Some advice for a newbie please!

[GravyStain]

Hi all,

Graham here!

I've been lurking here for a while now reading threads and enjoying the banter between you lot... I'm currently doing day skipper theory and I have a couple of questions if you guys would be kind enough to help me out with some advice.

Can you recommend a school to take my practical courses from beginner / intermediate up to coastal etc...? I plan on doing this initially on my own. Ideally I would do this with the good lady but we have a 5 year old so that's not possible ...

Secondly, as we have a young son we are tied to boating during holiday times. I plan on heading to the Med (if COVID ever lets us - HAH!) as regularly as these holiday times will allow. My question is this - What are the downsides to fractional ownership (typical example Phantom 50, 1/6th share, 6 weeks per annum on the Costa del Sol for £50k plus £5k per annum costs)?
It seems a decent option given that we couldn't just head off onto the boat on a whim as we have our son in school. 6 weeks seems about right given half terms etc...
I appreciate it's not 'your' boat anf it will never be as personal as having your own boat, but given the inflexibility that school brings , it seems a good fit.

So, do you guys have any horror stories in this regard, or positive ones as well?

Thanks for your help!

 

[GravyStain]

OOps, I should say that I'm based in Wiltshire in regards the practical Schooling...

 

[GravyStain]

Bump

No one can advise me on a decent training outfit for practical exams on the south coast?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Hi Graham from another one

You could try Mendez Marine at Swanwick. Very good reputation.

 

[GravyStain]

I'll give them a lookover - many thanks!

 

[markc]

I think you'd be very lucky to find a fractional ownership scheme where you could take all your weeks during school holidays, so you'd end up loosing a fair chunk of your permitted use. We have a boat in the Med and have 2 young children at school and we manage to get about 10 weeks a year on the boat (sadly on got 5 this year), so depending on your work commitments, having sole ownership could ensure you got to spend more time on the boat.

 

[GravyStain]

Thanks mark... Yes, that makes sense. The Fractional option does come with some drawbacks, I'll give you that. Finding one that will suit us will be the biggest challenge and even then, the dates available change annually depending upon who gets first dibs etc... I'll do more diggiing I reckon. Buying a boat is a definite option but not one that I'll have access to for a couple of years so this was a chance to get going next year rahter than wait another year. All these things are now up in the air thanks to COVID and BREXIT... Plus the cost of boats has gone nuts at the moment...

 

[jrudge]

Marc sums up the issue. Most seem to have a rota of dates and then ask you to swap among yourselves. It would not work for me.

I have considered several times selling a half share in my boat to someone who wants to avoid school holidays as then you do get the best f both

 

[Portofino]

I was in the same predicament with two kids of similar age .
Had the med in the long range plans , for the weather mainly .Had done with U.K. sail boating in brown water .

So we kinda killed a few birds with one throw .
Found a French school which will qualify up in a week .
Booked into a fab hotel with Pied a Eau and a pool .
Wife entertained the kids , I did the course .
This school had a ex Canadian lady who did it in Eng as well as Fr .
You can take take a translator ( EU harmony etc ) she goes with the group for the MCQ test , you just put your hand up and she comes over .
Or they provide a Eng copy , they did with us as her school provided plenty of fodder .

Its cuts out the worry of future hassle if the EU follows the UNCOS rule on comity for folks exceeding 6 months in there waters .
By having a EU qualification , actually a French one , so if you end up based in France ......oh the look on there faces when i inadvertently drop this out on the cockpit table , more like huge smiles all round .
Been stopped 5 times , they never to date have asked for the licensee , but you never know .
So with all this Brexit stuff flying about if it was me I would seek a local qually and have a great family Hol to boot .
The hrs were pretty easy , a couple in the class , one on the water each day so plenty of family time , sand castles and all that .

Le tiki

Oh one more tip , which ever way you go do not buy a U.K. boat and move it out .
Buy an existing Med based fully specced and VAT paid boat .

Good luck .....https://www.facebook.com/bateauecoleletikicavalaire/

 

[rafiki_]

OOps, I should say that I'm based in Wiltshire in regards the practical Schooling...

Compass Sea School at Portishead is possibly your nearest?

 

[CLB]

Had done with U.K. sail boating in brown water .

I've just come back from a week in Dorset/Devon. The water was as clear as anything in the Med. Might have been a degree or two cooler though

Brown water seems to be the preserve of the East and West Coast Estuaries, ie Thames and surrounding area and Severn and surrounding areas.

 

[CLB]

I think with regards the OP, I would look at buying a more modest boat and own the whole thing. £50K could buy you a nice family boat and, if you choose your berthing wisely, could probably re run on £5K per annum exc fuel.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I think with regards the OP, I would look at buying a more modest boat and own the whole thing. £50K could buy you a nice family boat and, if you choose your berthing wisely, could probably re run on £5K per annum exc fuel.

Where in the Med or anywhere else are you going to berth and run a 50' mobo for 5k a year? Fuel exc. of course. Seems, errr, a bit light.

 

[CLB]

Where in the Med or anywhere else are you going to berth and run a 50' mobo for 5k a year? Fuel exc. of course. Seems, errr, a bit light.

Think you missed the bit about a more modest boat

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Think you missed the bit about a more modest boat

Well, point taken but it was your words not the OP

 

[Sneds]

+1 for Compass in Portishead

 

[ShaneAtSea]

I'll give them a lookover - many thanks!

Mendez Marine at Swanwick have created some great instructional videos on MBY YouTube channel. They just show the basics but they are simple and easy to understand.

Its might give you a taste of the sort of courses and how they are taught at Mendez Marine

Ive posted the link to the Playlist below...

MBY How To Videos...

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Deleted

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Mendez Marine at Swanwick have created some great instructional videos on MBY YouTube channel. They just show the basics but they are simple and easy to understand.

Its might give you a taste of the sort of courses and howe they are taught at Mendez Marine
...

+1 for the Mendez videos. Mostly well presented and entertaining.

 

[ShaneAtSea]

+1 for the Mendez videos. Mostly well presentetd and entertaining.

Its where i found my love of Volvo Penta IPS engines ❤