Motorhomes and boats

[vzac]

Which way shall we go today? Left or right? Let’s go back to where we came from yesterday

Well 2,000 miles at 3mph max. Go back to where we came from yesterday might only be, a short 20min dog walk away. So no point going back as the journey/ adventure had not really begun.

 

[Pausim]

I look back on my boating days and remember that I enjoyed the challenges of navigation and anchoring. These days I enjoy the less challenging fun of a motorhome.

Today whilst clearing out for an imminent move I came across my old charts which provoked some nostalgia but no regrets.

 

[138go]

When anchored with a line ashore in Turkey, we woke in the morning with a slack line and a dragged anchor. Wild camping is very tame in comparison.

 

[Jake Royd]

Thanks all for replying , there are more sailors or ex sailors on here than I thought.
BTW my boat had no heating and manually pumped water so the motorhome by comparison is luxury.

 

[AXO66]

Anchored south of Lundy in a potent NEly. Wind ripping over the top of the cliffs, devilish sounds, boat swinging 360° , or so it felt. Slept and all quite in the morning. never head such screeching sounds as the wind filled the vacumn below the cliffs in the lee of the island!

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[ManTheVan]

Gosh, I never thought I’d see an anchor thread on MHF! (For the uninitiated, it’s a bit like a toilet thread on a MH forum).

Totally agree with the wild camp/anchoring comparison!

Anchoring was always fun, but became even more so when we upgraded from a CQR to a Rocna. That Rocna was an incredible bit of kit; it bit in deep and just did not move.

I love just being able to pop outside to fettle in the MH. It wasn’t that easy doing the same thing on the yacht, even if she was only 40 min away.

I adored our yacht and still have a smaller boat for fishing and beach trips, but the MH has allowed us the freedom to go more places while being less dictated to by weather conditions. I’ve got to say it’s been a lot less stressy at times too!

 

[Trevor Wbm]

Did a lot of canal boating in the past. I don't miss the ducks eating the weed off the waterline at dawn and telling each other jokes whilst they're doing it.

 

[vzac]

Did a lot of canal boating in the past. I don't miss the ducks eating the weed off the waterline at dawn and telling each other jokes whilst they're doing it.

And the fish banging there tails under the boat while mating or the geese/swans waddeling down the roof at goodness knows hrs in the morning. Or even the Swan nicking our breakfast through the window one day.

 

[deleted79651]

The cost of owning a boat, even if you don't use it, will be lots more than a motorhome, but when cruising, it's always an adventure compared to driving a motorhome.

We don't have motorhome adventures; they all seem to be episodes [of a comedy that didn't quite work] ...

Steve

 

[vzac]

Actually, now I think about it, our boat had a motor ( lister 1948 2 cylinder, rpm 150, no euro anything, no lez charges) and it was our home for 7.5 yrs, so logic dictates it was a motorhome, just no wheels. So with that logic I have been motorhoming for 30yrs +.

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[cyberyacht]

I had a CQR snap in a gale once. I also had a small fisherman anchor out which fortunately held. Slipways are steeper and longer now and I certainly don't miss scrubbing and antifouling.

 

[IRHP]

Were just heading the other way. We've done a few flotilla holidays but my ICC license has expired just about to do day skipper and get a boat thinking about a sigma 33 any comments?

Probably get more info if you ask the same question on The YBW forums. Sigma 33s are all getting on a bit now and there is a huge range of conditions and states of repair and with that pricing. They were a competitive racing boat in their day. Some have been raced very hard and show it. Like all boats a recent survey is essential. Happy hunting.

 

[Jamesh]

I would think they are quite tame by today's racing standard with a decent ballast ratio.

They won't plane as well as more modern boats due to the IOR inspired design and the accomodation won't be as spacious as a more modern boat, esp the rear cabin Vs chart table berth.

sigma 33 or what?

Dear All, After spending some time crewing and researching I have become smitten with Sigma 33's and they are just about in my price range, especially if I can get a bit of a discount..... Although, now I am wondering if I haven't limited myself a little and wonder if there are other boats...

forums.ybw.com

Cheers James

 

[The Wino]

I would think they are quite tame by today's racing standard with a decent ballast ratio.

They won't plane as well as more modern boats due to the IOR inspired design and the accomodation won't be as spacious as a more modern boat, esp the rear cabin Vs chart table berth.

sigma 33 or what?

Dear All, After spending some time crewing and researching I have become smitten with Sigma 33's and they are just about in my price range, especially if I can get a bit of a discount..... Although, now I am wondering if I haven't limited myself a little and wonder if there are other boats...

forums.ybw.com

Cheers James

One of the things that appeals is there are already 5 in the club and another on the way so I think theres a fair bit of knowledge about potential problems. Also people say they suit the local conditions! I'm a beginner so just starting to look but have put my name on the waiting list for a berth.

 

[Chuns]

Were just heading the other way. We've done a few flotilla holidays but my ICC license has expired just about to do day skipper and get a boat thinking about a sigma 33 any comments?

I have a bit of experience in these matters, having first taken the helm of a boat nearly seventy years ago, written a book on an aspect of navigation, and worked for a significant organisation with an interest in marine safety. There will be lots of others with more knowledge, more experience, and more sea-time than me and we will all differ in our our opinions about your choice of a boat.

However, I think all will agree that there are more suitable first-time boats that that Sigma. It never was intended to have the characteristics that are needed by a beginner. It was (is) a Cruiser/Racer. Rather like just learning to drive, and thinking of buying a Morgan, Ferrari, or Mustang. Different types of cars, right for their market, but not right for a novice.

Your flotilla experiences are good preparation, and you will subconsciously have an idea about boat characteristics. The boats you will have sailed are the right type for those commencing their sailing journey.

You should be looking for a sea-kindly hull, an easily handled rig, uncluttered decks, and good manoeuvrability at slow speeds, especially in reverse (some will simply not go astern in the direction you want). You will be more frightened in a Marina trying to dock than on the open sea, at first. It should have a 'proper' cockpit that you can more around in but not slide about in under way.

Look for a boat that will look after you.

I hope that helps.

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[dash300]

Your all mad, if you had come to me 1st. GET A NARROW BOAT. No worry about drifting of and dragging anchors waking up on an outgoing tide miles from where you though you were. Just stop Moor up on the tow path and wait for gongoozlers to come and any you e.g try to nick anything not tied down, just come onto you boat, start at you through the windows, have fisherpeople throw bait and other goodies at you, cast you adrift and wake up on the other side of the canal ( about 10ft away), watching hire boaters wonder how locks work, and waiting for some one to do them for them. Oh the romance.

We have cruised many of the European Waterways and thoroughly enjoyed every trip. Tried the Thames equally enjoyable but always prefer the Briney. Anyway we did just out of curiosity hire a ditch crawler and did the Llangollon Canal, definately didn't get it at all.

 

[Pausim]

Your all mad, if you had come to me 1st. GET A NARROW BOAT. No worry about drifting of and dragging anchors waking up on an outgoing tide miles from where you though you were. Just stop Moor up on the tow path and wait for gongoozlers to come and any you e.g try to nick anything not tied down, just come onto you boat, start at you through the windows, have fisherpeople throw bait and other goodies at you, cast you adrift and wake up on the other side of the canal ( about 10ft away), watching hire boaters wonder how locks work, and waiting for some one to do them for them. Oh the romance.

The only accident I had in many years of boating was when I ventured inland on a river. A badly handled barge crushed my boat against the side of a lock and it wasn’t a hire boat. It was just a skipper who knew his boat was big and heavy, and didn’t care about other boats.

 

[vzac]

The only accident I had in many years of boating was when I ventured inland on a river. A badly handled barge crushed my boat against the side of a lock and it wasn’t a hire boat. It was just a skipper who knew his boat was big and heavy, and didn’t care about other boats.

We are / we're not all bad, my boat came in at 30 tonne. I 9nce almost demolished a lock as it was dark and could not see the entrance, went to the wrong side of the white marker, and hit it head on.
Previous comment.
Ditch crawler like the term. It's a mind set, Llangollen in season is either a boat park or a procession, two busy.

 

[pelican]

The cost of owning a boat, even if you don't use it, will be lots more than a motorhome, but when cruising, it's always an adventure compared to driving a motorhome.

The fuel cost can be quite alarming, With a 34ft twin engine powerboat cruising at 25mph per hour expect to use 12-14 gallons.
My own highest was Jersey to Portsmouth 30 ton boat 450 gallons but fuel was cheaper then and I wasn't paying!

 

[TDub49]

Well 2,000 miles at 3mph max. Go back to where we came from yesterday might only be, a short 20min dog walk away. So no point going back as the journey/ adventure had not really begun.

"Go back to where we came from" reminds me of our first channel crossing in our 28' boat. 19 hours to get there, a day and evening spent enjoying the sights and sounds of Cherbourg then up bright and early the next day for the return trip. Overnight it had got a little windier than anticipated but as we were with other boats from our club we thought it worth a go. Five hours and twenty extremely hairy miles later we were back in Cherbourg talking about maybe getting the ferry home and coming back to get the boat another day. Next day all calm and lovely and we motored across in a flat calm and brilliant sunshine. Yup, sailing has the edge over motor-homing for the sheer predictable unpredictability of it.

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[Offagain]

This is one for the sailors (responsible for my own thread drift)
We were coming into Plymouth sound with no foresail and one reef in the main. But still too much sail up.
We were running with the wind right behind.
The correct thing to do is bring the boat up into the wind , Reef again and then turn back onto course.
However, the troughs were big compared to the boat and I felt if I turned we would be at some point parallel to the waves and could get rolled right over.
So we continued to career wildly into the Sound until the waves died and we than had some measure of control.
Maybe that was the right course of action?
Or would it to have tried to reef downwind , which is possible but not easy.

Or get a boat in the Ionian where it is usually sunny and not choppy!
(Apart from the occasional medicane but there’s always plenty of notice and lots of places to hide.)

That Rocna was an incredible bit of kit; it bit in deep and just did not move.

I love love love our Rocna.

Just to add my tuppence worth….
We have a 44’ yacht which we keep in the Ionian - we are aboard now, arrived in the first few days of Sept and will be afloat until probably 23 Oct, after that we will go motorhoming around the place for a couple of weeks, until our biometric residency cards - meaning we can spend as long as we like in Greece, not limited to 90/180 - are ready to be collected. Usually we are also here from the beginning of May until the first week of July when it gets too hot and too busy.
We drive here in the motor home taking the France, Italy and ferry route.
We used to keep a 34’ Beneteau in Neyland, Pembrokeshire but found ourselves only using her for the odd weekend or evenings sailing up the Cleddau as the weather in the U.K. (west Wales specifically) is so fickle.
We have had several lovely trips to Devon and Ireland, and one for a couple of weeks up to Bristol and back, but the times we’ve cancelled due to a changeable forecast far outweigh those.
After booking several last minute charters here, Croatia and Turkey because of rubbish weather at home we decided to buy a boat and “dry sail”. That is not having a marina berth but having it hauled out and kept in a boatyard while we aren’t here, and launched when we are ready to go sailing.
I thoroughly recommend it .

 

[The Wino]

I have a bit of experience in these matters, having first taken the helm of a boat nearly seventy years ago, written a book on an aspect of navigation, and worked for a significant organisation with an interest in marine safety. There will be lots of others with more knowledge, more experience, and more sea-time than me and we will all differ in our our opinions about your choice of a boat.

However, I think all will agree that there are more suitable first-time boats that that Sigma. It never was intended to have the characteristics that are needed by a beginner. It was (is) a Cruiser/Racer. Rather like just learning to drive, and thinking of buying a Morgan, Ferrari, or Mustang. Different types of cars, right for their market, but not right for a novice.

Your flotilla experiences are good preparation, and you will subconsciously have an idea about boat characteristics. The boats you will have sailed are the right type for those commencing their sailing journey.

You should be looking for a sea-kindly hull, an easily handled rig, uncluttered decks, and good manoeuvrability at slow speeds, especially in reverse (some will simply not go astern in the direction you want). You will be more frightened in a Marina trying to dock than on the open sea, at first. It should have a 'proper' cockpit that you can more around in but not slide about in under way.

Look for a boat that will look after you.

I hope that helps.

Thanks for the information. Although I say I'm a newbie I did do a flotilla skipper course and the flotilla was one where we just had a briefing in the morning and navigated our own way to the next stop. The marinas in Croatia are pretty tight!( Much more so than the one here). One reason I think I liked the look of the Sigma is it's pretty similar in size and layout to the flotilla boats We had a 31 once a 33 then a 35 twice. I'll keep looking.
Another idea I had was a westerly tempest or similar.
At the moment I'm sailing in the local races as crew on a Benteau first 31/7. It's great fun but set up for racing with a hank on set of foresails the spinnakers a bit of a challenge.

 

[Jamesh]

I think the sigma 33 will be quite tame compared to a modern boat. They rely upon ballast ratio rather than form stability and so are much more docile then modern boats with larger sail areas and light weight and high form stability.

Like comparing an xjr to an f type Jag.

Cheers James

 

[dash300]

The fuel cost can be quite alarming, With a 34ft twin engine powerboat cruising at 25mph per hour expect to use 12-14 gallons.
My own highest was Jersey to Portsmouth 30 ton boat 450 gallons but fuel was cheaper then and I wasn't paying!

Fuel cost's are probably going to squeeze us out in the not to distant future. We tend now just to headland hop rather than long passages. We are now planning another family relay continental Waterway cruises with pre booked tanker delivery. If only we could get a firm delivery date for the Van!

 

[SteveRallye]

Try the Mobilvetta K Yacht some of the attributes of the seagoing version, nice yachty interior, well built but no worries about anchoring or rough seas and a lot cheaper to run.

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[The Wino]

Try the Mobilvetta K Yacht some of the attributes of the seagoing version, nice yachty interior, well built but no worries about anchoring or rough seas and a lot cheaper to run.

Probably doesn't sail or float as well hopefully still doesn't leak!

 

[dash300]

Try the Mobilvetta K Yacht some of the attributes of the seagoing version, nice yachty interior, well built but no worries about anchoring or rough seas and a lot cheaper to run.

I've seen those and I have to say I do like them not because of the name but the interior design does appeal to me. I know they are exclusive to Marquis but how are they viewed in terms of quality. If I was to venture into an A class purchase they are attractive.

 

[SteveRallye]

We can only go with our own experience. It has been totally reliable and it is very solidly built which means they are no light weight. A couple of minor issues which have been dealt with and a couple of minor ones outstanding for which we have been held up by Covid /delivery/supply problems. So far Marquies Preston have been excellent with the afterservice. Ours has the dark yacht type interior. The latest ones have a lighter wood interior. At present if we were to change I would go for the 9 speed auto, ours is on the 6 speed comformatic which has been good. Its the nearest we will get to a luxury seagoing Yacht.

 

[dash300]

We can only go with our own experience. It has been totally reliable and it is very solidly built which means they are no light weight. A couple of minor issues which have been dealt with and a couple of minor ones outstanding for which we have been held up by Covid /delivery/supply problems. So far Marquies Preston have been excellent with the afterservice. Ours has the dark yacht type interior. The latest ones have a lighter wood interior. At present if we were to change I would go for the 9 speed auto, ours is on the 6 speed comformatic which has been good. Its the nearest we will get to a luxury seagoing Yacht.

Now you've got me thinking. Thankyou.

 

[SteveRallye]

You are welcome.

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