So there I was at the Southampton Boat Show and couldn't resist sticking a deposit on a Stratos.
I haven't sailed for many years apart from about one day every summer holiday, most recently on cats as dinghy hire is getting more scarce.
Hopefully next years trip to the Golfe du Morbihan will be more active than sitting on the beach watching the boats :-(
So... before committing myself to the purchase (deposit is refundable or transferable to Laser 2000)... some sensible advice please.
What is the "cost of ownership"? Maintenance free? (almost), insurance?... etc.. I'll probably keep the boat in a garage (if it fits).
Pros/cons Stratos vs 2000? My "kids" are 16 /14 so ideally I want to have space for 4 adults for day cruising.
Most sailing throught the year would be around the Solent but my dream is to be sailing in Sout Brittany during summer hols so I want something easily towable.
I have recently bought a used Stratos Keel and the boat is virtually maintenance free, apart from the bits and ropes to replace here and there, which you shouldn't have on a new boat.
The insurance should be between £100 and £200. I would advise you keep the boat in a sailing club during the year; there are plenty in UK with the opportunity to sail all year long on reservoirs in most cities. That should cost you between £300 and £400 a year.
With regard to South Britanny, I recommend that you think about it twice because the cost of getting the boat there will be quite significant (ferry + motorway tolls in France). You might well be better off hiring a dinghy there rather than taking your Stratos with you. It depends on how long you stay.
Pascal, thanks for the response. One of the reasons for buying our own boat is the lack of dinghy hire availability when on holidays. Ferry costs are a bit of a pain but at least there are no toll roads from Cherbourg/St. Malo to Morbihan (or not the way we go anyway!).
I'll definitely be checking out the sailing clubs in the area though finding a parking slot for the dinghy is not automatic.
The cost of ownership between a Stratos and Laser 2000 will be the same. The cost is minimal in both cases anyway. The Stratos has more space than the 2000 is a fraction faster and will take a trapeeze. Your kids will love you for that option alone.
Looks like the Stratos is by far the best option for me.
As far as analysing cost of ownership goes I've come to the conclusion that I can't possibly justify spending all that money on a boat... but... - you only live once - life is not a rehearsal - boys need toys
Ho hum
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Posted - 23 Sep 2003 : 18:08:06
