How did you get hooked?

[julianl]

I'm brand new at this. I've been lurking on the forums for a few weeks and just registered a userid to post this, inspired by a line from Craig Garrod's recent "Trip in the new toy!" post. Craig says towards the end "and to think.. 12 months ago, i hadn't got a boat and had never navigated on the water!". Indeed. Here's the scoop... I am now where Craig was 12 months ago. I've always had a thing for boats, exploring, and I'm a technology freak so the ship's systems and navagational aids fascinate me. This is all very well, but this is one expensive hobby and it would clearly be very rash of me to rush out and spend £20K or more of savings on a boat, plus the annual upkeep, without some due dilligence (which is somewhat convenient anyway, because I don't have that sort of money right now!).

My question to this forum is, what steps did you go through to get from the "hmmm... I think I might enjoy this" stage to the "I love this, I just have to get my own boat".

I don't know any friends who have boats and I assume that is a common route to getting hooked, so maybe for me a path to confirming or discarding boating as a passion might involve hiring a boat for inland journeys (Norfolk Broads or something), doing some training (like Day Skipper, VHF, what else?), going on some offsore supervised activities (no idea what) and then unsupervised offshore hire, then once I'd got enough hours under my belt, and assuming I was indeed hooked, take the plunge into boat ownership.

I'd be very interested in other's comments and their real life stories of how they went from initial outsider-interest to boat ownership.

 

[Guest]

My dad took a broom speed boat as a bad debt when I was about 6, been hooked ever since. I must admit that on bad days (Non warranty repairs,filling the tank or waiting for my burgee ;-) ) I really wish he had taken up trainspotting or some equally cost effective hobby !!

All your ideas for getting into the hobby are good, take a competent crew course with a RYA recognised teaching establishment, good fun and you will learn something too.

Hireing a boat on the broads is good too- at least you will get an idea.

You don't say where you are based a bit of grovling and a large alcoholic bribe might even get you a trip out with one of the board.

Good luck.

 

[jfm]

Signing up for RYA dayskipper theory (nightschool, not too difficult) then dayskipper practice (4 days on a motorboat, usually 1 instructor + 3 students, cost £a few hundred) would be a good way to start. If you feel even slightly confident I would recommend going straight to these courses, dont work through the more basic powerboat level 1,2, etc (imho)

I started out as a child (mother bort me a mirror dinghy; I thort it wd be a boat but it was a MFI flatpack and I had to blimmin make it!) and went downhill and further into financial ruin from there.

There are many different types of boating. Renting on Norf Broads, frexample, doesn't really give you a flavour of fast motor cruising at sea, frexample. So need to try out the "type" of boating that you think interests you, imho, and realise that it's not all the same

Where you based? Plenty on here need crew and electronic operators etc during the summer (me included - based Lymington). Suggest fill in profile as fully as possible and invite offers! Good luck!

PS are you an accountant?

 

[paulineb]

I just saw her and had to have her

Pxx

 

[ccscott49]

Got into diving in the army in cyprus, left the army, no boat to go diving, bought inflatable, went downhill from ther, love the sea and all her moods above and under, love the life, still have an inflatable, but hanging on the stern of an effing big boat! Learn by nightschool if you must, it doesn't matter how you learn, as long as you learn. Some people just love the learning bit, I enjoy learning new tricks. Some people will never make sailors, some have salt/fresh water in their veins, some don't but still have a safe annd wonderful time on the water, just sag back and enjoy yourself! The sea was put there for all of natures creatures, that includes us!!

 

[hlb]

Started with me when my mum and dad kept saying they were going boating at 7pm on a winters night, and I screemed the place down cos I couldn't go. Went on for a year or two till the penny dropped. They were going Voteing!!
So down hill into 25 hols on Norfolk broads. ( Cos kids liked it) and an 8ft dinghy (For the Kids.) Accidental racing National Ospray dinghy. (Cos the dog would fit in as well). Then just deaper and deaper into the mire. You dont do counceling do you!!

No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!

Haydn

 

[piratequeen]

Lived near Birmingham for years, but parents bought a canal boat, which was good fun, then when I moved to Jersey for a job, fell in love with the sea all around, and begged and bothered people to take me out on their boats. Tried sailing boats first, but don't like the angle they travel at very much, then met a man with a motor boat..... now married to the skipper with a six-year old dinghy rower and very keen crew member daughter. Yes, do the courses, but nothing beats learning as you go along from someone with years of experience and local knowledge.

 

[BarryH]

I was bought up with them. The family had boats for as long as I care to remember. Don't know if that counts really, but to be honest I would'nt know what to do with myself if i did'nt have one. I spose a bit of the buzz comes from a sense of achievement. Knowing you got there yourself under your own steam so to speak.

Give it a go, what have you got to loose, apart from your credit rating!!

 

[muchy_]

I too started on Broads then decided it was costing me a fortune to hire boats twice a year so I bought my own, WOW think I should go back to hiring. Did the RYA Dayskipper theory then onto RYA Yachtmaster theory. Now starting to make little trips down the coast to lowerstoft and beyond.
Best advice I personally can give you is do the courses, they are very good.
Before them I would have taken my boat anywhere, now due to the courses I know my limitations and how to expand them.

 

[lanason]

You can read from my Profile - But my Dad used to take my elder brother and sister skiing in Poole Harbour before I was born. After that Mum was left holding the baby (me) on the beach as Dad and the big ones went out. Then a gap for about 10-15 year when Dad bought a 19 ft Relcraft with a 40 hp Mercury outboard. By that time Big Bro and Big Sis had left home (thank goodness). Dad soon got fed up with the smallness of "Kim Marie" and bought a 24 ft Scandanavian boat "Aqua Merril". Moored her for the season nr Wareham on the river Frome which leads into Poole Habour.
That lasted a few years until he bought a 30 ft Cleopatra from a hotel in Swansea. As his house was "on the way" it was dropped off in the drive "for a quick spring clean" - Two years later the whole thing had been stripped down and re-built. Mum was delighted when "Court Jester" finally made it to Poole - (she got a view back from her kitchen window). This was moored close to "Aqua Merril" and we had a number of years on her. Till my younger brother and I went to college and it was too much hassle for Dad and Mum to handle so he sold it. Got a V12 E-type Jag in part exchange ...mmmmmm.

Now it's my turn ..... 20 years later - I'm just about to complete on a boat of my own ......... Now to convince the rest of the family. .............

Adrian

Hence the reason for the "bumper Sticker" below - One day I may discover what happened to her .......

Don't call me "Ian"
Cleopatra - yellow hull called Court Jester. Have you seen her ?

 

[kghowe]

Every boat owner has a story!

Mine is fairly simple. I live near the South coast and occasionally during sales calls found myself parked up looking out at the boats in the solent or elsewhere. I started to get that feeling inside that eventually turned into a desire.

I bought a jet ski but that was just me combining motorbikes and the water. My son loved it though. Then the wife and I started loitering around places like Ancasta and Peters at Chichester.

I'd always wanted a yatch, you know rag and stick. Well a guy at my last job bought one, did all the courses, and said he was looking for crew, well to quote Monty Python I was like a rat out of an aquaduct. I did 2 trips with him.

The first from Brighton to Chichester in which we had to motor all the way and it took 9 hours, short handed in thick fog. I learnt that day that I wanted to go faster than 4 knots!

The second trip was out in November in what started as a force 5-6 and finished as an unexpected 8. I learnt that day if I make a bolt for it I won't to get there dry and fast. Oh yes the other thing, the wife is not too good at walking on 45 deg floors when heeled over, getting very wet or hoisting sails. that kinda swung us into the direction of motor boating.

We've got a young family too which I wanted to take along and whilst I know yachts can be safe the wife wasn't so sure.

During the winter of 1999-2000 I did various RYA courses, mainly so that I felt happy with my mates navigation and boat skills.

Early 2000 we started looking more seriously. We saw loads of boats to start with, big ones old ones new ones, impractical ones and fun ones. We started drawing up a kind of spec that we wanted. Then two seasons ago we saw a great little starter boat, a Failine Targa. That was until we had the survey done and found that the sructural survey was fine but mechanically it was needing a lot of work. I learnt the value of surveys that day ( probably saved us about £8k). Eventually we found another one and all looked well so took the plunge.

I didn't try it out or go on other boats prior to this, I just knew it was someting I wanted to do. We've not been desapointed. Already we've had some fantastic short breaks, mainly over to the IOW, even been to lunch a couple of times at Gunwarf Quay Portsmouth, but I'll tell you something it beats driving there. We're now talking about our next boat and where we will be going with it so I guess you can say we're hooked!

Your only round once, enjoy it while you can. Sure there will be times that you question your wisdom but lifes about chances and risk.....ENJOY!

Kevin

 

[Forbsie]

When I was a teenager I wanted to take the engine out of my Wolseley 1500 and build a wooden motor launch in the garage. Listened to advice and never did it but it ignited a spark. 15 years later my boss bought a 72' motor yacht and I spent the next 5 years crewing that on weekends including a trip from Puerta Banus to Lymington which was an experience. In the early nineties, I started crewing on a Dragon racing in Burnham-on-Crouch during the weekends with an 80+ year old skipper - great times, great stories and we were a formidable boat in light airs.

For the past few years I have lived in the Docklands overlooking Blackwall Marina where I would stare out my window wishing I had one of these boats. I moved to Twickenham last year and convinced myself that it was now or never. I have acquired a Buckingham 25 motor cruiser somewhat worse for wear that has spent 2 years languishing in fields that tomorrow (fingers crossed) will be moved to a slip on Eel Pie Island to be painted and have an engine overhaul/replacement.

It has taken 30 years but I'm sure that the wait will be worth it.

 

[kghowe]

Good luck with the move! Yes it will be worth it, as my old mum use to say anything worth having is worth waiting for. Except the lottery win. Err I mean Lotto win.

 

[MapisM]

I'm not sure whether the way I got hooked can be so interesting. It was very unpredictable anyhow.
What I'm pretty sure of - because I've seen it often - is that in many cases people get into boating just for one simple reason:
it's fancy. It's fancy telling your friends and colleagues about your boating experiences. It's fancy inviting them aboard and play the captain's role.
But at the end, if this remains you only reason, you are likely to spend most of your boating experience thinking about the next (greater of course) boat. The permanent rule of the "fancy" boaters is: my current boat is just missing another 3 or 4 feets.
Therefore, here's my two cents: if you find your own reasons, go ahead.
If you are attracted by boating just because it's fancy, think again.

 

[rich]

living on an island,what else, too do, i'd proberly be a millionair by now if i didn't own so many boats the last 30 40 years, time out on boat comes first''''''''''''''' sorry, second after 6 year old dinghy rower, \daddys little girl./
rich )<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by rich on Mon Apr 29 23:40:05 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Gludy]

Only got hooked last September when I bought my first boat. Had no history with boats to speak about, then went out in a friend's 18 footer and that was it.

Started with a nice low budget, which wwas trebled over the period of one month and having been loyal to her all winter, I am now looking forward to really getting out in her for good long trips.

If you do not do it now, you may never have the chance again - life has its twists and turns - so just do it now, you seem to me to be already hooked - all you need to do now is allow yourself to be played in.

Paul

 

[terryw]

12 months ago I was in the same situation as yourself. I had for many years wanted a boat, but for one reason or another just never took the final step. Many years ago I borrowed a friends boat ( a Seamaster 27) for the weekend, but never took it out. It was moored at the Pike and Eel marina in Earith, Cambs. I remember the weekend was very relaxing, and enjoyed being around the other boats. Last year, on a boring sunday, I took the wife to the marina, and she loved the place. We were approached by one of the staff whilst looking around, and asked if he could help. Here came the question which would change our lives forever (and bank balance) "Have you anything for sale for around £10,000". Of course the answer was yes, and after looking at a couple we were shown a Seamaster 27. The memories came flooding back, and within 5 minutes we agreed to buy it.
To cut a very long story short, we had a few engine problems (which were sorted by the previous owner), and managed to get out only a few times, but we were sold on this boating lark, and met many very friendly and helpful boaters during the season. I spent many cold days during the winter preparing her for this season, and then went to the boat show.
To cut the story even shorter, we sold the boat for what we paid for it, bought a new 25' coastal cruiser, took delivery last friday in a force 7 wind, made a complete hash of parking it, but can't wait for this weekend so we can terrorise all those experienced boaters in the Solent.
The bottom line, IMO if you think you want it buy an older boat for around the £10k mark, try it, and see how you enjoy it. If it's not for you, sell the boat and say "at least we tried". If it is for you say goodbye to your bank balance and credit rating.
Enjoy.
Terry

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

By watching Howards Way and being dragged to the London Boat Show by a mate and being seduced by acres of naked flesh and fibreglass. My first boat was bought together with that mate and we had a hilarious time pub crawling on the Thames which is a great way to start because you quickly learn the basics of boat handling on a river. We soon started to extend our trips into the Thames Estuary, got a taste for the sea, bought a boat of my own moored in Southampton and never looked back
If you're starting out, it really needs to be a toe in the water exercise. Try chartering a boat for a holiday first, maybe on the Thames or the Broads to get a feel for being on the water and then, if you're so inclined, do a Day Skipper course on a sea boat. If you decide to buy a boat, recognise that you might go thru several boats before you know what you want so dont buy new coz you'll lose a packet of money

 

[Will_M]

No choice, parents you see, as such born into it.... Fortunately never not been without a boat. )

Had I had the choice I would not have had it any other way!

 

[AJW]

Grew up on the Norfolk Broads so can heartily recommend it as a place to learn close quarters boat handling - both power and sail. My Parents and Grandparents had a 26ft motor cruiser which I spent most of my childhood on. Dad started sailing too so also progressed through Mirror Dinghy to 7m Yacht. Best times were as a 15yr old yoof taking the motor cruiser away for a week with my mates. Also started doing rescue boat with the local sailing club and developed a taste for speed (or as much as you can in a 13ft Dory with a 25hp outboard!). Left boating to muck around in 4x4's for a while but got drawn back into it. The need for speed and desire for roughty-toughty offshore boating drew me to RIBS and I discovered the most fun you can have in a drysuit. Current boat is 7.5m Scorpion RIB, Highlight of boating experience so far was circumnavigation of UK in 9.5m RIB in 10 days last summer.

I still get a guilty thrill about going faster than 5mph ... broads speedlimit still ingrained!

If you fancy the Ribbing experience and are near the East Coast let me know.

Cheers,
Alan