Practice makes perfect.

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Nosealegsyet

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When I got my motorhome i would take her into industrial estates on a sunday afternoon, with a couple of sleeping policeman, and practice practice practice, to build my confidence. Where do i practice manoevers on a boat? There is no way i could practice , ferry gliding, or mooring a boat normally etc etc if there were people watching me, it would put me off, concentration would go and i would lose it. I dont want people around in the early days, so how do i get round that? Thanks everyone
 
Go on a training course first, preferably in your own boat It will give you the confidence to then practice with more confidence. Also handy to get your ICC (international certificate of competence) at the same time if you plan to go to the Med in the future.
I sent my son and son-in-law on a course so they could safely handle my boat and I was amazed in just a couple of days how proficient they were.
It's the way I should have started out!
 
Last edited:
DavidJ said:
Go on a training course first, preferably in your own boat It will give you the confidence to then practice with more confidence. Also handy to get your ICC (international certificate of competence) at the same time if you plan to go to the Med in the future.
Click to expand...


Im booked on a course in July, but its only two days, i dont think its near enough to get me up to speed so too speak :(
 
We started with a bow rider and did our powerboat 2 on that, which gave us both the qualification and familiarisation with the boat. When we moved to a twin engine motor cruiser, although technically qualified (and insured) to helm it, we spent a pleasant day with Tim Griffin in Cowes doing a lot of close quarter manoeuvring which was superb experience.

Moving to the Med meant we needed an ICC (and eldest wanted to do his Day Skipper practical) so we did that in Torquay - again on our own boat.... and another lot of close quarter manoeuvring.

However the “we” I refer to are myself and 2 sons, and you really cant underestimate the confidence an “educated” crew can give you... so I would recommend that your partner / family member who is likely to be with you when you do get a boat accompanies you on the practical course... and indeed, I think the GJW insurance wording we had on one policy was something like “in addition to the helm, at least one <qualified> crew member”. Investigation revealed that <qualified> is / was defined as someone with “the relevant RYA qualification, or ‘suitably experienced’. “. Suitably experienced then turned out to be someone who has been crew on a boat for at least 1 year....

Good luck with your search, and training - this is the nicest (and cheapest) part of the journey :encouragement:
 
DavidJ said:
Go on a training course first, preferably in your own boat It will give you the confidence to then practice with more confidence. Also handy to get your ICC (international certificate of competence) at the same time if you plan to go to the Med in the future.
I sent my son and son-in-law on a course so they could safely handle my boat and I was amazed in just a couple of days how proficient they were.
It's the way I should have started out!
Click to expand...


Lovely thankyou
 
Andy Bav said:
We started with a bow rider and did our powerboat 2 on that, which gave us both the qualification and familiarisation with the boat. When we moved to a twin engine motor cruiser, although technically qualified (and insured) to helm it, we spent a pleasant day with Tim Griffin in Cowes doing a lot of close quarter manoeuvring which was superb experience.

Moving to the Med meant we needed an ICC (and eldest wanted to do his Day Skipper practical) so we did that in Torquay - again on our own boat.... and another lot of close quarter manoeuvring.

However the “we” I refer to are myself and 2 sons, and you really cant underestimate the confidence an “educated” crew can give you... so I would recommend that your partner / family member who is likely to be with you when you do get a boat accompanies you on the practical course... and indeed, I think the GJW insurance wording we had on one policy was something like “in addition to the helm, at least one <qualified> crew member”. Investigation revealed that <qualified> is / was defined as someone with “the relevant RYA qualification, or ‘suitably experienced’. “. Suitably experienced then turned out to be someone who has been crew on a boat for at least 1 year....

Good luck with your search, and training - this is the nicest (and cheapest) part of the journey :encouragement:
Click to expand...

Thanks Andy, yes I am expecting to burn holes in my pocket! But hey ho, we only live once!
 
When we got our first boat - a Princess 435 - we had no experience at all. We did our Day Skipper practical on our own boat almost immediately, then spent some time every weekend pontoon bashing practising manoeuvring and berthing. There is no need to worry about other people watching - a) we've all been there and b) the vagaries of wind and tide mean that nearly everyone has a problem at some time or other. It's not the same as something with wheels.
Within two years we felt ready to set off for the Med via Biscay!. And we were!
 
A saying from the ski instructors world:

Practice does not make perfect, it makes permanent
Correct practice makes perfect.

You are doing all the right things by getting professional training, learn the right way to do it then practice
 
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