will you end up in a power boat??????????????

[Guest]

We have Nicho who is not quite at the stage of having senior moments but is switching from Power to Sail; where I have always assumed that once the body started failing even more than it is that I would only be able to keep afloat by moving to Power... How many power are ex sail I wonder . If I go to power I don't think I could put up with all that rushing around so would probably go for a pre-war (2nd that is!!!) gentlemens motor yacht complete with cast Iron bath and travel sedately at 8knts!!!! How many of you lot think you will end up with a motor yacht. ?

Pete

 

[Celena]

Probably not...I expect to end up with something small and easily handled (eg Hunter Horizon 23) moored Isle of Wight with definitely no sailing at weekends, bank or school holidays!

 

[kgi]

Very likely for me i am looking at a thirty foot power cat with twin 250 hp fourstroke yamaha, outboards on

 

[BarryH]

I started off sailing in my youth. Enjoyed it and always wanted that bigger yacht. Unfortunatley I met the woman that turned out to be my wife. She hated sailing, but liked the look of those "speedy" boat things! So to keep the peace and still allow me to get out on the water we got a motorboat. Then the kids came along. Now they like the look of those sailing dinghies. So next on the list is a Topper or something just as easy to handle. I thought about an oppy for them, but with two impatient girlies I think it'll have a hard life and they'll soon outgrow it where a topper should last from the learning stage to the need something bigger statge.

OK, to hell with it. Unbolt it and we'll use it as an anchor!

 

[Violetta]

I can't envisage myself ever having the dosh to end up with a motor yacht (except possibly a dinghy with a beatup outboard) But in other circumstances, the answer is yes and I know which one it will be (I shall have to make them an offer etc.....)

She's a lovely Scottish MFV. Don't know what she is like down below, but she's very authentic looking from without. I've seen her in the Orwell and the Colne (where she was anchored last Saturday, no doubt to be a grandstand for the barge match and smack race) and I am in love with her. If the owners are reading this, they will know who they are. Well, folks, I've got my eye on her and when my ship comes in............

 

[iainmillett]

I've similar problems - my wife turned mutineer this April after a cold night spent on a mudbank in F7 winds. I'm selling my yacht and looking seriously at a motor job - even, horror of horrors, a narrow boat. I thought this would happen after my first stroke or heart job - but at 57+ I'm being led astray.

I'l keep a cheap Hurley 22 for assing about in though!

 

[nicho]

Peter, we seem to be doing things arse about face, for most people go from sail to power as their years advance, and we're doing it the other way around. The main reason we got out of motor cruisers (earlier this year), was the high cost of running and maintaining the thing. We are both now retired (me semi - so), and our income isn't what it was - our engines were just out of their 3 year warranty and we did not fancy the chance of costly engine rebuilds or even worse replacement (around £25K each!) if things went wrong. Whilst I'm not too bad in the senior moment department (I shall be 60 next year) and although I'm pretty sprightly right now, who knows what will happen in a few years if the old bones start to give out!. For that reason, I've bought a new boat with everything led to the cockpit. We've in-mast main furling as well, to (hopefully) make reefing etc a bit more managable in a blow. Hopefully we will be able to manage the boat for a number of years yet (Bavaria 36), for I've seen several couples obviously well into their 70's still enjoying their cruising. To be honest it was a sail boat, or stay out of boating altogether, and we were not ready for that yet. I wish to build my sailing experience around Solent/South Coast before taking a long break and "doing" Britanny - we've crossed the Channel with the motor boat, but under sail is perhaps a bit more daunting!! Everything seems pretty light to handle so hopefully I'll be able to sail her for many years to come.

 

[Guest]

fascinated to see the post from nicho. we had been thinking of going in the opposite direction, perhaps not just yet but in a few years time . age apart, the main reason was the extent of the motorsailing we find ourselves doing, even in retirement when in theory we can wait for the right wind. we dont, of course, so its another 40 mile bash to windward under engine and main.

cant help but think that if we do so much motoring, we might as well get a boat thats good at itie a motorboat

never realised that engines in power boats were that expensive to repair. for the benefit of those who have never had power boats, what are the running costs like?

 

[Johnjo]

Peter
I had always been a motor boat man,wooden ones that is,Enjoyed working
on theme as much as using them,Then one day four years ago sitting in the boat
doing some fishing a yacht sailed past,I said to my wife who was with me at
the time,I,m going to get one of those,the look she gave me said it all,
So we bought a Sabre 27 with a fin keel,having never sailed before,found it
all very exciting.But all of this came with a cost,With the wood boats
always on the scrounge,cheap paint,anti-foul,second hand fittings etc,
Something changed ,I had become a Yachty ,Started reading P.B.O .How had i managed so long without all the goodies advertised in it? No more used gear
now best i can afford.
Good tip , When wife moans , Do we really need this? Usually new toy of
some discription, Reply well it's not safe to go to sea without it.
Always works, Me and my Sabre i think were made for each other as i spend
most of my time on board her .Would i ever change back? NO WAY EVER.
The peace ,the quiet.the solitude different people you meet,New places to visit
A whole new world opened up for me,and i intend to make the most of it while able,Another bonus , Recently found this web site on sons computer,Wife now says if your not on the boat your on the computer reading this Forum.
best of luck
mike

 

[Johnjo]

Sorry about the space in the above posting,
I will learn how to use this thing properly one day.
I promise.
Mike

 

[hlb]

There expencive just like anything else to do with boats. But I dont think there so much. New sails and masts are also expencive. To me sailing is fine. As long as you dont want to go anywhere. But lets face it. Start of the holiday, you have plans. To go east or west. You want to go to Cornwall for instance. I hear every one on hear, droneing on about power boats. But come weekend and everyone going back home. There all bloody power boats! There is not a sail in sight. Diference is, these days theres boats with proper engines and those with smaller ones and sails. I'm not knocking them. There fine if wanting to go round in circles or time is no object. Or wanting to stop up all night and go thousands of miles. I've heard the one about sail boats being better in rough seas. Thats a bit of a laugh. I'm still doing 8 knotts as how bad it gets. Course you dont go out much when it's that bad. So mainly doing 20 knotts. Computer thingy tells you exactly when your going to be there. Always less than four hours. So time to look round the little bays and explore all the other places on the way. Not stuck miles out to sea trying to keep to the best posible direction. Now take one of my little trips for example. Plymouth to Salcolmbe. It's only about twenty miles. So if the seas flatish. Might first visit Cawsands for breakfast. Then maybe the river Yelm. Might take in a few more rivers before ariving at Bure Island and looking round Agatha Cristys place and a beer, Hope Cove is only round the corner so just go there for a bit. Then only maybe twenty minutes to Salcolmbe and still there in time for tea! might have used twenty quids worth of juice. But whats that matter when had a brilliant day out. No sweat. Dont matter which way the seas going or the wind. Much better if the sun comes out. But thats the same either way.

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Haydn

 

[FlyingSpud]

So power boats are better for getting somewhere? Well that must be true, but it would be quicker and easier to get in the car and drive along the coast. Surely we go by boat because we enjoy the experience of being on, and moving through the water? For some this is better done with speed, noise and banging up and down, for some it is better slower, quieter and leaning on one side. I know which I prefer.

 

[hlb]

Ah but you cant sit on the back of a car and make cups of tea, neither can you achor it in scenic bays. You cant fish off a car? But the big thing about a boat is. They have not yet found ways of painting yellow lines on the sea yet. Harbour masters are helpfull mostly where as Traffic wardens are only there to rob you. I've got nothing against yachts. I used to sail one. But there about the most uncomfortable thing that man has yet dreamed up. To many bits of wire/string/poles. All over the deck. Just a bloody nightmare to walk round. Just like a car. Cos the power boat can do 20/30 knots, dont mean you have to. Few weeks ago went for ages at 3knots, whilst fishing. Cors had to switch one engine off to do that else go to fast. Even got passed by a raggy!! No you cant compare boats with cars. Cars are just orible nesesities? Where as boats of what ever sort are. Well just well another thing??

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Haydn

 

[nicho]

Howard - we had a Sealine S37 with twin Mercruiser D4.2L (diesel) engines. They are very expensive to repair and maintain (but no more so than Volvo). We were told it can be anything up to £25000 to replace one of these units - never really confirmed that, but it was enough to put us off!. Reckon on about £1000/£1200 per year for regular servicing, and around 15 gallons per hour at cruising speed - marine diesel varies from abour 22p per litre to 35p in maost marinas (at least) cruising. Petrol powered boats are quite horrendous with fuel at over £4.00 per gallon!

 

[BrianJ]

I sold my 36' van de stadt and now while waiting for the first prize in the lottery( which woud let me buy the 48" van de stadt and do my round the world cruise) .. I drive the Club Rescue boat.. lovely job she is, twin 175 HP Turbo Cummins . There is something to be said for stink boats after all
BrianJ

 

[pkb]

I think its very likely althugh when retirement dawns I'll probably be less able to afford the fuel bills. Something of a paradox there. I agree with your sentiments about a gentleman's boat as opposed to a turbocharged, planing spaceship. Something like a Grand Banks trawler yacht would do nicely. Met up with one in Cherbourg this summer and apparently they're very good on fuel. But the boat's rather pricey.

Peter

 

[Celena]

I don't think you will have a problem - we bought our boat from an 84 year old (he bought it new when he was 72!) and he only gave up because he could't afford a marina berth and he became unable to climb from his tender to on-board. He cruised all over northern France with his wife...

 

[FlyingSpud]

I think they are working on the yellow line in the sea idea.

How many times a year does the average Power boat sailor anchor in the idylic anchorage? Most of the power boats I see are in Marina's where they seem to be used as riverside caravans (though, come to think about it, you can say the same about sailing boats as well..)

 

[tcm]

in the uk, not much, but in the flatter med, anchorages can be wall-to-wall.

Anyway, the questuionm was "ending up" not "right now. With more time, Iwd have though a sailboat makes more sense, better at anchor, good for long overseas trips. But later might be easier if one became less mobile. For this reason i wd suggest that you never run the lawnmower off the end of the lawn at the end of the garden, cos it's very important to look after your elf.

sorry

 

[nicho]

Wow! - that'll do for me.....