The boat thread - an even shorter road to financial ruin?

[Rwc13]

By “popular” demand!

Subject to sea trial and hull inspection on Tuesday, this is what I am likely to buy (although I’m also weighing up a 1998 Cranchi Smeraldo 37). It’s a 34’ Gobbi 335 SC, but with a swim platform added (effectively making it a 345SC).



It was a freshwater boat its whole life until June this year when it was thoroughly overhauled - engines, drives, anti-fouling, new helm electronics, new cockpit and deck cushions, salon and cabin refit - and then brought down the Algarve. It’s in very nice condition other than a couple of scratches on the blue stripe which is a vinyl wrap, so an easy fix. The twin Volvo Penta Diesel engines show less than 500 hours of run time in 21 years, and run incredibly sweetly at idle. They are good for 460hp. It will cruise at 25mph and top out at around 35mph.

We will see how it goes on Tuesday….

 

[drellis]

Looks amazing. One life live it

 

[D Walker]

Very nice.
that’s no hours at all for what are essentially bullet proof engines.
Do you have any Yacht quals?
I did my comp crew course many moons ago.

 

[FIFTY]

Looks like it would be great fun out on the water with that

Got to love motorboating

 

[Zep]

Nice. I do enjoy a bit of motorboating!

 

[Rwc13]

I did my ICC for powerboats up to 15m two years ago out here. You cannot drive any boat here without a licence.

I then initially had a 5m boat to gain some experience, and then an 8m boat to gain a bit more. This is the next logical step because we mostly enjoy going out with family/friend groups of 6-10 to spend a day socialising around the boat.

I’m planning to do the RYA Dayskipper when things quieten down a bit here.

 

[Oishi]

Boat: A hole in the water into which one throws money.
See also: Itialian money toilet.

 

[mjheathcote]

Boat: A hole in the water into which one throws money.

Correct, you need to be earning a lot and be prepared to loose a lot on fuel, marina fees etc.
My Dad went through it in the late 70's and 80's mostly, and I was fortunate to enjoy it as a kid/teenager.
I've had no desire to do the same myself, been there done it I guess, plus in no financial position anyway!
The other thing you find yourself having to use the boat nearly every weekend in the summer plus holidays, because you add it all up and divide by the available time you can use in the season, and if you miss a few weekends the cost 'per day' becomes silly.
Once you get into a boat you can sleep on, you need to be very wealthy.

 

[zagatoes30]

That is very nice

How do you run a boat on a small budget?

Start with a big budget.

My Dad was into his boats, he had a 34ft Cruiser with twin Volvo Pentas - he used to say when you opened up the throttles it was like taking a shower and ripping up £20 notes as fast as you can.

 

[Scaf]

Congratulations, would love a motorboat of some description but would likely go for a speedboat, did bid on a Riva Junior once but chickened out.

Am sure you have gone in with your eyes wide open and will have some great times

 

[drellis]

 

[drellis]

Completely different league but bought after a few wines few months ago, needs new decking,
I too would like a riva, but never afford, so a copycat to do . Is a bit loud, has a 3.0 Ford Essex with straight stainless exhaust.

 

[FIFTY]

My parents had a house above Torquay harbour side where I grew up. Absolutely loved the annual power boating event that visited.

Last week I visited the Manoir Automobile museum and was filled with the same childish wonder when I saw these beasts scattered around

 

[Oishi]

Manoir Automobile museum

Beautiful!

 

[Ebenezer]

twin Volvo Penta Diesel engines show less than 500 hours of run time in 21 years

Therein lies the rub. Say 5 hours of cruising each time you take it out, means that in 21 years it's been used around 100 times... Or 5 times a year. I hope you get more use out of it!
Eb

 

[Ewan]

There’s a YouTube channel called Aquaholic. In one episode he lists the costs for running his boat, including fuel, berthing, insurance, maintenance etc. From memory his is about a 35ft motorboat and costs him around £500 a month. So more affordable than you might think.

(Of course, much depends on where you berth and how fast you cruise.)

 

[Ewan]

I’ll be working at the Southampton Boat Show from next Friday and for the ensuing 10 days. If any of you are visiting, pop to the Coppercoat stand to say hi.

 

[Hurricane52]

Took our boys out on the Bay to Remember trip yesterday evening as a birthday treat. Saw three porpoises and loads of seals. They even reversed into this cave…

Apologies for the disorientation.

 

[Rwc13]

I think that’s the point, it depends very much on your circumstances. We live in the Algarve where we can use the boat pretty much all year round. We’re also mostly retired, so we can use the boat several times a week. And here, you tend to cruise for an hour to a nice spot, anchor, and then enjoy the isolation of a relatively private beach. The most expensive thing here is the annual cost of a marina berth, which will be €6k for this boat. Add on fuel, insurance, annual service and anti-fouling and you are probably at €10–12k. Which is quite a lot. But there is little depreciation on a boat this age, and I’ve certainly blown a lot more annually on cars when you take depreciation into account. And when you think the cost of having this much fun is being “shared” with 6-10 people on every trip, for me it feels like much better value for money. You see the man maths calculator works on water too

 

[Zep]

Apologies for the disorientation.

Fixed it for you.