How big is too big for a starter?

O

orangerabbit

New Member
Joined
27 Aug 2007
Messages
4
Visit site
Firstly hello, this is my 1st post. I am about to buy my 1st boat and am looking at the usual suspects i.e. sun ray, maxum etc... (basically something to cruise the coast with and spend the odd night on) I started looking at the 24 to 26ft range but in time I may want to travel out further and would therefore really appreciate some advice on how big I can go? i.e. is 30 or 31ft just too big for a starter boat? (sunseeker 270 for example) I am currently a complete novice
 
Hi im a complete novice and have just bought a 34ft boat. Our way of thinking was if we had a smaller one we would only want a bigger one and i wouldnt want to go through buying one twice in a hurry /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I started with a 37' boat. I felt for a while that I should have bought something smaller to start with, but Ithen got some good tuition and after that I was much happier.

S.
 
It depends entirely on your budget I would say...

Bigger boats do cost more money, however they can make boating easier by way of having more room and by being more comfortable both when moored and when under way.

I would suggest taking some tuition on whichever boat you decide to purchase, and perhaps having a try on a few boats of different size to see which you are comfortable using.

As a new buyer and somebody new to boating I would suggest treading carefully around American imports and asking the CE Marking question, like has it been CE Marked and who by, before getting attached or falling for a boat.

If would be happy to show you around a range of boats in the Hamble area if you'd like to drop me a PM, so you can get an idea of what you would like.

Good luck with your search.

Ben
 
Well, we started 17 years ago with a 13' skiboat and worked our way up. I know plenty of people who have bought 40'ers as first boats. I can't see an issue with a 40' boat as long as you get plenty of tuition, but I feel that you would miss out on a lot of experiences in smaller boats.

You see big boats everywhere being driven appallingly badly - I lose count of the number of people who seem to need the bowthruster to turn in a fairway. Boats crocheted to the pontoon rather than moored, people with no idea what the hook thing on the front is for or how to set it. No tender! You don't want to explore anywhere? Go stay in the nearest Hilton hotel instead!

More to the point, perhaps, smaller boats teach you how to read the sea and work with it, rather than just go pounding into it and wondering why your fillings are loose, everything is all over the galley floor and the next surveyor says the stringers are coming loose...

Get a season or two in a single engine 23'er before moving up to twins, IMO
 
[ QUOTE ]
Well, we started 17 years ago with a 13' skiboat and worked our way up. I know plenty of people who have bought 40'ers as first boats. I can't see an issue with a 40' boat as long as you get plenty of tuition, but I feel that you would miss out on a lot of experiences in smaller boats.

You see big boats everywhere being driven appallingly badly - I lose count of the number of people who seem to need the bowthruster to turn in a fairway. Boats crocheted to the pontoon rather than moored, people with no idea what the hook thing on the front is for or how to set it. No tender! You don't want to explore anywhere? Go stay in the nearest Hilton hotel instead!

More to the point, perhaps, smaller boats teach you how to read the sea and work with it, rather than just go pounding into it and wondering why your fillings are loose, everything is all over the galley floor and the next surveyor says the stringers are coming loose...

Get a season or two in a single engine 23'er before moving up to twins, IMO [/quot
i think you missed the question, you do not have to be an idiot to drive a Large boat or a small one for that matter, there are plenty of both around. The bigger the better is what I would say, and then use your common sense and tuition do the rest. Single or twin is debateable but for me twin is best, and I wonder why Large ships have bow thrusters??
 
Our first boat was a twin engined 32 footer (still have it), and I must confess when I sat on the flybridge for the first time with the keys in my hand I thought 'Oh Crap, what have I done?' - it all looked so HUGE. BUT, a weeks tuition and ICC and Day Skipper later it really was no big deal, so, if a bigger boat is what meets your requirements in other ways, then go for it. Personally, if you are planning on doing a fair bit of coastal stuff i.e. not just in the solent or Poole, then something like a Janneau Merry Fisher or Beneteau Antares in the 8 - 9 meter range would do you very well. Lots of 'em around on the South Coast, and everyone I meet who owns one speaks very highly of them, including several forumites.
 
November 2004 bought our first boat a 44 footer. Never regretted it. It's size suited all our requirements and looking forward to many more years with her. Previous experience was Hire boats on the Norfolk Broads. Geoff.
 
Another view would be that with less than say 35 feet (non-flybridge) you can probably get away with one person on board knowing what they are doing.

Start getting to 40 feet plus and the boat is getting too heavy to just grab onto and drag into the right place.

40 feet plus flybridge means you'll definitely need up forward doing ropework...and maybe another spare set of hands at the back.

Big plusses for flybridges are accommodation...so if you are going to spend lots of log weekend and take mates with you (experienced or not) the space is great.

I have a 37 foot Sunseeker Superhawk. Weighs 5 tonnes and I single hand it a lot of the time because it's so small I can just grab hold and pull it about a bit.

Also have a 46 foot flybridge which - with a bit of technique (see other posts about tuition - strongly recommended) my wife and I can happily drive around Greece for a fortnight by ourselves.

Enjoy - and don't be shy about asking questions here - a lot cheaper than damaged gelcoat!!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]

i think you missed the question, you do not have to be an idiot to drive a Large boat or a small one for that matter, there are plenty of both around. The bigger the better is what I would say, and then use your common sense and tuition do the rest. Single or twin is debateable but for me twin is best, and I wonder why Large ships have bow thrusters??

[/ QUOTE ]

No, the question was, "Do I start with a 24'er or should I go bigger?" For me, the answer is start small and learn the ropes. BTW, large ships have bow and stern thrusters because by and large they are single screw. The big cruise ships often have steerable pods, so don't need them. Ships like QM2 have bow and stern thrusters because the length/beam ratio is such that they couldn't get any significant leverage from one engine ahead/one astern.
 
many thanks to you all for your views - very helpful. I think that I will go for something around 30ft. Fully take on the advice re training and hence avoid looking like a numpty or worse
 
Go for whatever you can afford and takes your fancy.
The sound of gelcoat crunching against concrete is just as horrid with a small boat as with a big one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top