Hello from a brand new completely clueless boat owner

dragoon said:
You could start with the RYA dayskipper theoy on-line whilst you're booking your practical. Worth taking, and usually a prerequisite for the practical if you don't have a lot of experience already.

Also, as advised earlier, make sure your safety and nav equipment is up together. Lifejackets, radio, flares, GPS, charts, and make sure you know when/how to use them.

Otherwise, welcome and enjoy. Boating can be a great hobby.
Click to expand...

Funny you mention life jackets i got them for the kids and not for me which is odd. GpS and radio work i need to get a decent first aid kit and i have spoken to someone about the day skipper course. They want a mimimum of 2 days out of the four days theory before the 4 days of own boat practical. H
 
petem said:
Have you got your VHF Radio License? If not, you need to do the course / exam ASAP to be on the right side of the law and understand how to make a distress call.
Click to expand...


You can do the course in a day or online in your own time. If you do it online you'll need to go to a training centre to be assessed. I don't think many people fail, but it's very worthwhile doing it. Certainly (hopefully) stops you from sounding like a complete Muppet on the radio.
 
Oooo thats interesting...... have been crawling all over boaty ebay for ages and have not noticed one of those anywhere. £400 quid for an absolute boating newbie is real steal.Must be loads of folks out there wondering who you insured with. ?
 
john_morris_uk said:
You can do the course in a day or online in your own time. If you do it online you'll need to go to a training centre to be assessed. I don't think many people fail, but it's very worthwhile doing it. Certainly (hopefully) stops you from sounding like a complete Muppet on the radio.
Click to expand...

The RYA website has a geographical search that will give you the local training centres that do Radio courses and exams.
 
I can't believe this! Get off the water until you have gained a basic level of competence otherwise you are an accident waiting to happen. The sea will kill you if you don't learn the basic skills. You gained a driving licence before getting in a car?
 
Topic said:
I can't believe this! Get off the water until you have gained a basic level of competence otherwise you are an accident waiting to happen. The sea will kill you if you don't learn the basic skills. You gained a driving licence before getting in a car?
Click to expand...

You need to calm down a bit mate. There is no requirement *at all* for anyone to have a licence before they helm a boat <24m in the UK.
 
Topic said:
I can't believe this! Get off the water until you have gained a basic level of competence otherwise you are an accident waiting to happen. The sea will kill you if you don't learn the basic skills. You gained a driving licence before getting in a car?
Click to expand...

Well the OP has taken the boat out, quickly realised that he needs some advice and has come on here asking for help. That in itself demonstrates that he has some common sense and with a bit of support, will soon get the hang of things.
 
Topic said:
I can't believe this! Get off the water until you have gained a basic level of competence otherwise you are an accident waiting to happen. The sea will kill you if you don't learn the basic skills. You gained a driving licence before getting in a car?
Click to expand...

This just would not happen a few miles S in France where with anything over 6 hp you end up
Compulsory "permit d Mer " is mandatory even for jet skiers , if you are French .
Not sure VHF licence is mandatory too ,I think so -well we had a guy come the house and he "did" both of use .
I think the expectation from the French is a similiar arangement of a basic -safety bias qualification for users with over 6 hp .
I realise just flying a red or blue exempts Brits ,but that does not mean you should excercise your right to take off with inadequate training /safety kit .

I,am all four buying a boat 1st --then going out but like a 17 y old in a car ,with another "licensed" person
Otherwise it's a chicken /egg scenario .But just going out on your own --hmm not good !

Finding £400 for outdrive boat of that value -premium a bit light as well .
I used to pay over £1K inc 5 y NCD for a 12 M outdrive boat ,with a hat full of qualifications / certificates / experiance .

I think he would be fined in Fr if was not flying a red --and stopped assuming the OP has a flag ? .
I have seen them ck lifejackets etc and all the paperwork .

Anyhow steep earning curve -- do the two courses leading to a qualifications ASAP . RYA+ VHF
 
jimmy_the_builder said:
You need to calm down a bit mate. There is no requirement *at all* for anyone to have a licence before they helm a boat <24m in the UK.
Click to expand...

In my opinion a self confessed novice should not be out in the English Channel on a yacht capable of 35+ knots. That is a lethal weapon and if he really is a "completely clueless" boat owner he must expect to be counseled to get RYA qualifications before he goes out again. Your point about the law is irrelevant! If there are many more boating disasters, legislation will quite rightly be brought in that a level of competence is a pre-requisite of boat ownership imho! I am very calm, but a Master Mariner of 40 years and consider myself entitled to my opinion as are you!
 
oldgit said:
Oooo thats interesting...... have been crawling all over boaty ebay for ages and have not noticed one of those anywhere. £400 quid for an absolute boating newbie is real steal.Must be loads of folks out there wondering who you insured with. ?
Click to expand...

Yes it is odd isn't it? I had a quick scan just because I'm nosy but I couldn't find a Princess V39 on there either. I'm not very good with Ebay though, so maybe I just missed it... :)

However, I did learn that the going price for an original Princess 35 brochure seems to be £9.99 if you fancy one? :D
 
It is not a windup, I am pretty offended at the accusation. I am not sure what some people think i am not being honest about but I will happily prove them wrong if its possible.
 
Bootle Bumtrinket said:
It is not a windup, I am pretty offended at the accusation. I am not sure what some people think i am not being honest about but I will happily prove them wrong if its possible.
Click to expand...

One of the skills that you need (as you probably know...) when using web based forums, is to be able to ignore any silly ideas, sift through the more sensible ones, and choose to act on the ones that make most sense to you.

You don't have to prove anything to any 'keyboard warriors' who jump in with their two-pennyworth. Just keep asking questions and try and work out which are the sensible answers. And 'officially' welcome to the forums from myself and the other moderators.
 
There was indeed a v39 on ebay. Good price too. I vaguely remember something about a crank oil seal "misting oil". Did you have an engine survey?

The training days you have been quoted is about right. You have bought a fine boat. You now have a steep but very enjoyable learning curve. Make sure the training is done on your boat and include the people who will use the boat with you on the course. That way, everyone knows whats going on and what to do. Training is a lot less expensive than the damage that can be done in just a little bump. Moat insurance state a "competent person" in charge. At the mo, they could probably argue that.

6 days training should get you to a position where you are confident enough to go out in calm conditions in daylight hours. After that, get out, enjoy it, learn and make the same mistakes the rest of us do......and continue to do!
 
Welcome and congratulations on your boat purchase. Own boat training will give you a great start and the requisite RYA courses will add to your enjoyment. You clearly have the right approach which is demonstrated by your willingness to ask questions, make the most of the great British summer !!
 
Whippersnapper said:
From the OPs opening post I assumed the thread was just a trollish windup
Click to expand...

The confusion might arise coz the boat on eBay was a 1996 model with KAD42's not the latest gen V39 costing hundreds of thousands.

Having said that, it looks like a great boat.
Congratulations!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top