How to buy a boat

[spudmurphy]

Hi to all, I am new on here and to be honest completely new to anything boating

Hopefully over the next couple of months, or maybe early next year I will be investing several of my hard earned pennies into buying a boat. Ideally I want an engined boat (dont really know how to sail) with around 4 berths.

Before that though I have a lot of questions cos as I said I am completely new to all this so here goes.

Are there any good books/magazines out there that would be a good investment, I am looking to learn all about boats, how to build and equip one through to watercraft.

I presume you have to insure a boat, what sort of money does this cost, tens a year, hundreds a year or thousands ? obviously I understand that there will be conditions on this but I am after a 'ballpark' kinda figure. Also what sort of cover do you get on a boat insurance policy?

Do you need a licence or anything to sail a boat, and do you need to tax it or register it with someone?

Any help with any of this would be greatly appreciated with this peeps, I am not a spoilt kid who has money to waste but I have been saving money for a few years and decided to invest in something that would give me back what I put in. I had orginally thought of property abroad but dont have the money, and it wouldnt have the flexibility of a boat. So here I am serious about wanting to take it up but completely clueless as to what I am doing :? .


Cheers guys, SPUD

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[Wiggo]

Depends, Allan. Try doing a search here, as these questions come up a lot. In simple terms, before the panel can advise, you'd better give us some more info...

How much are you thinking of spending? What sort of boating?(rivers/canals/estuaries/open sea)?
Where will you base the boat?
Who will be using it?
What do they think they want to get out of it?

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[penfold]

If you can spare a few hours I would suggest trawling the forum archive, or using the search engine to find stuff on specific subjects. The main problem is you've asked a 'how long is a piece of string?' question; nobody can pin down a sensible insurance figure without knowing what size/type of boat, engine power, value, geographical location, likely radius of use, etc. and by the sound of it neither can you.

Magazines; most peeps on here read Motor Boat Monthly, Motor Boats & Yachting, Practical Boat Owner, Boat Mart, etc. Go down to your local WHSmith and annoy the staff by reading all the boaty type mags; buy the ones which have articles or boats for sale which interest you.

Your local library may have some generic books on boating; borrow them. If they don't, get the librarian to get some in; that's what they are there for, not just saying 'shush!'.

On tidal/salt waters you don't need any licences or qualifications. However, going afloat without getting some basic training is daft and dangerous. Unless you have boaty friends who are willing to give you some sea-time, RYA qualifications are the best bet; PowerBoat 1 and 2, Competent Crew, DaySkipper etc. You'll find adverts for instructors and sea schools at the back of your boaty mags.

Finally, don't buy a boat yet! Hire different boats to find out what you like or need. If you go to a sea-school to do RYA courses, ask to have a go on all the different boats they have available. Better still, find someone local who has a boat but lacks regular crew; solve two problems in one go.

cheers,
david

<hr width=100% size=1>This candidate has low personal standards, and continually fails to meet them.

 

[spudmurphy]

Hey guys cheers for the quick responses. I see what you mean with the piece of string analogy, have spent the last few (well actually 4 !!) hours trawling through the archives on this forum and feel like my head is goona explode the amount of new stuff I have learnt .

Ideally the boat I would like is going to be used at sea, based anywhere really in the Northwest, I live just outside Preston so am in easy reach of the coast anywhere from North Wales to the Lakes. I've always liked the idea of having a boat but a recent change of career has left me with around 15k to spend. I would like a boat that I could (and I'm sorry if I have over simplified things here, I really dont know) go to on Friday afternoon and sail my way to France or similar for a week. I picked up boat trader from a petrol station at dinner time and now realise the variety of boats available, and as such intend to do a good bit of research to find out what I want. Looked at the link on your post Wiggo, thats a very nice boat mate, I think thats kind of what I am after but not quite that expensive ha ha.

These RYA courses seem to be a good idea, I have seen a couple of adverts in the back of boat trader so will follow these up and see where they are available near me.

Thanks for your help, hopefully you wont get fed up with the questions before I get a chance to meet some of you.

Ta ta for now, Allan.

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[Wiggo]

Allan,

well, that's narrowed it down a great deal. You want to leave Preston on Friday PM and do France for the weekend. About 700nm round trip, at a guess, so to have some quality time there, you need to average 70kts. Fabio Buzzi built something that'd suit, but maybe not at the price... ;-)

OK, so now we know some of the parameters, you should get some useful advice.

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[BarryH]

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>

you should get some useful advice.

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'scuse me while I wet myself laughing!!

Don't do it. Stay boatless. You'll thank me in the long run

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[gjgm]

God , if you ve spent all that time trawling (ho-ho) through this forum, you probably do need your head checked!
Anyway, common advice is try to get out on a few boats. Most people are keen to show off their pride and joy! And budget wise, bargain hard. I cant advise on how much, but some posts here have said 10-20pct,even up to 30 pct. Depends on the boat and the asking price I guess, but its much easier to buy ,than sell aboat. If you know nothing about it, then what you think you want to do (eg potter over to France) may not be what you discover you really enjoy. Experience says that hardly anyone gets the boat right first purchase- for whatever reason.Also please do remember that out of whatever budget, you do need to make considerable allowance for servicing ,repair, fuel, marina/mooring ,safety equipment and training. And the further away from land you want to go , the better prepared you must be. The RYA do some quite good small booklets about various aspects of boating for about £7 each, that will give you some insight into types of boats,skills,equipment etc. If you dont have a local specialist store, their website doubtless has details.
Otherwise, welcome aboard ! Hope you have lots of fun...

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[spudmurphy]

Wiggo, not totally sure but I detect a hint of sarcasm in your voice I take it that 70 knots is quite fast, and I am guessing that boats by Buzzi are something a bit special then. OK not necessarily for the weekend, would be nice to go anywhere at the weekend, but would certainly like the ability to travel to the continent if I desired.


Allan



ha ha ha ha ha, a quick google search for Fabio Buzzi tells me you are having a bit of a dig, nice one mate. mmmmmm Yes a power boat would be nice, but not sure you could berth me and a couple of others in one.

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[Wiggo]

No, his bank manager will, though...

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[hlb]

I fink wot Wiggo is saying. You really do need to do a bit more research (Maybe a year or two) on boats and what each one is capable of. Before asking this eminant pannel of experts, there opinion. At the moment It's a bit like asking Gardeners Question Time about the suitabilty of dandilions for a rockery..../forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[lanason]

700 mn in a weekend is one hell of a trip for anyone /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
70 knots is one hell of a speed /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
put em together and you've got a big headache.

Preston to France in a boat worth 15k is rather unrealistic /forums/images/icons/crazy.gif IMHO

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[Wiggo]

Re: Blinding flash of inspiration

Go and buy a copy of that MBY 'Buying a Power Boat' thing for four quid from the newsagents. Answers most of the obvious questions and will get you back here with a far better idea of what you are looking for.

Can I have my commission now, please, Kim?

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[spudmurphy]

Hey guys chill out, some good advice goin on here but a few sarcy digs that aren't really helpin :-( . Will definitely be buying and borrowing all literature I can over the coming months. But on advice I think I will push back the actual purchase well into next year, may have a few more pennies then aswell.

I also intend to do a few of these courses, actually as many as I can, I'm the sort of person who enjoys learning something new, part of the reason I am looking at a boat. The other reaon for doing the courses is I dont want to end up like that dude who tried to sail to France or Ireland (I dont recall which) with an AA atlas. I'm not a fool and realise that there is much to learn, or much trouble to get into, but once enough is learned I imagine the boat owning experience is a good one.

Hopefully as I learn more (cant really know much less) I will be able to throw a few more directed questions your way, and hopefully the answers and advice will be just as helpfull.

Cheers, Allan.

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[hlb]

Ok. I'll try to help. For 15 grand you can have a boat on a trailer, maybe 22ft. Sail it round Windermere. Cost fortunes in petrol. But then the speed limit starts shortly. So thats out. You cant sail the sort of boatyour looking at from Preston. In fact I've never seen any sort of boat move from Preston!! Now to give you a clue, I live very close to you but keep my boat in Plymouth.

Now you could keep it in Pwhelli except it's full. Or Abersock, but on trailer, tractor launch maybe. But you will have to stick to dat return sailing, else go to Portmadog for the night if you can get the tide and navigatory thingy right. But you canot go to France.

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[Dave1258]

"H" is right Spud, think long and hard about what you REALLY want from boating, believe me mate it is amongst one of the most expensive hobby/pastime pleasures going.
It doesn't stop at buying, consider thing like insurance, maintenance, berthing fees, (if kept in Marina). Forget France mate,.....it's not gonna happen from sunny Lancs.!!.
Out there somewhere there will be a boat for you, the best advice I can offer is write down what you want from boating, and then "weigh the pro's and con's".
Best of luck and happy boating with whatever you choose. Regards Dave.

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[powerskipper]

Go to the London Boat show and look and ask lots and lots of questions, Its fun and educational, good luck,

<hr width=100% size=1>Julie

 

[lanason]

"a few sarcy digs that aren't really helpin "

hope that wasnt aimed at me - cus if it was you need to re-read it.

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[oldgit]

Welcome aboard Allan.You will either take to this forum and enjoy the gentle urine removal or not as the case may be.Stick with it and you will gain a lot of pain free experience. I have learnt loads here mainly from people not afraid to "help" even if that means telling me that i am talking b......ks. Ask away.but do not take offence if some of the posts (esp late night) have brewery flavoured answers./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[toad]

Go down to your local boat club( preferable one that has both power and sail),put a note on the notice board offering to crew and look/listen a lot.

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