where to start learning?

[oojamaflip]

as well as my wilson question
today i have purchased a fast cruiser 30ft
with all the electronic bells and whistles but do you know i do not have a clue about
navigation, bouys and what they mean, safety, infact nothing at all.
so where does a greenhorn living in west sussex even start to learn all these essential things
love boats though..........

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

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<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>

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[cngarrod]

First off - welcome to the wonderful world of throwing wads of hard earned into a floating (hopefully) money pit...

Second off, loads to learn, lots of advice (polite and otherwise!) available on this forum...!

What next... look or a local sea school and get your hand in your pocket (get used to it) and book yourself on a RYA Powerboat Level 1 and 2 course.. it will teach you the basics on how to drive your new pride and joy!

After that, practice!

Cheers,

Craig.

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[TwoStroke]

Hi and welcome.

PB 1 & 2 - good course run by Sussex Yacht Club and VHF course run up the road. Enjoy! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[KevB]

No training required. Just go out, open her up and enjoy yourself. It's a bit like driving a car for the first time, after a few bumps and scrapes you'll soon get the hang of it. As for buoys, they are things which reside in narrow channels specifically put there for dinghies to race around. Usually red or green, sometimes yellow and sometimes have pointy things on top (for birds to sit on I think?).
Hitting boats when mooring is a great way to meet your neighbours, also give you a topic of conversation as an ice breaker!!

Keep a keen eye out for boats with big white things blowing in the wind cause I think this signifies a newbie to boating cause the zig zag all over the place.

Good Luck/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif


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[Mike21]

With a 30ft, if she's twin sterndrives, would be better doing either a icc or dayskipper rather than pb1 and 2.
Look on <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rya.org.uk/Training/motorCruising>RYA</A> for local schools, you can either do own boat or on a school boat.
If you don't want qualifications, you could get an independant instructor to take you out and give you some pointers.

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[TrueBlue]

Quote: If you don't want qualifications, you could get an independant instructor to take you out and give you some pointers. endquote:

That's a good idea, you'll probably get more ourt of a one-to-one session.

If you can find a yottie humble enough go out with him / her to try and understand a bit more about winds and tides and why sailing boats do funny things at various angles.

If you have time try reading some of the boating classics to soothe away the pain of bouncing across the waves at 40k.

As to the electronics you may get some help from the manufacturer's documentation - most of them are on the Web where you can download the manuals.

Again - probably goes against the grain - but join a Yacht Club with a mobo / cruising section; avoid the large Solent ones as they may be a bit sniffy; try one a bit further away, much friendlier and could do with the income.

Now waiting for storm of indignant feedback.

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ICOS X: Stop what you're doing and wait my signal

 

[Solitaire]

Agree with Mike21. If you have a twin engined boat then do a Dayskipper course. PB 2 - Level 1 is a waste of time - is really for small powerboats up to say 26ft. All therory "stuff" is the same, but there are different techniques for handling twin engine boats. They are easier!! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif. Now I'll go away and duck!! A certain YM Power person may come after me!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[powerskipper]

A couple of days with an instructor just showing how things work, is a good idea, them go and play/ practise, then you would get more out of any courses you intend to do.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://powerskipper.mysite.freeserve.com/>http://powerskipper.mysite.freeserve.com/</A>
Julie

 

[powerskipper]

consider yourself shot!!!!!! David

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://powerskipper.mysite.freeserve.com/>http://powerskipper.mysite.freeserve.com/</A>
Julie

 

[Solitaire]

Missed! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Boating is <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.powerboattraininguk.co.uk>Serious Fun</A>

 

[Jinks]

I did power boat 1 & 2 about a month ago and would say that it is probably not particularly relevant for a 30 ft motor cruiser - certainly mine wasn't. I notice that there is now a two day RYA course specifically for motor cruisers and although not many people are offering it yet there are a few places on the South Coast. RYA website has details.

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