does size matter for a beginner?

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mhph

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We are looking to buy our first boat and not sure whether to start with a small, mid 20ft weekender in order to get experience;or go for what we have always wanted a mid 30ft twin cabin either sports or flybridge.
We have both completed a day skipper course,but only had an odd day out on a friend's boat for practical experience.
Looking around a mid 30ft seems a little daunting!
However would you soon get tired of a smaller boat and wish you had gone for the larger one anyway?
 
mhph said:
We are looking to buy our first boat and not sure whether to start with a small, mid 20ft weekender in order to get experience;or go for what we have always wanted a mid 30ft twin cabin either sports or flybridge.
We have both completed a day skipper course,but only had an odd day out on a friend's boat for practical experience.
Looking around a mid 30ft seems a little daunting!
However would you soon get tired of a smaller boat and wish you had gone for the larger one anyway?
Click to expand...

You will get used to handling 35 footer as quickly and as easy as a 25 footer. It's not uncommon to see folks trading up to a larger boat within the first year to 18 months. Changing costs, so better to start with a boat that'll suit you for 3-5 years. And "yes" is the answer to your last question.
 
That you have both done Day skipper, go straight in with the boat you fancy.
Perhaps get a freelance skipper to spend a few days own boat tuition, to start you off and build your confidence.
 
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There is a misconception that smaller is easier, people often buy small as beginners, take to boating like a duck to water and very quickly trade up. having traded up to larger craft they often say how much easier the bigger boat is. small boats can be tender and trickier in windy conditions. if you envisage having a larger boat later down the line, do it now! also may be more cost efficient as we all spend money on boats that we dont recoup when we sell. buy larger now and you'll only pay for extras once. IMO
 
Buy the biggest you fancy and get some tuition/practice on your boat for a day. We started at 21ft then 27 then 24 months in finally got the boat we actually wanted at beginning 33ft.. This was an expensive route and lesson. The 33ftr is the easiest BY FAR to handle on twin shafts - with a girlie Bow thruster too if the breeze gets up a bit!
 
my experience is opposite to this.. I've sold both my previous boats within a year of buying them whilst not only building up the skills but also learning what we really want out of boating..

I can honestly say that both boats have sold for a profit, including factoring in the extras, of which, some I retained to use on the next boat.. The profit has actually funded some of the cost of the latest boat.

We now know we're not interested in speedboats nor a day boat cuddy... we are certain we prefer a boat that offers the ability to stay on board overnight. However all that tricky stuff like launching, recovery and getting thrown about in a swell has hopefully improved our seamanship that has stood us in good stead for a larger boat.

it's a fair comment regarding improved handling but I guess prangs are more likely with the P plates on and hitting something with a little'un seems a better outcome than clouting something expensive with several more tons of GRP behind it.

A mid twenty boat purchased keenly and sold on well shouldn't necessarily set you back both from an experience gathering and financial impact perspective imho
 
oGaryo said:
I can honestly say that both boats have sold for a profit, including factoring in the extras, of which, some I retained to use on the next boat.. The profit has actually funded some of the cost of the latest boat.
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I think you're being a little modest about the care and attention you lavished on them. You do seem to take an awful lot of care in buying, not just on type/brand/engine but in finding one that's a just little tired and frayed round the edges but which is solid structurally and mechanically and which eventually presents immaculately after a lot of effort.
 
I think it really depends on the type of boating you are planning to do. If you paln coastal boating, and the odd trip across the channel, then 30+ft will suit. If you are ditch crawling, then finding somewhere to park a bigger boat gets more difficult.

As GaryO says, you can build your knowledge and skills by moving up, without necessarily costing you a fortune.

it is unlikely that your first purchase will be your dream boat. You find this out be getting out on the water, and learning your likes/needs/ability to fund.
 
mhph said:
We are looking to buy our first boat and not sure whether to start with a small, mid 20ft weekender in order to get experience;or go for what we have always wanted a mid 30ft twin cabin either sports or flybridge.
We have both completed a day skipper course,but only had an odd day out on a friend's boat for practical experience.
Looking around a mid 30ft seems a little daunting!
However would you soon get tired of a smaller boat and wish you had gone for the larger one anyway?
Click to expand...
Almost no point in starting with 25ft and then moving up to 30ft.
Two things to think about..
1. costs.. twin engines, bigger mooring fees, more fuel. All OK as long as you know what you are getting into !
2. Not always the case, but changing boats can be more expensive the bigger it gets. Especially if you find this isnt for you, or that you want a different type of boat etc.
You would have to be brilliantly insightful if you get your first boat right, because you are buying what you think you want. After a while you will probably realise more what you actually want. That might be anything from the cabin or galley layout, speed, handling,space ...
 
There was a guy in our marina last year who had just bought as his first boat (and no previous experience) a Manhattan 50.

He had done all the training including DS, and booked a week's own-boat tuition and he was fine - the training gave him the technique and the confidence to have a boat that big. I'd say buy the boat that you really want and learn to drive her - spare no expense on training and you'll be fine.
 
A bigger boat is easier because it's more stable, but the technique is different, it's more like driving a ship. There is no jumping on and off and you cant drag 8 tons against the wind. So the engines do all the work. The thing is with boats, you do what the boat wants to do, not necesarily what you want. Bit like training dogs. It's dead easy if you can train the owner!
 
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