Advice please - introducing parents to Motor Boats

[Mukes]

I need the sage advice of the Motor Boat forum: My parents have decided to buy a Motor Cruiser - large enough to stay on comfortably for extended periods - say 35' to 40'. They have no experience of boating other than my mother turning green and feeding the fish on the cross channel ferry! I don't want to discourage them, far from it, but want to offer advice as to how best to get started rather than them going straight out, spending many thousands on a boat and then regretting it. My experience is limited to sailing and so I am worried is not relevant to what they want to do. I got the sailing bug by going on an RYA competent crew course for a week - stayed onboard so I gained a good idea of life afloat and enough knowledge to have a vague idea of what I wanted and didn't want in my first boat. I can't find anything equivalent on the RYA website for Motor Cruising - Helmsman seems to be more about pontoon bashing and Day Skipper too advanced. What would your advice be? (They live near Lampeter, Wales so any recommendations of skippered charter/RYA training centers in that general coastal area would be very useful.)

 

[Switch]

My advice would be to have them charter a similar boat for a week to make sure they like it. We were new to boating so before we bought one we chartered a couple of times in Menorca. We both did our competent crew which meant we had an instructor with us for the first three days, this was a really good introduction to boating and we both loved it. It's a great way to find out if you like boating before you spend thousands of pounds. I subsequently bought my own boat and gained my day skipper and yacht master (theory) ticket.

 

[enterprise]

Trying first is good advice, however finding the right boat or charter will be key to success, to this end compiling a wishlist is the best start.

You need to ask what they envisage, inland or coastal, performance or sedate cruising, river, sea (even canal boating).
How often and for how many they wish to accommodate, having family along can be high on their wishlist.

Inland would be a good source of ad-hock charter,the likes of Blakes/Hoseasons for instance do Thames, Shannon, Norfolk Broads etc even some on Lochs in Scotland.
Sea going stuff is probably a little more difficult and would probably be skippered charter or Training/charter.

Get them to do a little research (this is half the fun), where would they like the boat to be etc, visit the locations and have a chat with local owners for advice and local contacts.

They can be as layed back or as serious as they wish while enjoying their first steps to ownership, key is not to rush until you have answered all the questions or requirements on their list

 

[sea-commander]

Buying the first boat without any knowledge might end up in big frustration, especially if they want to do some extendet cruising.
So maybe they should try on a charter boat and find out what is important to them.
Maybe a relaxed inland cruise is a good way to go?

Chris

 

[oceanfroggie]

Chartering first is a great idea. We are very lucky in Ireland to have inland waterways that's are more like large inland seas then just a canal network. Starting inland might be an advantage if your mum suffers 'mal du Mer' as there is no swell even on large loughs, so no sea sickness. As to where to charter, that depends on where they want do their boating (ie UK coastal scene, UK inland, Med, etc), travel requirements. We have a significant no of UK residents who moor their vessls on the Shannon and cruise its great loughs. No swell, no tide, mooring fees are a mere fraction of UK south coast rates. If retired wherever they boat they have a precious commodity, time and can travel when suits themselves.

Typical Shannon hire operator: http://www.silverlinecruisers.com

I'd guess that more than 50% of folks on the Shannon hired once or twice before buying their first boat. The Norfolk broads might be a great place to start inland if the don't live too far away.

 

[rafiki_]

+1 for the Norfolk Broads. This is extremely safe, and very pretty cruising, a great way to get the bug for boating.

 

[sea-commander]

+1 for the Norfolk Broads. This is extremely safe, and very pretty cruising, a great way to get the bug for boating.

That's also where I spent my first days out on the water. Would love to go there again.
A very good place for the "first steps" are the Netherlands, especially "Friesland". No licence is required for boats with a length of up to 15m. Relaxed inland cruising, very lovely place.

Chris

 

[Searush]

+1 for the Norfolk Broads. This is extremely safe, and very pretty cruising, a great way to get the bug for boating.

No seasickness there either. But I suspect they want to potter around the coast, so as a next step, suggest they charter with you as skipper, with your experience you shouldn't have any problems getting a boat & you can show them how to passage plan as you go - plus you get a free holiday!

Get them to look at narrowboats & river cruisers too if the seasickness remains an issue.

 

[scottie]

You will not be able to charter in Spain without an ICC as I understand.

 

[mm1]

charter

I would recomend a charter holiday in a 40footer for you all(perhaps Croatia)to see if they all enjoy it,regards mm1.

 

[Spi D]

One point to make clear is: Do not rush it!

Becoming a boater takes time. They need to mature into the world of boats.

Take them to marinas, talk to people, get onboard af few. Boaters love to tell - get their stories and read the facts beween the lines.

 

[Skysail]

The Inland Waterways Helmsman's Certificate is about more than pontoon bashing, and less than Day Skipper, I think it would be a good place to start. Starting from scratch it may take a couple of days tuition. It qualifies for an ICC.

 

[Switch]

You will not be able to charter in Spain without an ICC as I understand.

You can do your ICC with them first, they'll test you afterwards (practical and theory) if they think you're competent afterwards they'll let you go out on your own. Not sure if they'll all do that) but the charter company we used did.

 

[Mukes]

No seasickness there either. But I suspect they want to potter around the coast, so as a next step, suggest they charter with you as skipper, with your experience you shouldn't have any problems getting a boat & you can show them how to passage plan as you go - plus you get a free holiday!

Get them to look at narrowboats & river cruisers too if the seasickness remains an issue.

Me as skipper!? - as a raggie I find 8 knots very exciting - going 20 or so I'd wet myself and I haven't done that in front of Mum since I was in nappies. (Appart from that (those) time(s) when I should have known my alcohol limits and let myself down - sorry Mum.)

 

[Mukes]

Thank you all for your advice - however I am afraid it shall be ignored! It appears an offer has just been made on a craft that took their eye. The most daunting thing - looks like I'll be delivery skipper if accepted! Having had engine failure last year while trying to cross a notorious bar into a local river and being able to hoist the sails to claw off a lee shore, sail back down the coast and back up my home river onto my mooring without drama - the thought of relying at sea on something that goes pop, squeak and rattle to get me home will take a bit of getting used to. I think I will be asking a few more questions hereabouts if I may, as at the moment, I feel somewhat out of my depth!