Any East Kent Motor Boat Owner ?

[BobWad]

Hi all,

Very much a newbie here...

Me and the missus are gonna buy a motor boat (for leisure and sea fishing) but we don't have any practical experience.

We're going to enrol for the relevant RYA course(s) (Day skipper theory and practical) but there's nothing available locally at the moment.

We're impatient to get on the water, but the catch 22 is how to get the minimal practical knowledge we would need to pilot a boat before we buy one !

Is there anyone in the East Kent (Herne Bay / Margate / Ramsgate) area that would take us out to show us the ropes ? I'll pay for your time and fuel of course.

BobWad

 

[IAIA3259]

sorry can't help you but this should bump it to the top for you and hopefully someone local can help you out, oldgit?

 

[oldgit]

Your main problem is that that stretch of coast is generally regarded as being the damp equivalent of the Empty quarter of the Arabian Desert.
Herne Bay has no proper harbour and Margate a very basic arm and precious little else.
Ramsgate is usually only a transit stop on the way to somewhere nicer elsewhere.
Feel certain they do have calm days around the North Foreland and am personally looking forward to one.
A very exposed bit of coast especially in N or NE winds.
Most leisure craft will have to be launched from a beach or slipway which limits considerably the size of boat you can have and ensures you need a trailer and something big enough to tow it.
However on a nice day many small fishing boats can be seen enjoying themselves off the shore.
As a beginner you may well be advised to look at the somewhat more sheltered Swale or Medway area ,perhaps keeping a boat at Conyer as a first base.
Any idea of the size of boat you are thinking of buying.
Orkney style or Peche Promenade ?

Might be worth posting again on the East coast forum !

http://www.visitmyharbour.com/harbours/north-kent-swale-medway/

 

[lynall]

Well we bought ours chucked it in the water and after ringing the guy I bought it off to ask how to start it away we went, 4 odd years later we still have it.
Im sure lots of people have done exactly the same and will carry on doing the same.
Well worth doing research on boats and costs involved, mooring anti foul, servicing, lifejackets, chf radio etc.

 

[BobWad]

Cheers Oldgit and lynall

Oldgit - We live at Botany Bay, Kingsgate (edge of Broadstairs) and know the coast/area very well. As you say, Margate is a no go and so is Broadstairs for the same reason. For the convenience and location factor the plan is to rent a mooring at Ramsgate (or Sandwich as it's cheaper).
Short term we'll be using it for pleasure and fishing trips just off the coast (betwixt Dover - Whitstable) with a longer term idea to use it for commercial trips, hence the need for RYA training and qualifications.
So as for the boat, we're targeting more of a peche promenade style - in fact after much deep and serious investigation we've narrowed it down to a Trophy 2352 WA as it fits the bill and covers our wishlist on all counts. Size-wise that kinda precludes trailer and slipway launching for us.
So, long story short, at this time what we need is just some minimal practical guidance on using the controls (we have none) so that we're able to get the thing to go in the direction we want it to go without bashing into anything (particularly when mooring/unmooring) !!

Lynall - we may end up having to follow your approach to "hands-on training", just trying to minimise the potential for accidents....

Any further advice would be gratefully received !!

BobWad

 

[oldgit]

Any further advice would be gratefully received !!

Know Botany Bay quite well have some ancient VHS video of my kids taken on beach during late 1970s,the beach was not quite as clean then as it is now.
Fully appreciate that cost plays a major factor (only ?) in first boat purchase but please please search the internet and maybe this forum for comments about the construction and sea keeping abilities of Bayliners.
There is no way on Neptunes sea that this class of boat would ever be able to be used commercially later on
Sorry to be so negative.
Wander round Ramsgate and have look a the sort of boats being used for charter fishing trips,built like brick whatsits.

 

[BobWad]

Hi Oldgit,

Thanks for the comments and advice.
Botany Bay is lovely now - blue flag etc and a full revamp of the scruffy old boozer into a very nice hotel/bar where I can be found most evenings.....

As for the Bayliner Trophy, I have done extensive research and I've become acutely aware that Bayliner have a bad reputation however it appears that post 2008 their Trophy range was/is built by a separate business unit with better quality components. And right now I'm looking at a 2011 model.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/209291-trophy-boats.html
http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/topic/227875-unbiased-opinions-on-trophy-boats/

These seem to contradict your opinion somewhat ?

Cheers, BobWad

 

[oldgit]

Can only comment on the comments of owners who have used this particular type of hull here in the UK.
The question of build quality has frequently been a bone of contention by owners of these boats but it is the suitability of the hull design for the use you intend to put it too we are concerned with here.Virtually all commercial charter fishing stuff will be either the heavy old Mitchell style of boat or more frequently now, a cat of some sort,to give comfortable stabilty while at anchor or drifting across a wreck.

 

[BobWad]

Well on this thread from last year: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?430281-What-is-your-favourite-sport-fisher&highlight=trophy there's a chap from Hampshire who sounds as though he was very pleased with his - for 19 years !!!

Anyway, for sure when I get into the commercial charter fishing lark I'll invest in a big solid lump - but for now I need a good looking dual purpose cross-over type with home comforts, speed AND the ability to take me to good - but relatively close - fishing grounds. I reckon that I can get some paying passengers on a Trophy for leisure trips and a bit of mackerel fishing in the summertime (if we ever get a summer !) but for now that's not the main criteria.
Just gotta find someone to show me the basics now....

Cheers, BobWad

 

[Murv]

Hi Bob, I'm sure you're aware, but it's very difficult to make money in chartering. Those that do tend to be ex-commercial types with untold Years of experience and can fill the boat with paying customers frequently enough to cover the massive costs of running a commercial boat.
In saying that, I do, of course wish you the very best of luck!
Have you considered doing some boat handling training? I did a few Hours with a guy at the marina I used to be it and again when I got our new boat. It is still, by a massive margin, the best investment I've ever made with anything to do with boats!
There may well be someone local to you, worth asking at some marinas?
Otherwise, I can't recommend the chap I used highly enough, but he is on the tidal Medway so probably not as convenient or relevant to you.
They have a dory for training (which I started on) but not sure what else they may have. Anyway, if of interest, drop me a pm and I'll pass on the details.

ETA: I appreciate you're waiting on RYA training, I'm referring more to "informal" type training, just showing you the basic handling which is what I had.
Also appreciate the catch 22 situation you're in which is exactly what I had when we bought the new one. Way around that was that a very generous member of this forum bought the boat back to home waters for me so that I could then get the training aboard it when it was home.

 

[BobWad]

Thanks for the advice Murv,

One chap from the forum has offered to take us on board his boat for some basic handling guidance, so we're just waiting to finalise the date with him. Also, we plan to drop in to the Sandwich boat club this weekend to see if we can get membership - apart from the social and advice side, they also offer RYA courses so we hope that we can get in.

As for the charter aspect, yep, I'm under no illusions about becoming an overnight millionaire - but marketing is my thing, so I'll take some baby steps first and see where it leads.... It's not the be all and end all for us anyway, so firstly we're just going to enjoy being on the water as often as possible !!

Cheers for the help,

BobWad

 

[Murv]

Excellent news, hope all goes well

 

[oldgit]

before any cash changes hands you will need to get the boat coded, check the stability requirements .
" every boat has to be inspected by an RYA Inspector at least once during its first three years of operation, and be completely resurveyed and certificated every five years."
Most charter fishing boats will not even untie with less than 6 or more paying passngers,simply no profit.
Many of our local Medway boats have the option,when weather is really foul of nipping into a sheltered creek and at least give the fishermen a chance to wet their rods while relieving them of their trip money.
If weather is rubbish where you are,there is no trip.
Not sure how many you will fit on a Trophy either
http://www.rya.org.uk/infoadvice/regssafety/commercialcraftregs/Pages/mcacodes.aspx
You will also need get all the compulsory qualifications to skipper the vessel.
There will be also the small matter of insurance.......

 

[BobWad]

Thanks Oldgit,

I've been in touch with Thanet Council and Ramsgate Port Authority and they kindly sent me the whole MGN 280 document (and the MCA red list which it superseded), so having studied it thoroughly I've established what is required for acceptability by the MCA to operate and under which restrictions I can so do (number of passengers, onboard equipment etc).
That's why I'm looking at getting Day Skipper Theory and Practical which would be required as a minimum to operate in areas 5 and 6 (which should be enough for now) as a commercial enterprise.
As I said before, it's baby steps for me, not launching into a commercial enterprise from day 1, but having the necessary qualifications and with (what I perceive to be) a seaworthy boat, I can then at least 'test the water' and take on paying passengers on trips which I would be making myself anyway ;-)

By the way, although I don't have practical seagoing experience, I've been working as a (chemical tanker) shipbroker for 37 years, so the stringent rules and regs for onboard activities on any type of boat/ship don't surprise or daunt me at all !!!

Thanks for all the advice sir, keep it coming !!!

Cheers, BobWad

 

[oldgit]

stringent rules and regs for onboard activities on any type of boat/ship don't surprise or daunt me at all !! Cheers, BobWad

 

[BobWad]

Where there's a will, there's a way ?

 

[BobWad]

Hi all,

Big thanks to Lynall for taking us on his boat last Sunday - we had a great time and picked up loads of useful info and tips.
Was good to get a bit of "hands-on" experience, now just got to learn how to keep the thing going in a straight-ish line.....

Heading down to Poole this weekend for a second look at a couple of candidates - one in particular - hoping that SWMBO agrees with my choice and the seller is feeling generous !!!

Also very pleased to say that Sandwich SMBC has accepted our membership application, so we're making headway on a few fronts....

Cheers all,
BobWad

 

[oldgit]

and the sun has come out.