Helping new sailors purchasing a boat.

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Quandary

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I contributed to a thread last week on advice for beginners buying a first boat. Part of the advice was to get out and sail on as many different boats as possible before spending real money. For me this would be simply a matter of turning up at a sailing club, as most of the clubs I belonged to have a strategy to encourage beginners in this way. However the feedback indicates a reluctance to just turn up on spec. and I can understand why some clubs might appear intimidating to an outsider , people just can't grasp how keen owners are to talk about and promote our hobby and show off our boats.
Most of us enjoy the chance to show a starter what it is about and to give them a sail or in winter even just a walk round a boatyard when the characteristics of the different types and the reasons for different values can be explained, most of us should be almost able to contain our own personal prejudices and be dispassionate.
Would it be worth starting a register of forum members and boats covering the different areas who are willing to give some time to helping a beginner understand different types of yachts and would not mind dealing with PMs from people who need help.
To start
Current Boat- Finngulf 33 but have owned or sailed Achilles 24, Ruffian 23, Puppeteer 22, Sonata, Impala, Hydro, Bolero, Ruffian 8.5, Trapper 300, Rival 32, Sigma 33, J35, Sigma 38 and have contacts for others.
Attitude-Ex. keen racer with a bias towards sailing performance but also keen DIYer.
Location - Crinan Canal (out of water til March) but lots of different boats to look at locally.
PM response can be about a week as I dont log on here every day
 
There is a crewing opportunities forum a bit further down the front page forum index. Seems to work, sort of.
Maybe a message in there might help.
 
Crewing opportunities

Full Circle
Perhaps this idea is misplaced, it just seemed that there was an enquiry on this forum every day or two about what boat to buy from people who have very little idea of where to start. I don't think they go straight to the crew opportunities as they think they will be expected to be experienced. I thought that with all the varied experience on here a bit of mentoring input would be a useful contribution and of real help to those beginner. I suppose I am influenced by my horror at the current fashion for doing day skipper or similar then spending big money straight away. In my day (a long long time ago) no one bought a boat until they had sailing experience which was freely given as each generation of sailors handed down to the next. It is in our interest to encourage the enthusiastic just as we did when giving work experience to school leavers and students.
I think that advice from more than one source is also an essential as we all carry prejudices.
 
I agree, but anything you post here or in PBO will be gone in a day, at the rate the new posts move old ones down, so it would be better if you started an experience offered thread in Crewing Opportunites. My guess is the average post is still on page one after 6 months.
 
Where to put it

Ta, point taken. It would not be seen on here and would not be looked for elswhere. Ill considered attempt to be useful with some of my time.
Let's just forget it.
 
This is one of the VERY BEST threads to appear. This is what it is all about. Helping the new-comers, along free advice. As was said in the old days we always handed on free training and sail days open to any one for trial sails. Ahh those were the days. I still believe that some sailors and some CLUBS still encourage beginners/learners.

Happy Days

Peter
 
Quandry,
what a wonderful idea, I for one am looking for help in that direction ( have had one offer already from somebody local ).
I must admit I have been very nervous of posting on the "crewing" thread as I have no experience with sailing and did not want to embarrass myself.
Another point is the perception that most who do the sailing thing are well heeled and the not so well off like me just dream about it ,well poor as I am I have managed to buy a small boat ,am building a trailer, got most of my safety equipment ( still a few bits to go ) , and other odds and ends I consider I need.
Trouble is much as I would love to do all the courses available they would cost me more than the total spend so far, so basically I can not afford this .

So yes I do believe a special section for newbies would be an asset to this site with anybody who was willing to offer advice,help, even crewing opportunities to those with little or no experience.

Lastly Quandry , I think Full circle has a point about the exposure time of your suggested idea was correct it would be lost within a day or two on this section but having its own section would be such a helpful area for us beginners, so please please don't be offended because your idea is really great and I for one hope that it can be implemented.

Derrick
 
Hi Quandary,

I just want to echo what's already been said. This is a great idea, as a relative newbie who is also not yet a boat-owner I will always welcome any advise that might help me get afloat. It's good to know that there are clubs that actually welcome new members even inexperienced ones, though I expect I will still be a little daunted when I first go knocking on their doors to say "Hello, I'm not a member of your club....."
Anyway, I think your idea has a lot of potential but agree that it might be better posted in a less volatile forum.

Kevin.
 
I think this is a great idea, something that YBW would probably be best placed to front and facilitate - maybe an annual "Welcome Aboard" campaign around spring time? ............new boaters = new readers?

If only YBW had a website :rolleyes:
 
Great idea!

Quandry...thanks for starting this thread.....I think it is a superb idea. I have looked quite regularly on the 'crewing opportunity' forum, which has remained sparse to say the least. I dont think that many people use it.

However, as a newcomer (with the standard 'dazed skipper' certificate) some charter time and some keel boat experience, I understand that I need substantially more 'water time'

Therefore if there is anyone in the North East, with time to spare, who is willing to show me the ropes and offer me some crewing time, I would be very happy.
 
I too think this is a wonderful and very kind offer!

I note the point about the 'crewing opportunities' forum, but my impression is that this is generally for those that either (a) are looking for crew for a specific date or voyage, or (b) those looking to crew for 'a', rather than those who want to try out various boats and discus the various plus/minus points of each with a view towards informing a potential purchase.

I for one would also like to visit boats that might be out of the water and talk to the owners about the opportunities and pitfalls of acquiring a 'project'.

Perhaps a 'try before you buy' sticky with those willing to act as hosts giving their location?
 
Super idea, I would enthusiastically support, very hard for newbies to get good, early experiences. I was struggling to come to grips with a Jag 22 from zero experience (Shannone cruisers as a kid excepted), and close to giving up, when a chance spin on a Jeanneau 40'-ish made me realise this sailing could be nice. It made the skinned knuckles lifting on and off the O/B, and trying to work out a hanked jib in the p**sing rain, and reefing, and the difference between gybes and tacks and all the rest of it, worth it knowing that it would come good.
 
Quandary said:
Most of us enjoy the chance to show a starter what it is about and to give them a sail or in winter even just a walk round a boatyard when the characteristics of the different types and the reasons for different values can be explained, ...
Click to expand...

Therein lies the real value IMO. Its easy to get crewing opportunities - well proided there are no problems with flatulence, halitosis, general mental state etc. From my early crewing, I would ask about types of boat and what they are best used for but I found knowledge was limitted to the type of sailing the skipper/owner did (e.g. the onwer of a MAB would not be able to tell me much about a Bene First - apart from the fact 'oooh they be a bit skittish they do be!').
 
i posted on the crewing forum but only had one offer that didn't turn into anything as it turned out. i'd be interested in crewing for the sailing club locally but don't you have to be a member and get nominated etc?

i did used to crew on other boats in nz where it seemed a little less intimidating to a newcomer. have to say i do really love owning my own little boat although i think crewing for others is still a great way of developing skills and would love to sil for others - especially to learn about different types of rigs etc.
 
Sailing clubs

Most clubs want to encourage membership to grow,certainly this is the case in N.I. and West Scotland, however some clubs may not bother because they are oversubscribed, this might be more likely to apply to blue ensign clubs such as Royal North or Royal Ulster, however I am sure that members of these clubs would still want be helpful. When I served on a club comittee part of our agenda was encouraging new members, this involved meeting people who enquired or turned up telling them about the club and introducing them to members who could help them. In return we would ask for names and addresses. The help usually included taking them out on a boat on points racing nights. The points racing rules used to demand Club membership but this was changed to allow a newcomers to compete 5 times. There was no restriction on cruising or safety boat activity but you were expected to make a decision on membership after about 5 visits. However I know people who sailed on club boats without ever going near the clubhouse.
I recommend turning up and introducing yourself as someone who wants to explore sailing activity, you are very unlikely to be told to p*** off, much more often you will be amazed how gregarious yachties can be. In winter go on a saturday or sunday morning and you might be afloat in the afternoon, in summer go down early on a sailing night, most likely to be Tues. or Thur.
 
Try a boat

There are some geat ideas on this thread. I have been fortunate enough to try a wide range of boats but others may not be so lucky. The only person who has ever asked me for a sail to try the boat enjoyed it but realised it was too big for him and bought a Hurley 22 instead. It's not always easy getting both time and weather to do this kind of thing but I for one am happy to give it a go. Another possibility is a 'Forum meet and try' maybe in a few different places through the season.

Yoda
 
Another factor is ( well in my case )learning how to rig your new boat,what equipment to have on board , I say this because some of us newbies have very limited budgets ( no doubt many oldies are too) and have bought a boat that needs a bit of work doing but no idea what ! ,lack of documentation for older boats seem to be hard to come by ( my little Sunspot 15 is a prime example nothing anywhere !!)( or is there ???"please").
I have been reading about some of the gorgeous boats some of you have the privilege to own but way out of my league ( mainly because of mooring costs/lack of mooring ) and the moment you put " marine " in the title of accessories/parts the price seems to double .:eek:
Lastly thank you Quandry for this thread and for "not forgetting it ":D
 
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