Best way to start boating

[Tomcat_]

Hi all,

I have been gradually drawn towards the sea and boats and that attraction is growing stronger perhaps due to mid life crisis

The last 14 months I have done a comp crew, a few of weekends of mile builders and I have booked my powerboat level 2 training for November. I'm leaning towards a motor boat as the sailing ideally requires at least another person to know what they are doing while a small mb could be easier managed by a person.

Buying a boat is more like a dream when I retire and I can use it enough days to justify the spend.

Are boat clubs the best way to build my experience and also see if the sea bug is here to stay or it will go away ?

I live 25 mins east of Oxford and the easier marina for me to get to is Shamrock quay in Southampton but I cannot find any boat clubs close to this area.

Thanks for your help and suggestions!

 

[Boathook]

Plenty of sailing clubs will take you as a member but they are predominantly for sailing boats. Sailing single handed is relatively easy but it does take experience.

I think that there are motor boat clubs on the Thames and in some marinas on the south coast, and some motorboaters form 'clubs' and go out together either for the day or longer periods.

Might be better posting on the motorboat section rather than pbo.

 

[Tomcat_]

Plenty of sailing clubs will take you as a member but they are predominantly for sailing boats. Sailing single handed is relatively easy but it does take experience.

I think that there are motor boat clubs on the Thames and in some marinas on the south coast, and some motorboaters form 'clubs' and go out together either for the day or longer periods.

Might be better posting on the motorboat section rather than pbo.

Thank you for your answer, I will post in the motor oat section!

 

[Jim@sea]

In the 1950's when I was a child we lived within 5 miles of Poole Dorset, unfortunately my father was a Manchester United supporter and only interested in football, ( which bored me) in fact his obsession over football meant that with him being a BOAC pilot when he was offered a job by PANAM and to be based in Bermuda he turned it down as he would miss his football. I was 20 before I bought my first boat. never regretted it. A friend once asked which I like better Rallying (winter) or Boating (summer) I said. Boating as you are frightened for longer.

 

[ylop]

The last 14 months I have done a comp crew, a few of weekends of mile builders and I have booked my powerboat level 2 training for November. I'm leaning towards a motor boat as the sailing ideally requires at least another person to know what they are doing while a small mb could be easier managed by a person.

I’m not sure I buy the singlehanded point. To me that’s about the size and set up of the vessel, and where you are going with it, rather than how it is powered. I’ve sailed 16ft boats onto a pontoon single handed and helmed 11m cabin MoBo where it was a lot easier with a crew!

 

[oldbloke]

As you have done your competent crew I assume you are thinking off a cruiser of some sort rather than a dinghy or runabout. A yacht without its sails up is just a motorboat. Any sailing ca be as easy or as complicated as you want ranging from tacking up a narrow channel to just unfurling the genoa and pootling along under autopilot while you drink a cold beer and read a book (remembering to keep a proper lookout). So as Ylop infers go with what you want to do rather than limiting yourself.

 

[Mark-1]

This is a very easy way to scratch your solo Mobo itch:

Itchenor Boat Hire | 07784 029291

Depending on your experience you can probably take one out solo but you can talk to the guy and see if he thinks you need a short training session with him before you get let loose.

Beyond that I think only you know if you learn best trying things for yourself or via formal training.

 

[KompetentKrew]

I'm leaning towards a motor boat as the sailing ideally requires at least another person to know what they are doing while a small mb could be easier managed by a person.

I'd be surprised if you had problems single handing a 20' or 30' sailboat. I manage a 40' one.

 

[ylop]

I'd be surprised if you had problems single handing a 20' or 30' sailboat. I manage a 40' one.

When did you start sailing?
Did you go from zero experience to singlehanding?
Have you ever had a problem that as a novice it would have been quite stressful to solve on your own? A fouled prop, a broken autopilot on a long trip, trying to pick up a mooring in F6+ with loads or other boats around, having to change the impellor with no wind and lots of traffic around…

 

[Bouba]

Hi all,

I have been gradually drawn towards the sea and boats and that attraction is growing stronger perhaps due to mid life crisis

The last 14 months I have done a comp crew, a few of weekends of mile builders and I have booked my powerboat level 2 training for November. I'm leaning towards a motor boat as the sailing ideally requires at least another person to know what they are doing while a small mb could be easier managed by a person.

Buying a boat is more like a dream when I retire and I can use it enough days to justify the spend.

Are boat clubs the best way to build my experience and also see if the sea bug is here to stay or it will go away ?

I live 25 mins east of Oxford and the easier marina for me to get to is Shamrock quay in Southampton but I cannot find any boat clubs close to this area.

Thanks for your help and suggestions!

Harleys are for mid life crisis......sailing is for old age
Welcome to the forum

 

[Tomcat_]

Thank you all for your replies, it gives me food for thought. Often after many years of experience things become second nature and we forget how challenging was to start with

 

[DownWest]

As a life long sailer, with some mobo experience... Get some experience with a club crewing on others boat for sailing.
To me.. I find mobos interesting and have owned a couple of small ones; But, I get a much better satisfaction from sailing;
The mobos were a means to an end, like the time I commuted in northern Sardinia to fix the Sailboat I was asked to get back to UK; Our runabout was a Fletcher. Fine for getting to the port to fix the Yacht and any other trips, but not exciting
Any sailing trip is an end in itself.
Just the setting the sails to the correct angle to the available wind and figuring the best track to a destination is part of the deal. And very involving and enjoyable.

I might be biased

 

[Tomcat_]

As a life long sailer, with some mobo experience... Get some experience with a club crewing on others boat for sailing.
To me.. I find mobos interesting and have owned a couple of small ones; But, I get a much better satisfaction from sailing;
The mobos were a means to an end, like the time I commuted in northern Sardinia to fix the Sailboat I was asked to get back to UK; Our runabout was a Fletcher. Fine for getting to the port to fix the Yacht and any other trips, but not exciting
Any sailing trip is an end in itself.
Just the setting the sails to the correct angle to the available wind and figuring the best track to a destination is part of the deal. And very involving and enjoyable.

I might be biased

Thank you! Would you know any clubs that I can do that please? I have found clubs but mainly for boat sharing rather than crewing.

 

[Bouba]

Thank you all for your replies, it gives me food for thought. Often after many years of experience things become second nature and we forget how challenging was to start with

Twenty five years ago we moved to a house on a bend of an African river....so I got a boat....and ever since then we have lived according to where we can boat. So it can take over your life....if you aren’t careful.
It’s easy to get the wife to support your new hobby....the trick is to get your dog to enjoy boating....because then you’re set and it will always be a pleasure

 

[Tomcat_]

Twenty five years ago we moved to a house on a bend of an African river....so I got a boat....and ever since then we have lived according to where we can boat. So it can take over your life....if you aren’t careful.
It’s easy to get the wife to support your new hobby....the trick is to get your dog to enjoy boating....because then you’re set and it will always be a pleasure

Interestingly enough I have also spent 8 years in w.africa but never boated there.
Unfortunately we had to put to sleep our cocker spaniel almost 3 years ago, so now it's only my wife i need to manage and keep my 8 yr old son safe

 

[Bouba]

Interestingly enough I have also spent 8 years in w.africa but never boated there.
Unfortunately we had to put to sleep our cocker spaniel almost 3 years ago, so now it's only my wife i need to manage and keep my 8 yr old son safe

Unfortunately we are close to making that decision for our dog....he has cancer of the prostate.
Most here, I suspect, bought a boat first....but there are too many variables, distance from the sea (as you mentioned), family commitments, health etc when giving advice....but by far the most important thing is budget. A small RIB with an outboard on a trailer is by far the easiest.....it will be exciting and safe and you can go to the sea or river or lake...tour Europe. Start out by only going out in perfect weather....and slowly get braver...but never too brave. And get as much training as you need to gain confidence

 

[Tomcat_]

Unfortunately we are close to making that decision for our dog....he has cancer of the prostate.
Most here, I suspect, bought a boat first....but there are too many variables, distance from the sea (as you mentioned), family commitments, health etc when giving advice....but by far the most important thing is budget. A small RIB with an outboard on a trailer is by far the easiest.....it will be exciting and safe and you can go to the sea or river or lake...tour Europe. Start out by only going out in perfect weather....and slowly get braver...but never too brave. And get as much training as you need to gain confidence

That's a great advice!
Sorry to hear about your dog, ours had intestinal cancer....perhaps i'll get another one to keep me company in the small RIB as I don't see my wife following

 

[Mr Googler]

Sorry to hear about the dog @Bouba

I’ve got 3 all very old so lots of sadness coming my way but wouldn’t change it for the time we had with them all

 

[Bouba]

Thanks.....at the moment he’s in very good spirits....we have to change his diaper every two or three hours...he doesn’t just dribble, it’s a full on flow non stop....right now I am waiting for him to stir so I can put on a diaper I have specially constructed that we hope lasts the six to eight hours of night....it’s a reusable diaper with an extra four pads taped inside. Our days are spent washing and cleaning. Unfortunately the pressing problem is his constipation...the tumor is blocking his bowel movement....this is more serious....the vet was here today...we are trying stool softeners....otherwise it will be the end I’m afraid
But, I don’t want to hi jack Tomcat’s thread

 

[DownWest]

Thank you! Would you know any clubs that I can do that please? I have found clubs but mainly for boat sharing rather than crewing.

Cant help much on that, I live in western France. But I expect a bit of digging will turn up some crew opportunities, there are some web sites?