New to boating- what boat?

[Euan1]

Hello,

I'm looking to get into the world of boating and want some recommendations about how to get into it. I, being a teenager, have a relatively low budget of £1000. I have been looking at sports tender RIB's, good idea? Or would a smallish fishing type boat be better? It needs to easily transported as i wont me mooring it anywhere. Would be used in coastal waters, and possibly lochs.

thanks for any input

 

[Sneds]

Shetland 535
Orkney fastliner
Microplus
or something similar, me thinks you may have to up the budget a bit for an engine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Good luck with your search

 

[Nick_H]

Fishing boats are good for fishing or pottering, but not much else, although some have a canopy which can be a big plus. You can still fish or potter in a RIB, but you can also waterski or blast around from place to place, so if you're not really sure how you want to use it then a RIB is a good allrounder.

Your choice will be very limited by your budget, but as a general rule longer is better. If you can find something around 5m long then you should be able to use it quite a lot of the time, and if you can stick to a well known make you should be able to sell it on OK if you want to change.

 

[damon]

You'll always get your money back on a Dory when you come to sell it. Very useful and safe boats.

 

[Fire99]

My First boat was a Norman 18 with a 40hp Outboard. OK it cost me £2k (if you can save up a bit) but to date its still the most fun i had on the water. Took it all over the place and it would do 18-20kts everywhere...

Something like that would be good IMO.. Has 2 berths a little camping stove and cold water plus a little toilet (for emergencies only!!)

 

[BrendanS]

When budgeting, make sure you have allowed for the equipment you will also need. Life jacket(s), radio, flares, ropes and anchor (if they don't come with the boat), as well as running costs such as fuel and maintenance.

 

[Euan1]

I think a rib would be most suited to what I want. Any suggestions on particular models with 20-40 hp perhaps.
thanks

 

[Euan1]

Would also like it to have a steering wheel/column, don't like the idea of the tiller on the outboard

 

[Sneds]

Have a look on Boats&outboards.

 

[ari]

Many years ago I had an Avon 280 RIB with a Mercury 8hp outboard. Probably about £1,000 worth. We had endless fun with that and the beauty was it was dead cheap to run, would go on the roof of the car so cost nothing to store (kept it in the garage), and was new enought to be reliable and not incur big maintenance bills.

Used to run it on the river and occasionally out to sea close inshore to little coves if it was flat calm. Went like stink with two people in it.

If I had £1,000 to spend on a boat that's where I would (did) put it.

 

[Euan1]

sounds alot like what i'm after, though it will be used in the sea, most, if not all of the time.

 

[ari]

You need a calm sea for a 2.80, it's a small boat (most people use them as tenders to "proper" boats).

But they're nicely made good quality boats.

At the end of the day, the less money you have, the more compromise you have to make. The smaller the boat the newer you'll get, the bigger you go the older it'll have to be. It's all about working out the right compromise for you.

This is an Avon 280. Secondhand you ought to be able to get a good one with a decent engine for £1,000 I'd have thought. You need a 8hp though (the biggest the boat is rated for).

 

[ari]

Here you go, the slightly bigger 3.10 with a 10hp on for £850!

http://www.boatsandoutboards.com/view/F151734/

 

[jimmcgee]

somthing like this http://www.boatsandoutboards.com/view/F154579/