So, I'm thinking about investing in a boat and mooring for dual usage.
1) for days/nights with the kids having a BBQ whilst moored up
2) to fish those more inaccessible parts of the river
Has anyone here got much experience in boat ownership and doing nights on one?
Depending on budget, i'll look at getting a Shetland type (identical to what Hearn/Helleur use) with a small cabin to do nights in. If I can stretch to it, i'll look at getting a Bayliner or even a Norman for more comfort.
- What's the deal with licensing, safety certificates and insurance?
- How do you position your rods? Can you screw stage stands into the side seating areas?
- Are there many areas you can moor for free for long periods? (IE town centres)
- Do the EA police the 24hr rule?
- How much in total do you think you spend per year owning a boat?
- How many nights a year realistically can you spend dangling on a boat?
Apart from a couple of holiday trips on the broads, my experience with boats is minimal. So if anyone has any warts and all experience I'd be grateful.
Thank you!
1) for days/nights with the kids having a BBQ whilst moored up
2) to fish those more inaccessible parts of the river
Has anyone here got much experience in boat ownership and doing nights on one?
Depending on budget, i'll look at getting a Shetland type (identical to what Hearn/Helleur use) with a small cabin to do nights in. If I can stretch to it, i'll look at getting a Bayliner or even a Norman for more comfort.
- What's the deal with licensing, safety certificates and insurance?
- How do you position your rods? Can you screw stage stands into the side seating areas?
- Are there many areas you can moor for free for long periods? (IE town centres)
- Do the EA police the 24hr rule?
- How much in total do you think you spend per year owning a boat?
- How many nights a year realistically can you spend dangling on a boat?
Apart from a couple of holiday trips on the broads, my experience with boats is minimal. So if anyone has any warts and all experience I'd be grateful.
Thank you!
In reply to Post #1
Hi Buddy, I lived on a boat on the Thames 8 years, so I can answer a few of your questions...
What's the deal with licensing, safety certificates and insurance?
License is dependant on size of the boat, and where you are going to be....if you use canals as well you can buy through the CRT, if it's just the river its the EA . Saftety Cert is every 4 years, if there's no gas it's pretty simple. The local boatyard will steer you to a BSS examiner. Insurance is required & will require the BSS paperwork.
- How do you position your rods? Can you screw stage stands into the side seating areas?
Yes, each boat is different but finding somewhere for stage stands is usually the answer. Also look at Manfrotto autoclamps, they're a photography thing but you can use them to jimmyrig a short bankstick to pretty much anything.
- Are there many areas you can moor for free for long periods? (IE town centres)
It varies between places - a nicholsons guide will help. But if you are not a 'liveaboard' then you'll not get too much grief for overstaying.
- Do the EA police the 24hr rule?
You mean moorings? Sometimes, yeah - near locks you'll get noticed, but generally you won't get any grief. EA hardly have anyone working for them, and you'll only really meet lock keepers.
- How much in total do you think you spend per year owning a boat?
Loads more than you thought! Depends on the boat obviously, but your known costs like license, annual maintenance etc are only part of it. Loads of stuff will happen that costs money, that's a guarantee!
- How many nights a year realistically can you spend dangling on a boat?
Up to you, but bear in mind the river will be on 'red boards' for some of the winter and you won't be able to go out safely. Also there will be stoppages/closures for lock maintenance etc.
A good bit of advice i was given is; "All boats are sinking, the question is how fast"
I've seen a few sad wrecks, so take no chances.... Bilge pump, fire extinguishers, ropes and anchor all need to be in working order and ready ALL the time.
Good luck!
Hi Buddy, I lived on a boat on the Thames 8 years, so I can answer a few of your questions...
What's the deal with licensing, safety certificates and insurance?
License is dependant on size of the boat, and where you are going to be....if you use canals as well you can buy through the CRT, if it's just the river its the EA . Saftety Cert is every 4 years, if there's no gas it's pretty simple. The local boatyard will steer you to a BSS examiner. Insurance is required & will require the BSS paperwork.
- How do you position your rods? Can you screw stage stands into the side seating areas?
Yes, each boat is different but finding somewhere for stage stands is usually the answer. Also look at Manfrotto autoclamps, they're a photography thing but you can use them to jimmyrig a short bankstick to pretty much anything.
- Are there many areas you can moor for free for long periods? (IE town centres)
It varies between places - a nicholsons guide will help. But if you are not a 'liveaboard' then you'll not get too much grief for overstaying.
- Do the EA police the 24hr rule?
You mean moorings? Sometimes, yeah - near locks you'll get noticed, but generally you won't get any grief. EA hardly have anyone working for them, and you'll only really meet lock keepers.
- How much in total do you think you spend per year owning a boat?
Loads more than you thought! Depends on the boat obviously, but your known costs like license, annual maintenance etc are only part of it. Loads of stuff will happen that costs money, that's a guarantee!
- How many nights a year realistically can you spend dangling on a boat?
Up to you, but bear in mind the river will be on 'red boards' for some of the winter and you won't be able to go out safely. Also there will be stoppages/closures for lock maintenance etc.
A good bit of advice i was given is; "All boats are sinking, the question is how fast"
I've seen a few sad wrecks, so take no chances.... Bilge pump, fire extinguishers, ropes and anchor all need to be in working order and ready ALL the time.
Good luck!
In reply to Post #2
You legend, thank you for the insight
You legend, thank you for the insight
I live on a river and was looking at getting a boat and like you asked boat owners for advice.
The best advice I got and probably the truest was thus:
The happiest day of your life - when you pickup your new boat 👍
The second happiest day of your life - when you sell it 🤣
The best advice I got and probably the truest was thus:
The happiest day of your life - when you pickup your new boat 👍
The second happiest day of your life - when you sell it 🤣
In reply to Post #1
I've got a Shetland 610. It's been an expensive labour of love and hate doing it up and getting it into a condition that I can stay aboard for a few days at a time and fish comfortably from. I've screwed a stage stand to the back and use that for rod support. It allows me to fish at all angles, regardless of how I moor up. More often than not I'm tied off to a tree and/or using a mud weight. Allows me to get to bits of river that aren't ever fished.
You'll need insurance, boat safety certificate, river licence (depending on where you moor). It's very expensive but great fun. I had an inboard engine on it originally that ended up beyond repair, replaced it with a brand new Mercury outboard at great expense but now I've got more room on the boat. A 535 would be fine, but a little cramped for more than one of you. My 610 is very comfortable, can sleep 3 and has a separate toilet room plus worktop area for a stove & kettle etc. I had to completely re-wire it as it had original electrics from when it was built in 1970.
However much you think you need to budget for a boat, at the very least double it. They're a pain in the bum but absolutely the best thing I've ever done for my fishing. You can't beat knowing you can moor up practically anywhere and fish where no bank anglers can get to.
I've got a Shetland 610. It's been an expensive labour of love and hate doing it up and getting it into a condition that I can stay aboard for a few days at a time and fish comfortably from. I've screwed a stage stand to the back and use that for rod support. It allows me to fish at all angles, regardless of how I moor up. More often than not I'm tied off to a tree and/or using a mud weight. Allows me to get to bits of river that aren't ever fished.
You'll need insurance, boat safety certificate, river licence (depending on where you moor). It's very expensive but great fun. I had an inboard engine on it originally that ended up beyond repair, replaced it with a brand new Mercury outboard at great expense but now I've got more room on the boat. A 535 would be fine, but a little cramped for more than one of you. My 610 is very comfortable, can sleep 3 and has a separate toilet room plus worktop area for a stove & kettle etc. I had to completely re-wire it as it had original electrics from when it was built in 1970.
However much you think you need to budget for a boat, at the very least double it. They're a pain in the bum but absolutely the best thing I've ever done for my fishing. You can't beat knowing you can moor up practically anywhere and fish where no bank anglers can get to.
In reply to Post #1
A boat - A hole in water in which to throw money.
A boat - A hole in water in which to throw money.
In reply to Post #6
B.O.A.T
Bank Owed Another Thousand
B.O.A.T
Bank Owed Another Thousand
In reply to Post #1
I bought a boat a few years back. I had no idea what i was doing, my experience up to this point was a canal trip with school circa 1986 and a holiday on Norfolk Broads in the 1990's .... so i was a complete novice and still am to a degree, but i have a learnt a heck of a lot since owning it.
My plan was to buy as new as possible and in as good condition as possible as I didnt want a project, of even a hint of one! ..... but a very rare mooring became available local to me and so I went on a bit of a mission searching up and down the country for one.
I bought Shetland Family Four (year 2010) and had it transported down to Kent from Norfolk. I kept it out of the water over the first winter to get anti fouling done, engine serviced and full valet .... Apart from that it hasnt cost me any further maintance costs, but i plan to get it out of the water every 5years for general all over maintance.
With regards fishing .... its been a lot of trial and error as to the best way to use. I particularly didnt want the added complication of having to get off the boat whilst playing the fish. I use a Fox Trek Pod on the rear transom and secure with a couple of bungees and that has worked well. Stage stands would also work, but i didnt want to drill into it. This allows me to use the full height canopy for protection from elements still. I can comfortably sleep in the cabin. I dont have any onboard cooking/gas but do have a portaloo (i dont use it though). I cover all the rear seats when fishing.
I bought it more for having my own "swim" on the river than taking it out exploring. I love it! as its like having your very own personal piece of water, and even better is that being the river means there is a lot more to go for than just carp.
Boat purchase/transport cost and intial checks/servicing/cleaning costs aside I only have ongoing mooring and Insurance costs but being the type of river im on I dont need any certification. I have found the ownership so far to be very reasonable cost wise .... Certainly great value against my costs and enjoyment so far (touch wood) ..... BUT, i can see how they can be a money pit if you buy something older or a baddun!.
.
Go for it mate, its been a gamechanger (for me) and I highly recommend. The key is to buy well and stretch the budget to as new as possible imo (unless of course you want a project)
I bought a boat a few years back. I had no idea what i was doing, my experience up to this point was a canal trip with school circa 1986 and a holiday on Norfolk Broads in the 1990's .... so i was a complete novice and still am to a degree, but i have a learnt a heck of a lot since owning it.
My plan was to buy as new as possible and in as good condition as possible as I didnt want a project, of even a hint of one! ..... but a very rare mooring became available local to me and so I went on a bit of a mission searching up and down the country for one.
I bought Shetland Family Four (year 2010) and had it transported down to Kent from Norfolk. I kept it out of the water over the first winter to get anti fouling done, engine serviced and full valet .... Apart from that it hasnt cost me any further maintance costs, but i plan to get it out of the water every 5years for general all over maintance.
With regards fishing .... its been a lot of trial and error as to the best way to use. I particularly didnt want the added complication of having to get off the boat whilst playing the fish. I use a Fox Trek Pod on the rear transom and secure with a couple of bungees and that has worked well. Stage stands would also work, but i didnt want to drill into it. This allows me to use the full height canopy for protection from elements still. I can comfortably sleep in the cabin. I dont have any onboard cooking/gas but do have a portaloo (i dont use it though). I cover all the rear seats when fishing.
I bought it more for having my own "swim" on the river than taking it out exploring. I love it! as its like having your very own personal piece of water, and even better is that being the river means there is a lot more to go for than just carp.
Boat purchase/transport cost and intial checks/servicing/cleaning costs aside I only have ongoing mooring and Insurance costs but being the type of river im on I dont need any certification. I have found the ownership so far to be very reasonable cost wise .... Certainly great value against my costs and enjoyment so far (touch wood) ..... BUT, i can see how they can be a money pit if you buy something older or a baddun!.
.
Go for it mate, its been a gamechanger (for me) and I highly recommend. The key is to buy well and stretch the budget to as new as possible imo (unless of course you want a project)