New to Motor Boating

[Hybr!d]

Hello all, looking for some beginner advice please.

After a few years of traveling around Europe in my Motorhome and spending time in various ports and marinas I've decided I would like to get into boating.

Its not something that i immediately thought of doing here in the UK, but as soon as the sun is out and im submersed in the med lifestyle they seem like a brilliant idea.

I plan on doing my B+E (Trailer) license followed by a Power Boat Level 2 + ICC.

Followed by buying a boat, insurance and SSR.

I will then trailer the boat (Something like a 20ft speed boat) down to say Alicante and moor it up for a few months.

What is this likely to cost me for the mooring and do you need to book in advance or can you just turn up, plonk the boat into the water and crack on?

Does it cost to get the boat put in or are there normally free slipways in these places?

Finally can i sleep in a 6m motorhome on-site or is this strictly a no-no. I assume you get a parking space with your berth?

Sorry, very new to this but these are the things worth asking now rather than doing the training, buying the boat etc to find its not going to fit in with my expectations.

Thank you in advance.
Dave.

 

[Philiz]

Hi and welcome to the forum. You seem to have your priorities something like right regarding traiing etc. I'm afraid I can't help you regarding you questions specific to Alicante, but now your posts back up the list maybe someone who can help will spot it!

 

[jfm]

Hi Hibrid
Nice plan. Unfortunately, Med mooring isn't that easy. You can just turn up but there is a strong chance there will not be a berth availalbe, esp in July/August. And what's more, the demand is so high that many ports don't take bookings; they don't need to. Best way to do this is decide on a few ports you'd like and call or go see the port controllers (capitaineries) and ask them

Slipways are generally charged for; something like 10 or 20 euros a pop

It's rare to get a close-by parking space for a small car, let alone a motorhome. Coastal land at nice places in the Med is in huge demand and isn't given over to motorhome parks. One exception is the bord du mer road in Antibes, 1/2km north of Port Vauban. There you can park a motorhome sort of on the edge of the beach for free. Loads do in the summer. It's then a 10min walk to your boat and the shops. There might be other places that flukily you can do this in, but I'm not sure. BartW has done some trailer boating around the Med with a m/home so he might have better suggestions

 

[gjgm]

Not quite what you are thinking, but as a downsize, have you looked at the honwaves.. only about 4m, but they inflate/deflate, roll up, and might give you a taster... might get away without a trailer at all, and a cheap experiment.

 

[Hybr!d]

Thanks all, those Honda things look interesting.

Would probably do for some fun around the bay and minimal hassle outlay.

Out of interest would i require an ICC for one or those and the other bits like insurance etc.

I was also looking at jetskis as an intermediate point, do i need the docs for thos also.

Thanks a bunch.

 

[kashurst]

In Spain you have to have an ICC or the coast guard will (and they do!) nick you and take the boat. you will also need insurance, ID (passport) and some form of boat registration documents. However all these things are easy to get, so don't worry. There are slipways at marinas in the alicante area for a fee. Mooring at present is not too bad but gets expensive in the summer.

There has been a bit of a crackdown by police on motor homes last summer as some have been parked "inappropriately" and the various land owners and traffic police have got a bit upset. However there are camp sites etc but I don't think you will get a 6m motor home accepted in a marina parking slot. Parking in spain is always difficult at the best of times. Why not consider renting a flat/house instead and trail the boat with a car/4x4

 

[Hybr!d]

In Spain you have to have an ICC or the coast guard will (and they do!) nick you and take the boat. you will also need insurance, ID (passport) and some form of boat registration documents. However all these things are easy to get, so don't worry. There are slipways at marinas in the alicante area for a fee. Mooring at present is not too bad but gets expensive in the summer.

Thanks, I was aware these docs are required for a proper boat, do small inflatables/jetskis etc come under that too?

 

[kashurst]

I believe they do especially jetskis - try the RYA they will know exactly.