A what boat query

   Going down to the med via the French Canals seemed to me to be a no brainer, I've motor cruised them in the past in another life when i used to take photographs for Blakes Holidays, the Norfolk Broads cruising company that were expanding to offer rental fleets on the Canals out of Narbonne, Lateral a la Garonne, Du Midi, down to Sete.

Fabulous experience, buying wine on draft out of the back door of the Vinyards at 50centimes a litre (It was 1975) always wanted to go back, they are commercial waterways, the French invested heavily in the 70's, not sure what they are like now, back then they had these huge locomotives with a big plunger, came down behind the boat and the water and pushed the whole lot up this concrete slope instead of a lock system, amazing.

So back to the steel hull thing, so painting it, the only draw back, i could live with that, I have this urge to be a kind of water pikey that everyone avoids except female chocolatiers..

Edited by iGRF - 23 Jul 13 at 10:21am

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iGRF Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499	Post Options Post Reply Quote iGRF Report Post Quote Reply Topic: A what boat query Posted: 23 Jul 13 at 10:17am
	Going down to the med via the French Canals seemed to me to be a no brainer, I've motor cruised them in the past in another life when i used to take photographs for Blakes Holidays, the Norfolk Broads cruising company that were expanding to offer rental fleets on the Canals out of Narbonne, Lateral a la Garonne, Du Midi, down to Sete. Fabulous experience, buying wine on draft out of the back door of the Vinyards at 50centimes a litre (It was 1975) always wanted to go back, they are commercial waterways, the French invested heavily in the 70's, not sure what they are like now, back then they had these huge locomotives with a big plunger, came down behind the boat and the water and pushed the whole lot up this concrete slope instead of a lock system, amazing. So back to the steel hull thing, so painting it, the only draw back, i could live with that, I have this urge to be a kind of water pikey that everyone avoids except female chocolatiers.. Edited by iGRF - 23 Jul 13 at 10:21am
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yellowwelly Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2003	Post Options Post Reply Quote yellowwelly Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 23 Jul 13 at 10:20am
	yep- that's what I kind of thought, however there's also that old school of thought that without a keel step you've not got the seaworthiness... that said, my family have sailed french boats of 32+ in up to F8 gusts in the north sea/channel, it's not fun or comfortable, but the basic sailing equipment seems to hold out. Back to a Graeme and his boat buying trade offs!

rb_stretch Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 742	Post Options Post Reply Quote rb_stretch Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 24 Jul 13 at 9:14pm
	Well I've owned and sailed singlehandedly a Moody 44 and an RM880(a nice fast French boat). I sold the 44 as it was too much hassle for Solent sailing although wonderful for passage sailing (and no problem single handing). The 29ft RM was a lot more fun to sail but harder to singlehand because the boat needed a lot more attention whilst sailing. Amply proved to me that you can't have everything and every boat is a compromise. If I was in the same situation now I would probably be looking at 36 foot, medium displacement boat that had proven good manners. I would also make sure that it can sail reasonably from 5 knots of wind upwards. Some boats take 10 knots of wind before they get going which means you have the engine on far too often. Can't say what boat fits that criteria though....

ifoxwell Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 05 Jan 06 Location: Hoo Online Status: Offline Posts: 669	Post Options Post Reply Quote ifoxwell Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 13 at 5:18pm
	Last few weeks I have been sailing / racing our 32 on my own. One other point on size however is that you may well be able to sail a 50ft boat on your own, even park it in a marina on your own but you wont spend your life in marinas and 50 ft boats have large anchors to suit... Pulling mine up by hand is hard work when its well dug in not sure what id do if it was twice the size and the windlass packed up
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iGRF Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 11 Location: Hythe Online Status: Offline Posts: 6499	Post Options Post Reply Quote iGRF Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 13 at 9:30pm
	Was round at a mates last night, he was cracking on about a Macgregor 26 trailorsailer.. what's the skinny with them? Allegedly you can water ski off the back of them, they're unsinkable and quite quick, can't believe they're upwind quick, but it looks like an interesting idea, water ballast. Edited by iGRF - 25 Jul 13 at 9:32pm
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rb_stretch Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 742	Post Options Post Reply Quote rb_stretch Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Jul 13 at 9:40pm
	Jack of all trades, pretty rubbish at anything specific. Usually bought by newcomers who don't know better. A separate Mobo and sailing yacht would be far better if you want to cover all options, otherwise just stick to one type.