| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| consumedbynature |
Posted - 29 Sep 2011 : 20:17:20
Hi all,
Here's a conundrum for all of you (Clive I'm hoping you might have an answer). I'd really appreciate any suggestions.
What make/model of boat would you recommend that meets all of the requirements set out below. I know it reads more like an impossible wish list than anything.
I would like a boat that is: -
- Shallow enough draft to travel the Thames, Avon, Kennet & Avon and similar inland waterways
- Low enough air draft to get under the inland waterways bridges but with decent headroom
- Good sea going qualities for trips down the Bristol channel, along the coast and maybe accross the channel to France
- Sturdy build and economical on fuel (would have to be diesel)
- Roomy enough to have a shower and reasonable space for a long trip
Any suggestions would be great. I know that Norman made some widebeam boats. Can anyone tell me if they fit the bill?
Regards
Billy
Shetland 640 - Jessica Marie - Worcestershire Avon |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| cliveshep |
Posted - 03 Oct 2011 : 21:22:57
Ha! What you meant to say was planty of draft but not much airdraft Dave. Ha ha - stand behind one and you'll soon have the wind up you!
The cost of boating is insignificant compared to costs of a young wife and two teenage kids! |
| df |
Posted - 02 Oct 2011 : 23:39:20
Not too much airdraft, not too much draft, get a hovercraft!
P.S. Gis a go when you do...
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
| consumedbynature |
Posted - 02 Oct 2011 : 22:19:48
Thanks for all the replies.
The Hardy boats all look like really reliable craft. Not sure what the air draft is on the Hardy 25 which could be a potential. Really like the look of the Colvic 28 travellers but again their hard top is touch and go for airdraft on the K&A canal.
Shared a lock with a very interesting American boat today - a Macgregor 26 with the mast down, was a sailing yacht/power boat with a 60hp engine with 6 berths and 6" headroom. It has a draft of 1' with water ballast tanks.
Just had a look at their website - www.macgregor26.com. It is an excellent website which is very informative and worth a look.
Regards
Billy
Shetland 640 - Jessica Marie - Worcestershire Avon |
| MUDPILOT |
Posted - 02 Oct 2011 : 08:45:17
My "Hardy Bosun 20" manages all you seem to require. River cruising, canals and Humber Eustuary used throughout the year.
Single handed or with 1 crew member. Locks and bridges not a problem.
Used a Norman 20 till a couple of years ago have now become used to the lack of condensation and the previous habit of constantly monitoring weather reports and barometer faded to a dim memory.
Regards.
|
| stratford4528 |
Posted - 01 Oct 2011 : 20:14:57
I,m not into salt water but reading the comments 2 boats seems like an answer to me |
| Deano |
Posted - 30 Sep 2011 : 22:42:42
Dell Quay Ranger???????? A bit left field, but may just fit the bill with the right engines.
27 foot, very light (wood) hull, low draught and air draught. Fore and aft cabins. Cheep as chips if you can find a good one.
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 30 "Silver Gem"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
| cliveshep |
Posted - 30 Sep 2011 : 19:43:32
Short professional answer is there is nothing that will do everything that you want and never will be. You will be compromising to a greater or lesser extent everywhere you go. At sea you'll be weather and sea-state dependant and inland might choose to run one engine at a time as two is serious overkill.
Any of the shaft-drive boats up to 32 feet would get you most places, so that is Freeman, Seamaster up to the 3. The outdrive boats - Senior/Marine Projects/RLM type range based on the Senior 31/32 hulls, including the Princess 32 although this would need wheelhouse mods. The Senior hull is such as Dave has and would be economical with small diesels but they can be notoriously bad sea-keepers in a bad run. I suspect Dave will bear that out. I remember the last Brixham trawler race I took part in the day after a bad blow and a Senior 31 got caught out and came in with it's foredeck hatch stove in and was lucky to survive! Ballast will stop tail stands but to achieve any sort of reasonable passage run you'll need power to compensate plus trim tabs and at least a pair of 6.354's or the equivalent and they can get thirsty at WOT (wide open throttle. Petrol engines give better performance weight for weight but a 150 gallons of fuel is a hell of a fire risk at sea where you've got nowhere to go!
Similar performances are given by the Fairline range, being lighter they too can pretty much plane with a pair of Volvo petrols so you caa passage make and punch the worst of the tides. Again these are mainly outdrive boats - for a shaft drive you'd be looking bigger and it will not go under bridges and will bankrupt you buying and running it.
If you don't mind trundling a bit, the shaft drive Oceans are well-renowned for sea-keeping qualities, but being semi displacement you'll roll a lot where the Fairlines and RLM's will rattle both the crockery and your teeth at any sort of speed. Both will plane with proper power but you'll pay for the fuel big time. Seamasters are in the same class as the Ocean - planing hulls but not enough power to plane and heavy built so you have a smart looking planing boat trying to be a semi-displacement boat. They slam like billy-oh! They are well made tough old girls though which is why so many were adopted in huge numbers by hire fleet owners along with the Oceans and Elysians.
A very good compromise boat at displacement speeds is the Albin range, displacement and slow but can cope with wide canals and THames etc. They are a pretty boat too. Only in shaft drive,
If you can lay your hands on one, there were a small number of Elysian 27's in twin format. Built by Appleyard Lincoln they are as tough as old boots and bridge clearance is very good with folding screens and pram canopy. An early promotion film by AL showed one on the plane at sea and they are very sea-capable but not with a single 4.107 or 4.108. I know of at least one that made passage to and from the Channel Islands - I'd draw the line at that I think.
What ever you get the hard top has to be converted to a drop-down - ok if you have skills or engineering friends, and the windscreen also has to be made fold down.
Your other option is a trail boat, go where you want but limited facilities on board and a big 4 x 4 needed to haul it plus you are VERY weather dependant off-shore.
I hope that has given you some food for thought.
The cost of boating is insignificant compared to costs of a young wife and two teenage kids! |
| Deano |
Posted - 30 Sep 2011 : 09:15:30
quote:
Originally posted by df
the speed boat we followed to snape didn't think the channel was wide enough for a twin engine boat
It wasn't, but it is now!!! You don't have twin engines, twin furrow more like!!!
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 30 "Silver Gem"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
| df |
Posted - 30 Sep 2011 : 07:40:09
The RLM/Senior/Princess/Project 31 breed would do you fine as long as it has a removable top or soft canopy as I have issues with some bridges with my hardtop, they need plenty of weight in the bow to keep them sweet in a choppy sea as they are stern heavy (all outdrive boats are) and tend to do tailstands.
Shallow draught and you can lift outdrives for drying harbours.
Unless you are looking for thirsty twin petrols you will probably have to accept going everywhere at about 6 knots as mine won't plane, I'd probably need another 100hp at least for that.
Mine has done the wash to walton backwaters and even ventured up to the maltings at snape, you won't find much shallower a run that that, the speed boat we followed to snape didn't think the channel was wide enough for a twin engine boat
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
Visit leomagill.co.uk |
| trevork |
Posted - 29 Sep 2011 : 21:35:17
Dean is on the right track here. Unfortunately the wide beam Normans might scupper your bridge clearances as they are all hardtaps. The wide beam 22 would not be big enough I suspect.
There are a couple of Freemans that might fit your bill though! Seamasters are likely also worth a look.
Have a look at Flinty's site as well. The Project 31 comes in a few different guises and the RNLI know what to look for! |
| Deano |
Posted - 29 Sep 2011 : 21:02:46
Freeman 30 Aft Cabin with original pram hood canopy, but then I would be biased.
- Shallow enough draft to travel the Thames, Avon, Kennet & Avon and similar inland waterways
2'6"
- Low enough air draft to get under the inland waterways bridges but with decent headroom
6' Airdraught but 6' headroom
- Good sea going qualities for trips down the Bristol channel, along the coast and maybe accross the channel to France
No problem - Twin 100hp diesels, mine spent 5 years on the Bristol channel / river seven and has also been to France / Belgium.
- Sturdy build and economical on fuel (would have to be diesel)
Solid build, about 1 gall an hour on the river
- Roomy enough to have a shower and reasonable space for a long trip
Loads of room, 2 fixed bunks in aft cabin, settee V berth and a shower toilet.
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 30 "Silver Gem"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
