advice about boats.

[Cwab]

I'm the same as you AAUK. I love my boats and get a huge amount of pleasure from them. Yes they cost money and at times are a nightmare but that's all females for you

Had love affairs with three but not all at once ( boats), now back to first lurv the rock edges and winter fishing.

 

[Topwater]

I hope my winter fishing is great deal better than last year - it was dire with only a handful of cod from shore and boatThey just didn't turn up! Otherwise it will be extra grayling and pike fishing for me. It pays to be an all-rounder imo

 

[Cwab]

I hope my winter fishing is great deal better than last year - it was dire with only a handful of cod from shore and boatThey just didn't turn up! Otherwise it will be extra grayling and pike fishing for me. It pays to be an all-rounder imo

Shore been poor for me on north east side last season and now really only torture one area and will only go when conditions spot on or if desperate close to it. Can think of many times over last three years or so looking at sea fishing thinking it’s perfect yet no fish but still enjoy the quest. Planned to fish a hole last winter over low but beaten to it so fished close and ended up dragging a fish close to 15lb from kelp for him, so for me it was my fish not his.

 

[Mr Fish]

Yep I enjoyed having my own boat but the expense, maintenance and extra work as said just to launch and recover I don’t miss.

The freedom of it was great and when it all came together right it was a cracking day’s fishing.
But there were plenty of bad days, when the weather turned, conditions changed or the fishing was just very poor.

But regardless of a good or bad day, I still had to get up 2-3 hours before the crew did, constantly check the forecast, load all the gear into the car, in several trips, head for the harbour, unload and install it all in the boat, do my checks, meet whoever was going with me, load THEIR gear in the boat, then launch it, park the car and trailer and finally go fishing.

Then at the end of day, regardless of how cold, wet or tired I was, the boat had to be recovered, cleaned down, unloaded, etc.
Then usually I’d get ‘do you mind if I head back mate as I’ve got an hour’s drive and promised the wife I’d….’ (Etc), so muggins was left to finish up, load/unload at home etc etc.

If we’d got back in at 6pm I’d be lucky if I got to sit down finally at 9pm.

Okay all that was due to the boat being on hard standing at the harbour and if it had been possible to store at home I could have done a lot the night before etc, but that’s how the set up was.
When it was on drying out moorings I still had to get the tender out the rack, row everything out to it and so on, so didn’t save on much except the launching.

I do miss it to an extent, but then I think about it and realise I don’t miss all the extra hassle.

Tbh I’m not so fussed on charters these days either. Do one or two a year but the price of many is so high now and the fishing isn’t really what it was.

Would I get another boat? MAYBE, one day, but no urge right now!

 

[Another Angle UK]

Yep I enjoyed having my own boat but the expense, maintenance and extra work as said just to launch and recover I don’t miss.

The freedom of it was great and when it all came together right it was a cracking day’s fishing.
But there were plenty of bad days, when the weather turned, conditions changed or the fishing was just very poor.

But regardless of a good or bad day, I still had to get up 2-3 hours before the crew did, constantly check the forecast, load all the gear into the car, in several trips, head for the harbour, unload and install it all in the boat, do my checks, meet whoever was going with me, load THEIR gear in the boat, then launch it, park the car and trailer and finally go fishing.

Then at the end of day, regardless of how cold, wet or tired I was, the boat had to be recovered, cleaned down, unloaded, etc.
Then usually I’d get ‘do you mind if I head back mate as I’ve got an hour’s drive and promised the wife I’d….’ (Etc), so muggins was left to finish up, load/unload at home etc etc.

If we’d got back in at 6pm I’d be lucky if I got to sit down finally at 9pm.

Okay all that was due to the boat being on hard standing at the harbour and if it had been possible to store at home I could have done a lot the night before etc, but that’s how the set up was.
When it was on drying out moorings I still had to get the tender out the rack, row everything out to it and so on, so didn’t save on much except the launching.

I do miss it to an extent, but then I think about it and realise I don’t miss all the extra hassle.

Tbh I’m not so fussed on charters these days either. Do one or two a year but the price of many is so high now and the fishing isn’t really what it was.

Would I get another boat? MAYBE, one day, but no urge right now!

Those are all very valid points Mr Fish.

I'm very fortunate having a 14 foot Coastliner that fits in the garage at home. It really makes life easier.

But you are right, it does take time to get everything washed off at the end of the day or the following day. Skimp on that job you'll be in for some big bills....

 

[Cwab]

Only way to go in ideal world is to step off pontoon onto boat do engine check, open seacock, fire up engine sort electrics then get friend to sort mooring ropes slow set forth, fenders in and off. Day before you have got fuel.
Fish till you drop head back in while friends fillet and hose deck etc, return to mooring secure switch off, close seacock, return home with no fish as sick of sight of it, rinse rods and reels which do not stay on board and plan next trip

 

[Topwater]

I think in an ideal world I woud have a skipper and crew that lived onboard (below decks obviously) and I'd just get my pilot to land the heli on its pad just as we neared the fishing grounds

 

[Cwab]

I think in an ideal world I woud have a skipper and crew that lived onboard (below decks obviously) and I'd just get my pilot to land the heli on its pad just as we neared the fishing grounds

Piped on board and greeted by attractive new young ladies who were just dying to meet me and my friends to provide additional company and colour for the weeks fishing ahead, obviously swimming pool and massage room ( replete with trained amazons) to relax muscles before dinner and retire to the orgy room before bed.
Party games would obviously play a large part of the non fishing entertainment involving fancy dress and barrels with an apple or two for good luck. Edit, forgot to mention the exotic dancers who if required could perform their art whilst fish been played.

 

[Mr Fish]

I think in an ideal world I woud have a skipper and crew that lived onboard (below decks obviously) and I'd just get my pilot to land the heli on its pad just as we neared the fishing grounds

I might get another one then

 

[Mr Fish]

Those are all very valid points Mr Fish.

I'm very fortunate having a 14 foot Coastliner that fits in the garage at home. It really makes life easier.

But you are right, it does take time to get everything washed off at the end of the day or the following day. Skimp on that job you'll be in for some big bills....

Yes it all just depends on the circumstances and although pretty close to a harbour from home, my set up involved a lot of fetching and carrying too.

At the time I was willing enough for the pay off, these days not so much!

I know @Skutter already has his boat and it wasn’t intended to put him or anyone else off, but might be useful to read for people considering getting one.
Much like retirement homes in Spain, there’s a bit more to it than just rocking up and enjoying it.

 

[Cwab]

As folks get older some boats spend more time on mooring and rarely go to sea with engine been turned over now and again due to the fact they cannot bring themselves to quit which is understandable, so only advice I would offer would be do it while you can and get out of system or not as case may be but fish hard.

 

[Topwater]

As folks get older some boats spend more time on mooring and rarely go to sea with engine been turned over now and again due to the fact they cannot bring themselves to quit which is understandable, so only advice I would offer would be do it while you can and get out of system or not as case may be but fish hard.

One club I'm a member of has a fantastic boat storage shed that is 95% full with boats that have never once moved in the 10yrs+ I've been a member. It's such cheap storage that folks have no incentive to give it up and sell on I'm sure there's a lot of the out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality as well what with no wife nagging "get that old wreck off our drive'! They'll just keep paying the fees until they pop their clogs, th' owd miserable gits!

 

[Wolf]

I was once told a boat is a hole in the water, surrounded by fibreglass in to which you pour money.

 

[Mr Fish]

One club I'm a member of has a fantastic boat storage shed that is 95% full with boats that have never once moved in the 10yrs+ I've been a member. It's such cheap storage that folks have no incentive to give it up and sell on I'm sure there's a lot of the out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality as well what with no wife nagging "get that old wreck off our drive'! They'll just keep paying the fees until they pop their clogs, th' owd miserable gits!

Yep. The local harbour is similar in that there are multiple old hulks people are ‘doing up’ but we called them ‘old men’s projects’ because they literally are hobbies that don’t change much from one year to the next.
The old boy turns up in his car, has a chat with his harbour mates, spends a few hours pottering and rubbing at a bit of hull with sandpaper, then fucks off home for his dinner.

Considering the size of most of the vessels like that, I can only assume they must have some inside deal with the harbourmaster because I’d imagine the fees would be £2k a year plus.

 

[Skutter]

"Yes it all just depends on the circumstances..."

Certainly does. I consider myself very lucky in that I live in a village on the coast near the Kullaberg peninsula in Skåne. It's not the greatest fishing in Scandinavia to be had by far but its on me doorstep.

My local harbour / ramp is less than a mile away with lots of options available well with in an hours drive. I have the space to put a boat on a trailer - (though currently not under cover - got a tarp on it right now but have plans to get a bit of a roof over it.) It's almost rude not to own a little boat - at least for while.

 

[Cwab]

One club I'm a member of has a fantastic boat storage shed that is 95% full with boats that have never once moved in the 10yrs+ I've been a member. It's such cheap storage that folks have no incentive to give it up and sell on I'm sure there's a lot of the out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality as well what with no wife nagging "get that old wreck off our drive'! They'll just keep paying the fees until they pop their clogs, th' owd miserable gits!

Some good “clubs “ around where safe storage next to club moorings providing nothing of value left on board with shared cost of crane for lifts so anti fouling can be done and put back in water making a good saving from using marina lifts and storage though if problem with prop and needing lift and hold for inspection no choice.
Problem been getting membership is dead man’s boots and long waiting list though but soo worth it if young enough in long haul but there will always be politics to avoid club wise and marinas cost two arms and legs but if having plenty dosh lots of advantages
Don’t know what happens in Sweden but probably expensive but do like the women as fine healthy looking specimens for the most part.


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[Cwab]

Certainly does. I consider myself very lucky in that I live in a village on the coast near the Kullaberg peninsula in Skåne. It's not the greatest fishing in Scandinavia to be had by far but its on me doorstep.

My local harbour / ramp is less than a mile away with lots of options available well with in an hours drive. I have the space to put a boat on a trailer - (though currently not under cover - got a tarp on it right now but have plans to get a bit of a roof over it.) It's almost rude not to own a little boat - at least for while.

It’s just the start of things telling self such things it could end up a serious matter if not careful and looking at boat porn becomes a way of life, turn back now while you still can.

 

[Cwab]