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

[Hurricane52]

Bought this in Sirmione, just a few hours before proposing. Scared it might not be allowed if I did it the other way round.

There must be something addictive abut V8s.

 

[mjheathcote]

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

I remember my Dad saying 40 years ago you really want to be living in the Med for this to make sense!

 

[Swedish Paul]

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).

View attachment 90053View attachment 90054View attachment 90055View attachment 90056

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….

How much? I have to admit, I have owned a 5m aluminum boat with 50 hp 4 stroke, and you get a lot of use, but a boat to stay on overnight has its attractions, especially during the zombie apocalypse. Has anyone seen Zomboat on C4 by the way?

 

[Felonious Crud]

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.

It'd be lovely to finally meet you, Ewan, but an innocent visit to a boat show would almost certainly be financially ruinous.

 

[CatmanV2]

Stonking!

C

 

[Ebenezer]

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

That makes much more sense. In the UK you have to be nuts! A friend of mine has a lovely little cruiser which is kept in a boat shed on a trolley thing. When he wants to use it it gets tractored to the slipway and off you go. Can't think he's even been out on it 5 time a year in the 15+ years he's owned it.

On the subject of renting - in order to escape COVID last September I chartered a yacht and skipper and cruised and dived around the Bay of Naples for a week. Fantastic! Boating makes alot more sense in that part of the world.

Eb

 

[P5Nij]

My Dad's old 'boat' (sorry couldn't resist!), he walked down the gangplank for the last time in '64 when he left the RN and married my Mum....



He spent the rest of his life landlocked in Warwickshire, desperate to own a small boat but for one reason or another it never happened. At his funeral service we played the theme to 'Captain Pugwash', he'd have liked that

 

[Hurricane52]

There are usually plenty of reasons not to go boating. The tide times, the faffing about with trailers and the British weather usually scupper most plans. Add to that the ongoing maintenance and it makes little sense. Every once in a while though, it all comes together and it’s ace.

In addition to the Riva, we now have three wooden kayaks and a classic clinker built day boat. Like Maseratis, they all have their moments and those moments are always special.

 

[D Walker]

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.)

Yes but If I remember correctly Nick Burnham has his boat in a council run marina which I think he suggested was tons cheaper than the private marina next door. But as you say. Maybe not as ruinous as some May think.

 

[conaero]

Looks amazing. One life live it

Couldn’t agree more!

 

[zagatoes30]

My Dad's old 'boat' (sorry couldn't resist!), he walked down the gangplank for the last time in '64 when he left the RN and married my Mum....

View attachment 90091

He spent the rest of his life landlocked in Warwickshire, desperate to own a small boat but for one reason or another it never happened. At his funeral service we played the theme to 'Captain Pugwash', he'd have liked that

My first Airfix model

 

[zagatoes30]

Must admit we have discussed a boat since living in Ireland as we are only 10 mins from a couple of really nice fishing harbours with some pleasure craft but I know we wouldn't get out on that much and there are other toys higher up the list

 

[Felonious Crud]

Must admit we have discussed a boat since living in Ireland as we are only 10 mins from a couple of really nice fishing harbours with some pleasure craft but I know we wouldn't get out on that much and there are other toys higher up the list

We're in a similar situation, Andy (albeit further east). Oddly, it's Mrs Crud who's more keen than me. A friend has a nice boat (an actual yacht, with sails) which he's always happy to lend me but I'd want to bone up on my RYA qualifications before I'd be happy taking him up on such a generous offer. To be honest, the guy's a menace, but it's his boat.

 

[DavidL]

We went up to see some friends in Ullapool a few years back and one set of parents had a couple of yachts. One was up and running and the other a resto project having been bought following an on board fire. Needed a complete interior refit but had been quite well bought I gather. Neither huge but 4 berth boats, no idea but 45ft or so maybe
Anyway the weather was a tad breezy but we were determined to see the Summer Isles. Whilst under diesel power all was quite civilised, yes quite liking this, but once under sail power the general demeanor changed rather. All fine apparently... but first the deck rails disappeared under the water and then the cabin windows that side and whilst "sitting" across the cockpit bit we were effectively standing up and we hadn't actually left the Loch entrance. To say I was concerned would be an understatement and I was wondering just how cold the water was, well it was Scotland, and how long it would take to reach the shore if I had to swim. This seemed increasingly likely to my amateur eyes.
Anyway we didn't sink or have to swim but we didn't see the Summer Isles either. Once safely retired to the pub there were a few comments about the pillocks under sail that day and had swe seen them. Nope not us..
Never hugely keen on things without a motor since then.

 

[mjheathcote]

We went up to see some friends in Ullapool a few years back and one set of parents had a couple of yachts. One was up and running and the other a resto project having been bought following an on board fire. Needed a complete interior refit but had been quite well bought I gather. Neither huge but 4 berth boats, no idea but 45ft or so maybe
Anyway the weather was a tad breezy but we were determined to see the Summer Isles. Whilst under diesel power all was quite civilised, yes quite liking this, but once under sail power the general demeanor changed rather. All fine apparently... but first the deck rails disappeared under the water and then the cabin windows that side and whilst "sitting" across the cockpit bit we were effectively standing up and we hadn't actually left the Loch entrance. To say I was concerned would be an understatement and I was wondering just how cold the water was, well it was Scotland, and how long it would take to reach the shore if I had to swim. This seemed increasingly likely to my amateur eyes.
Anyway we didn't sink or have to swim but we didn't see the Summer Isles either. Once safely retired to the pub there were a few comments about the pillocks under sail that day and had swe seen them. Nope not us..
Never hugely keen on things without a motor since then.

Sounds like you all needed to be on a trapeze to help level things up a bit!

 

[Wack61]

My Dad's old 'boat' (sorry couldn't resist!), he walked down the gangplank for the last time in '64 when he left the RN and married my Mum....

View attachment 90091

He spent the rest of his life landlocked in Warwickshire, desperate to own a small boat but for one reason or another it never happened. At his funeral service we played the theme to 'Captain Pugwash', he'd have liked that

My brother in law served on HMS Leander , he also pulled Winston Churchill's coffin at his funeral , not on his own like.

 

[philw696]

Love boats both Sail and Power.
Did my RYA Day Skipper a few years ago and learnt loads and would recommend it to all.
As a kid I grew up around boats and had Great times so did the same for my kids.
British weather was the negative a lot of the time but when you had a good day it was one of the best in your life and my kids learnt skills for life.
As with anything go in with your eyes wide open.

 

[Felonious Crud]

My brother in law served on HMS Leander , he also pulled Winston Churchill's coffin at his funeral , not on his own like.

I've heard of trying to pull a bridesmaid at a wedding, but pulling a coffin at a funeral, that's pretty niche.

 

[2b1ask1]

I've heard of trying to pull a bridesmaid at a wedding, but pulling a coffin at a funeral, that's pretty niche.

Necrophilia is dead boring!

 

[philw696]

Thread drift already