We are thinking of buying a little fishing boat with outboard motor.We would maybe have to store it somewhere in Wales so we can tow the Van to the site then use the boat.Has anyone else got one if so how do you go about using both van / boat.
I think its mainly cost of moorings and storage (if you have your van in storage), fitting in the maintance of which a boat particularly needs lots of and then your holidays - it can hit the pocket pretty hard. Dad has had canal boats the whole of my life and although you do pay by the foot and his is 50+ foot he paid £3k last year just on the moorings.
It all depends on what you define as a 'little fishing boat'.
I have had a 24' motor sailer for years now and annually in a 4 star marina with good facilities and more important excellant security, I pay £1.700 to berth for the year + electric supply using a card meter, But, I know the boats secure and I have 24/7 hrs access to the sea.
In any marina you will be charged per/meter of the boat to keep it there annually.
You need to look also what the tidal access is where you intend to keep your little fishing boat or you may arrive and find you cannot get out to fish!!
we have a boat and a caravan ,its hard to organise both ,we have had to go to a friends caravan and take the boat ,we tried once taking our caravan we got all set up and hubby went back to get the boat ,it cost a fortune to do it in double journeys ,we are quite a bit away from lochs ,we have now decided if hubby want to do fishing he will go camping with friends and take the boat ,we cant do both ,it would be easier to have an inflateable boat unless you get a seasonal pitch somewhere next to water ,
you will also have launching fees where ever you are and the costs of mooring if your on a river or loch.
You will also have to have a BSC the MOT equivalent of the boating world, a tolls licence for the waterway you wish to cruise, and insurance incase your investment gets damaged or stolen or indeed if you have a mishap and manage to damage someone elses boat or equipment.
If your planning to put to sea you also need to learn how to use charts and have a basic knowledge of safety and communications at sea.
Im actually a Moderator on a Boating forum, although most of our members own boats based on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, but we do have a thriving sea going boat section with some very experianced skippers, including a Ship's pilot whos based at Tilbury on the Thames, and is very friendly and helpful to newcommers.
You could try asking at www.thenorfolkbroads.net and im sure someone will be able to give you some expert advice.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Quote: Originally posted by romany girl on 07/2/2012
<!--bmi_SafeAddOnload(bmi_load,"bmi_orig_img",1);//-->You will also have to have a BSC the MOT equivalent of the boating world,
Julia
Depends where you are. On a lot of inland waterways you will need one but you won't out at sea. More and more harbours are requiring them, but not all.
------------- Love a lot. Trust a few. But ALWAYS paddle your own canoe!!
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Thanks all you have given us a lot to think about.The type we were thinking of was a small 14/15 foot boat on trailer so we can store at home then take out when we want to.Don't mind paying for storage for a short time either at a campsite.Might even cause rifts if hubby wanted a weekend boating and i wanted to go caravaning.I don't want to rush into this so will be thinking of the pros and cons.
Have you considered a sit on top kayak, kayak fishing is growing sport. I have 2 one I peddle with feet bit like a bike (Hobie Oasis which is a Tandem), The other is a Native Watercraft Manta Ray 12. These are both roof top able weigh about 35kg, however I would recommend a special roof rack (Kari Tek) especially with a 4x4, this slides out and down so that it is away from the side of the car and makes it all so much easier to get on the roof.
I am also in Cheshire so it you you want to take a look or want to have a go sure we could arrange something even if its only on local canal or maybe Rudyard lake.
Hi Stocky, the wife and I talked about this last year. I was looking at one of the large semi inflatables and a trailer, just for a bit of fun. We considered siting the van, then towing the boat back and forth, but we feared for damage to the van. Then we considered storing the boat for the summer months, and keeping the van at home as we do now. The cheapest place we found was about a pound a night. The plan being to store it just for the summer months, as you are less likely to camp and use the boat in the winter months. With a semi inflatable we could have mounted and dismounted the engine sat aids etc easily, to leave as few nick able bits as possible to reduce risk of theft etc.
This would of course tie you down to the area of you boat to camp, if you wanted to use it, but you could always hit another area the following year, as the £1.00 a night storage places do seem to be popping up everywhere.
However, due to finances, this is going to happen for us for a couple of years, but have managed to talk the wife in letting me get a 3 person fishing kayak for now for me and the two kids to go out on. I think her plans are to sit on the beach with a book and a drink and enjoy the quiet, Lol.
I would definately give the inflatable some serious consideration. Not the cheap ones you get at the beach, but a quality one like an Avon. They have the advantage of being easy to store and transport and come in a decent size, starting with the Avon Redcrest at around 10 feet which you can pick up on ebay for around £100.
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Topic: boat
