMBA sticker!
Click to expand...

You've missed a trick there "Mr. BoatOne" - an opportunity to promote next weekend's get together at Windsor.

So I'll do it instead -

Mr. Jonesey; I'm sure you'd be very welcome to come to the TMBA's first rally at MDL marina Windsor (by car as you're boatless). Just pop over to the TMBA web page and sign up. It's much easier to put all the points face to face.
 
I can't get my head around why you would want to swap your current boat for something quite similar. Both would have suitable challenges being equally "unsuitable" for non tidal river work (but that's my perspective having a WSOB - folks will explain).

Perhaps Apollo's point about MDL's deal could be the jewel in your crown - pay one fee and get year round mooring at the marina of your choice.

There are a whole load of side opportunities (frinstance escaping to the tidal bit for long weekends and visiting parts of the Mudway).

Needs a face to faces session..........
 
RE TBMA

I will definately come down in the afternoon although I won't be able to come to the evening function. Thanks for all the advice. I look forward to meeting some of you next weekend and putting names and avatars to faces!

Regarding yesterday at Shiplake Lock I watched you come through while with my family but did not realise it was you until reading the posts last night. I think my wife even spoke to someone on board!
 
TrueBlue said:
You've missed a trick there "Mr. BoatOne" - an opportunity to promote next weekend's get together

Mr. Jonesey; I'm sure you'd be very welcome to come to the TMBA's first rally at MDL marina Windsor (by car as you're boatless). Just pop over to the TMBA web page and sign up. It's much easier to put all the points face to face.
Click to expand...

Excuse me, the rally next weekend is a YBW Thames Forum Rally and nothing to do with TMBA ( I hope!)
 
Mooring Mooring Mooring.

Regards your choice of boat,you are probably well aware that there are something like 8000 boats on the Thames,plus short term visitors and a long term semi resident occupation army of tin slugs.
Bank mooring space can be at a premium and after travelling down to say Hampton Court and having spent most of the day getting there,it can be a real pain finding a "hole" for big boat plus bigger boats tend draw more water so adding yourself on to that shallow bit of mooring right at the end may result in props needing mending.
Not a reason not to get a biggun but definately worth bearing in mind.
 
Brayman said:
Excuse me, the rally next weekend is a YBW Thames Forum Rally and nothing to do with TMBA ( I hope!)
Click to expand...

My apologies, B1 is kindly doing the administration through his website (TMBA), so I got confused.

Anyway what objection do you have for the TMBA??
 
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