Rive cruiser - Which one I'd for us?

[Ngood94323]

Hi all,

We'll after a few days away in Norfolk looking at possible boats for our first one we are probably more confused than when we set off on Sunday morning. We looking at purchasing a boat for use on the canals and will be based n the staffs and Worcester canal system. We're a family with 1 toddler and Grandad and we plan to use it with all of us on board or just us without Grandad. grandad may pop out on his own too with other friends and family. I think as a family we may use it to stop inboard overnight occasionally and could see us going off for a week on it too. grandad has no intention on stopping overnight.

 

Initially we started off looking for a day boat but as you can see from my description I think we will use it more than first anticipated.

 

After seeing 7 boats and one 1 more to see we have short listed 3-4

So The first one is a Sea Queen 26 fantastic deck area , clean, got to see it out of the water and is in good condition but has a 2 stroke outboard the cabin accommodated all of us but I think 1 night is probably all we could spend on it. The cooking facility and sink were on the deck

 

2nd on the short list is a Dolphin 21 which was a newer boat 1998, very clean and we'll looked after externally but the interior could do with retrimming the broker advised going to a caravan specialist to have this done at around £500? The advised a caravan trimmer as if you put the word boat in front of anything the just double the price. Does that seem right?

 

Joint 2nd is a Dawncraft 25. Although older (mid 70's) it has been retrimming in side, new canopy and certainly offers the space we need although the deck is no we're as good as the sea queen offers and I understand they are very different boats.

 

We have another Dawncraft 25 to see and this one seems reasonably priced where as the one mentioned above seems expensive £8000 and been for sale for 1 year so far. The one we are seeng later this weeks looks like it has been retrimming better than the other, new canopy and is priced at £5000 but does not have a water heater.

 

Just after any advice on what to look for and how important is deck space compared to cabin space etc.

 

Thanks

[Neil2]

Probably not what you want to hear but i wouldn't touch any of those boats.

 

The "Sea Queen" as the name suggests is not going to be at home on the Staffs and Worcs. It's just the wrong boat altogether.

 

The Dolphin 21 is way, way, overpriced.

 

And as for Dawncraft, I wouldn't buy any grp boat that was produced in the mid 1970's. This was a dark period in grp boat building when the cost of grp construction went through the roof because of the oil crisis (i still have my petrol ration book...) and builders cut corners to stay in business.

 

If I was looking for a grp cruiser for the narrow canals I'd try and find a nice Freeman 22, maybe a Nauticus 27 or a Norman.

 

I would love to have a narrow beam Freeman 22 to play with. They are a proper boat - some have crossed the channel - but were designed to be used on canals eg they have a weed hatch. And you can get still all the spares for them. they don't command high prices because of the paranoia about inboard petrol engines, which most still have, but they do make a lovely sound.

[Naughty Cal]

Hmm. Dont think I would be looking at any of those either to be honest.

 

The Freeman 22 is a good starter boat for a fair price, as are boats such as the Birchwood 25 or Princess 25.

 

You will get a Viking 20 or a Shetland 4+2 for your money as well.

[Paul C]

What's your budget? A 40ft steel narrowboat makes a lot of sense for the use you describe (more space in a 40ft than a 25ft!) but will cost much more.

[Naughty Cal]

What's your budget? A 40ft steel narrowboat makes a lot of sense for the use you describe (more space in a 40ft than a 25ft!) but will cost much more.

 

What accomodation does your typical 40ft narrowboat have that a typical 25ft cruiser doesnt?

 

Cheaper to licence and moor a 25ft boat

[Paul C]

 

What accomodation does your typical 40ft narrowboat have that a typical 25ft cruiser doesnt?

 

Cheaper to licence and moor a 25ft boat

 

15ft more of it.

[Naughty Cal]

 

15ft more of it.

 

Not necessarily.

 

Dont forget the cruiser will often be wider and they often double up on space. Our bed for example is under the cockpit floor, space which would otherwise be wasted. Our shower room and galley are under the dashboard, space which again would otherwise be dead space. Which is why our 25ft cruiser has outside seating for six (+ a couple more when the hoods are down), full galley, shower room, permanent double berth and saloon seating for six.

[Neil2]

The Staffs and Worcs is a narrow canal so most small wide cruisers are out of the running.

 

I know that stretch of water reasonably well and I was trying to think if we've ever seen a grp cruiser on it, I don't think so. It's not the ideal choice and giving it a bit more thought I think I would be more inclined to look at small narrowboats. The market for NB's around 30 foot is rapidly drying up and I reckon you could get something like a well looked after or renovated Springer for under £10,000 these days. That puts it in the same bracket as say a top notch Nauticus and well below the price of a modern narrow beam grp cruiser like the Dolphin or Viking.

 

I do think you would have more fun on the Staffs & Worcs in a steel boat.

 

 

[Paul C]

 

Not necessarily.

 

Dont forget the cruiser will often be wider and they often double up on space. Our bed for example is under the cockpit floor, space which would otherwise be wasted. Our shower room and galley are under the dashboard, space which again would otherwise be dead space. Which is why our 25ft cruiser has outside seating for six (+ a couple more when the hoods are down), full galley, shower room, permanent double berth and saloon seating for six.

 

On a river cruiser suitable for narrow canals, its still going to be constrained by the 6'10" or so width limit. Similarly, the air draft is going to be limited too. I appreciate a 25ft boat will have thoughtful touches for space efficiency but so will a (decent) 40ft narrowboat. Since the OP is looking around and choosing one, then bearing in mind significant river use, just choose one with an engine larger (in power) rather than smaller.

[Naughty Cal]

Given where the op wants to keep the boat on not sure why they are looking at cruisers. But if that's what they want that's what they want.

 

Even a cruiser restrained by its beam will offer good accommodation fits its length.

[Neil2]

I think a fair few first time boaters just assume they can't afford a steel boat, and when 30 foot was regarded as entry level for a narrowboat that may have been the case. But people seem to want 40 foot at least as a first boat these days. I have seen some perfectly acceptable 30 footers come and go around the £10,000 mark, and I'm certain they can be had for less. Course this is bad news if/when you come to sell.

 

By the same token some of the aging grp stock on the canals must be almost worthless these days so if money really is tight you can get afloat for next to nothing. If I only had £2,000 or so I'd get a Shetland Speedwell - charming little boats but quite practical and will even go to sea, theoretically.

 

 

 

 

[magpie patrick]

The Staffs and Worcs is a narrow canal so most small wide cruisers are out of the running.

 

I know that stretch of water reasonably well and I was trying to think if we've ever seen a grp cruiser on it, I don't think so.

 

 

 

You clearly haven't been looking, or at least you've been unlucky (or lucky, depending on how you view it)..

 

For the OP. I have a Viking 23 which is great for a few days away. Being only the 23, 4 adults max but the 25 or the 28 would offer more accomodation. It is well suitedto the K and A (where it is currently based) and by no means unusual on that canal or the river Avon. It can also turn round anywhere, an under-rated advantage.

 

I'm changing it for a 45 foot narrow boat that I am in the process of buying. The ONLY reason is longer cruises and year round: I can't easily get the cruiser comfortable or even all that safe to live on if temperatures fell well below freezing, the nature of my work means I don't spend a lot of ti,e at home, but whatever "home" is has to be habitable at, say -10 celcius.

 

If I was just going for three seasons use I'd be keeping my Viking, even for a three week trip.

[grannykins]

Last year we bought a Burland 26 and we love it. We are moored on the Staffs and Worcester at Ashwood Marina. We havent managed to do more than a week in her yet, due to annual leave restrictions, but have managed to get two weeks off together this year and are looking forwards to 16 whole days together on the cut.

 

WE would have preferred a small narrowboat, but didnt want to get into debt, and the cruiser cost us less than £3000. Money well spent indeed

 

(The only thing to be aware of is that most of these cruisers have petrol engines, and routes have to be planned that take into account stopping for petrol, which entails a walk with petrol cans. The whatgas app is very useful for showing garages close to where you are.)

Edited March 6, 2014 by grannykins

[Ngood94323]

Hi Grannykins funny enough ashwood is where we are going to moored also