Where do I start?

[harryajh]

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

 

[gordmac]

Budget for purchase and for running costs is your starting point.

 

[lisilou]

hi harry, well this as good a place to start as any. Its where i started and got and still get much useful info and advice from the people here so welcome and i look forward to hearing about your progress over the following weeks/months.
Lisa

 

[OAF]

Welcome Harryajh

As Lisa has said, this forum is a good starting place, reading the magazines is also a good idea, research, research, research is paramount before you make any purchase, training is also essential if you are a novice!

Good luck

 

[Thepipdoc]

Decide on the length of the boat you want and when you are certain you'd be happy with that length, double it!!

 

[Seahope]

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

May I add my welcome. My advice would be to do your homework before you look at any boats but since you are posting here you must be slightly sensible Since you are thinking of buying a boat you must be slightly mad - like the rest of us

You haven't given us your budget and that will help formites advise as to brand / age / size. The type of boating you want to do would help us as there are many types of motor boats.

You also need to consider the ownership costs - a typical figure given is that these will be approximately 10% of the boat price. Above a certain size you will have to keep a boat on the water which brings berthing costs, lifts etc. As you will rapidly discover costs do not linearly increase with size.

I have yet to make a channel crossing, so I can't advise as to the minimum size boat for that job. This is probably a 'how long is a piece of string' question as some here would attempt it in a 15' speed boat whereas others would say nothing smaller than 35' is suitable. My boat has a 29' (bar 4") hull with two engines so in reasonable weather I'm sure it would be easily up for it.

I hope you get lots of help and find your perfect first boat. I'm sure you will be spoilt for choice as it must now be a buyer's market.

 

[Ripster]

Decide on the length of the boat you want and when you are certain you'd be happy with that length, double it!!

And... he is not joking!

Seriously though as others have said, ask lots of questions and absorb as much information (not just data) as possible. Do lots of research before buying or starting to buy and get trained up to say PB level 2 and day skipper - again plenty of peops on here to advise you the best courses. Set your budget for purchase and allow about 10% of yr purchase costs per annum (roughly) for running/berthing - though this depends on where you moor and how much your boat costs!

When you do choose and think you have found the ideal vessel, if its pre-owned get it properly surveyed and get a good engineman to check the engines thoroughly (lots of the cost of a powerboat is in the engine/drives) As before, plenty of knowledge on here as to who to use etc. Expect to spend a bit on this but see it as protecting you from hidden perils - with boats, the devil is often hiding in the detail.

Overall have fun, its a great pastime.

 

[imac8]

Work out your budget for purchase and maintenance/running costs. This is essential. Pointless buying a boat you can't afford to maintain properly.

This is a good guide if you're looking at purchasing a used boat. It covers the other costs besides the boat purchase.

http://www.burtonwaters.co.uk/lincoln/buyingaboat2.php

RYA offer a variety of courses but if possible, make sure you do the course(s) on your own boat. I did my RYA Powerboat Level 2 course using a cathedral hull vessel on the recommendation of my old instructor. The course was great but the handling of the boat was completely different to that of the boat I eventually purchased. Looking back i wish I had done the Level 2 on my own boat.

I ended up looking for a different RYA instructor to provide me with some bespoke tuition and found him on here. I can only speak from my own experience but forum member Solitaire / David @ 5 Star Marine gets the thumbs up

 

[Moody]

A Warm Welcome

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

Might be a bit late in the day but get yourself to the boat show and have a good day poking around boats, marina stands, chandlery, and familarise yourself with boating. Don't let your head get turned to the big shiny stuff, unless of course you've got pots of spare cash, but eye up what looks like it might suit you. You can then do a load of research on what's available second hand in your budget. Boats for sale on here is a good start.

Also at the show you can access the RYA and talk to them about training courses.

The questions you should be asking yourself are, how much can I afford, where do I want to keep it, what will I use it for, what do I think my cruising ground will be, who else will be involved (wife, kids, mates), and are they bought into my idea.

As others have said read the mags, they will give you loads of ideas and aspirations, and probably a load more questions.

And probably most importantly keep coming back here and asking questions, nobody will tire of you and hopefully you won't get slated for asking the daftest of questions (most of us remember we were newbies once).

Neil

 

[Victoria Sponge]

You might want to consider a yacht! You'll find with the escalating costs of diesel that a yacht makes more sense.

There are mobo owners posting on this very forum who are crossing over for that very reason.

Don't limit your options OP, keep an open mind.

 

[lisilou]

hopefully you won't get slated for asking the daftest of questions (most of us remember we were newbies once).

Neil

Just don't ask if your chart plotter works same as ur car sat nav like i did!!

 

[MrB]

Just don't ask if your chart plotter works same as ur car sat nav like i did!!

It doesn't ?

 

[lisilou]

It doesn't ?

Oh god...now uve gawn and done it!

 

[Moody]

Of course not silly

It doesn't ?

Your chart plotter wont:

Direct you straight into a traffic jam
Tell you to make a turn then change its mind
Nag at you when you choose not take its advice
Give you stupid instructions like 'turn half left off the square'

There lots of differences see

Neil

 

[PCUK]

As said, fuel costs are a real nightmare for us less well-off owners. Remember that a boat over 35 ft will not do more than about one mile to the gallon which comes as a shock to many beginners! Don't be put off, just make sure your boat running costs are within your budget.
Just as a matter of interest, when I first filled up my current boat red diesel cost 13p a GALLON which I could easily afford. Now at about £5 a gallon I can't!

 

[MrB]

Oh god...now uve gawn and done it!

LMAO, was it that bad?

Your chart plotter wont:

Direct you straight into a traffic jam
Tell you to make a turn then change its mind
Nag at you when you choose not take its advice
Give you stupid instructions like 'turn half left off the square'

There lots of differences see

Neil

Sounds just like the £750 Kenwood (Garmin) setup i have in my car (and that is just the nav box in the boot), bloody useless.

I haven't used any marine nav equipment yet but i have spent many hours (read months) researching it. The books are good but forums like this are a must when you need "real life" information. In the few weeks i have spent reading the forums threads i feel i have learned loads and had many laughs on the way too.
I used to be a pilot, how hard can it be?? lol

 

[lisilou]

So c'mon then MrB...what've you narrowed it down to????

 

[MrB]

So c'mon then MrB...what've you narrowed it down to????

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.

 

[lisilou]

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.

Wise words MrB, keep us posted

 

[oldgit]

Not asking for much.

"Basically I'm after a 4/5 birth motor boat capable of crossing the channel"


Harry,welcome to the forum.Half the fun will be in searching for your "new" boat and that means everything from a "well past its sink by date" olde wreck to a shiney new pile of white plastic that reeks of glassfibre and before we go any further do not imagine for one second that buying new means no problems.

Most start out with sports boat fantasies,this normally involves you and at least 50 of your best mates including 100 tons of luggage and wives flying across the mirror flat channel for a quick weekend in some exotic foreign port.
Reality dawns with the fact that the boat you can afford will accomodate max 2 people and the fuel tank might just get you to the marina round the corner.
Whats with the Channel thing ?
If possible try to get a better idea of what type of boating you (and your significant other ) might prefer,river or coast,long distance slow speed cruising or short blasts out.
Your home location can determine a great deal,keeping your boat close can offer advantages although some forumites travel for miles to their boats.