The disadvantages here lie in the cost of conversion and the limited availability of filling points, although these are growing. On average, though, a full tank will set you back about pounds 50.A new alternative type of fuel is trying to make inroads into the market; LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas. non- registered – sports boat to be used at all in its waters.If you intend insuring the boat, which is not required by law in this country, your insurance company will probably need to know that you’re not completely incapable. One insurance company I spoke to said they would wish to know how much experience a potential customer has and whether they have any marine certificates to their name. Possession of such documents wouldn’t lower your premiums, but having nothing at all would greatly reduce the chances of being taken on as a client.Fuel prices are pretty much the same as for a motor car Most sports boats run on petrol, while a few take diesel. The financial advantage gained with the latter is offset by the higher prices commanded for diesel engines.
This does not apply if you intend offering paid trips on the vessel, in which case there are a whole raft of regulations, documents and licences needed.You might also want to note that the rules abroad are very different, and vary from country to country Some, such as Spain, will not allow a non-numbered – i.e. Owners do not need to register their boat with any central agency, and no licence or driving-test is needed by the owner. To estimate the cost of year-round maintenance, you could probably add a zero to your car’s annual bill.The good news for potential buyers is that there is virtually no legislation covering this subject. It never seems to work.”Maintenance isn’t as wildly expensive as you might think.
A full, out- of-water service on an average sports boat might cost pounds 200 to pounds 300. A VHF radio, for instance, is a must, while wearing the right gear on your boat can be just as expensive, but a little less serious.Berthing costs vary from place to place. My local marina in Brighton, for instance, costs pounds 210 per metre, per annum. Other sites around Britain and Europe will be much more expensive. It all depends on local facilities and geography.You might think about trying a shared purchase, although this is rare, according to Freddie De Vere of Ancasta Boat Sales in Brighton Marina. “It always seems to rain on your weekend and is sunny on theirs.
Some of these, you’ll find, will be absolutely essential, while others can be optional. A decent, second-hand sports boat can be had for anything from pounds 1,000 – pounds 3,000.Once you have chosen a type of boat, and decided that you can afford the asking price, it is time to start factoring in the cost of all the peripherals. The other end of the market is catered for by Buy-a-Boat (for under pounds 10,000), a most self- explanatory title. Drool over the pictures, float off into a fantasy dreamworld of water-skiing, then freeze over when you see the prices and start to make some sensible decisions about your budget.
Some of the more up-market glossies will introduce you to the top end of the market; a Riva for pounds 60,000 – pounds 80,000 perhaps. Failing that, take a look on the shelves of a well-stocked newsagent at the selection of boating magazines. How do you actually go about buying a speedboat, or a sports boat, as they’re now known? The first stop should be your local yacht brokers, if you have one nearby. WHO COULD ever forget that classic scene in one of the James Bond movies where speedboats go chasing around the canals of Amsterdam? For many brought up on this diet of exotic adventure, a speedboat is one of the ultimate toys for boys If you’ve got the money, the temptation can be irresistible.
The necklaces are too pretty and the ear-rings, which start at about pounds 30, too tempting. Diamonds, it seems, are no longer a girl’s best friend; Angela Hale is.The Angela Hale Gallery (0171-495 1920) is at 5 The Royal Arcade, 28 Old Bond Street, London.. The outrageous:
Protect your neck from unwanted amorous attention with a delicate blue bead necklace by Danielle Saffer, pounds 156 from ec one (0171 713 6185)
The decadent:Rediscover the days when the neck was the sexiest part of the body with a hematite crystal necklace, pounds 240, from Erickson Beamon (0171 259 0202)The sleek:If understated is the way you like to play, a silver and 9ct gold necklace by Jeremy Heber, at pounds 90 from Argenta (0171 584 4480), is the thing for youThe demure:A little something for the weekend? Don’t forget to pack a silver and garnet drop and tear necklace pounds 24.99, Accessorize (enquiries 0171 313 3000)The flirty:Put a twinkle in someone else’s eye with a pink and silver beaded double droplet choker, pounds 4.99 from Oasis (01865 881986 for nearest store)The classic:A necklace for all occasions, grey beaded faux-antique choker, pounds 4.99, Oasis (01865 881986 enquiries)Photographs by Neville Elder. Although for some customers there will be disappointment that word has got out about this treasure trove of costume jewellery, it is unlikely to put them off. There is no reason to doubt her, for she has just confessed that she spent her entire two-week holiday in the south of France dreaming about the necklaces she has just bought This is not unusual. “I have one customer who flies in from Saudi on a regular basis and it’s like Supermarket Sweep when she’s in here,” laughs Hale, recalling her last visit when she bought up her entire stock of crystal-encrusted hair slides.It is now five years since she first opened the Covent Garden shop and just two since moving to the Royal Arcade, and Hale is doing well.
