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I wanted a boat!

Maverick

Maverick

Messages
17
Location
Shropshire/Wexford
Vehicle
T6 Ocean 150
Hi all,

I've been lurking in the shadows absorbing all the information that this forum has to offer and thought it was about time I said hello.

So I wanted to buy a boat. I'd convinced the 5 and 8 year old that they did too. The plan; to spend 4 years sailing around the world. Long story short but the long-haired General wasn't too keen. Something about sea-sickness and a fear that we'd all drown at sea in a storm. Oh she of little faith.

We'd thoroughly enjoyed a trip we did 3 years ago in a rented 1968 T2 along the south coast of France. I can thoroughly recommend 69Campers for anyone wondering if a Cali (old or new) is for them. Seeing as we all had this summer off we decided to buy a Cali and see a bit of Europe. We ended up with a T6 Ocean 150DSG (MY19), 50 miles on the clock and everything still wrapped in plastic, spec'd as we wanted. Picked it up on the Tuesday and set off for mainland Europe on the Thursday. We had a splendid 5 weeks travelling down through France exploring the alps, into Switzerland, across the Italian lakes, through Slovenia into Croatia as far as Split. Drove back though Slovenia into Italy again, down to Modena and Maranello to visit the Ferrari museums, across Tuscany, the Italian Rivera, Côte d'Azur, Bordeaux, Ile de Ré and back to the UK. Highlights were Lake Garda, Pula and Ile de Ré. 4000 miles down the road, what have I learned?

Firstly, I hate campsites, especially French ones with mandatory banana hammocks and (so-called) entertainment by the pool involving churning the water by dancing and splashing to techno music. This is inconvenient as the kids seem to love these sites. Our best nights by far were wild camping, especially in the mountains above Interlaken and on the Italian Rivera.

Secondly, that the Cali is a well thought out utilitarian vehicle. I stuck a roof box on top to put all my kitesurfing gear in. Everything else to keep us going for 5 weeks fitted easily in the back. We even came home with a couple of boxes of wine and a SUP! I started to love the processes involved in turning the vehicle into a bedroom and back again, refining them with each day. We didn't purchase many accessories prior to departure. There wasn't time and we didn't see a need. Our only purchases were some seat covers, Brandrup carpets, front and rear and a Cadac, all of which we are pleased with. It was pretty hot in Croatia so we purchased a super powerful fan from Bauhaus (hardware store) that works in the euro socket for downstairs and a small 12V fan for upstairs.

Having never had any desire to own a Cali I can say that I'm pleasantly surprised and have no plans to get rid of it any time soon. We're already discussing the next trip to Ireland in a couple of weeks and planning for Scandinavia beyond that. And definitely back to France. Although we saw a lot of Europe in 5 weeks we wish we'd narrowed our ambitions slightly and spent more time getting to know some of the areas better.

Anyway, I'm off to look at boats and see if a couple of sessions of hypnotism can change my wife's views on sailing.

Photo 1 is from a wild campsite in the Italian Rivera. Thank the lord that every campsite in the area was full!
Photo 2 was the original inspiration.
Photo 3 is self explanatory!

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Very nice.

Having spent almost 200x nights camping in our 2017 California Beach, locally (UK/IRE) and across Europe..... We then decided to buy a sailboat also, we had never sailed before. We’ve spend most of this year “learning the lines” and managed a Summer cruise of the West Coast of Scotland and to the Isle of Man, we’re based in Belfast (overlooking the harbour marina.) If you make it this way, say hello and I’ll give you a tour of our boat and we can have a yarn about the pros of each.

 
Now there’s an offer I can’t refuse. I’ll certainly look you up if I make it up north.

Followed on Insta. Superb photos and nice boat.


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I aspire to a boat at some point but the wife is not yet convinced. I'll keep chipping away until she changes her mind. Nice boat by the way - looks like an ideal size for a couple.
 
We had a 28ft SeaRay Sundancer which we moored at Bucklers Hard in Beaulieu. The single most expensive hobby I could have chosen with mooring fees alone of nearly £7k per year let alone fuel, servicing etc. Stick to the Cali.
 
You probably chose one the most expensive areas in the UK. Stayed at Lymington a couple of times and it was top-end.
 
You probably chose one the most expensive areas in the UK. Stayed at Lymington a couple of times and it was top-end.
Agreed! Lymington was full at the time & the wife liked Bucklers Hard, what could I do!
 
Crazy prices.... £130 a month here in Belfast including non-metered EHU

Both have their “pros and cons“ IMO, both not for everyone either.
 
Crazy prices.... £130 a month here in Belfast including non-metered EHU

Both have their “pros and cons“ IMO, both not for everyone either.
If you live within 7 miles of Lymington you can go onto the Harbour Commissioners waiting list for a river mooring, £650 for a fair sized boat for a year. We have a walk ashore mooring that costs less than £2000, it must be said that patience was needed to get this choice position, the boat is used/paid for by all the family, so is affordable.
 
Here at Alcoutim on the lovely River Guadiana there is no regulation or indeed fees. I simply got someone to lay me a mooring within sight of my house, and keep my 34ft yacht on it. House on the Portugal river bank & mooring on the Spanish side of the river.

Couple of years ago they put in navigation poles from the river mouth up to here & last week started putting them in from here to further up river.
 
Haha i had to sell my boat to buy my ocean. No regrets!!!
 
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