How 'difficult' is powerboating?

[DreJ]

Hello, I'm looking to getting into boating and am looking at the 40-50 foot flybridge range.

I wanted to get some opinions on the level of proficiency/skill required when first starting out. Is piloting such a boat difficult? I understand these boats will have joysticks that make the ease of use much higher, but is it something that can be learnt in your own boat without any prior practice?

Do the majority of first-time boat owners just learn by doing? Or are courses common?

Continuing the question of difficulty, how difficult is it for example to cross the English Channel into Europe? How does a first-timer learn about navigation, traffic, GPS, radio, wind, tide etc. Is this something simply picked up from learning by doing and practice?

Essentially I'd just like to get some advice on how difficult it is for a first-timer to pilot a a 50 foot yacht. Initially I thought it would be advised against but it seems it's common for first-timers to jump into such boats without having owned a smaller boat. I'd also like some information on how first-timers learn the ropes.

Thanks for all the help

 

[julians]

There are various training courses and qualifications such as the rya day skipper qualification or the powerboat qualifications plus you can pay for an instructor to give you boat handling lessons using either your own boat or their boat.

Have a look on here

Courses | Courses & Training | RYA - Royal Yachting Association

 

[Sharky34]

Hello, I'm looking to getting into boating and am looking at the 40-50 foot flybridge range.

I wanted to get some opinions on the level of proficiency/skill required when first starting out. Is piloting such a boat difficult? I understand these boats will have joysticks that make the ease of use much higher, but is it something that can be learnt in your own boat without any prior practice?

Do the majority of first-time boat owners just learn by doing? Or are courses common?

Continuing the question of difficulty, how difficult is it for example to cross the English Channel into Europe? How does a first-timer learn about navigation, traffic, GPS, radio, wind, tide etc. Is this something simply picked up from learning by doing and practice?

Essentially I'd just like to get some advice on how difficult it is for a first-timer to pilot a a 50 foot yacht. Initially I thought it would be advised against but it seems it's common for first-timers to jump into such boats without having owned a smaller boat. I'd also like some information on how first-timers learn the ropes.

Thanks for all the help

Not as easy as some 'rags & sticks' sailors think.
Going at some reasonable pace, can, be relatively easy, but when it gets to 'parking', with all that windage & nothing like a keel to control the elements, it can get difficult.
Any 'bump' can be expensive, so panic can set in. You are up high on a flybridge, so how are you going to handle mooring lines etc?
Get on a course, preferably with a similar boat, before you buy one.
As regards all the rest, apparently mobo's have no understanding of 'rules of the road', as any 'raggie' can testify.

 

[BruceK]

Disregarding rules and obligations of which there is a plethora you will need to know piloting a 50 footer on the open water is a doddle if it's deep enough. Not a helluva lot to run into. Just wait till you have to Med berth that thing though and the boats either side cost more than you made in a lifetime and you have a foot gap either side. No amount of joystick is going to stop that heart from pumping 140bmp. No, it can be made easier but easy it wont be until you've had years of practise.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Not as easy as some 'rags & sticks' sailors think.
Going at some reasonable pace, can, be relatively easy, but when it gets to 'parking', with all that windage & nothing like a keel to control the elements, it can get difficult.
Any 'bump' can be expensive, so panic can set in. You are up high on a flybridge, so how are you going to handle mooring lines etc?
Get on a course, preferably with a similar boat, before you buy one.
As regards all the rest, apparently mobo's have no understanding of 'rules of the road', as any 'raggie' can testify.

Mostly true, except the last sentence which you can ignore.
There are lots of skills you need to acquire to go boating safely and you correctly identify some of them.

As far as 'driving the boat' is concerned. Out on the open sea it's easy enough. It's parking the thing close to lots of other very expensive boats that gets challenging. Relationships get fraught and voices get raised and before you know it, you're boating by yourself...

The navigation and IRPCS are relatively straightforward to learn in theory, but you need to get some good habits before you start, or you'll rely on driving the boat round the screen of the GPS Plotter and with not much idea what to do if it goes blank. You also need to have some grasp of prior preparation and planning. (It can happen a bit too quickly on a big motorboat to do it while you're actually on passage.)

A 50' Flybridge is a big boat to start out on, and is a fairly serious investment.

Some private tuition one-to-one from a good instructor would be a very good investment if you don't want to go to a sea school. I commend the sea school though. (But I would as I'm and instructor and examiner for the RYA)

 

[john_morris_uk]

Disregarding rules and obligations of which there is a plethora you will need to know piloting a 50 footer on the open water is a doddle if it's deep enough. Not a helluva lot to run into. Just wait till you have to Med berth that thing though and the boats either side cost more than you made in a lifetime and you have a foot gap either side. No amount of joystick is going to stop that heart from pumping 140bmp. No, it can be made easier but easy it wont be until you've had years of practise.

And I respectfully suggest that you need to be able to do it without the joystick as well. (I find the lag time on some of them quite off-putting at times.)

 

[BruceK]

Dont point your finger at me. I dont even have bow thrusters. I'm all natural I am. Fenders, spring lines and a paying audience.

 

[Sharky34]

Mostly true, except the last sentence which you can ignore.
There are lots of skills you need to acquire to go boating safely and you correctly identify some of them.

As far as 'driving the boat' is concerned. Out on the open sea it's easy enough. It's parking the thing close to lots of other very expensive boats that gets challenging. Relationships get fraught and voices get raised and before you know it, you're boating by yourself...

The navigation and IRPCS are relatively straightforward to learn in theory, but you need to get some good habits before you start, or you'll rely on driving the boat round the screen of the GPS Plotter and with not much idea what to do if it goes blank. You also need to have some grasp of prior preparation and planning. (It can happen a bit too quickly on a big motorboat to do it while you're actually on passage.)

A 50' Flybridge is a big boat to start out on, and is a fairly serious investment.
Some private tuition one-to-one from a good instructor would be a very good investment if you don't want to go to a sea school. I commend the sea school though. (But I would as I'm and instructor and examiner for the RYA)

Lost your sense of humour I notice.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Lost your sense of humour I notice.

Yep. Not a good day today.

 

[BruceK]

RYA types are not celebrated for their sense of humour. It's all very serious stuff.

 

[john_morris_uk]

RYA types are not celebrated for their sense of humour. It's all very serious stuff.

Very funny. I've regained it.

 

[Portofino]

It’s compulsory training in France even for a jet ski .Google French boat permit .
Then buy or acquire training ( once you appreciate the rules by passing a test ) on your own boat .
But there’s no substitute for experience at the end of the day .
Part of the practical of the French is actually bringing the boat parallel to the fuel pontoon to a halt .Touch the sides clumsily and it’s a fail .
Think driving test theory and practical.
Plenty of bateau ecoles on the CdA .Book wife n kids into a hotel near beaches while you swan off .Takes about a week with exams on the Friday .
I did one in 2003 , the ticket up to 24 m load L .

If it’s windy in the Med you radio the captaineries for assistances......they come out with ribs and steady you as you back in .

Joysticks ....Don,t bother learn it properly.Btw no joysticks at bateau ecole .

UK regs are silent but that does not mean it ok to rock up @ Sunseeker , do a bank transfer and 1 hr later try and sail away in a 84 Ft sport yacht .Legally there’s nothing stopping you .
Or under a U.K. flag shipping off to the med and turning up in Monaco reeking havoc.

Train in the med .
Brexit .....think carefully whose s qualifications are not gonna get disallowed if things ( we still really don,t know ) if excrement hits the fan .Starting out now with zilch qualys and the intention of med boating it’s a no brainer Imho .

Where are proposing to berth it ...,which country?
You did not say on your “ which best boat “ thread .
Might influence the answerers to some of your Q s .

 

[Sticky Fingers]

And I respectfully suggest that you need to be able to do it without the joystick as well. (I find the lag time on some of them quite off-putting at times.)

Ain't that the truth. In my limited experience so far, joystick parking seemed reasonably easy. Non-joystick parking, err, well let's say at least 10 times more mentally challenging. Same result achieved but the muscle memory to juggle wheel, gear and b/t if needed, will take time to build up.

 

[BruceK]

I think we have already covered the, you really need to get skilled up and trained bit Porto. It's a no brainer.

And Scala, it hasn't taken you long to fall from grace has it. 48 hours in a Mobo and you're already walking down The Hall of Shame.

 

[Freebee]

Its all very well buying a 50 foot boat with all the bells and whistles but you need to know what happens when they fail and how to cope, and they will fail right at the moment when you think you need them the most.!!!

 

[stiknstring1]

I'm with you all the way, Scala. Just parking my little 30" Targa, no keel, no rudder, an exceptionally powerful single engine (to me anyway) with an outdrive - thank god for the b/t which I am trying to use less and less. Are you still in the Hamble? I've just arrived at PH marina (E31) - pop over and say hello if you have the time. I will be the one with the red face and trembling hands........

 

[BruceK]

Its all very well buying a 50 foot boat with all the bells and whistles but you need to know what happens when they fail and how to cope, and they will fail right at the moment when you think you need them the most.!!!

Engines are funny that way too. Ask Kwakkers what he did to my boat on launch last season. Thank goodness my neighbour had his tender out on the davits to act as a fender.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

...
And Scala, it hasn't taken you long to fall from grace has it. 48 hours in a Mobo and you're already walking down The Hall of Shame.

You mean 'using the joystick' I guess so, well in my own defence that was day 1, and then on day 2 when Mark was with me I never touched it. Honest guv.

 

[ICTM]

Buying it is the easy bit, being able to insure it with no experience ,training, qualifications etc will, I would imagine, be very difficult.

 

[BruceK]

You mean 'using the joystick' I guess so, well in my own defence that was day 1, and then on day 2 when Mark was with me I never touched it. Honest guv.

Absolutely nothing wrong with using whatever is at your disposal so long as you are capable of using everything at your disposal mate