Fancy a 60-80ft boat abroad, but a major hurdle to overcome
Discussion
Hoping that there is some help and advice to be found here ....
First off, I know nothing about boats, other than I've always loved being on the open water and every time I've been on boat trips when on holiday, I always end up hankering after owning one myself one day. The best holiday I can remember was spending a whole week on a guilet boat in Turkey ... It was brilliant.
I really fancy a 60-80ft boat, something like a Sunseeker Manhattan, Sealine Phantom, or similar.
Something similar to these ....
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1999/Sunseeker-M...
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2001/Sunseeker-M...
Likely to keep her somewhere like Vilamoura or somewhere similar (we love it there and think a villa and a boat in the marina would be the ideal get away place for us.
BUT .... I have a major hurdle to overcome .... The wife!
The Mrs got very sea sick when we went on a day trip 7yrs ago .. on a c70ft motor boat / yacht, when we were in Cyprus, which has really put her off.
She didn't wear bands or anything, we arrived on the boat with around 20-30 others and headed straight out to cruise the coastline.
The sea was quite choppy that day as soon as we got out to open water - and she was pregnant at the time - but it really put her off boats as she spent 3hrs at the back of the boat with her head in a plastic bag.
I've since read that it's good to get used to just being on the boat for a good few hours before heading out, wearing bands and taking a travel sickness pill. I don't know if her being pregnant had any influence or not.
I'm toying with the idea of chartering a boat for a day, with an experienced skipper, next time we go on holiday and convincing her to give it another try ...., idea being that we can go at our own pace and ease her into it. If she likes it ... Then I'm away!
I've been googling and see they charter similar boats down at Southampton, but I'm guessing that the English water around that area is not as smooth as abroad ?? (I was invited to Cowes week last year and a few of the guys felt a but seasick as it seemed quite choppy there).
So my real question at this stage is, can anyone recommend the best place for me to go and charter a boat for a day or two, with an experienced skipper who can help us, ideally where the water is quite calm and she's least likely to get sea sick
I've only got one shot at getting her on a boat again. If she gets sea sick again, it'll scupper the idea completely.
Also, do the bands and tablets work?
Thanks for any advice.
First off, I know nothing about boats, other than I've always loved being on the open water and every time I've been on boat trips when on holiday, I always end up hankering after owning one myself one day. The best holiday I can remember was spending a whole week on a guilet boat in Turkey ... It was brilliant.
I really fancy a 60-80ft boat, something like a Sunseeker Manhattan, Sealine Phantom, or similar.
Something similar to these ....
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1999/Sunseeker-M...
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2001/Sunseeker-M...
Likely to keep her somewhere like Vilamoura or somewhere similar (we love it there and think a villa and a boat in the marina would be the ideal get away place for us.
BUT .... I have a major hurdle to overcome .... The wife!
The Mrs got very sea sick when we went on a day trip 7yrs ago .. on a c70ft motor boat / yacht, when we were in Cyprus, which has really put her off.
She didn't wear bands or anything, we arrived on the boat with around 20-30 others and headed straight out to cruise the coastline.
The sea was quite choppy that day as soon as we got out to open water - and she was pregnant at the time - but it really put her off boats as she spent 3hrs at the back of the boat with her head in a plastic bag.
I've since read that it's good to get used to just being on the boat for a good few hours before heading out, wearing bands and taking a travel sickness pill. I don't know if her being pregnant had any influence or not.
I'm toying with the idea of chartering a boat for a day, with an experienced skipper, next time we go on holiday and convincing her to give it another try ...., idea being that we can go at our own pace and ease her into it. If she likes it ... Then I'm away!
I've been googling and see they charter similar boats down at Southampton, but I'm guessing that the English water around that area is not as smooth as abroad ?? (I was invited to Cowes week last year and a few of the guys felt a but seasick as it seemed quite choppy there).
So my real question at this stage is, can anyone recommend the best place for me to go and charter a boat for a day or two, with an experienced skipper who can help us, ideally where the water is quite calm and she's least likely to get sea sick
I've only got one shot at getting her on a boat again. If she gets sea sick again, it'll scupper the idea completely.
Also, do the bands and tablets work?
Thanks for any advice.
Thanks chaps.
Will leave the uk shores and look at the charter options in the Med then.
When I was last in Vilamoura a helpful girl explained about how the hot wind and cold wind directions make a huge difference in terms of the likelihood of feeling seasick.
I think I'm best to charter a boat and do a short afternoon/sunset trip first, then an overnight one, then maybe a few days .... All only possible if the first ones goes ok.
It'll also give me a bit more about what I'm actually looking for, rather than browsing on the iPad.
Will leave the uk shores and look at the charter options in the Med then.
When I was last in Vilamoura a helpful girl explained about how the hot wind and cold wind directions make a huge difference in terms of the likelihood of feeling seasick.
I think I'm best to charter a boat and do a short afternoon/sunset trip first, then an overnight one, then maybe a few days .... All only possible if the first ones goes ok.
It'll also give me a bit more about what I'm actually looking for, rather than browsing on the iPad.
TTwiggy said:
I might have a yacht in Vilamoura some time in the next 12 months. It will be a 33-36ft long sailing yacht, so you could always come out on that - after a few hours healed over at 25+ degrees your wife will think that anything you buy is a cruise liner by comparison! 
Ha ha ... Whilst. I would be well up for it, I think that might just about finish the dream before it even started !!! 
Thanks for all the input gents. 
I've booked us a holiday to Puerto Banus (we've been to Vilamoura many times and fancied a change) in August .... so I'm now on the case with chartering a boat for a day/half day.
I think we'd probably best to go for a 4hr afternoon cruise first. I think she'd feel anxious before we even got to the boat if she thought it'd be a full day.
I will ask if we can spend the first hour or so on the boat staying parked up in the mooring, learning about the boat controls etc etc, just to help her get a little used to the motion, then go out for an hour or two and see how we fare.
... I'd sooner do it gradually to build her confidence that she won't get sick, we can always go out several times then.
tezzer ... I can see why a coastal skipper course would be good, given what you've all said about 'give her a job to do and take her mind of it' ... but I can just imagine her face if I say .... Love, I've booked you on a coastal skippers course next tuesday ha ha !!!
Action Plan:-
1. Book a boat when weather is the best, with an experienced skipper, with the sole purpose being to get her back on a boat
2. Feed her;
* Tablets- Dramamine or Stugeron (either ok?)
* Ginger biscuits
* Strong flavoured Crisps
* Get some magnetic motion sickness bands
* Get Patches behind the ear
3. Spend an hour or so just on the boat in it's mooring
4. Give her a look-out job to do up on the flybridge (or get the skipper to get her involved with driving/steering
5. Keep my fingers crossed!
I've booked us a holiday to Puerto Banus (we've been to Vilamoura many times and fancied a change) in August .... so I'm now on the case with chartering a boat for a day/half day.
I think we'd probably best to go for a 4hr afternoon cruise first. I think she'd feel anxious before we even got to the boat if she thought it'd be a full day.
I will ask if we can spend the first hour or so on the boat staying parked up in the mooring, learning about the boat controls etc etc, just to help her get a little used to the motion, then go out for an hour or two and see how we fare.
... I'd sooner do it gradually to build her confidence that she won't get sick, we can always go out several times then.
tezzer ... I can see why a coastal skipper course would be good, given what you've all said about 'give her a job to do and take her mind of it' ... but I can just imagine her face if I say .... Love, I've booked you on a coastal skippers course next tuesday ha ha !!!
Action Plan:-
1. Book a boat when weather is the best, with an experienced skipper, with the sole purpose being to get her back on a boat
2. Feed her;
* Tablets- Dramamine or Stugeron (either ok?)
* Ginger biscuits
* Strong flavoured Crisps
* Get some magnetic motion sickness bands
* Get Patches behind the ear
3. Spend an hour or so just on the boat in it's mooring
4. Give her a look-out job to do up on the flybridge (or get the skipper to get her involved with driving/steering
5. Keep my fingers crossed!
Moulder said:
It is almost a shame that this is not a surprise, I would love to know the set of circumstances that you come up with to do the above without someone being aware.
Not sure what the area is like but could there be a contingency plan other than just head home if she does feel sick, e.g. a turn around stop/drink at another marina? That way if she does start to feel sick a bit of a break may be enough to carry on rather than bin the whole thing. Maybe not ideal when paying for the boat by the hour, but may make the difference between a pleasurable experience or not.
Not sure what the area is like but could there be a contingency plan other than just head home if she does feel sick, e.g. a turn around stop/drink at another marina? That way if she does start to feel sick a bit of a break may be enough to carry on rather than bin the whole thing. Maybe not ideal when paying for the boat by the hour, but may make the difference between a pleasurable experience or not.
ha ha ... I'm sure we all have ways of manipulating our ladies round to our way of thinking when it comes to all things power, cars, boats related etc .... but I'd probably struggle with this if I'd kept it a surprise !!Spoke to Fairline in Pto Banus this morning and he said if she gets sick, best to stop the engines and go for a quick swim, so don't worry if she gets sick I'll put a life jacket over her head before I push her in. She's up for giving it a go!
Right gents ... thanks again for your input so far, really appreciate your time .... things seem to be progressing quite nicely and turning into "A Plan".
The Mrs says she's up for giving it a go ... and now we've booked a trip and have dates etc, I've contacted several charter companies about what sort of boats they have available, and to explain the circumstances ...
>> The first company emailed back saying a flybridge boat such as a Sunseeker Manhattan 60 should be fine, or they have a Sessa Marine 54, but best to check the weather before we go.
>> The second company called me and explained that he wouldn't recommend a flybridge boat as they have a higher centre of gravity and given our circumstances would recommend a single level boat without flybridge for our first trip.
Certainly seemed to know his stuff and I liked the fact that he said; the most important thing is that you all enjoy the day, so if you book and the weather is bad that day, we'll roll it over and over and if you're really unlucky and can't go out all ... we'll simply give you a refund rather than get you out when it's not right to go (you can't say fairer than that!).
Options are:-
http://www.medboat.com/sessa-marine-fly-54-puerto-...
http://www.medboat.com/boat-charters/costa-de-sol/...
http://www.marbellaboatcharter.com/resources/Princ...
Any suggestions as to which you think best to go for?
The Mrs says she's up for giving it a go ... and now we've booked a trip and have dates etc, I've contacted several charter companies about what sort of boats they have available, and to explain the circumstances ...
>> The first company emailed back saying a flybridge boat such as a Sunseeker Manhattan 60 should be fine, or they have a Sessa Marine 54, but best to check the weather before we go.
>> The second company called me and explained that he wouldn't recommend a flybridge boat as they have a higher centre of gravity and given our circumstances would recommend a single level boat without flybridge for our first trip.
Certainly seemed to know his stuff and I liked the fact that he said; the most important thing is that you all enjoy the day, so if you book and the weather is bad that day, we'll roll it over and over and if you're really unlucky and can't go out all ... we'll simply give you a refund rather than get you out when it's not right to go (you can't say fairer than that!).
Options are:-
http://www.medboat.com/sessa-marine-fly-54-puerto-...
http://www.medboat.com/boat-charters/costa-de-sol/...
http://www.marbellaboatcharter.com/resources/Princ...
Any suggestions as to which you think best to go for?
Just a quick update .... after our trip.
I had exchanged many emails & telephone calls with Michal at Marbella Charters, who have an office in Puerto Banus port, before our trip.
We met with the guys the day after we arrived and they gave me daily weather updates and put the day back several times as the weather kept changing .... they even said if the swell didn't reduce they would refund our deposit, but fortunately we got to go on the Saturday for a short 4hr charter. They managed to secure us a Sunseeker Manhattan 66 which was just the sort of boat I fancied.
The Mrs was juiced up on Stugeron 15 travel pills and wore the Sea Bands we got from Boots Chemist .... and she didn't get seasickness at all (which was a raving result), although she did get a little scared when the waves started getting bigger and the bow of the boat started rising and crashing a bit heavier .... but to be fair she was great and even said that seeing a group of Dolphins and some baby dolphins swimming side by side was one of the highlights of her holiday. The crew sat with us for a further hour while we all had a beer on the boat when we had moored in the port. ALL IN ALL A GREAT DAY !!
So, thanks for your help, advice and suggestions - all very much appreciated and really helped us.
If anyone else is in a similar situation and looking to charter a boat of any size, in the Marbella area, I genunely can't recommend these guys enough .... (I'm not on commission Mods - just had a good experience)
MARBELLA CHARTER, S.A.
Tel: +34 952 814 159 – Fax: +34 952 814 130
Edif. Levante 10 – 29660 – Puerto Banús – Marbella – Spain
www.marbellacharter.net
charter@marinamarbella.net
So to sum up our trip, whilst it's fair to say that she isn't going to be sailing around the world single handedly next year, we did have a great day out and the wife is even happy for me to get a boat (on the condition that I get her a villa) and said she'll come out on it on the calmer days ... but thats all obviously a long way off and I'll be looking into doing some sort of training and certificates in Southampton/Cowes etc as a starting point - although there is a rather nice Predator 82 that I have seen in the classifieds ha ha
Cheers all - thanks for the help.
I had exchanged many emails & telephone calls with Michal at Marbella Charters, who have an office in Puerto Banus port, before our trip.
We met with the guys the day after we arrived and they gave me daily weather updates and put the day back several times as the weather kept changing .... they even said if the swell didn't reduce they would refund our deposit, but fortunately we got to go on the Saturday for a short 4hr charter. They managed to secure us a Sunseeker Manhattan 66 which was just the sort of boat I fancied.
The Mrs was juiced up on Stugeron 15 travel pills and wore the Sea Bands we got from Boots Chemist .... and she didn't get seasickness at all (which was a raving result), although she did get a little scared when the waves started getting bigger and the bow of the boat started rising and crashing a bit heavier .... but to be fair she was great and even said that seeing a group of Dolphins and some baby dolphins swimming side by side was one of the highlights of her holiday. The crew sat with us for a further hour while we all had a beer on the boat when we had moored in the port. ALL IN ALL A GREAT DAY !!
So, thanks for your help, advice and suggestions - all very much appreciated and really helped us.
If anyone else is in a similar situation and looking to charter a boat of any size, in the Marbella area, I genunely can't recommend these guys enough .... (I'm not on commission Mods - just had a good experience)
MARBELLA CHARTER, S.A.
Tel: +34 952 814 159 – Fax: +34 952 814 130
Edif. Levante 10 – 29660 – Puerto Banús – Marbella – Spain
www.marbellacharter.net
charter@marinamarbella.net
So to sum up our trip, whilst it's fair to say that she isn't going to be sailing around the world single handedly next year, we did have a great day out and the wife is even happy for me to get a boat (on the condition that I get her a villa) and said she'll come out on it on the calmer days ... but thats all obviously a long way off and I'll be looking into doing some sort of training and certificates in Southampton/Cowes etc as a starting point - although there is a rather nice Predator 82 that I have seen in the classifieds ha ha
Cheers all - thanks for the help.
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