How did you become...................

[GrahamR]

As a newcomer to all this nautical chatter some of which is hilarious, how did you become ,involved in boating. i can only speak from my experience which was getting taken on holiday on the broads which i have since taken my children, and since then always looked forward to the day i too could own a boat.The thing which caught my eye was hiring a boat from Brooms a commander class and seeing Brooms getting built , it is always the marque i wished to own,it may seem a boring question but you've got to start somewhere.

 

[hlb]

Butlins. Free boats all day. 25 holidays on broads.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

I think some of the longer standing members of this ere venerable forum already know my exploits on a little Fletcher 129 with Crescent o/b. That was back in '74 - and its how I got started.

 

[trev]

Like yourself I was introduced to boating via holiday on the broads as a youngster. This eventually led to a lifetime afloat, both to earn a living and for pleasure - some folk find this strange, but I'd rather be afloat than ashore! Fortunately my wife and familly share the enjoyment, perhaps not with the same enthusiasm and a bit more weather oriented.
Also,like yourself, I have always admired the Broom marque and would be an owner today were it not for an unhelpful and disinterested salesman - but thats another story- I bought a Sealine instead.
I hope you eventually get the vessel you aspire to. My advice would be to buy the best you can possibly afford, because it saves the hassle of regular up-grades. I'm now on my fifth motor cruiser (eighth boat). But if I'd really gone for it at the start I could have saved thousands.

 

[Nauti Fox]

Dad ran a fishing boat, so from a very young age I got shouted at in nautical terms. He was an absolute tyrant and ran it like a ship of the line!
Did have so many laughs though, mostly Dad related.He was one of those people that used to make things that either did'nt really work very well or if they did they would go wrong at the worst time possible.
He used to entertain the punters with tunes on his Stylaphone and puffing on his pipe filled with home grown tobacco which filled the boat with bright green fumes which set off his bright orange hair (early version of just for men) very nicely.
Aah yes, Dad!
P.S. Was it you Dave Snelson that knew a similar one?

 

[BrendanS]

Used to spend summers in West Wales in a little village called Newport. Beautiful setting on Cardigan coast, not far from Fishguard. Neighbours had a Shetland, and I used to go out mackerel fishing on it, then sell the fish on the beach for pocket money, and barbecue the rest on driftwood - love of boating grew from there

 

[GrahamR]

Not quite done 25 hols but admire your perseverance, one question though hve you noticed the reduction in hire traffic, boat yards over the years,it also used to be inexpensive for a large family (5 children)not now looking at some of the brochures,and yes still looking for first boat.

 

[studgies]

Holidays from the age of 4 every year often twice a year till I was 24 on the Caley Canal, best hire boaty holiday you can get in my opinion! Aslo as a teenager I used to crew on a friends family Raggie boat. I yearned for years to own one for myself.

 

[peterandjeanette]

Grandfather had a little wooden boat for salmon fishing on the River Severn at Holt Fleet. Used to join him for runs along the river.

Then joined the school sailing club to get out of having to play cricket. Built a couple of boats with my Dad, and always had a boat of some sort since.

Now my two boys ( 26 and 29) tell me that I don't want to use the boat if they want it!

 

[duncan]

it all started with streams and sticklebacks; a long long time ago.............

 

[whisper]

Mmmm - remember similar times well. Then used to work at boating lake in Mid Wales during school hols. Then took it up again when I bought flat in Devon - can't believe my luck really.

 

[Sammo]

I wanted to join a sailing club originally so I took my wife and young family to Draycote Water to have a look.
No, she said, don’t think we’re sitting on the side whilst you go out sailing, you’ll have to get a boat we can all go on.
After 30 years she has always enjoyed and has never complained.
Still how could she? it was all her idea in the first place.

............................

 

[truebrit]

Used to go on hols to Looe in late 50s early 60s and hire what are known in Looe as "doodle" boats 15' clinker built boats powered by a stuart-turner 1.5hp two stroke inboard , could go upriver or on fine days out to sea . As far as I know a lot of the very same boats are still availabe for hire now, but not at the seven and a tanner per hour we used to pay and probably due to the "nanny" state and the compensation culture are not allowed to sea at all even on flat calm days

 

[hlb]

O yes they are. Or were!!

 

[tcm]

in the south of france about 1970 i asked my dad if he wd let me look round the marinas on my own instead of go boring sightseeing with the rest of the family, and the heartless git agreed, dropped me of a different marina every day in the morning and picked me up hours later, for about two weeks....

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Sailed on dinghies on West Kirby marine lake from around 6 yrs until I was about 11 and was forced into child labour.....

Got home from school one Friday night and was informed that I would be picked up at 0430 the following morning by my uncle, for a days work on one of the family trawlers. This was it then, my weekend and summer work. Being family I was given no special treatment.

Also started cleaning the local lifeboat from about 8 yrs old, brushing and cleaning out the shed when she was out. Until 18 when I was on the crew.

It just kind of happened really......

 

[D3B]

A good friend had a nice boat on which we had "boys weekends". not really boating.
until he bought a Windgy Grand Mistral 38!!!!!
very nice.
followed with a trip from Kings Lynn (well Denver really, if you know the area) to Ramsgate. F6 across the Wash beam wind, till we got to Cromer than it settled down. into Gt Yarmouth for the night. then flat calm seas to begin with en route to ramsgate.
Funny! Land disappeared over the stern and a F7 blew up. without touching the throttles we rock n rolled from 6knots to 26 knots over the waves
FANTASTIC!!!

GIVE ME MORE!!!

Four yeards later:
boat No 4 due mid-April
Sealine SC29. (BTW have sneak preview pick of it at speed!!!!!! there isnt much hull in the water)
Enjoy your boating and like many other replies go for the biggest you can afford now as it saves upgrading next week then next month and eventually next year.
Doug

 

[whisper]

Stuart Turners - yep, those were the days. On the lake most were 1.5hp a couple were 2hp and the Staff - "your time's up" - boat had 2.5hp I think. Cor, the power /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Papapete5]

When I was a 17 a friend was looking after his uncle's Carter 30. We used to go and sit in it after school. one nice sunny day we took the boat out. Next week we went sailing twice.Over the next few months we went sailing every opportunity we had. Then we would only go when it was blowing hard. Next year I signed up at the local sailing school, as the yacht club where the Carter was moored complained about us going sailing with no licences. Also about the same time my Dad got involved with a chandlery business, so it all fitted in. 20 years down the line, I haven't got a boat, but have worked as delivery skipper, boatyard worker, charter boat skipper, charter base manager and now have my own chandlery in Corfu. I rarely go sailing and i miss it...
i dream of owning a 25 foot sailing boat. I would love a Folkboat. one day...