New Boat - So now what?

**eastgreen** · 01-03-2006, 13:10

hello, and thank you all in advance for this....

I have wanted a boat for ages. I have hummed and Ha'd, tried to forget about, but still always wanted one. A couple of days ago I said to **** with it, and bought one. Sure you only live once, make hay while the sun shines and all that.

The question however is, what now? What do I need to keep me covered by law, keep me safe, and where can I use it? (probably questions I should have asked you all first before I bought it, but better late than never hopefully)

The boat I bought is a Microplus 571. It's 20ft long, 2 berth, a 75 hp mercury outboard, and a 15 hp mercury spare outboard. It has a road worthy trailer and winch. It has GPS, a fish finder, bilge pump, navigation lights and just about everything else that I think it should need - but then what do I know.

Do any of you have any advice you can give me as a first time boat owner? Saftey courses perhaps, boat maintenance courses maybe (it all works fine now but you never know), basic navigation course (though I do a lot of mountain climgibg so know how to work GPS), rules of the sea course?

Is marine insuarnce compulsory? Am I correct in saying that a Boat Safety Certificate is only for inland waters. Is that compulsory?

I read somewhere I need a licence and training in the use of a VHF radio. Is that correct?

Guys and Gals, I am a complete newbie to this, so forgive my ignorance. Any help would be greatly appreciated

thanks again for now

**Violet** · 01-03-2006, 13:35

Eastgreen

I bought my first proper boat last year - slightly smaller than yours. I've also at long last got a mooring for her down at Dartmouth after trailing her everywhere for a year.

The first thing that I would do is get her insured. You want to make sure that you telle the insurers where she is kept and if you are putting her on a mooring, where, even if it's a visitor's mooring. You also want third party cover in case you run someone over whilst on her (hope to god this never happens) but you need cover. I have got mine insured the full works. I think that it's worth it.

Sounds as if you have all the basic GPS and nav. gear. First time out, make sure that your radio works. Get life jackets - enough for everyone. I've got four adult and four kids jackets. Get yourself some flares.

Ensure that you get both engines serviced properly by someone who knows what they're doing at least once a year. I reckon as good a time as any is just before the Spring. You can always tinker around with your own maintenance during the year.

Make sure that you have a decent anchor and the correct length of rope and chain.

Get your trailer checked regularly and spray the trailer down with fresh water after its been immersed in sea water. Watch the bearings. Grease them up regularly. See the advice on the boat section maintence on this site.

Check your auxillary on a regular basis. There's a temptation not to touch it because you always use your main engine. I find that using the auxillary to do some trolling is a good time to test it out.

My main advice is to plan ahead when you are going to use her. For the first year or so, don't be too adventurous. For the first year I've never gone more than a mile offshore. You need to get used to her and get confident in boat handling. You can go on a course if you like but I think that so long as you use commonsense you'll be fine.

Start paying a small subscription to the RNLI. They may save your life one day.

Always check the weather forecast before you go out. My main tip from one year's experience only is if you are in any doubt over anything, err on the side of caution. Don't take the mickey out of the sea otherwise you won't live to regret it.

And the other thing - have fun, but welcome to the world of saying goodbye to any spare cash you ever had. It's worth it though

**eastgreen** · 01-03-2006, 14:37

excellent - thanks for the advice Violet

so how much does mooring her at Dartmouth cost (just as an example)? I live near bury st edmuds so I would be thinking of mooring her somewhere along the east coast more than likely. Any suggestions?

How much does insurance cost and which company did you use?

How much on average are launch fees?

I will indeed donate regularly to RNLI like you suggested. I know where you're coming from there.

all the best

**Fisher_Nick** · 01-03-2006, 15:42

a good insurance is third party bargan/basic (not sure) boat insurance. if you visit your nearest boat repair/spares/service place they should be able to give you the details

VHF you have to have a license to use it, but you can buy without for some reason.
It carries a fine if you are found using it without a license, although if there's an emergency i don't think there would be questions asked but the license and training you learn to use it properly, just in case you may need it.

**bigads** · 01-03-2006, 17:08

Put boat insurance into google and see what you get.....

**sabretooth** · 01-03-2006, 20:16

porthcawl insurance are very good, my 17' is £140, with a brand new 6hp 4stroke aux engine.
VHF i would say is a must as if you do have a problem you speak to everyone listening, mobile goes to one person.

marina fees vary, i pay £1000 per year (direct debit so get charged), but i think it is worth it to be able to just go if the weather gods are kind.
dave

**Tony H** · 01-03-2006, 22:05

Hi eastgreen, as regards training check out locally anyone who teaches the RYA powerboat level 2 course very usefull! alot of launch sites are now making this qualification compulsory and no doubt more will follow. You mention you can use GPS thats great but i would strongly advise you to learn at least basic navigation using traditional methods cos you never know when your electrics might go t*ts up. as metioned get a set of lifejackets (not bouyancy aids) of the correct newton rating. At the moment its compulsary to have a licence for a marine VHF however this is going to be abolished in October,but to use a VHF you will still need to pass an operators qualification. One of the best pieces of advise i can offer you is seek out a boat angling club they will provide you with a wealth of invaluble knowledge regarding fishing marks,tips cotacts etc. Hope this helps

**blueskip** · 02-03-2006, 13:41

Hi Eastgreen you have had some very sound advice there, in lieu of 40yrs boating experience, then the RYA2 will give you a really good grounding in what to, & what not, to do.
If you are desperate to get your sea legs, ask at a boating club for a volunteer to come out with you on your first couple of trips, (if you weren't so far away I would come with you), you may even get a volunteer from the forum!
The VHF licence is compulsory before you can transmit, but as everybody will say, if you break the law, & survive to pay a fine, thats a result!
Mercs are good engines & reliable, but sometimes they can be "individuals" when starting from cold, if you can afford it, have them serviced by a reputable marine engineer (fancy a run to Caernarfon) Chrisp is the mechanical guru on the forum!
Otherwise you have the rest of your boating life in front of you, it has been said that owning a boat is like standing in the shower, tearing up $50 notes, that's rubbish! its only $20 notes!

**eastgreen** · 02-03-2006, 21:22

Some great advice there from all of you. Many thanks. I have a lot to learn so keep em coming.

And I am desperate to get her out in the water

but not desperate enough to ignore the dangers of not knowing what I'm doing.

**wavelength** · 03-03-2006, 16:04

we use porthcawl insurance-one of the reasons being tht the prop. Steve Knipe is a boating person and lifeboat crew so he knows what you are talking about when you talk boats to him!