any boat fans / sailors / pirates?

Thanks for the input guys.

I invisage a small river boat, something that can hold 4 or 5 people (or more) , that I can eat/fish/read/snooze on. Speed is not an issue.

I particularly like some of the 'older' looking wooden craft but have heard that upkeep on a wooden boat is harder and more pricey.

TBH im completely in the dark. What are running costs on a small low powered boat, including docking etc. How much do they cost, where should I look, any hidden costs? where are the 'rules of the river'? etc etc

Im begining to think that to start off I may be better of with some kind of large dinghy with an outboard motor? But ideally id like some kind of cabin and a wheel so I can feel like a proper Captain Birdseye.
 
You WILL need a cap; not necessarily with scrambled egg all over the peak- even a Dexy's midnight runners effort will do.
 
That looks ok and nice and clean,but no berths :? .

I put another link in my last post,fr £6000

I remember an ad for a houseboat from appolloduck .
70' long Ex naval patrol boat
But complete with washing lines[washing hanging out]Potted plants and bits of old bikes on the deck.A bit of a wreck really...until you see the 3 Rolls Royce Merlin engines hiding down below :shock: :shock:
60knots easy
 
Well, having lived on a narrowboat for the last 6 years, I would say go for it. A little cabin cruiser need not be expensive, perhaps something like a Dawncraft, somewhere between 16 - 20 foot. If you have a driveway you can tow such a small boat out of the water with a car, thereby saving a fortune on moorings. You could get a serviceable cruiser in this league for less than £2000.

Although saying that, I have as much fun on my canoe, which can go to most of the places a powered boat on the Thames can and lots they can't and cost £400 secondhand, with no petrol or maintenance costs. Insurance and a gold license (the equivalent of road tax) is £35, whereas a powered boat will be at least five times that.

I'm just outside Oxford on the Thames tonight, about to go up Duke's Cut in the morning. If you are near and want a chat about boats, drop me a line.
 
Power is wasted if you just want to go on the Thames. It has a speed limit of 8 knots anyway. My narrowboat, which weighs 12 tonnes has a 13hp engine.
 
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