Any boaters here??
I'm thinking of buying a small motor cruiser, i have one or two in mind but i'm inexperienced in seacraft skills, A little guidance might be good?
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Motor Cruisers
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Sex God
There are excellent courses out there - evening ones - for navigation and general boat skills - worth a look I reckon.
We've boated on the Broads loads of times but never ventured beyond. It really depends what size boat you are thinking about - day-boats with no beds (berths) tend to be very very small, a small cruiser with, say, a 2 berth cabin and the ability to pull out the cabin seat to make another berth might suit more needs.
I would suggest a couple of things - get to know your mooring knots and practice mooring up in windy conditions before you head off anywhere, plan your trips from pub to pub if on a river, don't put beer in a gas fridge (it gets frozen too fast) and don't ever - I mean EVER - wear one of those captain's hats with the peak and the shiny gold braid/badge on the front - 'proper' boaters will just laugh at you.
If you are heading into the salty stuff, make sure you have full safety equipment - it may seem silly to put a GPS and emergency stuff (even drinking water) in for a 4 hour pootle down the coast - but you know the weather in this country - 4 hours is a long time.
I don't know about the rules on providing boyancy jackets for yourselves and especially children on board - but they really are lifesavers.
Most of all - enjoy.
We've boated on the Broads loads of times but never ventured beyond. It really depends what size boat you are thinking about - day-boats with no beds (berths) tend to be very very small, a small cruiser with, say, a 2 berth cabin and the ability to pull out the cabin seat to make another berth might suit more needs.
I would suggest a couple of things - get to know your mooring knots and practice mooring up in windy conditions before you head off anywhere, plan your trips from pub to pub if on a river, don't put beer in a gas fridge (it gets frozen too fast) and don't ever - I mean EVER - wear one of those captain's hats with the peak and the shiny gold braid/badge on the front - 'proper' boaters will just laugh at you.
If you are heading into the salty stuff, make sure you have full safety equipment - it may seem silly to put a GPS and emergency stuff (even drinking water) in for a 4 hour pootle down the coast - but you know the weather in this country - 4 hours is a long time.
I don't know about the rules on providing boyancy jackets for yourselves and especially children on board - but they really are lifesavers.
Most of all - enjoy.
thanks foxy, i'm well on my way in terms of boat and i fancy a bayliner cuddy 1700 or a Fletcher GTS 18 or 19 Defo for the sea. and my thinking is Menai, carnafon bay or llandudno to start with, then after a weeks preactice maybe a jaunt to portugal............... kidding!
it is for fishing mr meeko lol and of course for ladies to lie naked on the sun lounger hehehehe
it is for fishing mr meeko lol and of course for ladies to lie naked on the sun lounger hehehehe
Hi, thanks for mailing me,
First of all i have no experience with boats, in saying that, i understand engines and i am a quick learner. it started off as a fishing boat!
The sort of boat i'm looking for is a Bayliner perhpas 1702 cuddy - i've seen a few on the internet or a Fletcher GTS18/9 either boat works for me but the fletcher does edge it.
I particularly want a boat that fits on a trailer so theres no mooring fees or storage to worry about. Price range around £10000 or a tad less. Either of the two boats listed must have a cuddy for overnighting.
There's a few things i'm lost with, one being inboard or out board? bilge pumps? i think they pump water out ? of??
Then theres the issue of insurance & certification, i read one doesn't need any formal qualification to motor cruise on the sea? i do understand insurance could be an issue if one bumps another boat?
RYA have somewhere close to learn so basic sea craft, i'll be looking to one of these courses including the radio one.
Bu all this said i'd be grateful of any advice?
thanks
JW
First of all i have no experience with boats, in saying that, i understand engines and i am a quick learner. it started off as a fishing boat!
The sort of boat i'm looking for is a Bayliner perhpas 1702 cuddy - i've seen a few on the internet or a Fletcher GTS18/9 either boat works for me but the fletcher does edge it.
I particularly want a boat that fits on a trailer so theres no mooring fees or storage to worry about. Price range around £10000 or a tad less. Either of the two boats listed must have a cuddy for overnighting.
There's a few things i'm lost with, one being inboard or out board? bilge pumps? i think they pump water out ? of??
Then theres the issue of insurance & certification, i read one doesn't need any formal qualification to motor cruise on the sea? i do understand insurance could be an issue if one bumps another boat?
RYA have somewhere close to learn so basic sea craft, i'll be looking to one of these courses including the radio one.
Bu all this said i'd be grateful of any advice?
thanks
JW
Sexpert
I'd suggesting doing your RYA Level 2 Powerboating course as a minimum (about £250) This will go into types and sizes of boats and also inboard or outboard motors. The courses are great fun anyway but will give you lots of insight into boating, before you decide.
...and an RYA VHF GMDSS Marine radio course (about £100) This is essential, whatever boat you have.
Even added together this is a small price to pay when you consider how much you will learn.
...and an RYA VHF GMDSS Marine radio course (about £100) This is essential, whatever boat you have.
Even added together this is a small price to pay when you consider how much you will learn.
Sex God
Motor-cruising 101.
Outboard motors are entirely outside the hull and can even be removed.
Inboard engines are fitted into the hull and are generally permanent.
The bilges is the area in the very bottom of the boat - generally swishing about with oily water. Your bilge pumps empty that out through a hole just above the water line. Often the same hole as the inboard engine exhaust.
If you are running the engine every day you won't need to engage the pumps independently, but if you have it in the rain (even out of the water) for any length of time, run the pumps either from the battery or with the engine running for a while - the boat hand-book will give suggested times I guess.
If you are moored for day, you would probably do to run the engine for 20 mins to an hour to make sure the batteries maintain charge. Try and get anything rechargeable cgarhed elsewhere (like the pub for instance) or get solar chargers.
If you moor in a tidal reach (you'd be surprised how far up a river the tide happens) check the max and min heights of water and don't moor tight to a bollard or ring if you are at high tide - you will end up with the boat dangling off the ropes (at best) or off drifting having ripped the cleats out the decking (at worst). You can moor to a bollard/ring that another boat is moored to but don't tangle the ropes.
Watch your fresh water and keep it topped up - not all moorings have access to water and many charge. Also know in advance where you pump out points are (yes, the toilet stores the waste and you have to get it pumped out regularly). High seas and full sewage tanks are not a good combination.
In many moorings it is acceptable to moor alongside another boat - then you can walk across the other boat. Be nice - announce yourself if they may be aboard, not too early or late and don't bounce their boat. Other moorings suggest or require stern mooring - my preffered orientation anyway (no, that isn't a euphamism :giggle
. They are easy enough - but practice reversing and stopping the craft before you get into any tight situations.
All boats have fend-offs - big bright plastic things to protect the sides - raise them onto the deck or into storage for running and only drop them over the side when you need them. It saves tangling if you get close to another boat - more of a problem in narrow rivers than coastal waters. Write/engrave the boat name on anything that could possibly go over-board - you may prefer not to write on the children, but the bouancy jackets should be labelled - and tie floaty things to anything that will sink.
Hanging a wine bottle into the water in a net is a great way of keeping it cool - don't forget it when you set off.
Probably worth doing an extended First Aid course too - you will be the only help avaialble for a significant amount of time.
Outboard motors are entirely outside the hull and can even be removed.
Inboard engines are fitted into the hull and are generally permanent.
The bilges is the area in the very bottom of the boat - generally swishing about with oily water. Your bilge pumps empty that out through a hole just above the water line. Often the same hole as the inboard engine exhaust.
If you are running the engine every day you won't need to engage the pumps independently, but if you have it in the rain (even out of the water) for any length of time, run the pumps either from the battery or with the engine running for a while - the boat hand-book will give suggested times I guess.
If you are moored for day, you would probably do to run the engine for 20 mins to an hour to make sure the batteries maintain charge. Try and get anything rechargeable cgarhed elsewhere (like the pub for instance) or get solar chargers.
If you moor in a tidal reach (you'd be surprised how far up a river the tide happens) check the max and min heights of water and don't moor tight to a bollard or ring if you are at high tide - you will end up with the boat dangling off the ropes (at best) or off drifting having ripped the cleats out the decking (at worst). You can moor to a bollard/ring that another boat is moored to but don't tangle the ropes.
Watch your fresh water and keep it topped up - not all moorings have access to water and many charge. Also know in advance where you pump out points are (yes, the toilet stores the waste and you have to get it pumped out regularly). High seas and full sewage tanks are not a good combination.
In many moorings it is acceptable to moor alongside another boat - then you can walk across the other boat. Be nice - announce yourself if they may be aboard, not too early or late and don't bounce their boat. Other moorings suggest or require stern mooring - my preffered orientation anyway (no, that isn't a euphamism :giggle
. They are easy enough - but practice reversing and stopping the craft before you get into any tight situations.All boats have fend-offs - big bright plastic things to protect the sides - raise them onto the deck or into storage for running and only drop them over the side when you need them. It saves tangling if you get close to another boat - more of a problem in narrow rivers than coastal waters. Write/engrave the boat name on anything that could possibly go over-board - you may prefer not to write on the children, but the bouancy jackets should be labelled - and tie floaty things to anything that will sink.
Hanging a wine bottle into the water in a net is a great way of keeping it cool - don't forget it when you set off.
Probably worth doing an extended First Aid course too - you will be the only help avaialble for a significant amount of time.
Sex God
Quote by foxylady2209
Motor-cruising 101.
Outboard motors are entirely outside the hull and can even be removed.
Inboard engines are fitted into the hull and are generally permanent.
The bilges is the area in the very bottom of the boat - generally swishing about with oily water. Your bilge pumps empty that out through a hole just above the water line. Often the same hole as the inboard engine exhaust.
If you are running the engine every day you won't need to engage the pumps independently, but if you have it in the rain (even out of the water) for any length of time, run the pumps either from the battery or with the engine running for a while - the boat hand-book will give suggested times I guess.
If you are moored for day, you would probably do to run the engine for 20 mins to an hour to make sure the batteries maintain charge. Try and get anything rechargeable cgarhed elsewhere (like the pub for instance) or get solar chargers.
If you moor in a tidal reach (you'd be surprised how far up a river the tide happens) check the max and min heights of water and don't moor tight to a bollard or ring if you are at high tide - you will end up with the boat dangling off the ropes (at best) or off drifting having ripped the cleats out the decking (at worst). You can moor to a bollard/ring that another boat is moored to but don't tangle the ropes.
Watch your fresh water and keep it topped up - not all moorings have access to water and many charge. Also know in advance where you pump out points are (yes, the toilet stores the waste and you have to get it pumped out regularly). High seas and full sewage tanks are not a good combination.
In many moorings it is acceptable to moor alongside another boat - then you can walk across the other boat. Be nice - announce yourself if they may be aboard, not too early or late and don't bounce their boat. Other moorings suggest or require stern mooring - my preffered orientation anyway (no, that isn't a euphamism :giggle
All boats have fend-offs - big bright plastic things to protect the sides - raise them onto the deck or into storage for running and only drop them over the side when you need them. It saves tangling if you get close to another boat - more of a problem in narrow rivers than coastal waters. Write/engrave the boat name on anything that could possibly go over-board - you may prefer not to write on the children, but the bouancy jackets should be labelled - and tie floaty things to anything that will sink.
Hanging a wine bottle into the water in a net is a great way of keeping it cool - don't forget it when you set off.
Probably worth doing an extended First Aid course too - you will be the only help avaialble for a significant amount of time.
I am now doubtful that I will ever get on a boat again now let alone buy one. Think I'll stick to a lilo
Sex God
Opps double post
Sexpert
Joe,
personally i would start off with a towable boat,something like a seahog,warrior or strikeliner,that way your not confined to fishing the one spot and you can chase the fish so to are several boat fishing clubs that would be more than happy to point you in the right direction and give you a few the other hand i know where someone has a fully loaded Offshore 105 going for £35,000
personally i would start off with a towable boat,something like a seahog,warrior or strikeliner,that way your not confined to fishing the one spot and you can chase the fish so to are several boat fishing clubs that would be more than happy to point you in the right direction and give you a few the other hand i know where someone has a fully loaded Offshore 105 going for £35,000
Hi, just came across this thread, seems to be an old one but some one might still read it.
Seems to be lots of "advice" floating around on here.
Some of it correct, some of it seems to be made up by people who have had a hire boat holiday.
The best way to get correct advice is contact one of the many proffessional organisations such as Canal and Rivers trust or Inland Waterways Association etc for cruising the inland waterways.
The RYA and RNLI will give advice for anyone wishing to cruise tidal waters.
I have just downsized to a 34ft offshore cruiser.
I have Yacht Master ticket and over 25 years experience with both cruisers and yachts.
Drop us a private message for more information.
On a lighter note...Any couples around Yorkshire/East coast interested in meeting for a little soft swing.
Seems to be lots of "advice" floating around on here.
Some of it correct, some of it seems to be made up by people who have had a hire boat holiday.
The best way to get correct advice is contact one of the many proffessional organisations such as Canal and Rivers trust or Inland Waterways Association etc for cruising the inland waterways.
The RYA and RNLI will give advice for anyone wishing to cruise tidal waters.
I have just downsized to a 34ft offshore cruiser.
I have Yacht Master ticket and over 25 years experience with both cruisers and yachts.
Drop us a private message for more information.
On a lighter note...Any couples around Yorkshire/East coast interested in meeting for a little soft swing.
Sex God
Can't imagine anyone wanting to take to the sea in the UK.
I had a SeaRay 270 in the 1990's but I was living in Spain at the time :-)
I had a SeaRay 270 in the 1990's but I was living in Spain at the time :-)
