Absolutely Beginner (need some advice please)

[Rust]

Hi all, I recently came across this forum and I believe this is the best place to get some help.
I have this calling for a boat for a while now and I decided that I need to buy one.
I am looking to buy a 23 - 27 ft sail boat, bilge keel and I've been looking for while but the only thing that is stopping me is the mooring.
I've been advised to get a mooring before buying the boat, but everywhere I look is so expensive.
I am based in Bristol but I will like to get something in the south coast, perhaps somebody knows the best places (not the expensive marinas).
I also have to say that I have no experience at all but I am looking forward to get some courses. Some people said to that I don't need anything but is hard to believe.
What I know so far is that I need: insurance, VHF license and maybe some RYA courses
Any advice is more than welcome. (cheap mooring, what gear do I need to have on the boat like spare engine, medical kit, life boat)
The purpose of the boat will be to sail small legs in the south to get experience and fun in the same time.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[Shuggy]

I'm sure local people will be along in a moment to help, but for the size of boat you are looking at then I think your best option will be to find a local sailing club that has moorings and facilities for storing your boat on land in the winter. You know the location you prefer, but you might also want to look in the Bristol Channel and in Milford Haven direction, which is not far from you. You probably need insurance (third party is sensible anyway and may be mandated by the sailing club) but you don't need RYA courses. They are sensible but not mandatory and for a small boat, esp. if you have a friend who can help you, not required. VHF licence is required but is easy and relatively cheap. If you're looking to understand what a sensible boat inventory might include then buy some RYA books (or go on a Day Skipper course somewhere and ask lots of questions). Alternatively, some fellow forumites might be willing to help. Also - the RNLI likes to help people kit their boat out properly so you could ask them to come aboard and give some advice.

So may ways to approach this. The main thing is to enjoy yourself safely.

Have fun.

 

[Kelpie]

If you're finding it hard to get an affordable mooring, consider asking for crewing opportunities locally, or maybe get a dinghy or trailer-sailer. Even if you only use it for a year, it will be cheap, fun, and a rapid way of learning the ropes.

 

[ryanroberts]

Bristol marina is pretty cheap at the moment (at least the non residential rate is) and would be good for wintering at least.

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

Lilliput Sailing Club in Poole is worth a look.

 

[[70521]]

Take a look at the River Exe, about an hour and a half from Bristol down the M5.

 

[LadyInBed]

Speak to the Environment Agency at Exeter who control the river Frome fore and aft riverside moorings.
The river passes through Wareham and into the back end of Poole harbour.

 

[Rust]

Thank you very much for replies. I will make some enquiries and hopefully I will sort out something.

 

[coveman]

Uphill near Weston Super Mare may be an option - Uphill Wharf Marine Centre | Uphill, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset , but you are limited by the tidal range. Bear in mind the Bristol Channel is not for novices - you may find the south coast preferable - somewhere like Weymouth or as mentioned the Exe or even Plymouth. Prices are higher on the south coast but there are clubs that provide moorings at sensible prices ( ie around £750pa for the size of boat you are thinking of) and you get the added benefit of learning from more experienced members. A self help club such as - CCSC home page ( Weymouth) or Home - Starcross Yacht Club on the Exe.
A RYA Dayskipper course would also be very useful - you can do the theory at evening classes or online - RYA Online Theory Courses. Start Your Yachtmaster Training Today! ( seem to be one of the popular ones) -and then a 5 day practical after, which will give you more confidence. Have a look on the RYA website for the various courses they do and you should be able to find something near you

 

[Stemar]

Forget marinas. There are plenty of moorings at affordable prices (for a given definition of affordable...) around. Club moorings are likely to to be much cheaper, but you could be waiting a long time. For a bilge keeler, a drying mooring, preferably on nice soft mud is ideal for the budget, It does limit access, but we kept our boat on one in Portsmouth Harbour while living in London and it was never a serious issue.

As for the boat, it depends on what kind of sailing you want to do. If racing's your thing, then a lightweight "flyer" with limited accommodation would probably have an outboard. to save weight. At the other end of the spectrum, a plodder like a Snapdragon is a comfortable, roomy, safe, floating caravan, but you will find yourself using the engine more. All the same, don't be in a hurry to buy one - wait until you've got an idea of what you want and what's around.

When I was in the same position as you, I did a Day Skipper practical then signed up to a crew matching website to get a bit of experience, but local clubs always have people who need crew. Just be aware that the ones who always need crew may not be the best examples out there! If I were to go back to doing that, I'd have my own oilies, life jacket (with harness) and safety line. One boat I went on, the life jackets were five years out of date. Others - almost all of them - were fine, and I learned a lot.

I'm not the only one to mention Day Skipper but, if you're a total beginner, Competent Crew may be more suitable. Either will give you basic competences and a bit of confidence, and make it easier to find people to take you out.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Hi all, I recently came across this forum and I believe this is the best place to get some help.
I have this calling for a boat for a while now and I decided that I need to buy one.
I am looking to buy a 23 - 27 ft sail boat, bilge keel and I've been looking for while but the only thing that is stopping me is the mooring.
I've been advised to get a mooring before buying the boat, but everywhere I look is so expensive.
I am based in Bristol but I will like to get something in the south coast, perhaps somebody knows the best places (not the expensive marinas).
I also have to say that I have no experience at all but I am looking forward to get some courses. Some people said to that I don't need anything but is hard to believe.
What I know so far is that I need: insurance, VHF license and maybe some RYA courses
Any advice is more than welcome. (cheap mooring, what gear do I need to have on the boat like spare engine, medical kit, life boat)
The purpose of the boat will be to sail small legs in the south to get experience and fun in the same time.
Many thanks in advance.

First of all, welcome to the wonderful world of sailing!
I almost totally concur with what you consider to be your requirements. My advice would be to do the Theory Course followed by the DS. Competent Crew is probably irrelevant in this scenario. At the same time join a club (south coast, not Bristol Channel), and get some experience by crewing. Do this before buying a boat, as experience will help with making your choice. A bilge keeler is a suitable boat for the shallow waters of the East Anglian coast, or for use on a drying mooring on the Bristol Channel where there are enormous tidal ranges, (you'll learn about those!), whereas a fin keeler is a more customary type to use on the south coast.
If possible join a club which lays and maintains its own moorings, you will be able to volunteer, and gain knowledge of how they are constructed and maintained.
There are, I think, some clubs which facilitate the running of all of the courses you propose taking, around this time of year. That's the case in Ireland, anyhow, where the ISA follows the methods of the RYA very closely.

 

[slawosz]

And there is a lot, like a lot of boats for sale. If you are not in a rush (and look like you are not) wait until something interesting will come up. A lot of boats come in perfect condition, as owners are giving up sailing and boat costs a lot to keep.

 

[Rust]

The reason I want to get a boat is because me and my wife we love the sea. We fall in love with the sea when we took a trip on a catamaran in Spain. With a 4 years old son the only option would be a minimum on 23ft boat.
I am not into racing, just enjoy the cruising,
I already sent few emails to few clubs which you mentioned, hopefully I can secure a mooring.
If all go smooth in the next couple of weeks I will be a boat owner and we are looking forward for the first holiday spent on a boat.
Another thing which is not very clear for me is what kind of paperwork do I need when I buy a boat....I guess they don't have a V5 like cars.
Again I would like to thank you for the prompt answers.

 

[doug748]

The reason I want to get a boat is because me and my wife we love the sea. We fall in love with the sea when we took a trip on a catamaran in Spain. With a 4 years old son the only option would be a minimum on 23ft boat.
I am not into racing, just enjoy the cruising,
I already sent few emails to few clubs which you mentioned, hopefully I can secure a mooring.
If all go smooth in the next couple of weeks I will be a boat owner and we are looking forward for the first holiday spent on a boat.
Another thing which is not very clear for me is what kind of paperwork do I need when I buy a boat....I guess they don't have a V5 like cars.
Again I would like to thank you for the prompt answers.

Don't be too downcast if you get little response from your E Mails, clubs are generally run by volunteers and things do get overlooked.
It's also very tricky for mooring officers to promise berths in advance of membership; the best they will often say is something like:
"We have moorings available for members and at the moment there is a waiting list"
This covers themselves from people turning up out of the blue twelve months after the event and saying: "Where is the mooring you promised me!"
You will generally get a better response if you arrange to turn up on a Friday night and have a chat face to face.

There are plenty of moorings free in many places. I suspect that you would get one at most of the clubs on the Tamar, that's 3 large clubs and a couple of smaller ones. Probably at PYC on the Plym as well. The sailing is excellent but the drive is not so good esp in the summer when you could struggle both ways at the weekends.

In my view if you driving far to your boat, with the family, you really need a bit more elbow room than a 23ft boat can offer. It may be ok in great weather but then drive you nuts when things are not so good. I would look for something fair headroom as well. The good news is that slightly larger need not be very much more to buy or run.

PS

Whatever you do don't rush your purchase, boats are very easy to buy and difficult to sell.
.

 

[Old Bumbulum]

Don't be in too much of a hurry to buy.
Get some experience this summer by crewing for other people. Put cards on yacht club notice boards (most clubs will be happy with this if you ask first). But get experience. That way tou'll have some ide of what size and type of boat you want and some the of the equipment you like and don't like. Buy in haste, regret at leisure.
Then do dayskipper next winter and you'll be good to go.

Also this time next year the world will be utterly awash with boats at giveaway prices. Coronavirus is likely to swamp the second-hand yacht market as people en masse try to sell after business go bankrupt, employees get laid off etc. And there won't be anywhere near enough buyers.

Tayk yer toime!

 

[cid]

Don't be in too much of a hurry to buy.
Get some experience this summer by crewing for other people. Put cards on yacht club notice boards (most clubs will be happy with this if you ask first). But get experience. That way tou'll have some ide of what size and type of boat you want and some the of the equipment you like and don't like. Buy in haste, regret at leisure.
Then do dayskipper next winter and you'll be good to go.

Also this time next year the world will be utterly awash with boats at giveaway prices. Coronavirus is likely to swamp the second-hand yacht market as people en masse try to sell after business go bankrupt, employees get laid off etc. And there won't be anywhere near enough buyers.

Tayk yer toime!

not sure how I managed this. opps

 

[cid]

My advice is find a local club .Best if you know a member to introduce you around . People are always looking for crew. Dont be afraid to join a racing around the cans boat. You will get great experience and better still you will find out what type of boat best suits the area you hope to sail in.

 

[Babylon]

Different folks, different strokes... but this is my advice:

You've only had a small taste on a catamaran on holiday, but not sailed on a yacht (sailboat is more of an American term) in British or Northern European waters. So before diving in the deep end with a boat purchase or a mooring, I'd suggest that both you and your good woman first each do a 5-day Competent Crew course, either in the Bristol Channel or in the Solent.

Not only will you learn the essentials of sailing and living aboard a yacht in a structured teaching setting, but you'll get a better experience of rhythms and constraints of sailing in tidal waters in a range of weather conditions.

With this under your belts, you'll then be in a more informed position with regard to choosing a suitable boat and finding a mooring - as well as planning the next step of your learning: Day Skipper Theory (online courses are available) and later the DS Practical.

Also, having CC will help you get crewing opportunities with a local club: the more sailing you can do as crew - with different skippers on different sizes and types of yachts - the better!!

 

[Babylon]

POSTSCRIPT:

Clearly what I said above is contingent on life being normal - which at present it most certainly isn't, and its increasingly unlikely that it will get back to normal for a somewhat long time...

But there's a lot you can do from home in the short/medium-term in terms of learning.

For a start, order a copy of each of these two excellent RYA booklets which cover both the theory and practice of Day Skipper - both superbly illustrated and containing the essentials of the syllabus:

RYA DS Theory

RYA DS Practical

The other chap to read is Tom Cunliffe - specifically his Complete Day Skipper will complement and flesh-out the RYA booklets:

St Thomas' Complete Day Skipper

 

[sgr143]

.... before diving in the deep end with a boat purchase or a mooring, I'd suggest that both you and your good woman first each do a 5-day Competent Crew course, either in the Bristol Channel or in the Solent. Not only will you learn the essentials of sailing and living aboard a yacht in a structured teaching setting, but you'll get a better experience of rhythms and constraints of sailing in tidal waters in a range of weather conditions.

Just so. These courses are also (generally) good fun.
Another thing the OP might do is look at some of the Owners' Associations - the Westerly Owners' Association (my lot) is very helpful, as are the Moody Boys; others I know less about, but worth a look. They can give advice on buying, crewing opportunities , hints and tips and so on. Any joining fee will be very modest and good value!
As others have said - slow down. Don't be in a mad rush to buy. There's a lot of good boats for sale out there - and a lot of lemons - or even decent enough boats that just might not suit you. Get some experience of different boats and sailing in UK waters first.

Steve