Where do I start?

MrB said:
I haven't yet. I'm the kind of person who will study every aspect of something fully before i dive in head first.(from past experiances i have to do this,lol)
When i initially re-discovered my love of the water about a year ago i started looking. At first it was Mobo's and the cost of running them, then i felt the need for the purity of sailing and the unlimited miles you can cover with just the wind in your sails, a bit like an airline pilot loves to hone his skills in a glider at the weekend and for the freedom.
Now i'm back to Mobo's just for the ease of getting from A to B in comfort, and some style, not getting soaked and standing at 30-60 degrees for long lengths of time... forget climbing the mast,I'm scared of heights!
Firstly i want to move back to the coast. My parents live in Pembrokeshire and my wife's parents live in Brixham, we have close relatives that live in Valencia and Roses in Spain so we are spoilt for choice. When all of that happens i will take some courses to see if it is actually for me and my family. Personally, i cannot wait. In the mean time, i will harvest every bit of information i can get.
:D
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You will learn a lot from this forum, maybe someone will be kind enough to offer you a trip out on there mobo at some point, it has happened before a few years back, also some owners have swapped a day out power and sail, and actually got on very well.
 
harryajh said:
I'm interested in buying a boat and as a complete novice I have absolutely no idea where to start.

Basically I'm after a 4/5 birth motor boat capable of crossing the channel, that's about the spec so far so you can see how little I know.

I realise I have a very long way to go and am prepared to take as long as needed to pass whatever courses etc... Can anyone please recommend where complete newbies like me can start?

Many thanks in advance
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Sealine F43....
 
As others have said I would invest in some training. I did PB2 months before I went looking for a boat. Secondly, research the costs. Even if you get a bargain , the running costs can come and bite you on the bum !! As a first time boat owner whose only previous experience was at someone elses expense the 1nM per litre came as a shock - and thats for a small trailerable boat with a 75hp outboard ! When you get to 4/5berths its well outside my experience. A visit to Southampton boat show would be useful. I'm flying over in the morning to see what we can't afford !!
 
volvopaul said:
You will learn a lot from this forum, maybe someone will be kind enough to offer you a trip out on there mobo at some point, it has happened before a few years back, also some owners have swapped a day out power and sail, and actually got on very well.
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I have been on quite a few Mobo's, mostly for parties when i was living in Florida, and rented a few to mess about on the Banana River in FLA but i have never been on a sailing yacht.
I follow Alex Thomson (racing) on the Hugo Boss every time he goes out as I'm also a devout Mclaren F1 fan and tracking that is exciting.
Maybe i can blag an outing next time I'm in Brixham but i would feel only worthy if i could contribute something in return. I definitely will not go out untill i have some form of training though, i guess that is the pilot in me. Also, you are an expert in your field, i would feel foolish taking to the water without an idea on (at minimum) the basics in marine engineering.
I hope we cross paths in the future Paul, as every thread i read that you are involved in is a knowledgeable one, and thanks for the other day :)
 
wow, thanks guys for all the great (and eye opening) advice - lots of things I hadn't considered - so glad I came on here first!

Now to digest it all - this could take a while :eek:
 
Galia said:
AAs a first time boat owner whose only previous experience was at someone elses expense the 1nM per litre came as a shock - and thats for a small trailerable boat with a 75hp outboard !
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We consider ourselves fortunate to get just better than 1NM per gallon. There are those around here who's generators burn more than that, however...
 
harryajh said:
I'm interested in buying a boat and as a complete novice I have absolutely no idea where to start.

Basically I'm after a 4/5 birth motor boat capable of crossing the channel, that's about the spec so far so you can see how little I know.

I realise I have a very long way to go and am prepared to take as long as needed to pass whatever courses etc... Can anyone please recommend where complete newbies like me can start?

Many thanks in advance
Click to expand...

It's all down to budget. (care to share?)

For some a 4-5 berth boat will be 45 foot, for others it will be 20 foot. Are you looking new or secondhand?

Fuel is expensive so one engine is cheaper to run than two, but many like the safety factor of a second engine.

As a basic summary for Diesel boats. A single outdrive boat will give you around 4mpg, a twin outdrive boat will provide around 2.5mpg. A twin shaftdrive boat will be typically around 1 to 1.5mpg

I have crossed the Channel many time in boats smaller than 25 feet. My Bayliner has undertaken about 6 Channel crossings including down to the Channel Islands twice. So it's all down to perceptions.

Do a course, either a Powerboat level 2 or, for more in depth stuff, a Dayskipper, and get around a few second-hand boat yards to see what's on offer for a given budget.

Ask questions here and read an appropriate mag and you'll soon get up to speed.
 
harryajh said:
wow, thanks guys for all the great (and eye opening) advice - lots of things I hadn't considered - so glad I came on here first!

Now to digest it all - this could take a while :eek:
Click to expand...

Hi Harry, I'm a newbie too, infact this is my first post so hi to everyone else on here as well.

I am hoping to become a 1st time boat owner this winter/next spring and our requirements seem very similar. Before visiting a boat yard i'd already done a limited amount of research on the internet, and decided that my maximum budget is approx £250K although i think as a newbie i'd feel much more confortable coming in around the £150-£200K level. My plan is to use the boat in this country for about a year before going over to Holland and then hopfully the med, i'd also made my mind up that my first purchase will be a med spec boat.

Last weekend i dragged the better half around our local marina/sales office which is Burton Waters Lincoln (very helpful they were too), this visit is probably the first of many more to come including various other marinas/boat yards. I initially took a shine to a Sealine F33 from the outside but found it far too small and pokey inside especially the beam (width) of the boat. Next up was a F37, this was much more like what i was hoping for however the major problem with the F37 is that the master cabin was also very small and the door that leads from the cabin to the ensuite head is almost impossible to get through for a big guy. Finally the sales guy (Andy) suggested a Sealine F43 which has an aft cabin and apparantly they have much more room, unfortunately they don't have one in stock.

After my visit i returned home and started doing some more research and the F43's that i have seen for sale seem very reasonable. My initial reservations are mainly regarding the size of the F43, is a boat this size really suitable for a newbie? If it is suitable what is the maximum size a newbie should be looking for as i've seen some lovely boats between 50 & 55 ft? Which other boats with a large master cabin and shower room/toilet should i be looking at that meet my requirements?
 
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Rigsy,

I don't think that a 43 would be too daunting for a beginner, and in some ways, easier to handle than a small boat, as the responses will be much slower. Of course, when you get things wrong, which we all do at times, especially when starting out, as the tendency is to rush things, then the consequences can be more expensive. If you do your training on your own boat, and make sure that you get a decent ammount of practice with you/SWMBO before you invite the world on board to show your new toy, then competence comes with time on board.

It might help to crew with someone more experienced if you can too, to learn from their mistakes.
 
Might be worth you talking to Spottydog3 on here I think he has an F43 for sale - a nice one too by all accounts.


Rigsy_uk said:
Hi Harry, I'm a newbie too, infact this is my first post so hi to everyone else on here as well.

I am hoping to become a 1st time boat owner this winter/next spring and our requirements seem very similar. Before visiting a boat yard i'd already done a limited amount of research on the internet, and decided that my maximum budget is approx £250K although i think as a newbie i'd feel much more confortable coming in around the £150-£200K level. My plan is to use the boat in this country for about a year before going over to Holland and then hopfully the med, i'd also made my mind up that my first purchase will be a med spec boat.

Last weekend i dragged the better half around our local marina/sales office which is Burton Waters Lincoln (very helpful they were too), this visit is probably the first of many more to come including various other marinas/boat yards. I initially took a shine to a Sealine F33 from the outside but found it far too small and pokey inside especially the beam (width) of the boat. Next up was a F37, this was much more like what i was hoping for however the major problem with the F37 is that the master cabin was also very small and the door that leads from the cabin to the ensuite head is almost impossible to get through for a big guy. Finally the sales guy (Andy) suggested a Sealine F43 which has an aft cabin and apparantly they have much more room, unfortunately they don't have one in stock.

After my visit i returned home and started doing some more research and the F43's that i have seen for sale seem very reasonable. My initial reservations are mainly regarding the size of the F43, is a boat this size really suitable for a newbie? If it is suitable what is the maximum size a newbie should be looking for as i've seen some lovely boats between 50 & 55 ft? Which other boats with a large master cabin and shower room/toilet should i be looking at that meet my requirements?
Click to expand...
 
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Burton Waters did have an F43 for sale, perhaps they sold it ?
Mine is still up for sale details on the Ancasta link below
PM me if you want any infomation.
 
rafiki_ said:
Rigsy,

I don't think that a 43 would be too daunting for a beginner, and in some ways, easier to handle than a small boat, as the responses will be much slower. Of course, when you get things wrong, which we all do at times, especially when starting out, as the tendency is to rush things, then the consequences can be more expensive. If you do your training on your own boat, and make sure that you get a decent ammount of practice with you/SWMBO before you invite the world on board to show your new toy, then competence comes with time on board.

It might help to crew with someone more experienced if you can too, to learn from their mistakes.
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Hi rafiki, thanks for your reply, what type of costly mistakes can i look forward too as a beginner? I hope your not going to say crashes as i can see that being an expensive learning curve in a £200K boat.
 
Ripster said:
Might be worth you talking to Spottydog3 on here I think he has an F43 for sale - a nice one too by all accounts.
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Thanks for the suggestion Ripster.

SPOTTYDOG3 said:
Burton Waters did have an F43 for sale, perhaps they sold it ?
Mine is still up for sale details on the Ancasta link below
PM me if you want any infomation.
Click to expand...

I don't feel ready to buy just yet as i have litterally just started looking around, i'm not even sure which make/model boat will best suit my budget & requirements. Your's is a very nice boat though, don't think you'll have much trouble selling her....... she's a beauty.

Ps The F43 at burton waters was sold a month ago.
 
Rigsy_uk said:
I don't feel ready to buy just yet as i have litterally just started looking around, i'm not even sure which make/model boat will best suit my budget & requirements. Your's is a very nice boat though, don't think you'll have much trouble selling her....... she's a beauty.

Ps The F43 at burton waters was sold a month ago.
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Hi Rigsy, Thanks for your comments, I know the first serious buyer to view, should buy her.

I think 43ft is quite a big first boat, but with the right training, should not be a problem.
Just do your pontoon bashing on the training boat and remember "slow is pro" when berthing you own ! 11 tonnes take a bit of stopping...

Take your time, choosing what is right for your boating needs, you can get a lot of training for what you may loose by keep trading up to a bigger boat, multiple times.
 
SPOTTYDOG3 said:
Hi Rigsy, Thanks for your comments, I know the first serious buyer to view, should buy her.

I think 43ft is quite a big first boat, but with the right training, should not be a problem.
Just do your pontoon bashing on the training boat and remember "slow is pro" when berthing you own ! 11 tonnes take a bit of stopping...

Take your time, choosing what is right for your boating needs, you can get a lot of training for what you may loose by keep trading up to a bigger boat, multiple times.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, plenty of training it is then, do you think it's worth getting some lessons in another boat before i buy or should i just wait till i have my own?
 
If you are looking 40-45 feet and sub £200k, then there is a feature in the new (November) MBY which is just for you: on the F/L Squaddie 43.
 
benjenbav said:
If you are looking 40-45 feet and sub £200k, then there is a feature in the new (November) MBY which is just for you: on the F/L Squaddie 43.
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Hi ben, thanks for the info, the squadron 43 is one of the boats that i have seen for sale on the internet but there was a couple of things that my missus wasn't too keen on. The first thing being the ladder to the flybridge rather that the moulded steps & the second being the lack of seating in the cockpit, to be honest i love the boat but the missus wants to come cruising with me as well.
 
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