Just bought a boat, wouldn't mind some advice!!

[jaygar]

Hi,

So, I got a little bid happy on eBay and have now bought myself a Plancraft Sabre 17ft Speed Boat Ski Boat With 3 Litre Mercruiser Petrol Inboard.

For now I only plan on registering it for use on Loch Lomond and don't plan on hitting the sea...

Anything you would recommend I should do??

Is it essential doing a boat course?

Recommend any insurance companies?

Radio courses? Radio? Or do folk just use their phones nowadays... ?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[mybrainhurts]

Watch out for U Boats...

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Totally useless advice, but something I often hear from 'boatie' friends...

They say that 'there are only two really good days with the ownership of a boat - the day you buy it, and the day you sell it!'


Seems that they are a great idea, but will suck you worryingly dry of time and money pretty damn quickly?

But anyway - good luck with it!

[mybrainhurts]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

Totally useless advice, but something I often hear from 'boatie' friends...

They say that 'there are only two really good days with the ownership of a boat - the day you buy it, and the day you sell it!'


Seems that they are a great idea, but will suck you worryingly dry of time and money pretty damn quickly?

But anyway - good luck with it!

He's not bought a bloody luxury yacht, you 'tard....

[hidetheelephants]

jaygar said:

Hi,
Anything you would recommend I should do??

Is it essential doing a boat course?

I think so if you have no experience and no knowledgeable friends to show you the basics; RYA Power Boat at a minimum.

jaygar said:

Recommend any insurance companies?

I'm not sure if the National Park needs special insurance, but boaty insurance hit the web a few years ago so just google and fill in a few of the online quote forms.

jaygar said:

Radio courses? Radio? Or do folk just use their phones nowadays... ?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you get a radio a course is a good idea, as you don't want to be learning to use it when the st hits the fan and not know how to turn it on; perhaps a VHF is of limited use on Loch Lomond, but better to have it and not need it, etc. I'd imagine you can get phone reception on most of the loch, but most phones aren't waterproof!

[Simpo Two]

jaygar said:

Recommend any insurance companies?

Try www.craftinsure.com

Also bone up on 'winterising' for when the freezing weather approaches; boat engines are (usually) cooled by the external water and you don't want it freezing in the gubbins.

[donutsina911]

jaygar said:

Hi,

So, I got a little bid happy on eBay and have now bought myself a Plancraft Sabre 17ft Speed Boat Ski Boat With 3 Litre Mercruiser Petrol Inboard.

For now I only plan on registering it for use on Loch Lomond and don't plan on hitting the sea...

Anything you would recommend I should do??

Is it essential doing a boat course?

Recommend any insurance companies?

Radio courses? Radio? Or do folk just use their phones nowadays... ?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

RYA Essentials (online course)
RYA Powerboat Level 2
RYA SRC/VHF
Noble marine are a good bet for smaller craft, good in the event of claims
An set of in date lifejackets, flares and a VHF should see you right

[Fishtigua]

With the 3.0 Merc, get an engineer to give it the once over. Compression check, exhaust mani and risers rust, so too the thermostat housing, circ-pump bearings wear, and get the outdrive checked for split bellows etc.

[robm3]

Fire extinguisher and blanket, boat fires can occur.
Plenty of safety gear and when in doubt on the water, throttle back.

Post some photos when you're out...

[Muffsy]

mybrainhurts said:

He's not bought a bloody luxury yacht, you 'tard....

Hahaha...love it...

[NDA]

Can I beg you to wear a life-jacket?! And all your passengers too? No matter what the weather or the state of the water - always wear one.

The same is true of the kill cord.

I came out of my boat a while back (dislocating my shoulder in the process) and were it not for my life-jacket, I wouldn't be writing this now.

My lovely friend was killed a year ago when in a moment of madness he wasn't wearing the kill cord and was hit by the boat.


Sorry to be dull, but I feel I have to be an evangelist for these two vital things.

[Fishtigua]

NDA said:

Can I beg you to wear a life-jacket?! And all your passengers too? No matter what the weather or the state of the water - always wear one.

The same is true of the kill cord.

I came out of my boat a while back (dislocating my shoulder in the process) and were it not for my life-jacket, I wouldn't be writing this now.

My lovely friend was killed a year ago when in a moment of madness he wasn't wearing the kill cord and was hit by the boat.


Sorry to be dull, but I feel I have to be an evangelist for these two vital things.

Well said.

For 20 years I never bothered, I bloody well do now after a mate was saved due to wearing one.

[Searider]

Fishtigua said:

With the 3.0 Merc, get an engineer to give it the once over. Compression check, exhaust mani and risers rust, so too the thermostat housing, circ-pump bearings wear, and get the outdrive checked for split bellows etc.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^

Once you know the engine is good then you can place some confidence in the boat.

make sure you have a working bilge pump in the engine compartment. Water will find its way in and you need to keep that engine dry.

You'll spend a fortune in your first season getting all the bits and pieces you need. After that you may think "phew, all set up now" That's the time to set up a boat account and pay into it every month irrespective of whether anything needs doing. Makes that unexpected engine bill a little bearable.

Powerboat level 1 and 2 course will be invaluable at helping you decide what else you need to find out about.

Enjoy :-)