Starting Sailing
Discussion
paul.deitch said:
Well I'd get some real experience before buying boat. Try crewing a boat the size you think that you want.
This. You’ll soon realise how cramped something that small is, although depends if it’s just you going solo. I learnt to sail on a 34ft yacht but wouldn’t want anything below 40ft to use with friends/family. I'd suggest doing a course first as a way to dip your toe in the water as it was.
We (the wife and I) did a comp crew course and then went Sailing in Greece. Nowaday's you probably need a Day Skipper license to do so. I'd do this - It's a week or so plus a couple of modules you need to work through and get's you to a decent enough point to be hooked or not.
We (the wife and I) did a comp crew course and then went Sailing in Greece. Nowaday's you probably need a Day Skipper license to do so. I'd do this - It's a week or so plus a couple of modules you need to work through and get's you to a decent enough point to be hooked or not.
fat80b said:
I'd suggest doing a course first as a way to dip your toe in the water as it was.
We (the wife and I) did a comp crew course and then went Sailing in Greece. Nowaday's you probably need a Day Skipper license to do so. I'd do this - It's a week or so plus a couple of modules you need to work through and get's you to a decent enough point to be hooked or not.
I wouldn’t recommend doing the comp crew or day skipper overseas if as the OP says they’re planning to do sailing in Scotland. They will think it’s all med mooring, sailing in shorts and cocktails at every port. The reality of UK sailing is its foul weather gear for every other trip We (the wife and I) did a comp crew course and then went Sailing in Greece. Nowaday's you probably need a Day Skipper license to do so. I'd do this - It's a week or so plus a couple of modules you need to work through and get's you to a decent enough point to be hooked or not.
ecsrobin said:
Jordie Barretts sock said:
I don't think you need a 40' yacht!
A 26' yacht would be fine, depends on how many of you, what you intend to use it for (whole weeks away or just long weekends, etc).
Exactly what I said A 26' yacht would be fine, depends on how many of you, what you intend to use it for (whole weeks away or just long weekends, etc).
Otherwise, yep. I just repeated what you said verbatim.
Jordie Barretts sock said:
Yeah, ok Skipper. Must have missed the dinghy bit in your post. And the bit where you said you wouldn't want anything less than 40' with family, must have clearly misunderstood that you meant 'would be happy with'.
Otherwise, yep. I just repeated what you said verbatim.
If you’d taken a minute to see what I quoted instead of trying to be all wOtherwise, yep. I just repeated what you said verbatim.
ky you’d have seen I took that bit out. Now go back to my original comment and you’ll see the bit that says “although depends if it’s just you going solo”.
Oliver Hardy said:
want a boat
You are here:
That is the most important thing. Everything else is just details...
Personally I prefer to let an engine do the work, so I can't tell you how to learn to rush back and forth pulling on strings and getting soaked, but I hope you find a way to do so
I would say that sailing can be broken down into separate elements.
Learn about the sailing and what makes the boat go. In my experience this is best done in a dinghy of some sort. I started in an Enterprise. In a dinghy you can learn all you need to know about sailing and it is easier to go out for half an hour or more without too much palaver.
Then you need to know the rules and regulations to make sure you are safe out on the water and with some navigation you won't get lost. This is probably best learnt through an RYA course. I did nights school Day Skipper then Yacht Master.
Then it is about putting that together with some experience to tie it all together so you are confident taking responsibility for your own boat.
In the UK it is possible to just go out buy a boat and set sail but not recommended unless you fancy appearing on Saving Lives at Sea
Learn about the sailing and what makes the boat go. In my experience this is best done in a dinghy of some sort. I started in an Enterprise. In a dinghy you can learn all you need to know about sailing and it is easier to go out for half an hour or more without too much palaver.
Then you need to know the rules and regulations to make sure you are safe out on the water and with some navigation you won't get lost. This is probably best learnt through an RYA course. I did nights school Day Skipper then Yacht Master.
Then it is about putting that together with some experience to tie it all together so you are confident taking responsibility for your own boat.
In the UK it is possible to just go out buy a boat and set sail but not recommended unless you fancy appearing on Saving Lives at Sea
Abbott said:
Learn about the sailing and what makes the boat go. In my experience this is best done in a dinghy of some sort. I started in an Enterprise. In a dinghy you can learn all you need to know about sailing and it is easier to go out for half an hour or more without too much palaver.
How about joining a sailing club?Simpo Two said:
Abbott said:
Learn about the sailing and what makes the boat go. In my experience this is best done in a dinghy of some sort. I started in an Enterprise. In a dinghy you can learn all you need to know about sailing and it is easier to go out for half an hour or more without too much palaver.
How about joining a sailing club?Oliver Hardy said:
It is just me, cramped, worked as a truck driver living in the back of a truck, and loaded trucks in gals, driving sleet, never torn up £50 notes though!
Is a small boat really that expensive to own?
I am going on a course first but want a boat, even if I sell it 12 months later.
A small boat that stays on a mooring costs significant money every year.Is a small boat really that expensive to own?
I am going on a course first but want a boat, even if I sell it 12 months later.
The cheapest way is with a club mooring, that can be down to a couple of hundred per year.
The most expensive way is a marina, that is generally thousands per year.
I'm currently in the middle, I have a harbour authority mooring which is about £1k a year for a 28ft boat.
There are waiting lists for moorings like mine.
Price varies around the country, do plenty of research!
I also own a racing dinghy which costs about £100 boat park fees plus £150 club membership.
Other costs include winter storage, craning in and out, insurance, replacing stuff, antifouling paint and work, engine servicing etc etc.
When we go anywhere it usually costs £25 or so per night to moor.
I drive a shed, because what normal people spend on nice cars, I spend on boats!
Seriously, it costs money, but if you use it a lot, it's not bad value.
It is also a time commitment similar to looking after a high-maintenance house or classic car.
Some boats you can lose a great deal buying and selling, and buyers can be scarce. Nothing worse than wanting to sell, no buyers, storage costs ongoing....
I definitely recommend doing some courses and/or finding other ways to get some sailing without capital commitment first.
Some of the sail training charities are worth a look.
If you have a local sailing club, suss it out?
There are some clubs which do group charters and all sorts of options.
Also co-owning schemes you can join and leave, DYOR because I don't know any detail personally.
You're doing the right thing getting some tuition. I'd recommend not buying until you've got some experience and a better idea of what you'd like; boats come in almost as wide a variety as houses do, from modern whizzo things, through floating caravans with all mod cons, to cozy cottages manky auld boats with stoves and oil lamps. You'll get as many different opinions as people you ask, it's like asking which car to buy on here.
hidetheelephants said:
You're doing the right thing getting some tuition. I'd recommend not buying until you've got some experience and a better idea of what you'd like; boats come in almost as wide a variety as houses do, from modern whizzo things, through floating caravans with all mod cons, to cozy cottages manky auld boats with stoves and oil lamps. You'll get as many different opinions as people you ask, it's like asking which car to buy on here.
Well he said 'sailing boat, nothing glamourous 23 to 27 foot', so that narrows it down a lot but we don't have a budget.That size is trailerable, but presumably if there's a keel sticking out that's not a DIY option as it would be with a cruiser.
The best route might be to buy a 'starter boat' - if it turns out he doesn't like sailing it he can sell it; if he says 'wow this is fantastic' he can find more money and buy bigger/better.
Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 23 April 10:16
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