First Boat

[anonymous-user]

In the next couple of months I am moving to Kent, some friends have already moved to the area (West Malling and Sittingbourne)

Now there are a few rivers locally from looking at Google Maps and the topic of the 3 of us blokes sharing boat ownership came up

Essentially we would want to have something that we could store on a trailer on a drive or in a garage (assuming this is cheaper than storing it by the river) and something we could tool about on and also use for fishing if we wanted

Is this feasible? Would we need to learn stuff and get qualifications? Or can any idiot by a boat and take it out?

Would be looking at circa 2k spend

I know nothing about this apart from the fact I enjoy being on water so any info greatly appreciated

[richardxjr]

First, do an RYA Powerboat 2 course. Plus a VHF radio course ideally.

Second, research launch sites on boatlaunch.co.uk

My recommendation on your budget: 2k will get you a clean SIB (Soft Inflatable Boat), 3.6m on a trailer with 20hp 2stroke - fun, cheap to run, will plane and do about 20knots, will cope with the Thames Estuary and hold value too.

If feeling more adventurous 2k should also get you a useable Avon Searider 4m RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with 40/50hp. Much more heavy duty, 30knots plus, bigger fuel tanks, console seating etc. If you can buy a rig with some safety gear thrown in that will help too.

Check the trailer as carefully as the boat & engine! (Bearings)

Then there's insurance (£100-200 ish) and off you go


Here you go: (4m Honda SIB, 40hp, £2k)

http://www.rib.net/forum/f21/sib-for-sale-43452.ht...

Edited by richardxjr on Thursday 29th September 14:43

[anonymous-user]

richardxjr said:

First, do an RYA Powerboat 2 course. Plus a VHF radio course ideally.

Second, research launch sites on boatlaunch.co.uk

My recommendation on your budget: 2k will get you a clean SIB (Soft Inflatable Boat), 3.6m on a trailer with 20hp 2stroke - fun, cheap to run, will plane and do about 20knots, will hold value too.

If feeling more adventurous 2k should also get you a useable Avon Searider 4m RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with 40/50hp. Much more heavy duty, 30knots plus, bigger fuel tanks, console seating etc. If you can buy a rig with some safety gear thrown in that will help too.

Check the trailer as carefully as the boat & engine! (Bearings)

Then there's insurance (£100-200 ish) and off you go

Excellent thankyou, the site is very very useful, have already found a place locally that does RYA 1&2 (I didn't know what these were before) so thats good

I will speak to them about the course and am sure they will have some local knowledge, I will also research SIB and RIB

Am liking the look of the Avon

[richardxjr]

I just added a tasty for sale link to my post above

[tenohfive]

richardxjr said:

If feeling more adventurous 2k should also get you a useable Avon Searider 4m RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) with 40/50hp. Much more heavy duty, 30knots plus, bigger fuel tanks, console seating etc.

I did my RYA Powerboating 2 in something similar - good fun, though nowhere near as much fun as the ancient waterlogged Dory of a similar size.

Probably a naive question, but if it's going to be used for fishing (i.e knives, hooks and other pointy tools) is a RIB suitable?

[paintman]

They're very robust.
Obviously take reasonable care when using sharp things but you're not going to pop one like a party balloon
And you are doing the right thing by getting proper training. As you said in your first post, any idiot can buy a boat & launch it with no idea of what they are doing. Unfortunately sometimes with serious or fatal consequences.

Dories are very good, due to the layout you get a lot of deckspace - more than an equivalent 'boat shaped' boat - plus they are very stable. Downside is that running head-on into wave they are bumpy & you can get a bit wet!
Mine's a 17' Dell Quay Dory Sportsman & its a great fishing platform.

Edited by paintman on Thursday 29th September 20:39

[tenohfive]

paintman said:

Dories are very good, due to the layout you get a lot of deckspace - more than an equivalent 'boat shaped' boat - plus they are very stable. Downside is that running head-on into wave they are bumpy & you can get a bit wet!
Mine's a 17' Dell Quay Dory Sportsman & its a great fishing platform.

I just used to love driving them - turning on a sixpence at a decent rate of knots actually felt exciting, whereas with a RIB it all seemed very tame and easy (probably a good thing mind.) Always planned to buy one one day if I can ever justify (and afford) it.

Do you use it on the coast or inland out of interest?

[paintman]

Coastal, out of Coverack, Cornwall.
Unfortunately only for a short period every year! No real opportunity round the Midlands, you're about as far from the sea as you can get.

[anonymous-user]

Cheers for the info guys

This will be a bit of a slow burner as I have to buy a house and get married in the next 18 months, I have tried convincing the OH that a boat is a vital pre wedding expenditure, but she isn't having it

When I get my RYA course done, are there places that will let me hire a RIB or Dory for a day/weekend?

[tenohfive]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Yes, plenty - google throws up a few. I'm looking at Dory hire and it was looking to cost about £120 a day for a 4m Dory (though I daresay it can be found cheaper with more digging.)

paintman said:

Coastal, out of Coverack, Cornwall.
Unfortunately only for a short period every year! No real opportunity round the Midlands, you're about as far from the sea as you can get.

Funnily enough I was down that way last week. I take it going out on Rutland Water or similar doesn't appeal?

[richardxjr]

Don't think Rutland Water is open for powered boats? (Although they may well do PB1/2?)

Anyway, the Welsh coast (all of it) is accessible & fantastic. Aiming to hit the campsites on the beaches at Port Eynon (south) & Black Rock Sands (NW) sometime.

Good bargains to be had out of season

[paintman]

tenohfive said:

Funnily enough I was down that way last week. I take it going out on Rutland Water or similar doesn't appeal?

On the occasions I've fished Rutland - mostly Force Fly Fishing section - we've always used their boats.
Same with Draycote - my favourite local trout water.
I did ask about using my back-up outboard - 4hp Suzuki - at Thornton reservoir (rowing or BYO electric outboards)on one of their boats but the answer was no.
Simpler to use one of the fisheries own boats - you just leave them on the pontoon when you get back!

Edited by paintman on Friday 30th September 22:39

[Burrow01]

richardxjr said:

Don't think Rutland Water is open for powered boats? (Although they may well do PB1/2?)

Only the rescue boats etc associated with the two Sailing sites there are allowed, plus the fly fishing boats rented out from the Fishing centre

You can do your PB 1/2 at the Sailing Club though

[DH01]

Be aware that It is not compulsory to do the RYA courses. Messing about in boats is one of the last freedoms we have.
Upto 23 metres/ 200 tons for private/non commercial use there is no legal requirement. You may benefit from the courses but nothing will replace experience. Joining a club, befriending an old codger, is a great social way to learn all the things they won't teach you on a course.
Be safe and have fun.