Andrew Plummer and his fiancé hunt down the perfect boat for fun and games on the Welsh Riviera
S tanding on an icy jetty on Lake Windermere wasn’t the most ideal introduction to boating. I had joined the local Scout Group and it was my first water-skiing weekend. I was wearing a shared wetsuit that was always handed to me ‘pre-warmed’ and, as the Jetmarine Swift 15 with PP Jet trundled towards us, I thought it was the coolest boat on the entire lake.
From that point on, I would go skiing at every opportunity, taking part-time jobs to help fund my trips. And as I got older, I was still able to enjoy boating, thanks to a lifelong friend from the Scouts who had bought a ski boat of his own. Of course, I wanted one myself but a career in aviation meant I had to live and work in various places overseas, so owning my own boat was impossible back then. But in 1998, when my career took me back home to Manchester, it was finally time to take the plunge.
SHARING THE INVESTMENT
My first venture was going 50/50 on a 1998 Cranchi 39 Endurance. With the help of a friend, we brought her back to our new berth from Jersey via Falmouth, Milford Haven and then finally into Pwllheli – and although that felt like a steep learning curve, I still remember it as one of the best trips I’ve ever done.
After a few years, having moved from full to part-time work, an opportunity came along for us to buy a one-owner Chaparral 246 SSI. We kept that on a Park and Launch facility at Pwllheli Marina before upgrading to a Sealine SC35. In reality, that was too big for our day boating needs around the Llŷn Peninsular, so in the middle of lockdown, we decided to sell our Sealine. Ideal Boat Sales handled that brilliantly, negotiating both the Welsh and English lockdown regulations and it was at this time that Neville at Ideal Boat mentioned Saxdor. We had already seen the Saxdor 200 and been impressed with its design and layout, so when Neville mentioned that they were building a larger model, we were keen to know more.
We took the brave pill and said yes to the Saxdor without ever having seen one
A JOINT WISHLIST
My fiancé and I each made our lists of must-have essentials. For me, it had to be fun to drive, with an outboard engine, a bow thruster, an overnight bed and easy ergonomics for the singlehanded helmsman. For Laura, it needed to be a relatively small boat with a sink and a flushing toilet, plus somewhere to change your clothes, as well as plenty of storage and a dining table with comfy seating. It also needed some tea-making facilities and a fridge, plus areas to relax in the shade and the sunshine.
Having talked to a range of owners on the MBY forum, the boats that seemed clo
