Decisions

I'm getting craned out end of month and with a heavy heart I may be selling up. Thought when I took early retirement we would use the boat more but unfortunately my wife doesn't share the same passion for boating as myself. Last few months she has only been on it a couple of times for a few hours. She lost a bit of confidence when we had the dizzy problem which nearly marooned us which got sorted eventually and the recent vibration noise unnerved her, all sorted hopefully. All I seem to do is clean it and run it down the river for 10-15 minutes and back again. Her main argument is we take our very young grand kids on it as they live nearby and she panics a bit that it might leave us stranded. Even my youngest son who used to take our Norman 20 which had a new outboard out whenever he could but says he will only go out on the Freeman if i'm with him. So plan is to put her on the hard and cover up in her  winter cover then have a long hard think over the winter.

Don't all attack me but may even buy a modern new/newer boat or even a trailerable smaller day boat which she says would be better as that's all we use it for. Time will tell.

How about adding a small emergency motor.... or even two  there used to be a Norman 20 On the Thames that ran on 2 12v trolling motors. Easy to store, no fuel required

A small day-boat has its attractions but not nearly as stable, and often more tricky to get in and out of safely according to the nature of your bankside or mooring. At least you're unlikely to come to harm inside your Freeman, built like a battleship really. Marooned? The children will think it a great adventure even if you don't! Make sure you've got iron rations on board - biscuits and cocoa, and of course their lifejackets and one for the dog if you have. And a radio for the football! Yours is a dilemma I well understand and actually not unusual when not all the family is as enthusiastic or have less time.

Sorry to hear that Rich, hope you can resolve it in a good way, I sometimes think my wife will go on the boat to please me but isn't so keen herself although she denies it. I do try and ensure that no problems arise when she's aboard as that would unnerve her I'm sure. One cruise she refuses to contemplate is across Breydon Water after we had a "hairy" experience some years ago, so that one is a no no I'm afraid. ( Have to ask Tony to transport the boat for the next Salhouse do)

An auxiliary electric outboard as Prof suggests sounds a good compromise though, powerful enough to get you to safety if the main engine plays up.

Its a dilemma to sleep on, which sounds like you are, hope you can make the right decision for the whole family.

Would your wife be happier if you had breakdown cover 


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We have the retainer level cover, never used it, hopefully never will. When we have broken down I've got us moving again within the hour. It does however make Mrs Pending a little happier, so money well spent IMHO 

It's a good scheme - AA on water. Perhaps mainly aimed at canal users and thus, importantly to you, unfazed by having to find you in the back of beyond by boat if need be. I got my stern rope round the prop carelessly and a chap turned up in an hour ready with a wetsuit to climb underneath.

I can see your point, I,d like to spend more time on the boat but there's only so much you can do without hot water and a shower. 
Its always on my mind what if...
Lucky so far its only happened once to me once and i was able to get going again purely just by luck but did me me think in the middle of nowhere what do you do? But that's just part of being on the water i guess.
I looked into the brake down cover but they will only tow you so far if needed and only on the river where your home mooring is.
I can also see your point of a boat and trailer. At least that way if its not being used you're not paying for a mooring.