[Em135eye]

A proper feather ruffling photo maybe...

Me at the helm of FILs rather pretty Fisher 46 (steel motorsailor) yacht last week laughing at some poor people in Majorca.

Actually the reality is a 46ft yacht is a tender compared to many boats out there!

Had a brilliant time swimming, boating, eating, drinking and enjoying time with the family. Saw some monster boats too - proper ship style superyachts! We stayed in an apartment while the inlaws stayed on the boat but went out most days. Water temp 28 degrees and crystal clear.

Did tread on a sea urchin (three spines still stuck in my foot) and almost had my head implode when I spotted a diving mask on the sea bed 9 metres deep and decided to dive to get it for my little boy. Extreme ear pain then giddyness followed - DOH!

[zltm089]

weather looks gud! :-)

[misterS3]

Too much chrome for my liking

Looks a lovely place to be - hope no lasting damage with the spines / compression!

[RagingKileak]

I like boats. I've often thought that for the price of them, there is definitely good business to be had undercutting the current manufacturers by about... ooh £500k a boat.

They very rarely seem to represent value for money, but then again I can't quite work out the way they are priced.

On BoatTrader for example, there are some PROPER rough old 22 footers etc for 30-40-50 grand or whatever and then 46 footers are about a million quid.

I just can't see how someone with a few bob can't hire himself a decent (perhaps near retirement) boat architect type geezer for a year, sort out a decent deal on the various parts required, and knock up a limited run of say 10 boats then sell them each for like, 750k and make a fortune.

Simplistic view, I grant you, but still, they are fucking stupidly priced for how little you get (as is often the case.)

Matt

[creepy coupe]

Seaman stains. looks like a nice part of the world

[Em135eye]

Raging - they spend about 50% of their time on it so renting would be a bit steep! Some massive charter boats out there - must cost tens of grands a week to rent. They come with a full crew and loads of toys like Jet ribs, etc. Amazing to see!

There's is one of 15 but each one is custom made - 30 tonnes so makes an E93 seem light ;-)

We run a wee little speedboat on a nearby pontoon mooring - bit of an expense but TBH for the fun it gives us, it's peanuts. Total freedom, no traffic, can ski off it, secret beaches easy to get to, etc.

All of you could run one no problem.

[creepy coupe]

Simple really, the people who buy these boats, don't want something made by a one eyed outfit employing their brother in law,with no perdigree, just to save a few quid, they charge what they do, becuase they can

[rogerxp]

Love boats just hate being on them. It's that blue wobbly stuff underneath that scares the shit out of me.

[RagingKileak]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

Simple really, the people who buy these boats, don't want something made by a one eyed outfit employing their brother in law,with no perdigree, just to save a few quid, they charge what they do, becuase they can

That's all marketing mate

I could go into some length about my Viking heritage and how a variety of my forebears were lost at sea, but were known for a number of boating innovations including the 'smailtish coxtonstatton' and for the design of the 'left handed hexagonal demi-rudder.'

All that would be needed then would be for me to explain for the measly deposit of £75,000 (10%) we could get started on a truly bespoke craft of immaculate design and conception which far outsrips its mainstream rivals - and if they really MUST pay a million quid, they can have 2 extra engines and a Sky+ box.

Why have you not heard of Smail's Watercraft before? Because with all due respect Sir, you've probably never needed the kind of versatile, high performance yet luxurious craft we strive to create, and because our vehicles are reserved for the more discerning buyer (few of whom return due to unconfirmed 'design' flaws) you rarely see them in 'common' locations such as St Tropez and so on.

Easy. Now, where is your deposit?

Matt

[creepy coupe]

My Gaffer has a 65ft Moody and he's so anal about the hardware he buys, especially the metal parts, he only buys tackle made in BS ####, he says when he sailing in the high sea, with his loved one onboard, only the best will do.

I don't think admitting he owns a 65ft Wave basher, built in Dymchurch, built buy the Codhead brothers would really go down well in the yacht club, don't you know.

[AlanQS]

I love the advice to potential boat buyers when asked what sort of price range to look at, they say you should buy a boat costing no more than 10% of your net worth.

In that case, could I have a row boat, a really small one, very old.

[RagingKileak]

Originally Posted by AlanQS

I love the advice to potential boat buyers when asked what sort of price range to look at, they say you should buy a boat costing no more than 10% of your net worth.

In that case, could I have a row boat, a really small one, very old.

How does one calculate ones net worth though lol?

Matt

[rogerxp]

I think you can safely say, without reaching for a calculator, that the man driving a 7 year old BMW cannot afford a boat

[Em135eye]

Rog - our speedboat - a 14ft Salcombe flyer with a two stroke 60. It'll do 40 knots and we basically use it as a fast "taxi" and for skiing.

Cost £4k, £800 a year mooring, £200 a year insurance, £250 a year servicing and some one off costs (just had a custom made cover done for it - £600). Fuel isn't too bad. I reckon you could easily afford that!?

The inlaws yacht took about 5 YEARS to build (!!) and was the first built for 15 years. He bought the moulds and had it made to their specs - only one bedroom (you can have four) but a big kitchen/dining area. The workmanship is enough to make a nerdy geek like most of us weep - it's SO well crafted out of lovely wood and steel, yet stuff constantly needs sorting - the sea and wind are cruel to anything manufactured by anyone!

So it's not just a case of having a few bob and buying one - you need commitment too!

I find sailing yachts a bit dull - max speed of 8 knots is just too damn slow! But it's still fun to experience - dropping anchor in a secluded bay and diving in for a swim is hard to beat.

[dxb335d]

Nice write up. Make sure you don't cheat on her eh.

Here is my Brothers Boat

















Only joking, its one of my old man's friends. Shame he ain't related really. They all went to stay on it, I was busy though!

[Em135eye]

Nice but he should have chosen the piano black trim ;-)

[MEGA]

That boat looks all show and no go

[peterg1965]

Call them boats??? Pah.....Small fry....

[Em135eye]

I wouldn't say it's all that flashy Mega - fairly restrained in fact.



But yes with a slow revving Perkins engine and fairly modest sails, there's not much go. In fact it has 6bhp/tonne from the engine...;-)

But try and get something like this around the World and you won't get past Plymouth before it breaks apart:

[iamjim]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

I see you have been riding my mum - Linda...

Here is my baby Esmé and I on a Beneteau Oceanis 52" she is (or was here) 7 months old!

You'll have to excuse the blatant parental fail but she screams when her life jacket is put on and we were 3 hours into a 12 hour crossing...





Good to see other people into sailing.

[DavS1]

How the other half live!

Looks like great fun, no matter what boat!

[BGM]

Originally Posted by RagingKileak

That's all marketing mate

I could go into some length about my Viking heritage and how a variety of my forebears were lost at sea, but were known for a number of boating innovations including the 'smailtish coxtonstatton' and for the design of the 'left handed hexagonal demi-rudder.'

All that would be needed then would be for me to explain for the measly deposit of £75,000 (10%) we could get started on a truly bespoke craft of immaculate design and conception which far outsrips its mainstream rivals - and if they really MUST pay a million quid, they can have 2 extra engines and a Sky+ box.

Why have you not heard of Smail's Watercraft before? Because with all due respect Sir, you've probably never needed the kind of versatile, high performance yet luxurious craft we strive to create, and because our vehicles are reserved for the more discerning buyer (few of whom return due to unconfirmed 'design' flaws) you rarely see them in 'common' locations such as St Tropez and so on.

Easy. Now, where is your deposit?

Matt

lol, brilliant post