Flanker is now afloat! But ! - Page 2

Keith Hart · 01 October 2002, 17:36

Mne's a bacon sandwich

Keith (Official Clooney lookalike) Hart

batfalcon · 01 October 2002, 19:26

Didn't hear your comments for the new 2003 model of brackets

matiboy · 01 October 2002, 19:28

lucky guy !

And I thought my son's Gameboy was a blinding present !

Declaring such a beauty as " Boring" is bound to get you some stick, when what you have just purchased is Joe average's lifetime dream....

Anyway enough of my envy, if I were you and clearly money is not that a big a factor, I would seriously look at what dry berthing ( if you havn't already) is available in the Hamble area.

Boats left on moorings rot, it is as simple as that. If your new boat is winched out each time, pressure washed and flushed and then kept under proper cover you will have half a chance of keeping it looking new, also no need for antifouling.

All boat hoods leak which can cause damp interiors, it is very difficult to fit an all over cover when the boat is in a marina berthing

Flanker · 01 October 2002, 20:16

Matiboy,

Have looked into all the options, it would cost £138.47 at Ocean Village for a lift out, £97 to put it back plus steam clean. They do not have dry moorings there but use Shamrock Quay. At the moment mooring will cost me £259 mth March - Oct and £165 for the winter months, prices rise next year at about 4%. The annual cost is £2,275 which is a bit cheaper. I have arranged for the boat to be Anti fouled in Feb as I have just put it in storage until then, we will launch in March. I was up for the taking in and out option as I bought a twin axle Snipe trailer for it that I guess will just be lying around now. The problem is it would be a ridiculous price to get it craned in and out each time. Perhaps there is another marina around, I just thought Ocean Village would be fun for my son and he can get the train with his mates from London to Southampton.

Re the Canvas, I am having an 'A' frame designed for him to put gadgets on, I will have all new covers made in the Far East to accomodate the frame (the tailoring there is excellent and much better value for money). The covers that came with it are pretty poor but we will use much better fabric this time.

As for not thinking too much about the boat, I didn't mean to sound ungrateful for having it, but it does look a bit boring at the moment in it's current US 70's gold and glitter stripe colours. We will change all that, and have just commissioned some newly designed graphics for it, it should then look pretty cool flying along at 50mph.

Pete

Viking · 01 October 2002, 21:07

Charles Is Vice the haidresser the bloke that used to play bass for Right Said Fred and is definitely too witty for his shirt

matiboy · 01 October 2002, 22:30

Merlin boatyard near Itchen bridge which specialises in dry berthing, very helpfull lot I kept my previous Bayliner there for 3 years, this was similar sized boat and cost around 120 quid per month with launches every weekend included

funny enough there is a train station on the doorstep at Woolston

what you get is function, you will not get the atmosphere or be able to pose on your boat as in a marina

Flanker · 01 October 2002, 23:23

Matiboy,

What were the opening times? I looked at Littlehampton marina, but that was 9am - 6pm only, they are about £800 per yr with unlimited tractor use. I guess it is better to strip the brakes off the trailer if it is going in the water. Part of the mooring idea was that the boat could be used as a base for the odd night and ease of getting away. I fully understand the problems with being in the water, i wonder if it could be minimised by say 5mths in and the rest dry? what do you think. Also once I have the hull ant-fouled it will be there forever, and will need yearly top ups.

Brighton still looks good, it is £899 a year all in, but very limited dry storage, which at the special small boat price has to be paid for as an extra. The only problem is where do you go from there without burning loads of fuel.

Pete

gaelforce · 02 October 2002, 01:03

Flanker,

my Dad never really cared for me and I have often thought about being adopted. You're kind of in the frame, if you know what I mean.

Gaelforce

matiboy · 02 October 2002, 18:59

get in the Q, behind me please

Merlin have pontoons that you can keep boat tied to if you want to come back in late or even keep the boat on the water all weekend, they are very flexible give them a call

The only disadvantage is it is not going to be as pretty as a proper marina and will not have any marina " Ambiance"

Thing about brighton/littlehampton is once you go out to sea, what do you do then ? You will be miles away from the solent which has loads of places to explore, Isle of Wight and all its inlets, Hamble, Needles,Beauli...etc

When your son needs a Solent guide give me a buzz, cos I've been bombing around the solent for 10 years now and never get bored of it

Flanker · 02 October 2002, 22:34

Matiboy,

Thanks for the kind offer, I'm sure that he would be up for some guidance, I will get him to contact you nearer the time ( I hope you are not too expensive her hour for guiding!). I am going to do my level 2 course, because at the moment I am the mercy of my son. I think that when the boat is delivered they spend a day showing you how it all works and drive you around (I hope that they give you a full tank of fuel like a new car!). We have to pick the delivery day, but have decided as I mentioned earlier to wait until next March. The company are going to deliver it to the house on his birthday in November and leave it for a couple of days so it feels like he has got a present (what a nice Dad!). We can then get it measured up for more stylish carpets, curtains and some posh decking in strategic areas. I think we will be getting dive platform made so if he goes diving it will be easier to get back on the boat. If you have any ideas or hints about that let me know.

I am sure that you will be able to show him some tricks in it, I am just surprised that it goes so fast at 50mph. I think upgrading from the 3ltr to the Volvo Penta 4.3GL 210hp was a wise move, goodness know what the 5.7ltr option would do apart from drink fuel.

Pete

Flanker · 02 October 2002, 22:37

Matiboy,

Perhaps I could speak to Henshaws and get some tubes put round it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then I wouldn't feel so guilty taking up precious space on the Forum.

Pete