help! completey new to this boating thing

millym

millym

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london, boat @poole
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hi
we have just bought an old 28ft tod tornado motorboat. we are both completely new this & need to learn lots of basic info. we have a mooring at sandbanks near poole/bournemouth & one of the things we need to know is how can you find out where & where not you can moor for a few hours?? i apologise if this sounds like a completely stupid question but we dont know where to start. we have spent the past few weeks getting to know our boat & how to control it pottering in the bay in & around our mooring (sad but we dont want to cause chaos out on the water).
we went a bit further last weekend & headed up to poole harbour & would of liked to have moored alongside near where all the pubs are but we werent sure if we were supposed to do this & who to contact to find out. i hope im not making experienced boaters who are around poole/bournemouth quiver thinking 'gawd have to watch out for this pair' but we just want to ensure we do the right thing without causing a kerfuffle wherever we go. do we contact the poole harbourmaster? or is it quite acceptable to moor up at places like this for a few hours. ( we are both going to be completing a motor boat competency course v soon!)
any help in pointing me in the right direction greatfully received.
 
Get onto an RYA recognised boat handling course a.s.a.p.

You will learn more in one day than in a week of "pottering about getting used to the boat", including mooring etiquette, etc.

You will learn how to cater for the effects of wind and tide and how to come alongside *safely*.

Oh, and get insured for those times when you screw it up !

Good luck.
 
A copy of Reeds Channel Almanac might come in handy. Loads of info you'll never probably use, but valuable info on most South Coast harbours, with chartlets showing marinas, landing places and anchorages..... and contact details for harbourmasters etc
 
You can moor where you like as long as there are no signs telling you not to do so ! also try and use common senese and look around for signs of usage?

Look to see what other boats are doing and talk to people around , even if yopu drive there and ask before you arrive with the boat? You will finf on the all most people on the water are friendly expect the odd one !

tom
 
hi
& thanks we're planning on doing the rya course asap but after kitting out our boat £££ is a bit limited for a little while & we want to make use of what summer(???) we have left before we put our boat on hard standing for a few months to get everything sorted properly.
thanks again
 
A little local info....

Poole town quay is under the control of Poole Boat Haven (the marina there). They will do short stay berths in the marina, but weekends are normally busy and spaces can be like gold-dust!

Mooring alongside the quay itself is permitted, but you'll need to use fender boards to hold you off the piles (they are provided there). Point to note, is that an awful lot of "trip boats" use the quay...... and with Cobbs Quay marina being past the lifting bridge (which opens 2 hourly), it can get a little busy and uncomfortable with the wash from passing boats.

Best to call Poole Boat Haven on VHF channel 80, or phone them on 01202 649 488.

More info HERE
 
Re: A little local info....

You could pick up a few handy books, "Solent Cruising Companion" by Derek Aslett, "Inshore along the Dorset Coast" and "Solent Hazards" by Peter Bruce. These will give you a few places to visit, and tips on what to do when you get there. Piplers in Poole will have these.
 
Pending your course, could I suggest you ask around for someone with some experience to go out with you both and show you the ropes so to speak. It would not only be safer, but it would also build your confidence.

Perhaps someone (!!) reading your post might sail or live around your area and be willing to accompany you. Personally, I'm on other other side of the country (soon to be another country), but surely someone might be able to spare a few hours. Ask around and perhaps even consider saving for some own boat tuition.

Good luck
 
thanks again everyone for your invaluable advice. the bloke we bought the boat from very kindly spent a whole day with us showing us the basics, i will get hold of some of the books suggested and we are going to organise doing a course on our own boat.
 
hiya go to the port of london authorities and then leisure and then choose moorings it gives you a long list of moorings available along the thames and around and gives a key which tells you if there is a visitors mooring and any facilities. hope this helps and good luck.
 
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