Boats with engines in this case. 
I've been toying with the idea for a while, in this case on the Thames. When we were young we used to have a RIB with a (what to me at the time) seemed a bloody great Mercury 40hp outboard on the back. That progressed to a open cabin "day boat" (with the same motor) BonwitcoWhich got used for blatting up and down the Thames as well as on the south coast going fishing for Herring. Once you pass Wandsworth bridge on the Thames there's no speed limit and hammering through central London on the RiB was fantastic. The scenery and history you see from the river in the middle of London is exceptional - few ever see the capital from that view point.
My problem is these days I'm frankly too lazy for the whole trailer thing, carting the boat to a lip way, getting it in only to find the motor won't start and 101 other bits that go with it.
With a young family now however the fond memories are still there and I'd love to get a day boat with a few luxuries (in this case at least an enclosed cabin, toilet and cooking rings), something around 24ft maybe. The real thing holding me back is mooring fees. On the mid Thames above Teddington Lock at least they're going to be around £3k per year, which whilst making for easy "jump in and go" days out, is just that little bit too much to justify in my head.
Anyone got/had/looking at a family "day" boat have any experience, tips or recommendations to share?
I've been toying with the idea for a while, in this case on the Thames. When we were young we used to have a RIB with a (what to me at the time) seemed a bloody great Mercury 40hp outboard on the back. That progressed to a open cabin "day boat" (with the same motor) BonwitcoWhich got used for blatting up and down the Thames as well as on the south coast going fishing for Herring. Once you pass Wandsworth bridge on the Thames there's no speed limit and hammering through central London on the RiB was fantastic. The scenery and history you see from the river in the middle of London is exceptional - few ever see the capital from that view point.
My problem is these days I'm frankly too lazy for the whole trailer thing, carting the boat to a lip way, getting it in only to find the motor won't start and 101 other bits that go with it.
With a young family now however the fond memories are still there and I'd love to get a day boat with a few luxuries (in this case at least an enclosed cabin, toilet and cooking rings), something around 24ft maybe. The real thing holding me back is mooring fees. On the mid Thames above Teddington Lock at least they're going to be around £3k per year, which whilst making for easy "jump in and go" days out, is just that little bit too much to justify in my head.
Anyone got/had/looking at a family "day" boat have any experience, tips or recommendations to share?
