Totally spooked out by my first ever boat

[Adetheheat]

Just bought a 7 metre boat. I've done the level 2 powerboat course so I thought I could handle it. I bumped into another boat on my first ever trip and damaged it and freaked out my friend inboard. I'm spooked and think I've made a big mistake buying it. I know there's a lot of superstition about boats. It cost big money (for my income).
What do i do? Sell it? If so how do I sell it quickly bearing in mind the last thing I want to do is show a potential buyer around the boat or even try it when I know so little about it.

 

[Deleted member 478]

No, don't sell. Just book some "own boat" tuition with a local instructor.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

Don’t panic and do anything in a rush! I’ve owned cruising boats for about 50 years and have had more than my share of embarrassing moments. Anyone who says they have not has never lefty their mooring. I was once on a RN jolly on HMS Brilliant and the Captain messed up mooring up at Portsmouth and despite the help of a tug whacked the dock hard and when we went ashore was discussing with the bosun how to push the dent out! Driving a boat is complicated and takes practice. Balancing propwalk, tide, wind age and manoeuvrability will not be learnt on your first trip. Persevere slowly, gain confidence and then enjoy, but never forget to concentrate or else….!

 

[jlavery]

Just bought a 7 metre boat. I've done the level 2 powerboat course so I thought I could handle it. I bumped into another boat on my first ever trip and damaged it and freaked out my friend inboard. I'm spooked and think I've made a big mistake buying it. I know there's a lot of superstition about boats. It cost big money (for my income).
What do i do? Sell it? If so how do I sell it quickly bearing in mind the last thing I want to do is show a potential buyer around the boat or even try it when I know so little about it.

As others have said - don't panic! You can get some 'own boat' tuition to help you get to grips with it. What design is it? I don't think you mention whether its a sailing or power boat (although you do mention powerboat course, so power?)

 

[Juan Twothree]

As others have said, stick with it. Find a quiet bit of water, ideally with something robust to come alongside, and just keep practicing.

Get the feel of the throttle and the helm, and find out how the wind and tide affects your boat, in various directions and combinations.

But above all, do everything slowly. That way, if you do clonk anything, you won't do any damage.

 

[Adetheheat]

Thanks I'm feeling a bit better

 

[fastjedi]

Every experienced boat owner has been there and done that. Tell us more ...... What have you bought? Where are you based? What went wrong on your first trip? When something goes wrong it's usually because you haven't thought through all the factors; wind, tide, plan b etc. Not because of lack of knowledge .... and when you are learning its more likely because your head is fully of the fundamentals (a bit like learning to drive and being pre-occupied by the clutch and gears)

 

[William_H]

Boating is all about crisis management but is also about bringing to fruition a dream that seemed so easy before you bought the boat. Persevere if you can. If you can't then perhaps boating is not for you. Bite the bullet and try something different. Or "not everyone is mad enough to be a sailor". (power boaty) Considering the number of boats on moorings but never sailed you would be among a majority. (in society that is not this forum who are all dedicated boaties ) ol'will

 

[KevinV]

Looking back, how good a driver were you the first time you drove on your own after passing your test? Give yourself a chance.

 

[Concerto]

With any boat, it is not like driving a car which has tyres to grip on the road surface. Getting tuition on your own boat is the way to proceed. The momentum of a boat moving too fast through the water can cause problems to stop it, not to mention tide and wind. Supertankers are not berthed at 5 knots as they would crush the pier they are tying to berth against.

Learn where the centre of effort of your boat is and learn to steer that point when berthing as the boat will spin on that point but to moor up it must be the correct distance from and along the pontoon. That takes some skill to do ir right everytime. Do not punish yourself too much, just accept it as part of your learning curve to becoming a full blown PBO (Poor Bloody Owner).

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Don’t panic and do anything in a rush! I’ve owned cruising boats for about 50 years and have had more than my share of embarrassing moments. Anyone who says they have not has never lefty their mooring. I was once on a RN jolly on HMS Brilliant and the Captain messed up mooring up at Portsmouth and despite the help of a tug whacked the dock hard and when we went ashore was discussing with the bosun how to push the dent out! Driving a boat is complicated and takes practice. Balancing propwalk, tide, wind age and manoeuvrability will not be learnt on your first trip. Persevere slowly, gain confidence and then enjoy, but never forget to concentrate or else….!

+1!!! And it's not just us amateurs; I'm currently in Hong Kong, and the skipper of the Star Ferry - which does the same trip every 20 minutes or so - made a mess of coming into the ferry terminal. And that's a guy who must have done the same thing thousands of times; he or she probably does it 30 or 40 times a day!

If you've no previous experience, training is the answer, and there are many excellent courses devised and accredited by the RYA.

 

[westernman]

Things will always go w

+1!!! And it's not just us amateurs; I'm currently in Hong Kong, and the skipper of the Star Ferry - which does the same trip every 20 minutes or so - made a mess of coming into the ferry terminal. And that's a guy who must have done the same thing thousands of times; he or she probably does it 30 or 40 times a day!

If you've no previous experience, training is the answer, and there are many excellent courses devised and accredited by the RYA.

No problem. You did not get it as wrong as this:-

 

[westernman]

Things will always go w

No problem. You did not get it as wrong as this:-

The classic yacht Eleanora sank.

 

[Juan Twothree]

No problem. You did not get it as wrong as this:-

Or this

 

[harvey38]

I had three boats previously, single engines, all on the Thames. After a break of ten years, I bought a twin engine, thirty eight foot based on the S/E coast and frightened the carp of of myself and wife within the first five minutes of leaving the harbour and absolutely no hope of getting it back onto its mooring in the marina. We were able to get a commercial skipper to get her back into the marina.

We ended up taking about ten hours of instruction over several days on our own boat which was priceless.

As others have said, get some tuition on your own boat and take your time, your boat is an investment so ENJOY IT

 

[Ribtecer]

Absolutely agree with everything above, stick at it - and buy some more fenders!

 

[harvey38]

Absolutely agree with everything above, stick at it - and buy some more fenders!

Pontoon fenders come highly recommended

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

I agree with all advice regarding training given above. You are to be given kudos for taking g Powerboat Level 2, but that's a very short course, imparting the absolute basics. Some more training, to learn how to handle the boat in different conditions and circumstances, is required, then practice, practice, practice, like you did when learning to drive.

 

[snowbird30ds]

What boat? Sail or power? inboard/outboard/outdrive? single or twin?
All makes a difference to how they handle, keep at it and it will get easier for sure, as said we've all had glitches and it's always with spectators, the perfect mooring only happens when you're alone.

 

[Stemar]

I'd had a monohull for 18 years, and pretty much knew how to get her to do what I wanted, and when it was best not to even try. Even then cockups, while rarer and less spectacular as the years went by, never went away completely. Then I got a cat with twin engines and was utterly clueless until I got some useful advice and a bit of practice.

The own boat tuition recommended above is an excellent advice. Get your sailing partner trained at the same time. I don't know your situation, but far too many couples have a big strong hubby at the wheel while a physically much weaker wife is heaving on ropes, a task made even harder because she's inadequately trained as well.