absolute beginner questions

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robkaz1

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Hi all,
looking to venture ( totally blind ) into the wonderful world of pouring copious amount of money into our local waterways via the delights of buying a speedboat ( boys and their toys etc !! ) and a mid-life crisis !!
have been looking at prob a fletcher 14ft or similar with about a 65hp evinrude etc or something on similar lines BUT the big questions that i have are these ( For starters anyhow )
1) Do i need any type of licence to operate this
2) Does it cost to launch of local beach slipways
3) what type and what cost of insurance is recommended
4) would an average family saloon pull a fletcher etc and is it pratical enough to be able to launch this solo
5) would a 50/70 hp motor drink fuel like its going out of fashion

All help and tips will be greatly received thanks

Cheers in advance......:) robkaz

Ps Will not be able to reply to anyone now till tuesday evening hope you understand ..........:)
 
robkaz1 said:
1) Do i need any type of licence to operate this
2) Does it cost to launch of local beach slipways
3) what type and what cost of insurance is recommended
4) would an average family saloon pull a fletcher etc and is it pratical enough to be able to launch this solo
5) would a 50/70 hp motor drink fuel like its going out of fashion
Click to expand...

1)Not in coastal waters. But it would be a very good idea to do an RYA Level 2 Powerboat course before you buy a boat (you might change your mind !). And you should definitely do it before you try going afloat -- it will be cheaper than learning by your own mistakes, and more fun
Inland, you almost certainly need a "licence" that you have to buy from whichever "navigation authority" controls the water you are using. It might be British Waterways or the Environment Agency, or Thames Water Authority, or any of countless others, some of which collect cash for allowing people to use just a few miles of river. The "almost" was because there are a few (very few!!) that don't charge.

2) Depends entirely on the owner of the slipway. In many cases no. But in some cases they make up for their generosity by charging exorbitant rates to park the car and trailer.

3) Marine insurance isn't like car insurance, so the "what type" isn't really the right question. In some ways, it's more like house and contents insurance, though it's complicated by the fact that the "property" can be moved around the world. The biggest single factor is likely to be the value of the boat and outboard, and where you keep and use it. For a small second-hand speedboat kept on a trailer in the UK -- maybe a couple of hundred quid a year.

4) Depends on your idea of "average", whether you are towing to Norfolk or the Lake District, and what kind of slipways you're going to be using. Under 1.5lt would be a bit tedious, over 2.0lt would be fine. In between would be in between.
Single-handed launching is OK, but it's a lot easier with two, especially if things start going wrong.

5) Depends on your idea of fashion ;-) About 4-5 gallons per hour flat out, but you can easily halve that by throttling back a bit.
 
Most folk soon get fed up with small speed boats as it's limited what you can do with it.

It's not really suitable for the sea and there are speed limits on virtually all inland waterways.

Look at something more like a Fisher, you'll get far more use out of it.
 
I dont yhink this is a bad boat if you keep to coastal and estuary stuff. Many of us started with small trailerable Fletchers that are easy to launch and cheap to run.
Its not a great outlay to test the waters and not all of us want to go to bigger more costly boats.

PB 11 is a graet idea by the way, it mighr help you decide on what type of boat you want to start with.

Gary
 
Welcome! All good advice up to yet. I agree with TB and strongly suggest you do a PB2 course before you buy your boat. You don't say if you've had any experience at all but your post suggests you haven't. The PB2 course will make you safer and more capable on the water which will make it more enjoyable and easier. The certivicate may also help a little with the insurance.
Don't jump in and buy any boat without first fully considering what you want to do with your boat. Don't forget, you'll be very limited as to when you can enjoyable use a speedboat, whereas as fisher type as HLB suggests is much more useable, particularly if the weather turns iffy.
Boating is great fun, but it can be extremely dangerous, treat it with respect, learn out to do it properly, and enjoy. Good luck and don't forget to keep us all posted.
 
hi RobKaz,
novice myself so can't give any advice except to say we did the PB11 before we bought and it was invaluable and loadsa fun and yeh it did help a bit with insurance.
Have fun and be safe :)
Lisilou.
 
Welcome robkaz1
You have recd some great advice on here already
To enhance it, it would be helpfull if you could tell us where you are and where you want to 'boat' from
Plus what you want to achieve etc
There may be a Forumite near You that could help with local knowledge etc.
 
Had a speed boat, when about 18, acquired sort of accidentally. Go round in circles three times, then what. Years later a bigger American thingy, cuddy cabin. But needed a caravan or cottage as well.

A sailing dinghy is far more fun for small boat sailing. There are lots of things to do and far better than a boring old outboard.

Moboats come in to there own once cruising and living onboard. But much bigger toys. Going from A to B is mainly what they are about, but with comfort.

Roughly you can break it down. Go on do it.

Skiing. A little high powererd boat is needed to tow you. Not much use for anything else.. Sailing is fun, no matter how rough it gets. But only in confined areas.

Moboing is about going places. And other places inbetween. So loads of places can be visited on the day before ariving some where else.
 
Good point HLB; if its getting out on a boat is the idea, a small dinghy (maybe with an o/board) and some oars will give alot of cheap fun. easy to tow, lift,carry,launch etc. Even .. sail !! You can always do a half day sailing intro.. probably local club can help.
A small p/boat is just about ok in very very sheltered waters. Problem is that these either rarely exit on our coasts due to wind and tide, or are estuary/harbours and so have strict speed restrictions. Oh, and its probably a few months a year in our great British Summer season, too.
Or something like a small fishing dinghy and o/board will have better sea keeping, though not speed. Small Orkney Longliner sort of thing wont cost much, and is probably relatively easy to sell on again, and there always seem to be people wanting to fish.
 
The first motor boat I owned was a Fletcher 15 with a 90HP motor on it - fantastic fun, easy to tow, launch and recover and never used more than 25 litres in an afternoon.

As long as you buy it at the right price, you will easily be able to sell it on when you have outgrown it, so I wouldn't worry that a fishing boat/dinghy/flybridge etc etc will be more suitable - none of those will be half as much fun as you will get out of a small speedboat with a big outboard.

Yes, you will need calm conditions to use it, but I certainly got a lot of use out of mine by learning what time of day, state of tide & wind direction would normally give the best water conditions.
 
Take no notice of hlb - he's so old he can't remember what fun you can have in a small speedboat. We skied, wakeboarded, BBQ'd, dossed around on beaches and generally got years of fun out of two small skiboats (one 13', the other 17').

Advice about doing PB2 is spot on, but also remember that boating is a social activity, so see if you can get in with a like minded crowd.

Some idea of where you are based would be helpful, though: a 15' Fletcher's not a lot of use or fun in the Faeroe Islands in March...
 
Many thanks for all your input guys !!! :-)

Thankyou everybody that took the time and effort to give me what i consider is INVALUABLE advice and will certainly be heeded !! As i have not yet purchased a boat and am still umming and Rrring over when and if ?? If i do decide to go ahead i will do PB2 first then look at some of the options you people have suggested so Cheers for the suggestions !! If i decide to take the plunge ( hopefully NOT literally ) I shall let you all know which way i decided to jump !!
To answer just a couple of questions to some of you though-
1) Yes i am a Complete Novice
2) I am From Wirral
3) Would,ve gone and bought 1st boat i saw if i aint come and asked a few questions here

So in hindsight a little more thought about things is,nt such a bad idead after all a !!!

Thanks again to everybody and Watch this space :)

Cheers....!!!!!!!
ROBKAZ1 :)
 
If you're from The Wirrall, Kawasaki is your man for PB2. He'll also give you some good advice on types of boat etc. You never know, if you behave yourself I might take you out on ours, it's not a speedboat though ;)

Where are you planning to do your boating?
 
If you have ever been karting a small speedboat is, IMO, the marine equivalent. An element of feeling like a serious hoon without neccessarily being too much of one. With that little Flecther you may find you are limited in places where you can actually take her and give her a good thrashing because you will need unrestricted and sheltered waters.

But...

...when you find somewhere expect to burn petrol until the huge grin fades!
 
Loads of good advice, I started boating nearly 10 years ago with an old Glastron 17 ft speedboat with something like a 70hp on the back, paid less than 2k for it.

It was great fun and an easy introduction to boating in the solent, however it was a very wet boat and got thrown around a fair bit. Stil for skiing/mucking about in a ringo it was good in sheltered area's of the solent :)

Only kept it 6 months before selling it for nearly 1k profit and buying a bigger 18ft bowrider!
 
robkaz1 said:
Thankyou everybody that took the time and effort to give me what i consider is INVALUABLE advice and will certainly be heeded !! As i have not yet purchased a boat and am still umming and Rrring over when and if ?? If i do decide to go ahead i will do PB2 first then look at some of the options you people have suggested so Cheers for the suggestions !! If i decide to take the plunge ( hopefully NOT literally ) I shall let you all know which way i decided to jump !!
To answer just a couple of questions to some of you though-
1) Yes i am a Complete Novice
2) I am From Wirral
3) Would,ve gone and bought 1st boat i saw if i aint come and asked a few questions here

So in hindsight a little more thought about things is,nt such a bad idead after all a !!!

Thanks again to everybody and Watch this space :)

Cheers....!!!!!!!
ROBKAZ1 :)
Click to expand...

PM Cawa..Kawasac......Kwackers :D Meet up with him at menia Bridge. You will see loads of suitable boats there. He might even take you for a spin.

Warning, if you decide to boat round Anglsey, you will need a very big fun box.
 
'still umming and Rrring over when and if ??'
Do it. We did and I can tell you, we are having the best time of our lives (albeit cautiously :) )
 
[QUOTE
1) Yes i am a Complete Novice
2) I am From Wirral
3)

Thanks again to everybody and Watch this space :)

Cheers....!!!!!!!
ROBKAZ1 :)[/QUOTE]

Philiz said:
You never know, if you behave yourself I might take you out on ours, it's not a speedboat though ;)

Where are you planning to do your boating?
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hlb said:
Meet up with him at menia Bridge. You will see loads of suitable boats there. He might even take you for a spin.

Warning, if you decide to boat round Anglsey, you will need a very big fun box.
Click to expand...
:D

Do you mean drinks cabinet hlb?;)

See Rob it's handy if yer tells Peeps where yer at innit!
Already offers of boat rides an stuff!
The Menai Strait is only an hour or so ish from the Wirral as you know
Plus it's a great place to start boating and learn all about the' vangrancies' of the Irish Sea etc etc.

We are now 'Space Watching';)
 
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