MDL Marine - Torquay - Newbie looking for help/advice.

[sprocker]

Hi All,

If all goes well with the engine survey today, and sea trial later in the week, we will be the proud owners of our first motor boat (19' Bayliner).

Assuming all is OK we will be looking to bring her back to Torquay, possibly Friday evening or Saturday.

The scary bit (for me) is that my boating experience extends to sailing dingys, and my experience of motor boats is very limited, and then only to old outboards

Do we have any local member that would be willing to give me any help/advice in launching from the harbour slipway in Torquay, and driving the short distance round
to MDL Marina in Torquay?

I do have my PBL2 booked for next week, but need to get the boat home before then.

 

[NoviceRod]

I am at the MDL marina in Torquay, but I have no experience of launching off trailers on slipways. I have had a liftout/relaunch from Torbay Seaways crane.

It is a very short drive around to the marina - which pontoon will you be looking for?

 

[sprocker]

Hi,

It's probably going to be G, which I think will mean going around periphery and then in from the Princess Pier end?

 

[Elessar]

Hi All,

If all goes well with the engine survey today, and sea trial later in the week, we will be the proud owners of our first motor boat (19' Bayliner).

Assuming all is OK we will be looking to bring her back to Torquay, possibly Friday evening or Saturday.

The scary bit (for me) is that my boating experience extends to sailing dingys, and my experience of motor boats is very limited, and then only to old outboards

Do we have any local member that would be willing to give me any help/advice in launching from the harbour slipway in Torquay, and driving the short distance round
to MDL Marina in Torquay?

I do have my PBL2 booked for next week, but need to get the boat home before then.

big thing to remember, your boat wont steer if you are out of gear and will go too fast when it is.

Click in and out of gear. 10% of the time in gear. 90% of the time drifting. Steer where you want to go then give it a little burst then back to neutral. Yes I said 10%.

As a dighy sailor you will be tempted to open the throttle until you can feel the steering working. Don't!!

 

[rbcoomer]

Hi,

It's probably going to be G, which I think will mean going around periphery and then in from the Princess Pier end?

Sounds great! I should be down on Friday evening launching myself and about Saturday & Sunday, so feel free call if all goes ahead. I'll send you mobile number by PM.

 

[sprocker]

Sounds great! I should be down on Friday evening launching myself and about Saturday & Sunday, so feel free call if all goes ahead. I'll send you mobile number by PM.

Many thanks for your kind offer, I will give you a call when I know what's happening.

 

[Andy Bav]

Hi All,

If all goes well with the engine survey today, and sea trial later in the week, we will be the proud owners of our first motor boat (19' Bayliner).

Assuming all is OK we will be looking to bring her back to Torquay, possibly Friday evening or Saturday.

The scary bit (for me) is that my boating experience extends to sailing dingys, and my experience of motor boats is very limited, and then only to old outboards

Do we have any local member that would be willing to give me any help/advice in launching from the harbour slipway in Torquay, and driving the short distance round
to MDL Marina in Torquay?

I do have my PBL2 booked for next week, but need to get the boat home before then.

Hopefully all goes well. We had a 185 and loved it.

Think you will be in safe hands with Mr Coomer and pics are a must.

Wont be down this weekend but hope you get to your berth OK. If you do PB2 on your own boat you'll learn a lot and get a lot of confidence.

Give us a wave on C66 as you come in / go out.

 

[rbcoomer]

big thing to remember, your boat wont steer if you are out of gear and will go too fast when it is.

Click in and out of gear. 10% of the time in gear. 90% of the time drifting. Steer where you want to go then give it a little burst then back to neutral. Yes I said 10%.

As a dighy sailor you will be tempted to open the throttle until you can feel the steering working. Don't!!

Wise advise. Take your time and use fenders too - just in case! I've found that I'm far less likely to make a mistake if relaxed and not in a state of panic or rushing I've seen many people panic over something minor only to make matters worse - being prepared takes much of the pressure off. We all laugh at the various YouTube videos, but they're usually a chain of events that are very predictable and thus easily avoided if you leave yourself time to think things through.

 

[gjgm]

When powering off the trailer (if you end up needing to) it is a good idea to check the outdrive leg is straight back ... don't ask...

 

[rbcoomer]

When powering off the trailer (if you end up needing to) it is a good idea to check the outdrive leg is straight back ... don't ask...

Oh go on... tell us!

I can't comment anyway as I pushed my knee against the throttle a few weeks back whilst leaning over undoing a line - bust the nav light on the pontoon before cutting the power. I thought I was being clever being in gear and holding against the wind so it didn't blow me into the boat behind... Bad idea!

 

[Ripster]

If you do end up going around on yr own or with someone who is not used to single OD boats, tell the Marina and one of the guys will give you hand as you approach the pontoon. I spent some seasons in Torquay and they are very helpful. All in, do everything nice and slowly and have lots of fenders out. Prepare with all your lines ready in advance. Good advice from Elessar ref steering! Hopefully someone will be about to help.

 

[sprocker]

Thanks again for all your advice. Lots for me to think about!

 

[enterprise]

Were at MDL Torquay, sorry not around this weekend.
You can always ask one of the dock staff to accompany you round from the slipway and help you berth.
In our experience they are extremely helpful and will move boats for owners if needed (using the mdl work boat for smaller craft) without any problems whatsoever .

They will also take lines and fender etc, this is at no cost to the owner as they genuinely like to help out.

They bought ours back after being craned in once because we couldn't be there, no problem at all.

Will hopefully be down sometime next weekend (if we can get a few family probs sorted) so if were around give us a shout if you need help.

Andy & Amanda (Minter E54)

 

[sprocker]

Well the boat has been delayed by a week, the engine survey showed up slightly worn bellows, so they are being replaced before we buy it.

The new plan is to collect at the end of this week and launch Friday evening or Saturday morning.

We did pop down to the harbour on Friday to try and spot Robin, but the Mrs dragged me away when it rained.

Looking forward to meeting some of you in the near future.

 

[Andy Bav]

Well the boat has been delayed by a week, the engine survey showed up slightly worn bellows, so they are being replaced before we buy it.

The new plan is to collect at the end of this week and launch Friday evening or Saturday morning.

We did pop down to the harbour on Friday to try and spot Robin, but the Mrs dragged me away when it rained.

Looking forward to meeting some of you in the near future.

We should be in Devon on Friday and on the boat Saturday. Haven't decided if and when we'll go out but if we are around and you need a hand taking lines etc let me know, but looks like you could have a welcome committee!


Hope all goes well...

[C pontoon] Andy

 

[rbcoomer]

Haha now we have three Andy's... This could get confusing!

Will try and get down Friday evening and say Hello, but unsure yet if we'll be out on the boat this weekend as we've done 235 miles in the last 3 weekends and probably need to catch up on a few things (and let bank recover!). We've done more boat miles in 3 weeks than in the last two years, having done Plymouth, The Yealm, The Tamar up to Calstock, The Exe, The Teign to Coombe Cellars, Dartmouth and Totnes! Still not done Salcombe however, so this weekend is very tempting...

Call me when you're about - I have all three numbers so perhaps we can all get together for a beer?

 

[enterprise]

Haha now we have three Andy's... This could get confusing!

Will try and get down Friday evening and say Hello, but unsure yet if we'll be out on the boat this weekend as we've done 235 miles in the last 3 weekends and probably need to catch up on a few things (and let bank recover!). We've done more boat miles in 3 weeks than in the last two years, having done Plymouth, The Yealm, The Tamar up to Calstock, The Exe, The Teign to Coombe Cellars, Dartmouth and Totnes! Still not done Salcombe however, so this weekend is very tempting...

Call me when you're about - I have all three numbers so perhaps we can all get together for a beer?

That's good going Robin, I've just read the Fletcher article in MBM, very good.
Hows the 'Project' progress, not seen an update for a while although with this weather you would be forgiven for leaving well alone and enjoying some time on the water.

We should be down Thursday evening all being well (although quite late) so would be around Friday AM until my throttle arm gets the it'ch of course.
that's if I can sort out the grandparents in time (hospital), here's hoping.

That said if we make it were there for 10 days all in so will be around all next week, that's if we don't head west, which probably won't happen just in case I have to get back home short notice.

Good shout for a beer, let us know where and when.

Cheers
Andy & Amanda

 

[sprocker]

Beer sounds very good! I'd be interested to hear about your local trips as well.

 

[rbcoomer]

Beer sounds very good! I'd be interested to hear about your local trips as well.

You'll have to come with us - perhaps a run around to Teignmouth or the Dart? Going with a couple of other boats is a great way to explore further afield. We took three boats up the Tamar and to The Yealm and 4 around to Dartmouth on Sunday. As well as more fun, it gives a great photo opportunity and helps to know there's someone nearby if anything breaks etc!

Who's about Friday evening for a beer - say at Below Decks 7:30? :encouragement:

 

[Andy Bav]

You'll have to come with us - perhaps a run around to Teignmouth or the Dart? Going with a couple of other boats is a great way to explore further afield. We took three boats up the Tamar and to The Yealm and 4 around to Dartmout h on Sunday. As well as more fun, it gives a great photo opportunity and helps to know there's someone nearby if anything breaks etc!

Who's about Friday evening for a beer - say at Below Decks 7:30? :encouragement:

Let me know if you get any takers Rob as need to pick Tom up from Newton Abbot station at 7.30 and not sure if he'll need feeding when he arrives .....