skippers

powerskipper

powerskipper

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There is a post on scuttlebutt, about RYA YM. some thing has come up that mite be intresting to discuss, would you skipper a differant type of motor boat than your normall kind. with out some kind of instruction or practice with some one who know that boat. i.e. If you had a 23ft planning craft, would you skipper a 55ft planning craft with out any introductionary practice. or go from a single srew boat to twin again with out first seeking help.
DO YOU THINK YOU COULD


<hr width=100% size=1>Julie ,
IMOSHO of course,
 
Yep. Every time I bought a boat was first time. Every time I bought a car or truck. It was first time. Every new girl friend, it was the first time, no one ever gave me instructions!! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn
 
Yes. Same with any boat the first time on it (and several outings thereafter) - take it easy. I wouldn't try to take it on or off a pontoon in strong wind/tide the first time until I was used to handling it.

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Yep, once you know the basics, then whether outdrive, shaft, single, twin etc. its all very similar.



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boating-ads.co.uk> Boating Website</A>
 
Ok . /forums/images/icons/smile.gifwould you ask any questions about that boat before you took it out, i.e. engiene size, top speed, cruising speed, twin or single prop.
The control layout will tell you the rest.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julie ,
IMOSHO of course,
 
Never met anyone to ask. Apart from the sales man when I bought it. Are these questions for real??

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn
 
There's a first time for everything and you can't beat learning on the job, flying by the seat of your pants etc. And dont forget that in certain instances smaller craft are not neccasarily the easiest to manouvre.
By the way if anyone would like to "give us a go" of there F43 or similar I promise to put lots of fenders out !

Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>I'd rather have a bad day boatin, than a good day workin ! ! !
 
Never had a problem, think it is all down to common sense.
So long as you take it easy.
Trazie

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Having just changed from a single shaft 31' semi-displacement boat to a twin sterndrive 42' planing hull I can respond to this from recent, direct experience.

I actually had a day's familiarisation/training on the new boat from a sea school skipper and I'm pleased I did. I'd read enough about boat handling to understand the theory but it's rather different when you have to do it for yourself in circumstances where there is no time to stop and work out how to deal with an unexpected development.

Having an expert alongside made me feel more confident about exploring the handling characteristics of the boat by attempting manoeuvres which simulated more testing conditions. I don't claim to be expert at manoeuvring the new boat but I feel reasonably confident that I will avoid getting into serious difficulty and my skill will develop with practice.

I can say (with hindsight) that I would not allow a skipper with the experience I had to charter the new boat. The handling is not technically difficult but it is much more complicated simply because there are more combinations of throttle and helm inputs. The boat is big and heavy enough to cause serious damage to itself and others if things go wrong. High windage with not much hull in the water mean that this is not unlikely to occur in the hands of an inexperienced skipper.

Would I take on a bigger boat without familiarisation? Yes, if necessary. Probably any twin engine configuration up to 60' or so. But I would prefer having an experienced helmsman on board for the first few berthing/unberthing manoeuvres. Failing that, a couple of really good crew members. Good crew can often rescue a misjudgement by the helmsman whereas inexperienced crew can make matters much worse.

Having said that, I understand that handling should become easier rather than more difficult with further steps up in size?


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Guess it depends on your own level of experience.If you are knowledgeable enough to be able to identify,locate and understand all the necessaries , the fact it is a different boat isnt significant. But if you dont understand why there are two throttles,what the trip tab controls do, how to switch of the nav aids, where s the fire extinguisher- because they are not on your own boat,then id hope you would find out before casting off... So I d say, it being a different boat is less significant than whether you are confident that you can look after the boat and your crew. (the last bit being very YM talk !)

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Going up in size is easy !

My 44 foot boat with twin is a lot easier to sterr then a 25 foot with a single !

So has you go up in the world things become a lot easier !

Also with the years we become alot more careful and think ahead ?

Any boat that I have bought I have allways had a sea trial in first and by then worked out if I like the way the boat handles ? I woiuld not buy it just for its looks or how big an engine is ?

So once out in a new boat we would know that we can manage but it is diffrent if you are given some one elese's boat, might be a bit of a quick leraning curve !

Tom

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Presumably you had HGV instruction when you started to drive HGVs? Do you think your HGV driving skill/experience transferred to boat handling in the sense that you had become used to thinking a parking manoeuvre ahead instead of just reacting, as is possible, generally, in a car?

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I sort of had instruction for test for HGV, but that was on a little Bedford artic. But I was only looking for a class 3 licence at the time. First time I drove a proper big artic. I took it to Saudi Arabia and then went back and forth 25 times also went to Iraq and Kuwait, It was quite good fun for a bit!!

Yes, it teaches you to think first and weigh the job up, much like a barister would research a case before just blamming in there. Dont take quite as long though!!

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn
 
that surely is the key - experience on any boat on any water teaches you to consider the factors early.
The more experience the more fators you consider (or discount) and the quicker (and earlier) you make 'decisions'.

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