Dearhound

Ha! That explains everything!

No we are not experienced boaters at all yet, which is why I'm asking silly questions. Trying to figure out which kind of boat to live on, & where. Before we get any kind of boat on any kind of water we'll make sure we know a good deal about what we're doing. We are living in Ireland until next year when we move to the UK, which is home for me - my mother lives in Surrey. Also, at the moment anyway, dealing with a small budget, & being handy handy people we're tending towards the idea of a boat that might need some work doing, interior-wise anyway. I do like the idea of going a bit coastal, as long as we knew what we were doing We are both pretty sensible.

Thank you dear Tumshie! It is absolutely true that we're starting from the beginning so apologies everyone for the stupid questions. But we will live on a boat next year someway somehow!

Perhaps we are on the wrong forum after all.

I know.... Bonkers. So perhaps living on a river is a better option. I don't know.

& next year might be much, much worse? Are you on a narrow boat?

Ok! Thank you - I do appreciate all this advice.

I have an elderly mum in Guildford, but apart from that we are free spirits & would like to travel the waterways as much as we can. I suppose we don't necessarily need to be on the canals but that had been our original plan until I started wondering if they - the canals - are really getting too busy & started wondering if GRPs might be more economical as well as more versatile in a way....

30 ft would be fine I think. To start with anyway.

I was trying to find out about this kind of boat. Surely there are plenty of cruisers on the canals?

... what I meant to say was wouldn't it be nice to find a boat that could cope with a lot of the canals if not all, & also cope with rivers & estuaries.

Somewhere nice ! On some water! So most of the cruisers that one sees on the canals are more in the family of Dawncraft & Norman & Ormelite I guess?

That's the dilemma - looking for a boat that has some versatility with 'the ever shallowing canal system.' & the potential for increasing difficulties for liveaboards....

Merc 636 engine 1971

Live on it.

Hi, does anyone have any experience of these? & if so, what kind of experience? Would it be good for a first time boat?

Yes you're probably right though if the hull were sound enough & if you were prepared to work on it & spend the money, it'd be an interesting boat with loads of history. I must try to curb my naive enthusiasm & stop looking at projects perhaps. Looking for a liveaboard so would need to be at least 28ft ish....

Look at this! Labour of love or what? Just wondering .... https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Offshore-cruisers-for-sale/nelson-34-project-boat-for-refitting-tyler-mouldings-kent-c-/263692?utm_source=newsnow&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=sailboats LOA 34ft 0in (10.36m) Beam 9ft 6in (2.90m) Draught 3ft 3in (1.0m) I think

yeah, sorry, more costly than full ok, & is there any point in having a semi-d if you are mainly staying inland, that is not heading out to sea to any distance?

Hi - a boat with a semi-displacement hull is likely to be more costly to run, fuel-wise yes? Even at slow speeds? Or is it not quite as simple as that? The old Nelsons for example both heavier & with sd hull, would not be very economical I imagine?

Eh? Then what do you spend them on?

Ok! So now I can stop just doing the hearts everytime I agree - thanks!

I'm sorry - I've no doubt this is a really stupid question, but as I don't know the answer I'm gonna ask it anyway : what does 'greenie' mean please?

We have 4 dogs - 2 lurchers, a whippet & a kind of whole bundle of little terrier & are planning to liveaboard next year; they've done so much travelling with us so far I'm guessing it's not going to be too much of a problem. The terrier monster especially will in heaven. I mean she won't be dead, hopefully, she's only 2 - I mean she will absolutely love it.....

Rubber masts...