GREAT BRITISH MOTORBOATS
Owning a small motorboat can be the gateway to a wide variety of cruising grounds, from rivers, lakes and canals to coastlines as far ranging as the Baltic or the Med.
With a suitable tow car, and the ability to use the boat as a caravan during the journey, nowhere is out of reach. Berthing costs, always a major factor with any boat, are non-existent if you can keep it at home, or comparatively low for a pontoon berth or dry stack slot due to the short overall length.
“Over the past few years, and especially more recently, we’ve seen a big trend for people looking at trailable cabin cruisers,” says Ben Davies of Orkney Boats.
“A good example is our Orkney 20 Pilot House model. Available in both outboard and inboard versions, it is easy to tow, launch and recover, offering many owners the freedom to travel further afield. As we see the growing popularity of motorhomes and campervans in the current climate, this functionality is especially important. Owners can look to spend their summer ‘staycation’ cruising and exploring some of the many beautiful areas along the almost 17,000 miles of British coastline.”
Engine choices
As smaller motorboats also tend to be outboard powered, the engine space is freed up within the hull for accommodation or open-air living, typified by some of the large, self-draining cockpits in cuddy-cabin and pilothouse models.
