Novice - Inherited a Bavaria 300 Sport - Where do I start?

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stevieee

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Hi All

You lot seem to be a friendly bunch, and I hope that, you don't mind this novice to Boating asking some dumb (and potentially worrying) questions.

I have effectively 'inherited' a 2002 Bavaria 300 Sport, which is located on Hayling. Intend to take the family (wife plus baby) out for the occasional weekend and maybe a week or so away along the coast.

My boating experience is very limited - although I did a lot of sailing when I was a youngster, pretty much 99% of this knowledge is lost to the ravages of time (and alcohol).

So really need some help to get started on the right tack.

Safety
Onboard is a pack of flares and the DSC Radio, and a tender with outboard. What other safety equipment is recommended?

Training
Am considering a home-study Day Skipper Course. Extent of current knowledge is that you drive on the wrong side of the water and throttling up to 40 knots in the marina is frowned upon.

Boat Manuals
I have downloaded the manuals for the Radar, Depth Sounder, and GPS from the net.

The boat came with the manuals for how to rebuild the MerCruiser engines. What is missing is a 'boat manual' describing where everything is located, and what buttons to twiddle if there is a problem. Any idea how I can get a replacement manual?

Spare Parts
What spare parts should be held on the boat?

Other Resources
Apart from ybw, are there any other recommended online resources?

Any other hints and tips on how to get started?

Many thanks,
Steve
 
Welcome - it's a good place to be for help and chat.

One thing you could do whilst waiting for some specific replies is to search the forums, (fora?), for previous discussions relating to your queries.

I tend to search for posts "newer than 1 year" and, in the early days, read the lot.

Please note, this is not a "dont be lazy - do a search post".. I would give some detailed opinions, but am a bit busy with some leaks and replacing the bearings in the steering pedestal... amongst other things.

If you havent had some replies later, I'll have a go - but dont forget that I'm a yachtie, not a mobo'er <g>

Cheers

Richard
 
Welcome to the Forum

From your posting you seem to be a logical and structured sort of person, so there's still hope we can cause you to deviate from the paths of righteousness. There have been lots of previous postings on check lists, so search for those first.

Quick thoughts:

1 the RYA, Coastguard and RNLI pages all have acres of screens on safety at sea. Browse, mark and inwardly digest 'em

2 Get to know someone (e.g. Powerskipper ?) who can give you a day or two out under tuition. None of the really good instructors are cheap, but what's the price of life ?

3 Get boating. Turn the keys and have fun. Keep a public log of what you and the family did, and private one for what you learned.
 
[ QUOTE ]

2 Get to know someone (e.g. Powerskipper ?) who can give you a day or two out under tuition. None of the really good instructors are cheap, but what's the price of life ?


[/ QUOTE ]

I paid about £300 for a days marina boat handling tuition in September, (this after 30 years sailing experience).

Tough decision to part with the money, but has made a massive difference to my ability and confidence around the marina. Worth every penny!

Janet, (almost no experience), did everything that I did, so an incredible start to her boating days. She'll run rings around them on her Competent Crew course.
 
Safety: err life jackets fire extinguishers

Training: as rubberduck says do a 2 day Power Boat Level 2 course comes with ICC up to 10m loa

spare parts: impellors, fuel filters, pre filters, fan belts, engine oil, tool box


there are a few qick answers as the wife is nagging me to get ready will look again 2morrow.
 
For a "boat manual" you do worse than contact the UK agents for BMB. Link here .

Another forum regular ( akshually a very very regular user ) has recently purchased a similar model and may be able to assist. Tyr sending a pm to "jezbanks".
 
[ QUOTE ]
( akshually a very very regular user )

[/ QUOTE ]

There's no need to bring my bathroom habits onto the forum. Oh, I see what you mean, not that kind pf regular /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Anyhoo, yep, BMB's, nice boat to have inherited - you'll be dead chuffed. I have the slightly larger sister, the 330, of about the same age. As others have said, best thing you can do is a level two course - Mendez Marine are top guys and you can either do it on your own boat (recommended) or you can use their school boat. Both Jon and David post on here, so I'm sure they'll put a post up.

As for documentation, Ancasta are fairly useless. in fact, the only more useless people when it comes to info and bits is Bavaria themselves - which I suppose is fair enough. The 300 and the 330 are very similar, so if you have any specific questions fire away and I'll see if I can help.

Where abouts on Hayling are you? Up till this year I was at Sparkes, but don't remember seeinga 300 there, so guess you are at Northney.

Anything I can help with shout.

Jez
 
For a start, dont concider taking the boat anywhere till you've had some sort of tuition. The cost of damage to the boat is eye watering, even if no danger.

Now is Hayling in the tidal bit or not?? From upp North, so dont know. If none tidal, maybe some one from the forum would spend a few hours with you.

If tidal, your on a steep learning curve. Dont try to push your experience to far. Practise with the radar and GPS when you do not need them in anger.
 
Welcome to the forum Steve - I would suggest that you consider doing the RYA Helman's course initially given the size of your boat. The RYA Level 2 course is really for smaller sports boats and ribs. The Helmsman's course will give you a good introduction into the how to handle the boat in confined situations.

Using your own boat would be a great advantage - and is cheaper!!

If you click on the link in my signiture it will take you to our web site and there are contact numbers there.
 
Hear hear, don't take out the boat without training. You could easily run aground and berthing the boat will not be what you expect. Do a weeks Day skipper motor boat course, lots of companies advertise in the magazines, most run from Sunday evening till Friday afternoon. I think you will be much better off doing it as part of a group than private tuition, you will learn from others mistakes and it helps with berthing etc.

You also need to get a VHF licence asap as it is illegal to have one without. You boat must also have its own licence.

Check out the RYA web site, lot of info there.
 
[ QUOTE ]
For a "boat manual" you do worse than contact the UK agents for BMB. Link here.

[/ QUOTE ]Thank you Pinnacle, I'll give them a try!

[ QUOTE ]
Where abouts on Hayling are you?

Anything I can help with shout.

Jez

[/ QUOTE ]Hi Jez, the boat hasn't been moved from it's current location - Hayling is the preferred habour but is to be confirmed (and no I won't be the one moving it).

Have read your Greek exploits with much interest - sounds like you had fun...

This 300 has twin MerCruisers ... is certainly louder than sailing ...

Will let you know when I get any questions, many thanks![ QUOTE ]
...The Helmsman's course will give you a good introduction into the how to handle the boat in confined situations.

Using your own boat would be a great advantage - and is cheaper!!

[/ QUOTE ]Hi Solitare,

Many thanks - will get in contact when I've decided what type of tuition I have decided to go for! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[ QUOTE ]
You also need to get a VHF licence asap as it is illegal to have one without. You boat must also have its own licence.

[/ QUOTE ]Apparently the boat license is sorted, I will need to check. I thought that it was only illegal to use the radio/transmit if you didn't have a personal license? I do plan to get a personal license next couple of months.
 
If you would like a hand moving the boat then let me know - I'd be more than happy to help, plus I might be able to show you what a few of the knobs and switches do!

Is she a diesel boat? If yes, I assume the Mercs are the 4.2's?

Jez
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you would like a hand moving the boat then let me know - I'd be more than happy to help, plus I might be able to show you what a few of the knobs and switches do!

Is she a diesel boat? If yes, I assume the Mercs are the 4.2's?

Jez

[/ QUOTE ]Hi Jez, yes they are Diesel 4.2's.

Thank you indeed for your kind offer - I think the moving is sorted pending marina confirmation ---- would you mind if I held onto your offer as a 'Get out of Jail' card?

Cheers,
Steve
 
Yep, no problems. An offer of help is rarely conditional on here. Let me know if you ever need a hand.

Good luck with Ancasta, but they haven't come back to me on a couple of parts requests from the Summer yet!!!! I am pretty sure the systems on the two boats will be almost identical, BMB (Bavaria) mass produce there boats, so tend to do everything en-mass. If you have any specific quieries that you can't fathom out, ask as I have probably scratched my head over the same thing in the past 10 months.

Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy her, she is a great boat and the BMB hulls run rings around alot of the competition.

Jez
 
[ QUOTE ]

You also need to get a VHF license asap as it is illegal to have one without.You boat must also have its own licence.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not actually true. As long as the boat is licensed then a radio may be fitted, it is not illegal to have a radio fitted; although it would be illegal to use it without an operators certificate. BUT, in the event of an emergency then Ch 16 may be used to summon assistance. As a matter of interested, channels M1 and M2 may also be used without an operators certificate.
 
You stated that it was illegal to fit a radio without having a VHF (operators) license! That statement is wrong! If you are going to post on an issue get your facts right.
 
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