sea or river

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pugandwoody

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I have recently bought a cruisers international holiday 244 and its moored on the river, I am dying to get it out on the sea but I dont know much about it and the wife is dead scared, we live in somerset and I have enquired about moorings in portland, as weymouth bay looks quite sheltered is this an ideal place to start or can anyone recommend anywhere else?
Other than a vhf course, what else would be ideal for a beginner at sea?
Are there any web sites for learning the ropes?
We like the river mainly because of ability to use boat in all weathers/all year round do you find that moorings on the sea limit the use of the boat?



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I kind of had the opposite, bought a sea worthy boat and kept it on the river... Mainly for access but also, as you say, the all year and all weather cruising is appealing. It definately has merit, but as an old friend of mine says "keep your boat where you will use it most".

I hope that helps,
Soong

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Use the boat on the river until you know it very well. This boat is really only a river cruiser, but you don't say what power the engine/s are? If the boat is new to you and you are very new to boating the sea can be a very dangerous place!

1. Get used to the boat and make sure its realible first.
2. Get some education! do some study regarding all aspects of taking a vessel to sea.
3. Make sure you know what you are doing at all times and that includes your partner as well. For instance what would she do if you had a heart attack, fell overboard etc, etc.

My advice would be do your RYA Day Skipper course and make sure that the boat is equiped correctly and that you know as much as possible before putting to Sea!

Lots of luck

Barry


<hr width=100% size=1>I just want to retire with my boat to the Med!
 
Just to add a further tupence-worth:

Dont underestimate the value of equipment, first buy an almanac then get the stuff it recommends. You WILL be grateful one day.

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Welcome to forums.If you hang on a bit someone on the forum is bound to be in your neck of the woods and can give you some decent local advice.It may take a day or two as some do not log on everyday.Good idea to try and get experience in sheltered waters and pick your day with a bit of care when going further afield..
As has been mentioned here afore by the way. Ladies have a better developed idea of what is and what is not " boaty Fun",frighten your "crew" just once and you boat alone........

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.
 
Good advice except the bit about the boat, the Holiday 224 is a "superb little sea boat" to quote MBM, and I can testify to that. It has an excellent deep vee hull and doesn't slam, carves through rough stuff a treat. Obviously its only 22ft so you can't go out in a force 6, but properly equiped its great for the size.
I'll be trailing mine down to Weymouth for the summer, but I guess Poole might be a better bet for a complete first timer, plenty to do without really going to sea.

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F6 is quite manageable in a 22'. Depends on sea conditions rather than wind force

<hr width=100% size=1>Utinam logica falsa tuam philisophiam totam suffodiant
 
Which river are you on, the Parrott or the one at Weston?

Would suggest that maybe you contact a training skool for more advice and help before going to sea.

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Now Brendan, dont confuse the issue. I think a F6 in most situations is deemed as being just that. and not where the wind is hampered by crossing land. The lads a beginner. Dont confuse the issue.

Personaly I never had any training, dont think they had invented it then. Weymouth is not such a difficut place and he's hardly going to be crossing the chanel. A chart and VHS should suffice, along with tide table of course. Lulwoth Cove is not far away and would make an ideal stop. Just get on with it.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>Specializing in marine sanitation since 1997.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn
 
International Certificate of Competence is a good course to do.Normally held over a couple of days and most places will let you do it on your own boat as long as it has a reasonable level of equipment.
Welcome.
Al.

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.
 
Never found anyone that would do ICC on it's own??

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>Specializing in marine sanitation since 1997.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn
 
Do it on the Medway,gateway to the southeast.
Red and blue by the way.

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.
 
The safest and best thing for you to do is go on an RYA Level 2 course! You will learn about safe boat handling. It will provide you with an incite on how to handle your boat as you are new comer to the sport - at least that is the impression you give from your post. Look on the RYA web site for a school near you and take your wife along as well. It will give you a very good grounding. It will give you both confidence upon which to build. It is a practical course which can be done on a school boat or your own.
From that you will be better armed to know what sort of boating you want to do. It will give you a grounding in basic chart work, an undestanding of the effects of wind and tide and bouyage. It will introduce you to passage planning and the importance of getting a good weather forecast. You'll learn how to bring the boat onto a berth and to leave it safely.
You can read all the books you like, but it is never the same when your on the water. The RYA web site is Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun
 
From Weymouth, an understanding of tide against wind conditions at Portland and St Albans heads would be one of first things to learn. or get advice on - way before worrying about F6's

<hr width=100% size=1>Utinam logica falsa tuam philisophiam totam suffodiant
 
Nah. Just turn round if it gets to bumpy. Cant say I ever have much though.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>Specializing in marine sanitation since 1997.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn
 
If you have used a boat regularly on a river then you will soon become proficient at the most difficult part of boating, namely arriving and leaving a berth without damaging anything. The flow of the river will give you the feel of what it's like manoeuvring when there is a tide running. So, I'd give it a year on the river and in the mean time both of you do either Powerboat 1&2 or else Dayskipper courses - as mentioned earlier, the RYA will tell you where you can do them.
Before proceeding to sea I would also suggest that you fit a small outboard engine as an auxilliary. Good luck and I hope you both enjoy yourselves.

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Re: But you know what you are doing!

Yes but you are experienced! I have spoken to many people who have said, when I turned around I was disorientated and didnt know which direction to go! add a bit of a mist and an inexperienced guy is in all sorts of trouble! I know there is nothing like doing it yourself to gain experience but these days if a guy calls out the coastguard and has no qualifications the whole thing get reported and before you know where we are questions are asked in the house of commons and more red tape is heaped on us all!!

Surely its better to advise a beginner to get some training first and then perhaps go to sea with someone who knows what they are doing so that they are safe when putting to sea on their own? Its better for all of us in the end! in my opinion there are just too many people trying to look after me these days! It won't be long before we are all confined to land because that water stuff is just to dangerous to venture out on!!!! What ever happened to the human spirit that sent people like columbus out with only the stars to find his way by?

Barry


<hr width=100% size=1>I just want to retire with my boat to the Med!
 
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