Can somebody give advice to a beginner.

[mhatherall]

Hello there, I would really love some advice.
I am VERY new to boating , I have completed my RYA Level 2 and am confifent, I am thinking about buying this boat

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F156974/

And hoping to have some good trips from Cardiff Bay, around to swansea, Barry, Porthcawl and maybe even around tenby, now what I am really looking for is advice on weather this would be possible with this out fit.

Thanks in advance

Mike

 

[BrendanS]

Possibly helpful reading first

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php?C...0&fpart=all

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1543441/an/0/page/0#1543441

 

[Sneds]

Go for it, use it in the bay and around the coast on a nice day.
If the familly give their seal of approval, bet you'll be looking for a bigger one in 12 months time!
SWMBO made our first boat together a 16' river cruiser "to see how often we use her?"
That was 4 years ago. We have now sold our 23' boat and are in the process of buying a 28 footer!
Guess I'm lucky as she has relly got the bug!
We now have no money, spend every weekend on the boat (rain or shine) and a house full of boating magazines - bliss!

PS Don't forget life jackets and a VHF

 

[sb99]

Hi Mike and welcome to the forum.

I too am relatively new to boating, started looking into it last September and finally bought our current boat a 26ft sport cruiser in January 2007. Got it transported to Cardiff from Upton Upon Severn in February and it has been in the water since.
We are moored in Penarth and have used the boat 8 out of 10 weekends around the Bay.
We are lucky enough to be within a 15 minute drive of the boat.
Being based in Cardiff you will have the significant advantage that even if sea conditions are rough you can still use the boat around the Bay. Plenty of restaurants around the immediate area and during the summer there is usually some event or other taking place. We have spent many a weekend using the boat as a base for visiting these events and it gives you an escape from the crowds.

So far this year we have only ventured out 3 times into the channel, (Mainly due to Weather) first a run down to Barry in smooth conditions, second a trip to Watchet (See an earlier post for that experience) and last weekend a run around Flatholm and Steepholm. So as you can see we have hardly touched the surface of the places we want to visit in the Bristol Channel and yet have had hours of fun in our short time in boating. I reckon the channel will keep us interested for a few more years yet.

What I would point out though is kids do not always enjoy the things we do. They are not happy to just sit around on the boat for hours, this novelty soon wears off. Ours have a lot more fun on the tender than the main boat. They do enjoy going through the locks etc and going out in the Channel and when moored up spend most of their time on the Xbox or playstation.

You will find that once you gain more experience and want to venture further a field there are usually plenty of people who are willing to accompany you on initial trips. Just make sure you go with boats of similar size.

As Sneddon says go for it. Just be aware of the limitations of the size of boats we are using and don’t expect to go on an around the UK cruise. There is plenty of fun local cruising to be done.

In our short time we have had a great time with the boat and consider ourselves lucky to be in such a prime location.

Good luck with your new adventure and I would definitely recommend having a survey and sea trial carried out prior to making purchase, saved me a few bob in the long run.

All the best

Steve

 

[Mike_S]

Welcome to the forum, have no fear you're certainly not the only beginner here, we've only started boating earlier this year as well. Have a 21 foot sportsboat moored at Cardiff Bay Yacht Club.

I've had a quick read of your other post linked by Brendan, something you may want to consider is some one to one boat handling training on your own boat by Alan at Tiger Bay Training or to perhaps do the day skipper theory course (or the full practical course), I've found the DS theory to be really useful for navigating round the channel, if only to understand what's going on in the channel, the tides are huge and entry / exit to the barrage can be tricky.

Enjoy it though, we certainly are. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[mhatherall]

Hi Guys, well thanks to your advice I have decided to make the move and buy the boat, I have my RYA level 1 and 2 booked, and then a week later so does my wife, trhought we would be better off both doing it.
I can't wait to get out there and start using the boat, shame the summer is nearly up, and we have a long winter of rain and wind to come, but at least its a start, would be great to meet some of you some time and would live to agin any advice you have to give.

Many thanks
Mike

 

[Mike_S]

You'll need to do the one day VHF licence course as well, you can't really operate without a VHF radio anyway from a safety / common sense perspective and the course is very useful. Make sure the boat you end up buying has a fixed VHF unit.

Cheers

Mike

 

[mhatherall]

I have checked and the boat does not have a VHF currently, I assume I can just buy a unit ?>
Mike

 

[Mike_S]

Yep, can be bought and fitted quite easily, had it done to ours by the local marine sparky the day before we put her in the water.

 

[mhatherall]

Great, best be on the look out for a unit then,

 

[mhatherall]

wOULD THIS BE THE BOY TO GET
http://www.marinescene.co.uk/product/3298/m-tech-mt500-dsc-marine-vhf-radio

 

[Mike_S]

That'll do the trick, bear in mind you'll need an aerial to go with it. The marine sparky in Penarth is a Raymarine supplier as well, so I just had him fit the Raymarine VHF set, including fitting and aerial etc I think it was £250. You'll then need to apply to Ofcom for an MMSI number for the radio which relates to the boat as well.

This is the radio I've got http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/productde...r/froogle104388

 

[mhatherall]

Gosh there is a lot to do is int there, I assume I can go up and down rivers and around the bay with out a radio to start off with.
Does anybody know if there are any good river runs around cardiff way ?

Than ks

 

[Sneds]

Mike, who fitted your radio? Would they do a chart plotter at the same time?

Cheers

 

[Sailing_Matt]

I'm new to this too and have no boat yet (hence the name).

Good luck in buying your boat and gear! When you get her post lots of photos....

 

[Sneds]

If you get one like your picture remind me to keep out of the way /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Mike_S]

[ QUOTE ]
Mike, who fitted your radio? Would they do a chart plotter at the same time?

Cheers

[/ QUOTE ]

Chap called Roy Luscombe, trades as Specialised Marine. He can supply & fit all the Raymarine gear inc chartplotters along with several other brands, albeit far more expensive. He's a bit unreliable to be fair as he's damned busy and I've had to chase him to get things finished on our boat, not surprising really as he's the only half decent marine sparky in the area. His number's on the Penarth Quays Marina website.

 

[LizzyD]

Hi Mike,

Congratulations on the excellent decision to take up boating. Next to large breasts and Stella Artois, it's my most favourite pasttime ever.

I started out with a 20' Leisure 20 boat as shown here.

I had it for 10 years or so and went all over the Bristol Channel in it. It lacked the subtleties that girls enjoy and asking my girl Bev to "slop out" with a bucket like an inmate in 1980's Strangeway's Prison never did go down well. Still, we were frequent visitors to Wachet, Swansea and Weston, because as a bilge keeler, she used to dry out fine and dandy.

However, one winter's evening, Bev and I were walking around Swansea Marina when we noticed Lizzy our current boat. Lizzy as we call her, as her full name is Lizzy Drippin' (hideous name I know! Made you wonder what was wrong with the woman the first owner named her after!) is a 32' Nantucket Clipper. It was strange when I eventually sold Bear Cub. I felt so disloyal. She had been a smashing little boat and I felt like a pet owner making that "final" visit to the vets with a faithful but old dog as I accepted the cheque for her.

Still - It soon wore off and my newly acquired thirty pieces of silver went towards the payment for Lizzy.

I read everyone elses replies and would offer my tu'pence worth as follows. Definitely get a VHF and do the course. There is no greater laxative than when you're at sea and you feel so alone as it gets dark, the wind's picking up and you think you might miss that essential tidal gate to your destination. The calm and reassuring voices of the Coastguard certainly make you feel that you are not alone when things begin to unravell around you.

My second bit, is that you openly describe yourself as a learner. Mate - I've been on the water for over a decade and I am STILL a learner. I think the day you stop is the day you hang your sailing coat up for good. I believe that you should never be afraid to ask questions and this site is probably one of the best places to do it. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience here and it's all yours, free, at the touch of the keyboard. I'm always stealing ideas and suggestions from other people, especially from this site.

Good luck with your water borne antics mate and I hope you have as many happy times and adventures with your boat as I've had with mine.

Take care,

Mike (Yes, I'm a Mike too! It's a smashing name, don't you agree?)

 

[mhatherall]

Hay Mike, (Yes I agree), could you comment on the quality of a possible purchace on this boat ?
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/F156974/

Thanks

Mike

 

[wotayottie]

It would be worth your while enrolling on the RYA day skipper shorebased course at Newport Uskmouth Sailing Club. Not very expensive and will give you the vital theory knowledge of things like tides, navigation and the weather. Look on the club website for a contact.

Cant comment on the proposed boat - I'm a raggie and can never see the fun in motorboats!