Definitive Descriptions..

[Burba]

Had a look through the boatsandoutboards and similar sites and am totally confused by the main and sub-categories used to group boats together..

Can someone provide descriptions for each 'category' of boat and the type of usage?!?

Many thanks!!

[XJSJohn]

Makes Sense to me ... OK perhaps they are not stacked in a logical order.

What do you think you are looking for?

[Burba]

not really sure - more browsing!!!

take for example Motor boats. this category is broken up into Offshore Cruisers, Fishing Boats, Commercial Boats, Speed Boats, Inland Cruisers, Aluminium Boats, Powered Cats & Tris and Classic Motor Boats.

How on earth (if you're a complete novice like me!) would you know where to begin?

I'm just browsing at the moment but it would be nice to try and fix out a category i should be browsing in!

I guess criteria would be berthing ability, nice looking, ideally powered... not sure after that?!

[BigLepton]

Motor boats - boats with engines.

Offshore Cruisers - boats that can go out of sight of land.

Fishing Boats - boats designed to fish off.

Commercial Boats - boats designed for work.

Speed Boats - boats designed to go quickly.

Inland Cruisers - boats designed for rivers.

Aluminium Boats - boats made of aluminium.

Powered Cats & Tris - boats with more than one hull and an engine.

Classic Motor Boats - old boats.

The categories don't matter - it's where you intend to boat that matters.

[Burba]

thanks Biggie

Guess we would be looking at boating either in the Med or BVI - destination is still undecided.

Ideally, the one with most sunshine!!!

End game is to upsticks from here and set up a diving company for the other half to run.
Me on the other hand - assist I guess and build up something else niche that's suitable for the local requirements..

[XJSJohn]

Burba said:

End game is to upsticks from here and set up a diving company for the other half to run.
Me on the other hand - assist I guess and build up something else niche that's suitable for the local requirements..

Thats also a very broad spectrum.

What sort of diving ?? day trips, adventuring, dive school, live aboard?

I have several friends that do this sort of thing (loose cover for treasure hunting) and you realy need to know the market and the sort of package you plan.

Best dive platform is a barge ... big, flat, stable, ugly and rather static. these are what commercial O&G operators use.

Second is a big Rib, can get into all sorts of spots, carry weight and is easy to get in and out of.

Both need a support vessel of some sort.

Otherwise you are looking at sports diving, big cruising catamarans are good for this, as they have the stable platform + accommodation space.

Give more details of the sort of venture (perhaps examples of websites of similar style ventures) and i am sure that some of us can help.

[Burba]

XJSJohn said:

Burba said:

End game is to upsticks from here and set up a diving company for the other half to run.
Me on the other hand - assist I guess and build up something else niche that's suitable for the local requirements..

Thats also a very broad spectrum.

What sort of diving ?? day trips, adventuring, dive school, live aboard?

I have several friends that do this sort of thing (loose cover for treasure hunting) and you realy need to know the market and the sort of package you plan.

Best dive platform is a barge ... big, flat, stable, ugly and rather static. these are what commercial O&G operators use.

Second is a big Rib, can get into all sorts of spots, carry weight and is easy to get in and out of.

Both need a support vessel of some sort.

Otherwise you are looking at sports diving, big cruising catamarans are good for this, as they have the stable platform + accommodation space.

Give more details of the sort of venture (perhaps examples of websites of similar style ventures) and i am sure that some of us can help.

... from what i understand, she wants to do day-trips/instruction.
i think it would end up being a live-aboard for us and would appreciate something easy on the eye

[BigLepton]

Burba said:

thanks Biggie

Guess we would be looking at boating either in the Med or BVI - destination is still undecided.

Ideally, the one with most sunshine!!!

End game is to upsticks from here and set up a diving company for the other half to run.
Me on the other hand - assist I guess and build up something else niche that's suitable for the local requirements..

Well, if you want a dive boat you'll probably be looking in the commercial sector - stable at anchor, small wheelhouse, big cockpit, decent hull to get back if the weather turns and an efficient single diesel or at the smaller end a RIB with an inboard diesel.

Something like this:

http://www.lochin.com/newboats_lochin38.htm

Or this if you need to live on it:

http://www.lochin.com/newboats_lochin366.htm

Having said all that, Traders always seem popular in the BVI's especially with the charter companies:

http://www.tradermotoryachts.com/range/range-frame...

Edited by BigLepton on Thursday 30th October 22:13

[Burba]

BigLepton said:

Burba said:

thanks Biggie

Guess we would be looking at boating either in the Med or BVI - destination is still undecided.

Ideally, the one with most sunshine!!!

End game is to upsticks from here and set up a diving company for the other half to run.
Me on the other hand - assist I guess and build up something else niche that's suitable for the local requirements..

Well, if you want a dive boat you'll probably be looking in the commercial sector - stable at anchor, small wheelhouse, big cockpit, decent hull to get back if the weather turns and an efficient single diesel or at the smaller end a RIB with an inboard diesel.

Something like this:

http://www.lochin.com/newboats_lochin38.htm

Or this if you need to live on it:

http://www.lochin.com/newboats_lochin366.htm

Having said all that, Traders always seem popular in the BVI's especially with the charter companies:

http://www.tradermotoryachts.com/range/range-frame...

Edited by BigLepton on Thursday 30th October 22:13

thanks BigL..

..she took one look at them and turned her nose up

her 'pretty to the eye' is going to be a pain in my wallet!!

[XJSJohn]

Burba said:

BigLepton said:

Burba said:

thanks Biggie

Guess we would be looking at boating either in the Med or BVI - destination is still undecided.

Ideally, the one with most sunshine!!!

End game is to upsticks from here and set up a diving company for the other half to run.
Me on the other hand - assist I guess and build up something else niche that's suitable for the local requirements..

Well, if you want a dive boat you'll probably be looking in the commercial sector - stable at anchor, small wheelhouse, big cockpit, decent hull to get back if the weather turns and an efficient single diesel or at the smaller end a RIB with an inboard diesel.

Something like this:

http://www.lochin.com/newboats_lochin38.htm

Or this if you need to live on it:

http://www.lochin.com/newboats_lochin366.htm

Having said all that, Traders always seem popular in the BVI's especially with the charter companies:

http://www.tradermotoryachts.com/range/range-frame...

Edited by BigLepton on Thursday 30th October 22:13

thanks BigL..

..she took one look at them and turned her nose up

her 'pretty to the eye' is going to be a pain in my wallet!!

Find us a few examples of what "her" conciders to be "pretty to the eye" and perhaps we can point you in the direction of a suitable compromise, or a long list of very valid reasons why she is barking mad!

(i accept that even if we are able to prove that she is barking, that she will still insist on doing things her way)

[XJSJohn]

Whilst waiting for a reasonable time to head to the pub without looking completely alcoholic i thought that (seeing as this has effectively turned into a "what boat" thread) that i would have a browse at the sort of options that i might go for with a venture like this.

my top chouce but your missus will hate it.

a nice cruising cat but she will think its ugly.

a cheaper cruising cat which she will still dislike

a cat without sails this could realy work as a dive boat actually

a big old Bertram so you can to game fishing as a side line

something from the bargain basement but could be very functional

you will probably need to concider some sort of RIB as well, and as this is pistonheads, may i suggest this

All boats suggested are currently for sale and in the BVI

[Burba]

XJSJohn said:

Whilst waiting for a reasonable time to head to the pub without looking completely alcoholic i thought that (seeing as this has effectively turned into a "what boat" thread) that i would have a browse at the sort of options that i might go for with a venture like this.

my top chouce but your missus will hate it.

a nice cruising cat but she will think its ugly.

a cheaper cruising cat which she will still dislike

a cat without sails this could realy work as a dive boat actually

a big old Bertram so you can to game fishing as a side line

something from the bargain basement but could be very functional

you will probably need to concider some sort of RIB as well, and as this is pistonheads, may i suggest this

All boats suggested are currently for sale and in the BVI

thanks XJS - you are right, it is more a 'what boat' thread! lol
will check these out tonight/tomorrow and report back!

[Burba]

Burba said:

XJSJohn said:

Whilst waiting for a reasonable time to head to the pub without looking completely alcoholic i thought that (seeing as this has effectively turned into a "what boat" thread) that i would have a browse at the sort of options that i might go for with a venture like this.

my top chouce but your missus will hate it.
NOT WRONG - AMAZING INTERNALS, BUT SHE HATES THE LOOK!

a nice cruising cat but she will think its ugly.
WELL SURPRISE SURPRISE - SHE DOESN'T MIND THAT ONE!

a cheaper cruising cat which she will still dislike
NOT BAD AT ALL, BUT WE'RE BOTH NOT SURE ABOUT THE WHOLE 'SAILS' THING?

a cat without sails this could realy work as a dive boat actually
BIT OLD LOOKING SHE SAID, BUT A GOOD IDEA

a big old Bertram so you can to game fishing as a side line
SHE SAID IT LOOKED A LITTLE SMALL - AND MAKES THE CAT LOOK POSITIVELY GLAMOUROUS - WOMEN!

something from the bargain basement but could be very functional
WON'T EVEN REPEAT HER WORDS...

you will probably need to concider some sort of RIB as well, and as this is pistonheads, may i suggest this


All boats suggested are currently for sale and in the BVI

thanks XJS - you are right, it is more a 'what boat' thread! lol
will check these out tonight/tomorrow and report back!

HMMM... SEEMS CATS ARE FAVOURABLE THEN??

[XJSJohn]

Personally (because i don't think they look prety) i am not a big fan of multi-hulls BUT ....


They provide big volume accomodation
They provide stable platform
They provode good sailing performance in light airs downwind
They provide 2 engines (one per hull) for upwind performance
They provide shallow draft for exploration

They don't look prety but the do the job.

For experiance i have done 4 passages between 800 - 1300 miles on large multu-hulls and know a few people that run them commercially for this sort of thing.

If it was me I would still go for the big old tug ...

[Burba]

XJSJohn said:

Personally (because i don't think they look prety) i am not a big fan of multi-hulls BUT ....


They provide big volume accomodation
They provide stable platform
They provode good sailing performance in light airs downwind
They provide 2 engines (one per hull) for upwind performance
They provide shallow draft for exploration

They don't look prety but the do the job.

For experiance i have done 4 passages between 800 - 1300 miles on large multu-hulls and know a few people that run them commercially for this sort of thing.

If it was me I would still go for the big old tug ...

sounds like it's ideal then - think i'll go looking on boats.com

[XJSJohn]

Wonder if Burba's SWMBO killed him for offering some of those suggestions .... he has gone very quiet!!

Edited by XJSJohn on Thursday 13th November 07:15

[Burba]

Lol, not at all John - most of my time browsing is whilst i'm at work and not all sites work very well through our browsers!

Ideally, I'm looking for a good cat. sales website that I can really look through properly and gives real specs for the boats..

..ideas??