Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Yours is the Botnia with the largest D6 sterndrive known to mankind I think?
Yes, on the Hamble, I'm at Swanwick, but we like PH for an overnight to enjoy the Hamble
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How 'difficult' is powerboating?
- Thread starter DreJ
- Start date
Yes, on the Hamble, I'm at Swanwick, but we like PH for an overnight to enjoy the Hamble
CLB
Well-Known Member
You can do a serious amount of damage to both property and people with a boat of that size (and smaller) Get some training. In my mind it would be foolish to just jump into a 50 footer with no experience and expect to 'learn' how to handle it. Then there is the navigation and rules of the road. You can get into some serious trouble with officials if you don't have some basic idea. There are cases of fines of a few thousand pounds for leisure skippers ignoring the rules for crossing a TSS as an example.
I would suggest a minimum of Dayskipper theory and practical, but do the practical either on your own boat or something similar. When I did dayskipper practical, there wasn't much close quarters maneuvering practice, so a separate session with a qualified instructor to do nothing but close quarters stuff would also pay dividends. I would suggest a couple of days. Bow thrusters and joysticks are nice, but I think everyone should know how to drive their boat without them as electric and electronics on boats are prone to just failing without much notice. Learn how to drive using just the engines so you have half a chance of mooring up without damage if they stop working.
To be honest, the thought of someone with no experience at all at the helm of a 50 footer scares the bejesus out of me. If they were moored next to me, I would be looking for a new berth.
I would suggest a minimum of Dayskipper theory and practical, but do the practical either on your own boat or something similar. When I did dayskipper practical, there wasn't much close quarters maneuvering practice, so a separate session with a qualified instructor to do nothing but close quarters stuff would also pay dividends. I would suggest a couple of days. Bow thrusters and joysticks are nice, but I think everyone should know how to drive their boat without them as electric and electronics on boats are prone to just failing without much notice. Learn how to drive using just the engines so you have half a chance of mooring up without damage if they stop working.
To be honest, the thought of someone with no experience at all at the helm of a 50 footer scares the bejesus out of me. If they were moored next to me, I would be looking for a new berth.
DreJ
New Member
Hi. The plan at the moment is to berth in the South of France. This is all in theory though as I haven't looked into marina costs. I'm assuming the French theory and practical can be done in English?
Easticks28
Well-Known Member
As the Rolls Royce salesman reputedly said to a customer " If that is of concern you can't afford this model sir "
DreJ
New Member
Thanks for the reply. This is very helpful. The most we've done is the RYA powerboat course but they was done on a small rhib which no way compares and being honest that was around 2 years ago and I've probably forgot all of what was taught despite it being very minimal. I will definitely look into the day skipper theory and practical. How would you go about doing the course on your own boat? Simply get in contact with an RYA centre and inquire?
DreJ
New Member
Hehe that's for sure.As the Rolls Royce salesman reputedly said to a customer " If that is of concern you can't afford this model sir "
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
France. Tests in English. I doubt it.
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Yes, lots of them offer 'own boat' tuition. If you have a regular crew eg partner or kids they can be trained at the same time. Very worthwhile.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
That’s about it. Most schools will supply an instructor on request. Ask around and get some personal recommendations.
Portofino
Well-Known Member
I rent a berth I own in the SoF berth out for over €17000 pa .....it’s got a Failrline 50 in it .But prices vary slightly.
Finding one to rent is hard.Buy is easier and gives you security.
I have kicked tenants out previously....months notice that’s all , because plans change .
You need to peruse the various berth broker sites try Inwards as an example, or Sunseeker .Fr .....to give you an idea .
The bateau ecole in Cavalaire/ Lavandou did an Eng course + translated exam ( MCQ ) .....she was a Fr Canadian.
Interestingly the practical examiners mother was a French teacher in Harrogate and he was brought up as kid in England so he was fully fluent .
I did it with a German banker based NY who spoke fluent Eng and a 17 y from Sweden who’s dad had a 50 ftr and he wanted to qualy up .Eng is a popular go to language ....fortunately.
It was a long time ago but if you enquire there will be a school doing the thing in Eng along the CdA .
As some one mentioned ^^^ interesting to see if you get any insurance?
There are plenty of hazards / shoals / rocks about along that coast .
One year snorkelling to clean the stern gear ,saw 4 recent wrecks 3 motorboats one sail boat .
But there’s a lot of boats from Cannes to Monaco....thousands many thousands.
Portofino
Well-Known Member
There are eng RYA schools in the CdA if he ends up going down the RYA route in the sun and even on your own boat .
Sunseeker have it all mapped out .....removed all the barriers to entry .
Don,t know how much a day it is or how negotiable it is if you are buying from them .....but it’s all do able .
Just a slight doubt the RYA stuff might be sacrificed as a pawn due to Brexit .
Until told / assured other wise in my planning strategy at this moment in time it’s still on the table .
Obviously hope for many Med boaters sake it’s ( the reciprocal EU boat qualifications ) not raked over .
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Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
OK, RYA schools I understand, but they're not Fr qualifications are they?
Hooligan
Well-Known Member
I transitioned from years on various sized speedboats to a 58 ft Fly in the Med. Fist you have to have an ICC if you want to be in the Med and I strongly suggest that you take a course and qualify, and this is a minimum. I did a three day course with Mendes Marine in the Hamble. This is a great training as in the UK you need to deal with wind and tides. the Med is a lot easier when things blow up because you do not have to factor in tides although once you are used to the tidal flows you can actually use them to your advantage, but it is a complication in the early days. I then did a summer cruise on a chartered boat with a skipper who basically oversaw all the various challenges as I did them. This was with the family onboard so real life so as to speak. that was a 10 day trip. Finally when I ventured to my own boat - a s58 - I had a qualified teacher/skipper spend three days before the family came out to help go through the boat and how it works etc, and do drills etc etc. My personal experience since then is as follows: twin shaft boats are quite easy to manoevre in general and in a wird way at times easier than a single engine outboard especially around docking. The key is doing everything slowly and never panic. The biggest challenge I had and it took at least one season to figure out was anchoring. Overall I would say that as long as you prepare well, have good support onboard, are sensible and make sure you constantly ask advice and understand what you do not know, then you will be fine. I have since taken the boat from Spain to Italy, spend a lot of time overnight on anchor and have faced a few challenges along the way. Not for the timid and this is a big boat to start with but doable.
Switch
Well-Known Member
When I started boating (about 12 years ago) I didn’t know anything – I just wanted to get a boat. Before buying one though I chartered one in Menorca for a week and did an ICC course. An instructor joined us every day and taught us the basics of boat handling, colregs, maintenance checks etc. It was a great way to learn and we really enjoyed it, so much so we chartered again the following year (a larger boat). I’d done my day skipper theory and practical in the meantime so we were allowed to take the boat out on our own. Soon after we decided to buy our own boat. My point is that chartering is a good way to learn as you don’t have the stress of worrying about your own boat so you can just concentrate on learning.
Once you get your own boat you should definitely have some ‘own boat’ tuition though.
Once you get your own boat you should definitely have some ‘own boat’ tuition though.
tico
Well-Known Member
How is it , underneath that bridge?
DreJ
New Member
Hi thanks for the info. Just had a look at Mendez Marine and looks great. Did you only do the practical Day skipper or did you do the theory as well?
Thanks.
CLB
Well-Known Member
If that is aimed at the OP, I think benefit of the doubt is required. Plenty of people go straight into 40-50 boats with little or no experience. I am prepared to offer advice based on the OP being factual until it is proved otherwise. If it is a troll, then I have been suckered in, but so what. Only a few pixels wasted
DreJ
New Member
What would I gain from trolling in asking a genuine question...
Hooligan
Well-Known Member
I did both. they were excellent and it really made all the difference.
jrudge
Well-Known Member
Handing a boat is not "difficult", and the bigger the boat generally the easier it is to handle.
As other say get an PB level 2 ( ICC) - 2 days and a Day Skipper - 4 days and you should be set. Get it done on your own boat. Use the joystick toys - but do learn how to do it with throttles.
There are no UK qualifications required but your insurer will most likely require training ( mine did).
A boat is however a responsibility - to your passengers, other users and yourself - if only financially. This goes above simple boat handling and needs judgement as to weather, and dealing with issues. Judgment takes time. Boats are complex mechanical things and regardless of age things go wrong. A mechanical bent to fault fine, fix it and carry the correct spares is useful. I did a RYA Diesel engine course - not really sure I ever used what it taught me - but over a season a lot of things require ( often minor ) fixes. Again don't think it is an age thing - it really isn't. My last boat was a new Squadron 65 - it had more issues - not major ones really - than my current 2004 Squadron 58.
Decent boat handling ( like flying) is staying ahead of the boat. This is mostly relevant when in close quarters.
There are some who wait for a situation to develop and then (badly) deal with it. Others see a situation developing and give it a nudge so it is never an issue. To me that is partly experience and partly personality.
Berths in SOF are tricky. Renting is very tricky and most people who can't do with the hassle and being evicted just buy one.
Have fun
As other say get an PB level 2 ( ICC) - 2 days and a Day Skipper - 4 days and you should be set. Get it done on your own boat. Use the joystick toys - but do learn how to do it with throttles.
There are no UK qualifications required but your insurer will most likely require training ( mine did).
A boat is however a responsibility - to your passengers, other users and yourself - if only financially. This goes above simple boat handling and needs judgement as to weather, and dealing with issues. Judgment takes time. Boats are complex mechanical things and regardless of age things go wrong. A mechanical bent to fault fine, fix it and carry the correct spares is useful. I did a RYA Diesel engine course - not really sure I ever used what it taught me - but over a season a lot of things require ( often minor ) fixes. Again don't think it is an age thing - it really isn't. My last boat was a new Squadron 65 - it had more issues - not major ones really - than my current 2004 Squadron 58.
Decent boat handling ( like flying) is staying ahead of the boat. This is mostly relevant when in close quarters.
There are some who wait for a situation to develop and then (badly) deal with it. Others see a situation developing and give it a nudge so it is never an issue. To me that is partly experience and partly personality.
Berths in SOF are tricky. Renting is very tricky and most people who can't do with the hassle and being evicted just buy one.
Have fun
