Newbie

[Sizer]

Just bought myself a Bayliner Bowrider, first boat for me and I am now looking for any relative advice to someone who is new to this. Things like launching tips, maps perhaps, anchoring, places to park up, places of interest along the solent, absolutely anything that will help!

Links to sites may also be helpful, I'd like to learn as much as poss so i can relax and enjoy.

Boat will be mainly used in the solent, and maybe the odd trip to the IOW.

Cheers

[Jon Fuller]

Simon,
Welcome to boatmad.
I'm sure there will be plenty of advice for your chosen cruising area, and usually plenty of offers of cruising in company.

Your website/email domain looks interesting, give us an idea of what you do.

JF

[Sizer]

What do I do?....well basically I am unlock mobile phones so that you can use them on any network, I also upgrade the software and do the odd repair.

Thanks for your welcome, I'm picking the boat up Thursday evening from close to Brighton and would like to have a go on Friday.

Checked out a few slip roads local to me (Southampton) and now just need to find out how to get it in the water, I do have a rough idea but little tips are handy (how far in the water should the trailer go etc..)

Also need to find out what the buoys mean etc..

Trying to find this info on-line seems to be difficult, mind you boatlaunch.co.uk is a fantastic site for finding the old slipways!!.

[jackeen's Missus]

Welcome 'newbie'..a few of us still in that category:D

A few boats will no doubt go out next weekend & it would be great if you & family could join in...visit some of the usual haunts in the Solent area!!!

Please keep an eye on the 'cruise' thread... :D

If you look through the torkin bollix forum down below (don't be put off by the name!!!) you will find some quality stuff!!!

Oh and maybe some idea of places to go in the Solent:D

Like http://www.boatmadforum.co.uk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=170

(ignore the banter!!!)


If you're really worried about the launch me & my hubby will come along & bring our camera (only jokin...I meant help you out...:D )

Missus:cheers:

[Sizer]

I spose once youve launched a few times it all becomes fairly straight forward, i hope....

Trying to decide where to do the first launch from at the mo, somewhere nice n roomy wher emy car wont get stuck...lol

[jackeen's Missus]

Have a look here

http://www.boatlaunch.co.uk/

Lots of peeps seem to find this site useful

Missus

[Sizer]

Is there a seaway code so to speak online anywhere?

[jackeen's Missus]

Have a look in your chandlery..

Or google?

(would highly recommend a training course to a fellow newbie...you can get tailormade advice)

Missus

have look at RYA info...

http://www.rya.org.uk/training/courses.asp?contentId=1032176&xref=item

[Sizer]

Saw that book but didnt buy it as i thought i'd find out that and more online, as it is theres not as much info on boats as i thought.

I always look online to find out anything i need to know but boats seem to be a different kettle of fish.

[jackeen's Missus]

sorry...changed link



HOW NEW ARE YOU?

Missus???

[Sizer]

New as in last week i decided i wanted a boat and bought one. I did have a go on a toppa many years ago but didnt go much on it.

Am looking at a course but im a little keen just to have a little ride innit as you are when you just get a new toy.

[jackeen's Missus]

Any experienced mates?

Missus

[Sizer]

I have just discovered today that a chap a few doors away has got a small fletcher 14ft i think so will be having a chat with him. Other than that no.

[jackeen's Missus]

Originally posted by Sizer
I have just discovered today that a chap a few doors away has got a small fletcher 14ft i think so will be having a chat with him. Other than that no.

REALLY good idea...

Have you any charts etc.?

I'm getting a bit scared for you reading your posts...

Can't believe you're taking out a new boat having never 'driven' before ... ON YOUR OWN???

Really worried for your safety that's all

Missus:wotzhapni :wotzhapni :wotzhapni

[Sizer]

Hmm....charts.....nope!

Never driven so to speak, chap who i'm picking it up from said he will run me through a few things, wont be on my own though I'll be with a couple of people although none have any experience.

I'm not planning on going out to sea yet, probably a slow plod up hamble river or something.

But now your making me worry about me...lol

[jackeen's Missus]

Originally posted by Sizer

But now your making me worry about me...lol

(Good :up: )

It isn't a doddle going upriver neither & they get very cross on the Hamble if you muck things up... (I bin glared at!!!but then I'm stoopid )

Plus you need to check water depths as there are very shallow bits.....

How about calling into the big black & white stripey tower at Warsash (Harbourmaster) for some free advice ...

Missus

:aaahhh:

[Rogue Wave]

Sizer ,
congratulations on your new boat I hope it gives you as much pleasure as my first boat did!

Welcome to boat mad. Its a lot of fun here. I expect you'll shortly be hearing from my mentor gArfie who will put you right about all sort of things

re your training if you can't afford a course then buy a book by Peter White called Powerboating. It gives good concise detail and easy to understand illustrations.

Good luck wit your boating

:up:

[Sizer]

Cheers mate, ill get the book, so can anyone recommend the best place to have a first little run on Friday?

Perhaps warsah so i can pop into the tower......
Or Lee on Solent, somewhere relatively trouble free and easy so i can have a little go in my new toy without upsetting anyone or breaking it.

Can anyone recommend a chart too, saw loads down the chandlers, will want to eventually go to hamble river, suthampton water, solent, bournmouth, isle of wight....

Thanks for all the help peeps.

[GRIFFON]

HI SIZER
I JUST WONDERED DID YOU BUY YOUR BOAT FROM JON ON E BAY?
HOPE THINGS GO WELL WITH YOUR FIRST TRIP.

[Tall dark and ugly]

good luck with ur new boat i know how u must feel i just brought my first boat but i need to rebuild it first. i wont be quite as nervuos as u my dad has a boat and i'v been out on that! but ne how when you get more experienced, visit guernsey people have said its nice to go around! i live there and i agree. any way good luck and have fun!

[phantomc92]

if you want somewhere quiet on friday i would recomend launching at mercury marina half way up the hamble river,its very very quiet but is only usable 2 1/2 hours before or after low tide,good slipway though with very little weed on it, mercury nos is 02380455994.

[Sizer]

Just spoke to a neighbour i saw he had a boat a little while ago and started chatting, hes been boating for about 25 years ish and said he will take me out for the first time and give me some pointers so hopefully it will be ok.

Also I bought the Powerboat book this morning from swanick so will be having a read of that in a mo.

[jackeen's Missus]

Few bits & bobs of reading here..

http://www.mby.com/mby/month/dskip.htm

(been saving it for a rainy day)

Oh and another one with some good advice...

http://www.powerboat-training.co.uk/articles.htm

Articles by the eggsperts!...might be worth a dip...

Missus (have em in favourites ... need to study a bit myself)

[jackeen's Missus]

?

Missus

[Sizer]

Good sites there, will have a read up when i get a mo, still reading the book at present.

[jackeen's Missus]

Some gravity issues me being a lardbanjo

Missus:D

[termite]

Sizer, not sure were in Hampshire you are, but Tim Griffin on the Isle of Wight or Stuart (Rogue Wav) in Saxon Wharf both run training courses and could do it in your own boat. Saxon Wharf on the Itchen in Southampton also has a slipway which might be useful to you.

T

[Sizer]

Ill look them up, I'm about 10 mins from town centre and will probably use the slip under woolston bridge for now (Southampton side)

Where abouts are you terminator?

[termite]

TJust spoke to a neighbour i saw he had a boat a little while ago and started chatting, hes been boating for about 25 years ish


Sizer hi, I am in Fareham but just been reading through this post again. Please do a Power Boat 2 level course, preferably sooner than later. Its great fun and well worth the money as you wil be taught by professionals who have been examined by the RYA as will there school to ensure ethey are up to a high standard.

I am cosntantly amazed at some of the standards seen on advanced courses and when you ask them about there experience it shows they didn't learn the basics and just cuffed it.

Make one mistake running aground and a new prop will be the same price of a PB2 course.

T

[jw.]

I don't want to seem too heavy but I agree. By coincidence, I've just read a MAIB report where the situation is just like yours. A guy new to power boating had been out once before. He took pals out with him, only one lifejacket, engine stopped just yards outside the harbour, boat took a wave, engine restarted and then died, freeboard was reduced so it took another wave, all of them in the water and two of them died. Very easy to happen. The conclusion included these words, "Buying and going to sea in a powerboat is, to some people a very straightforward buisiness......taking the boat to sea for the first time is not as straightforward as it might seem. If you have limited experience, you are strongly recommended to seek appropriate training. Ideally this should be a practical motor cruising course........".

Just do it. You would'nt want to be a Boatmad statistic, would you? You'll enjoy it too.

You've joined this forum, so I presume your brain is working properly. :)

[Sizer]

As previously said my neighbour with 25+ years experience in power boating is taking us out the first few times to give us some training so we should be fine. Wont be going out to sea just yet though, just the itchen for now.

Got all the lifejackets etc.. so hopefully well prepared, also done alot of reading over the past couple of weeks so have some background theory.

I'll let you know how we get on.

[Sizer]

First trip out was very good and went well, learnt a few bits and bobs and mainly had a slow chug up the river itchen for the first time out. Met a couple of chaps out on the water too who were very nice. Things certainly look different from the water.

Now its just a shame the weathers going right downhill really!!

[jackeen's Missus]

Good News Newbie.:)


Oh and a few boats are out next Sunday (see cruise thread) if you want to go out in company...

Missus:up:

[jw.]

Originally posted by Sizer
First trip out was very good and went well,

Cool. Well done. Boating's good, isn't it?

[Sizer]

Well went out on our own tonight, used a 30ft winch to get the trailer in the water, went in/out much better. Still didnt venture out of Itchen but felt alot more comfortable this evenin with everything we did so feelin goooooood!!

[jackeen's Missus]

We were out too with Martin and Antoinette...over to Cowes;
cheeky enough the waves:eek:

Missus:D

[Rogue Wave]

Originally posted by terminator
T




Make one mistake running aground and a new prop will be the same price of a PB2 course.

T


Well I hope your feeling smug now termite.

Sizer something else you could do is ask the RNLI for a free sea safety check. It's worth doing and you get a lot of useful waterproof handouts as well

[Sizer]

Sounds good, how do i go about getting one of them done?

Ordered a new prop £160 for a genuine part, will post up a pic of the damaged one in a mo, may see if its repairable...

[Sizer]

http://www.unlockmymobile.com/prop1.jpg

http://www.unlockmymobile.com/prop2.jpg

http://www.unlockmymobile.com/prop3.jpg

Ooooooooops :wank:

[Rogue Wave]

http://www.rnli.org.uk/seacheck.asp

also look out for their interactive safety training page.

remeber the trick is not going out to sea that's the easy bit it's coming back safely that's the goal

[Jon Fuller]

Crazyhorse would no doubt give plenty of worldly advice

[jw.]

Originally posted by jw.

You've joined this forum, so I presume your brain is working properly. :)

I take it back. :eek:

[Sizer]

Originally posted by jw.
I take it back. :eek:

Easy!....lol.....all i can say in my defense is "I" didnt want to go that way.

[jw.]

:)

[Sizer]

Got some charts now, will be making sure other owners (3 of us in all) also study them.....

[jw.]

Go on a fkin powerboat course. On PB1 they'll show you how to put your boat into the water without wrecking the prop.

[Sizer]

Originally posted by jw.
Go on a fkin powerboat course. On PB1 they'll show you how to put your boat into the water without wrecking the prop.

It didnt happen putting it in the water, i might also point out it did already have some damage to it before we finished it off. Still live and learn.

And I'd also like to bet people doing the PB2 course also made mistakes or does the course make you perfect 100% of the time.....

:hugegrin:

[jw.]

Originally posted by Sizer
...or does the course make you perfect 100% of the time.....



Yes, of course it does.

;)

[Sizer]

Originally posted by jw.
Yes, of course it does.

;)

lmao....is it just boat courses they do.....;)

[jw.]

Originally posted by Sizer
is it just boat courses they do.....;)

Dunno, never done one.

:D

[jw.]

Originally posted by Matt
...and still forget stupid things all the time..

Agreed. I get brain fade on the sea too... come to think of it, that's not the only place. Where am I, wot am I doing here. Who put the lights off.....

[Sizer]

Originally posted by Matt
I have to be honest, it's a long while since I did my course, so I don't know all the syllabus' of PB1 etc.
But ask yerself this:
If your mate falls overboard, do you know the safest and easiest way to recover him.
If you see a big log, or heaven forbid, a person in the water in front of you, do you know how to stop the boat as quickly as possible to avoid a collision? Closing the throttle or engaging reverse is not the right answer.
Do you know how to tie the boat up on a falling tide so it doesn't end up hanging by the ropes?
What's the best way to beech on a lee shore?

A lot of boating is common sense. But often the answer is not obvious, and thats really really when either experience, training, or both count, and often save lives. When the shit hits the fan you can't pull over to the layby and call the AA. Yes, no ones perfect, I certainly feckin aint. I've been boating all my life and still forget stupid things all the time. Everyone just wants to make sure you and yer mates are safe and stay safe, thats all.

Well i can answer a couple of them, avoiding a log.....hmm....depends on the type :)

Damn, AA dont cover the solent, they didnt tell me that when i signed up, i'm gonna cancel my membership and try the RAC.

I know what peeps are saying but there are many ways to learn and in my opinion you never stop learning when it comes to something like this. So what is the best way to avoid a log?

[The gArfish]

Originally posted by Sizer
So what is the best way to avoid a log?


rinng upp de fkin wite shews an axe im wen hees gowin owt


:drain:

gArf

[Rogue Wave]

Originally posted by Sizer
Well i can answer a couple of them, avoiding a log.....hmm....depends on the type :)

Damn, AA dont cover the solent, they didnt tell me that when i signed up, i'm gonna cancel my membership and try the RAC.

I know what peeps are saying but there are many ways to learn and in my opinion you never stop learning when it comes to something like this. So what is the best way to avoid a log?

When you decide that some training might be in order then the SWAC in Southampton run regular courses and a couple o good guys run a sea skool in Ocean Quay. (that's opposite the footie stadium). Fluid tution also from Saxon Wharf are excellent ( but I have to declare an interest here as they use our facilities).

On the the Isle of Wight there is a school called Aquapower they trained the Jackeens and certainly turned the Missus into a good boater ( I cant speak for the Mister as I've never seen him drive and I have only been on the water with em 2 million times or so).

Then the best person IMHO is Paul Glatzel in Poole http://www.powerboat-training-uk.co.uk/

Also there is my mate Jono's place in N Wales if U fancy learning in a different envoirenment. David Manning teaches there and he deserves some respect they also have alot of fun during the course
http://www.professional-powerboat-training.co.uk/



There is a maritime equivalent of th AA it's called Sea Start and you might want to consider joining. Also the AA do a trailer membership it's about 70 kwid and it covers your trailer breaking down. Probably not so important in this area but worth considering if you are going to do some long distance towing.

It's looking like I'll be pretty busy in the near future so I'll have to withdraw the offer of training I made you in my PM, but I would still urge you to get some before you teach yourself too many bad habits!

Does your boat insurance company offer you any discount if you are qualified.

cheers
Stuart

[Sizer]

Some good advise and I will be gettin some training shortly.
Still looking into boat insurance trying to find a good quote but i dont really know what a good quote is when it comes to boats.

Did you offer training, feck, must have overlooked that......

[jackeen's Missus]

Originally posted by rowg waiv

( I cant speak for the Mister as I've never seen him drive and I have only been on the water with em 2 million times or so).

cheers
Stuart

That is SO not true you Rogue you :D

There was an issue about you 2 having several jars:cheers:
and me HAVING to drive ... on a few lickle occasions:laugh:

Missus (default boater:D )