British Boating Laws?

[ksahunter]

Hi, i have a few questions about speedboats and where and how you are allowed to drive them in Britain...

1. At what age are you allowed to own, and drive a speed boat? I'm currently 15 years old, but cannot wait to have a boat of my own.

2. Do you need to own a boating licence to own/drive a boat?

3. Are you allowed to drive a speedboat to the middle of the sea and just stop and relax, to get away from the busy world?

4. When driving a speedboat to another country do you need to have permission from that country to arrive, or can you just go across the water and dock?

5. (last one) Are there seperate laws for different waters? for example, is boating in an estuary stricter because of the narrower water different from boating in the sea where a chance of a crash or accident is minimal?


I know it seems like kind of strange questions, but even so I would be greatful if someone could please answer them.

thanks in advance.

 

[B175Chris]

Well I started boating last year when i was 15, i was told that you could drive in the sea with no qualifications at all /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

But i was very well instructed to do a RYA Level 2 course in Powerboat (more info on the kind of boat and experience you have etc would help /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

The course is for boats up to 10 metres and it was perfect for me - i dont understand how anyone could just go out and drive with no real idea of what they are doing, I realised just how much damage i could have done without proper knowledge - to echo my instructor "youre driving a water-based killing machine" which to be honest was slightly over the top but boats are dangerous things in the wrong hands.

I did my course in Pwllheli in North Wales for £150 (shop around - there are some great end of season and start of season offers on)

I believe you are allowed to stop in the sea, just not in a busy shipping lane for obvious reasons, find a quiet cove or bay to anchor up (again, all covered in RYA 2)

I suggest that you find a local ski or powerboat club near you which is a great place to gain valuable experience or launching from a trailer (more info on your boat needed) if you intend to move around the country. i joined a club near me, made some new friends (who also happened to give discounts on engine servicing because i was a member) and I learnt more than from any book I had previously read

Hope that helps /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Chris

 

[ksahunter]

Thanks for the help, clears pretty much everything up /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.
At the moment I don't have a boat, which causes a few hiccups in the plan. But I plan to buy one very soon, the only problem is that boats aren't cheap as I discovered, so my price range would probably be around anything from £1,000 to £3,000 because of school and have little income, but would that only be low quality boats or is it possible to buy a speedboat in very good condition and also have good speed and steering etc. ?
I agree with you on the RYA Level 2 course and now that I think about it, it is dangerous. Looking at a website earlier (may have been this one) there was a RYA Level 1 course (obviously) and also a level 3 course, why is level 2 better than level 3, and do you have to do level 1 before level 2, or can you even just start at level 3? thanks again, and sorry for asking so many questions /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Dave_Snelson]

I agree with Chris - there are a couple of other matters also. The real one is insurance - not so much insuring the craft, but insuring that you are covered 3rd party for any claims. I believe this will prove tricky at best.

Make sure you get your PB2 and then you will have to go back when you are 16 to have the under 16 endorsement taken off it.

No licence required as yet, but do join a club where you can gain practical experience.

Do let us know how you get on!

 

[B175Chris]

No probs /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

To be honest, i didnt know there was a level 3, i dont know if others can help on that score, but if you do a google search for level 1 and level 2 it specifies what is on each course. level 1 is very basic, but level 2 is a two day course that covers boat handling and navigation (very useful for UK waters, tides and the like)

To be honest, and please dont take this in the wrong way, if your budget is £1000 - £3000 it is going to take a lot of work and it may even be worth saving up for a couple of years for when you have a job etc before you buy a boat

There are so many associated and unexpected costs that can occur, especially with older boats that you will ony really be able to buy, for example:

- Engine servicing and winterisation (even basic engineers can cost more than £50 an hour, and that's without parts)
- Mooring costs
- Fuel
- insurance (you are a young driver like me, my insurance is very high, but is lowered because i have RYA 2 and it is a relatively new boat (1999) but is still high)
- registration costs like Small ship's register
-In the event of an accident you may incur high costs
- lifejackets (good ones cost over £100)
- all safety equipment etc

There are so many possible costs for even the smallest boat, and in all honesty i believe you need at least £10,000 to really be safe - that is just my viewpoint anyway

Please feel free to ask more questions, i'll do my best to help

Chris

 

[fluffc]

[ QUOTE ]
Looking at a website earlier (may have been this one) there was a RYA Level 1 course (obviously) and also a level 3 course, why is level 2 better than level 3, and do you have to do level 1 before level 2, or can you even just start at level 3?

[/ QUOTE ]

Level 1 is an 'Introduction to Powerboating'. Essentially you can just about drive a powerboat, under direct supervision.

Level 2 is an accepted standard of competence, meaning you can handle powerboats safely.

Level 3 & 4 No longer exist (Level 3 aka 'Club Rescue', Level 4 aka 'Fleet Rescue')

After Level 2 one can go on and do a range of other courses, both RYA and other NGB (eg diving coxswain).

In the RYA scheme after Level 2 you can go on and do:

RYA Safetyboat - skills to provide safety boat cover for sailing fleets.

or

RYA Intermediate Powerboat - skills to do short coastal passages in calm weather, during daylight

RYA Advanced Powerboat - skills to do coastal passages in rough weather, including at night


The level 2 course is run over two days, and includes the syllabus of Level 1. Go on a Level 2 course and see how you get on.

You'll need plenty of experience before attempting the safety boat or intermediate/advanced courses - and some other qualifications.

Hope this helps

 

[ksahunter]

Thanks a lot, but what does PB2 stand for so I can look into it-and is this a completly different thing from the RYA courses? Chances are I will be 16 when I get the boat anyway, despite the fact there isn't really much in the way of me buying one. Unless you give me more questions to ask, i'm going to keep asking them - but if I remember correctly, 3rd party insurance is cover for the injury of people and of their belongings, is it not? But when I get my boat, I will more than likely only be taking family and friends aboard and wont use it as a transport boat so I shouldnt need insurance for that should I? Thanks once again.

 

[fluffc]

PB2 is just a shorthand for 'RYA Powerboating Level 2 Certificate'.

You don't need insurance at all for boating on the sea, although the launch site, club, marina or river that you might use may have some local rules or byelaws.

Third Party insurance protects anything that your boat potentially damages, be it another boat or another person. Your boat isn't covered if, for example, it sinks.

 

[oldharry]

Most Marinas and harbour authorities in the busier places do require Thrid party insurance, and in some places you have to produce the certificate before you can use launching sites.

On the other hand I have sailed for over 40 years, and never yet been asked for any form of documentation, except routine Customs formalities when going foreign.

Once afloat and out of any harbour there are very few rules and regulations other than the Collision Regulations so you can do pretty well as you like.

Common Sense dictates that you carry safety gear - lifejackets an anchor, a compass (its surprisingly easy and extremely dangerous to lose your sense of direction at sea if the visibility closes down), and some means of calling for help if things go wrong, even if its only a mobile phone and some flares.

While you are saving up, you could start with a smaller fishing boat, or a large dinghy with an outboard - have a look at Ebay for some real bargains (and rip-offs, so take care!), with which you can have a lot of fun, and get your first steps in to boat ownership and management. By the time you have saved your £2 -£3 thousand for a decent boat you will have a much better idea of what you are doing, talking about, and looking for. And at your age, no one will stop you taking a small boat out when you like, and where you like.... with the possible exception of your parents.

Mum to Oldharry then aged 14. "You must not go out to the Island - its too dangerous" /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

14 yr Oldharry " But I've been there twice today, and yesterday as well.... its safe enough" /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

GROUNDED (or should that be beached?) for rest of week... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[ksahunter]

You've helped me a lot, thanks. The last question I have is: do you need a boat to do any of these tests, or do they give you a boat just for the course? ...So for example, could I book a test for january 2007, have the certificate waiting and buy a boat perhaps a year or 2 later in 2008 or '09? Thanks to everyone for the help, and thanks for the help to the above question, I wont be replying again, otherwise its just "thanks this" and "thanks that". cheers /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


EDIT: and thats not a bad idea harry, i might consider a fishing boat. To be honest, anything which keeps me floating sounds fun-even if its a little one-seater rowing boat (but i'll be damned if i'm taking that out on the sea!), and i dont trust ebay at all, so i'll find some other means.

 

[B175Chris]

you can, but its probably best to do the course as close as you can to when you buy the boat so its fresh in your mind /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The boat is provided

Good Luck, make sure you dont rush into anything, do your research and it'll be fine /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Chris

 

[gibbowolfie]

Well that's very well written for a 15 yoear old. "to get away from the busy world?", life must be a lot more stressful than when I was 15;-) Mind you that was quite a few years ago......

 

[khasmoth]

Thanks B175Chris, I joined this forum because I've wanted to learn from you guys about boating. I'm really new to this thing. Thanks!

 

[cliff]

[ QUOTE ]
Well that's very well written for a 15 year old. "to get away from the busy world?", life must be a lot more stressful than when I was 15;-) Mind you that was quite a few years ago......

[/ QUOTE ]Agreed! Am I the only one that smells a rat? "he who's name must not be mentioned" must be busy creating hotmail or yahoo addresses /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Time will tell but in the meantime, where is that "ignore" button? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Well there's actually no figure "1" in the name on this occasion. I was actually thinking likewise but prepared to give the benefit of the doubt at this stage. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Planty]

Might be my suspicious nature but does the fact that a shortening of his name would be "Dick", tell us anything?

Sorry if this is totally cosher, been around too long perhaps?

P

 

[duncan]

that plus the punctuation did it for me - the nature of the question and some of the suplementals I could accept but............. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Lakesailor]

I'm with you there and have been speaking with the whitchfinder chief.

 

[B175Chris]

No problems, more than happy to help /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Chris

 

[ksahunter]

nothing to do with boating here, just to save you guys some time /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

heh, i am 15. honest. i'll drop the punctuation for this message if thats what you guys prefer /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

-life is more stressful. at the moment anyway...i have out of date coursework and mock GCSE's are around the corner, also just the general anger at the world, because i feel strongly about global warming and everything...so free time and peacfulness i think of as a god send.

-and the reason i speak so well is because im proud of britain, and the british language i am also proud of, therefor, i always speak and type properly, so i don't forget our beautiful language. take a look around, every other person my age and from my area have 'forgotten' how to laugh, they just shout "LOL" and "WTF, LMAO" ...thats the only reason.

just thought id clear that up, i hate it when people sterotype me. no offense taken however /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif oh, and yep...'dick' is a nickname for richard-thats still popular