Have My Boats Gone?

Have My Boats Gone. An update on my boats and a look at how much boating costs in 2024 to own and run a small GRP boat!

[@HowardSmith-ze4xb]

Thanks for all your videos

[@crossercuss1]

your old narrowboat has just come up for sale with us at gayton marina... were selling our narrowboat as the cost of mooring is getting silly now... i will miss having a boat though

[@BramleyProductions]

Yep, the guy who brought it off me said he was going to keep it but! I think it's been sold twice now! But hey ho when you sell a boat I don't ever really look back it's gone and that's it I have to say it's getting old built-in 1984! and I had it over-plated in 2011. I wonder how long it has really has left. Sorry to hear you are also leaving it's gone silly so I can see why you have decided to pack it in also. Very crazy prices! Thanks, So lovely to hear from you thanks Kev.

[@ElToro2000UK]

An old boy I was talking to along the River Medway, in Kent said that you'd be better off throwing your money in the river, than buying a boat (Basically saying, that owning a boat is a never ending money pit). It's ok if you are rich, I think, but otherwise I think people would struggle nowadays.

[@BramleyProductions]

Very true words. I think I way underestimated really with just £500 a year on maintenance. A boat needs and even a small boat needs a huge amount of time and money just to keep it all going. It just did not seem such a struggle back in the late 60s on into the 1970s and early 1980s it seemed all quite doable back then but not now I feel. Thanks for the great comment. Kev.

[@MessengerRising]

What's your opinion on having a Freeman as a liveaboard on the canals Kev. Great videos by the way, very informative.

[@BramleyProductions]

Well, I suppose you could do but do remember these smaller oler GRP boats such as Freeman had very little insulation Freeman did use foam in the roof and in other parts between the laminations but over time that has broken down and then condensation could be a huge problem as a live aboard when you cook or heat! These boats were designed for use from March/April to Oct/November and then they were laid up just as holiday boats back when they were built But sure I have known someone who lived for a number of years in a Freeman Mark2 22ft boat and loved it but like I say be prepared for everything to get damp in winter with condensation! But sure all doable The newer the boat you buy the better the Insulation would be but it's never going to be great even with a 1980s-built GRP boat. Also, a lot of older small Freeman are still Petrol engines the one problem here is there is little or no petrol apart from the River Thames maybe is now sold on the Inland waterways it is all Derv! So you could end up walking miles for fuel. It comes down to how much you can comprise and are prepared to put up with difficulties! But like I say all possible. Thansk for your most kind comment. Kev.

[@MessengerRising]

​@@BramleyProductions Thanks for taking the time to write that post Kev. Makes a lot of sense, I was hoping to find a GRP cruiser with a diesel inboard engine. I've also seen some were adapted for canals being 6'10" and also having a weed hatch of sorts. I need to do a bit more research but I'll let you know if I find a boat. Also love the nostalgic feel of your channel. I miss the old days, everything was so much simpler. Thanks again.

[@BramleyProductions]

@@MessengerRising Thanks the later built Freeman 22 Mark 2 like I had as my last Freeman is in fact a 6ft10 in beam and also was the only ever Freeman boat that had a weed hatch! So you can tell when you find one lift up the back seat look down by the rudder and you will see the weed hatch tube so you know you are viewing a narrow beam Mark 2 ! Many people say they have one you got to have a look no weed hatch and its just a standard F22 mark 2 with a 7ft4in beam! A good little boat these late-built Narrow beam Freeman. I fitted a brand new Westerbeke Diesel in mine replacing the old SeaWolf Watermota petrol which was the 1100cc Ford Escort engine marinized by Watermota. What Freeman did to make this boat was they cut down the mould on the 7ft4in bean Freeman Mark 2 22 when production finished on that mark in 1969 and they made this narrow-beam version from 1970 to about 1976 still a good few about never made in great numbers as back then they were hugely expensive around 60 built I believe. Yep, see as many boats as you can to get the feel and vibe of what will suit you. All the best Kev.

[@MessengerRising]

@@BramleyProductions I'll keep an eye out for those dates 1970 - 1976 for the Freeman 22 Mark 2 and make sure I check for a weed hatch. Thanks Kev.