Rivers & Open Sea

[Tom Cobley]

Hello all.
How do I know, when I see a boat advertised for sale, that said boat is equally at-home on the open sea as it is on a river?
Is there something about how much engine HP or hull shape that denotes you can take it out along the UK coast?
I want a boat to use at weekwnds on the Norfolk broads but once in a while, take it a little way around the coast.

 

[flashback]

You probably need to talk to Merlin..LOL

 

[JASinIL2006]

Like many things, boats tend to be purpose-built. A good river boat is likely to be terrible at sea. A boat built for offshore fishing will be lousy for pulling skiers on inland lakes. And so on.

 

[flashback]

Glad you took the humor well and welcome, but your talking about two extremely different environments. The Vikings were pretty good at getting inland but the channel can be brutal. My best thought would be a strong boat that floats like a seagull.

 

[Scott Danforth]

to go in both the rivers and the atlantic...... you may need 2-3 different boats

 

[dingbat]

No reason you couldn’t motor the Broads with a boat big enough to venture “out front” from time to time.

There are a number of very capable “big water” boat with shallow drafts.

People have crossed the Atlantic in row boats so boat selection comes down to your skill level, comfort level and the size of your pocket book.

Displacement, freeboard and HP are your friends when it come to boating in open waterout front

 

[Tom Cobley]

Thank for all your comments, humour and advice. All appreciated. Seems like I have to think about what I really want, and talk to a few people.

I have had my head turned by the YouTube videos from Norfolk Yatch Agency showing their Cruise Club outings down the coast.

I thought I could buy one boat to explore the Norfolk broads on, at the weekends, and then when I was feeling brave, I could join one of the NYA cruises to Ipswich or somewhere like that.

 

[southkogs]

I always recommend spending some time around the marinas you're likely to boat out of most. See what people are using in the areas you want to boat. If possible, rent a couple of different boats to try them out.