Marital Harmony

[Richard.C]

A bit of background:

I have 25+yrs boating experience although all sailing not motorboat but have been away from boats for 17yrs now. I now have a lovely wife but she has no boating past and is hesitant about boating. I'd like to get a motorboat of a reasonable size and either spend some time on the south coast retracing my youth or even possibly keep a boat in the med.

I'm considering a skippered day charter on the south coast to get my wife on board a 40+ft boat without pressure of responsibility to hopefully give her a good experience to build upon.

Just wondering if anyone on here has had a similar experience or if others can offer any advice. I'd really like to get back into boating but it's not the end of the world if my wife doesn't take to it, it's most important to me that we do it together or not at all.

Another thing to mention is that we live in Lincoln so a pretty hefty drive from the south coast which does add a further negative.

Anyway all and any advice/opinions are appreciated.

Richard

 

[zt260]

If she dosent take to the sea boating why not take her to burton waters in Lincoln show her some boats and look at river boating, from there you can do a bit of both

regds ash

 

[Wavey]

Knowing the reason for her hesitancy would be useful. Is it her lack of experience of boats, is she not a confident swimmer, or perhaps feels nervous about being out in deep water? Easier to know how to build her confidence if you know why she's hesitant about the idea.

 

[Richard.C]

Thanks Ash, probably a good first step, I'll talk to Burton, hopefully the broker could let us look around a couple of boats without any sales pressure. I don't think I'd get what I am looking for from the river or the East coast to be honest. The last sailing boat my father owned was in Dartmouth and such a beautiful place kind of spoils you!

Richard

If she dosent take to the sea boating why not take her to burton waters in Lincoln show her some boats and look at river boating, from there you can do a bit of both

regds ash

 

[Richard.C]

Thanks Wavey, I would say a general fear of the water and unknown, she doesn't swim but we've been on ferry's, small boats and she did spend a day in Dartmouth on our last sailing boat back in 1998. She didn't show any signs of nervousness but that was a long time ago and age can make us all a little less adventurous I guess.

Richard

Knowing the reason for her hesitancy would be useful. Is it her lack of experience of boats, is she not a confident swimmer, or perhaps feels nervous about being out in deep water? Easier to know how to build her confidence if you know why she's hesitant about the idea.

 

[Andy Bav]

Not dissimilar to when we decided to move to a motor cruiser - we knew what an 18ft and 24 foot boat felt like underway, but looking around boats in a marina / boat show and feeling them underway are 2 different feelings.

What helped us were visits to both Essex Boatyards (as was) and Sealine South Coast (as was ?@!), both of which gave us a c15 minute sea trials. One thing my wife was concerend about was sea sickness in a bigger boat, and the 2 trials allayed her fears.

If she likes what she sees in a relatively calm environment, a dealer may offer to take you out to get a feel for what it is like underway.

Good luck

 

[CX54WEK]

Thanks Ash, probably a good first step, I'll talk to Burton, hopefully the broker could let us look around a couple of boats without any sales pressure. I don't think I'd get what I am looking for from the river or the East coast to be honest. The last sailing boat my father owned was in Dartmouth and such a beautiful place kind of spoils you!

Richard

It does very much depend what you are looking for but there are some beautiful places along the rivers in that area and also the east coast.

Our boat has been based at Burton Waters for seven and a half years now and we do a fair old mix of river and coastal cruising. We are heading off to Wells next the Sea in a couple of weeks which is a lovely cruise taking in the Witham, the Wash and the North Norfolk coast.

 

[henryf]

Going down the charter route means she won't have the panic of having to do ropes etc and also the person at the wheel and their crew hopefully know what they are doing. There are no frantic arm waving and shouting episodes.

The bigger the boat the friendlier the ride and the more secure she would feel. A flybridge will probably give more of a sense of protection over a sports boat.

The Solent is fairly well sheltered when compared to more exposed areas and you don't have to go that far to reach your destination. Going to look at boats is ok but you need to get out on the water.

Henry

 

[Richard.C]

Thanks Andy, I don't think my wife has ever been on a boat long enough out at sea for sea sickness to be a factor, up until I was about 17yrs old I would be sea sick for pretty much the entire channel crossing. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Trouble was that was at 5 knots so a good 11 hour crossing.

Richard

Not dissimilar to when we decided to move to a motor cruiser - we knew what an 18ft and 24 foot boat felt like underway, but looking around boats in a marina / boat show and feeling them underway are 2 different feelings.

What helped us were visits to both Essex Boatyards (as was) and Sealine South Coast (as was ?@!), both of which gave us a c15 minute sea trials. One thing my wife was concerend about was sea sickness in a bigger boat, and the 2 trials allayed her fears.

If she likes what she sees in a relatively calm environment, a dealer may offer to take you out to get a feel for what it is like underway.

Good luck

 

[Richard.C]

Thanks, I could be a little hasty in dismissing it.

Richard

It does very much depend what you are looking for but there are some beautiful places along the rivers in that area and also the east coast.

Our boat has been based at Burton Waters for seven and a half years now and we do a fair old mix of river and coastal cruising. We are heading off to Wells next the Sea in a couple of weeks which is a lovely cruise taking in the Witham, the Wash and the North Norfolk coast.

 

[deuc02]

The bigger the boat the friendlier the ride and the more secure she would feel. A flybridge will probably give more of a sense of protection over a sports boat.

The Solent is fairly well sheltered when compared to more exposed areas

Henry

Some good points - know any charter companies that fit the bill

 

[Richard.C]

Thanks Henry, I think you've summed up the reasons why I thought a charter would be a no pressure taster. Definitely looking for a flybridge boat to buy, would like the saloon space to relax away from the weather.

Now if only I knew someone with a Princess 50 for charter? That would fit the bill quite nicely I think

Richard

Going down the charter route means she won't have the panic of having to do ropes etc and also the person at the wheel and their crew hopefully know what they are doing. There are no frantic arm waving and shouting episodes.

The bigger the boat the friendlier the ride and the more secure she would feel. A flybridge will probably give more of a sense of protection over a sports boat.

The Solent is fairly well sheltered when compared to more exposed areas and you don't have to go that far to reach your destination. Going to look at boats is ok but you need to get out on the water.

Henry

 

[fireball]

Definitely charter a few times - but if it were me I'd look at a short holiday on the Norfolk broads - their boats are easily handled by 1, no locks to worry about, no tides to speak of, plenty of places to moor up and watch the world go by.
I'd also consider a Med flotilla - all you need to worry about is getting the boat from A to B ...

 

[rafiki_]

Definitely charter a few times - but if it were me I'd look at a short holiday on the Norfolk broads - their boats are easily handled by 1, no locks to worry about, no tides to speak of, plenty of places to moor up and watch the world go by.
I'd also consider a Med flotilla - all you need to worry about is getting the boat from A to B ...

Good suggestion. The Broads are very safe and easy to get around, plus have some beautiful spots.

 

[PhillM]

I brought my family to boats via canal holidays and a broads holiday. Now they are all comfortable on a small sailing boat on the Solent. Small, safe steps...

 

[superheat6k]

I would suggest Elessar (Mark) of this parish for a weekend or day out. Evenstar will be about 40'.

If you do decide to take the plunge then do look at some aft cabin boats.

 

[PlanB]

I know a number of wives/partners who have been completely put off by sea sickness on the first outing. I always suggest Stugeron as a "just in case" measure - we are quite experienced boaters but still take it every time we go out.