Ianfs wrote:What I'm getting at Nick is a performance boat is great but limited and although a sportsboat can reach 50knts in an F2 in an F4/5 it'll be slowed to 10-15knts. Consequently unless it's storm force, wave heights around here are very often 2/3m ish and although 3m sounds big, if the length is good, a nice diesel engined boat with a shaft drive will cut through nicely.
I went from Fletcher 17 GTS to 36' Hunton and stern drives were fine as long as you service them, Who said performance boats are limited
Several times we had to come back from Cowes in F6 , Only had to reduce speed to 25knots
[quote="Ianfs"]I don't know about you Nick but my priorities have changed over the years. Although it is great to fly around like a hooligan, it's also good to be able to actually get out. It's a little different being retired because I can pick and choose the weather, but when I was working, days off of course were fixed unless it's holiday. British weather is not that reliable and one day can be calm and clear and the next blowing a hooley.
Now I'm not suggesting for one moment that anyone go out in a gale, but if it's a Northerly here one day and F the sea is flat, albeit it can be chilly, the next day the Low/High moves with Isobars close and it's an F5/6 S Westerly with 1.5/2m waves. Although today for example is F2/3 S Westerly with a wave height of less than .5m according to various buoyage.
We are hoping to move to the Isle of Wight and looking at a replacement boat. Nearly 60 but not ready to go round at 10 knots,
Nut as Ian has said the British weather can change from day to day. so thinking need a cabin boat . either Axopar or Saxdor for the speed
We all different and you need to go on some sea trials and see what best suits your needs and expected usage.