Boating forums for beginers

Question

I am intresting in buying a small boat,I know nothing about this hobby or even which boat would suit me.

Anyone know of a nice friendly forum or website I could ask questions on?

Thanks

Answer 1

This is a good place to start. Also try websites that sell boats to get an idea of what u can get for the price range u are willing to spend. Ask short questions in any internet browser and you should see the topics you want. Also look at boat magazines and u can buy used books on amzon and ebay. Also try to talk to other boaters. Good luck rob

Answer 2

everything I know about boats & motors, operating, maintaining, fixing, I learned at http://forums.iboats.com

(which I have no commercial interest in, BTW)

Answer 3

The Royal Yacht Association run boat handling courses to suit whatever type of boat you are considering. Don't be put off by the title Royal...... The courses are great fun and fill in all the 'grey areas' as well as safety training. You usually use their boats and the ratio of instructor to pupil is virtually one to one. They are not expensive, but in my view, worth their weight in gold.

Answer 4

here we go

....... www.worldseafishing.com.....

join for free and go to the forums section on the top tool bar.

go to boat angling in the first section

ask your Q there

this is a brill website aimed at the fishing/boating lads and not just some chancer trying to get 2 points for a load of cr@p

Answer 5

Regulations vary from Country to Country.

Please edit to let us know where are you planning to get afloat?

If you are in the UK, you might be interested in coming to the IWA National Boat Festival which is being held this year at Autherley Junction, near Wolverhampton, over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

There will be a few hundred visiting boats, whose owners will talk for hours about boating!  Plus manufacturers of boats.  Plus lots of stands, food stalls, entertainment.

P.S. If the weather is anything like last year in Cambridgeshire - bring your wellies!  The mud was ankle deep in places.

Answer 6

First you need to think about what sort of boat you want.  Where you are going to use it ie. river, canal, lake or sea.  Next you have to consider cost, most boats are like a large hole that you throw money into. Mooring, licence, insurance, new sails, engines, and much more.

Next go to the place where you want to use your boat and talk to other  boat owners about all of these things.  Any sort of boating is great fun so be sure that you think hard before spending loads of money on something you cant handle.  Start small and work your way up as you get more experience.

Good luck Lizzy

Answer 7

www.wellcraftv20.com  check that site out its nit just for wellcraft owners, but it helps lol    

Answer 8

Looks like you started in the right place.  What do you need to know?

Answer 9

Hi,

It might be best for you to get out on other peoples boats before deciding which boat might suit you. This is a perfectly acceptable way of getting into boating and all boat owners are very positive about encouraging and assisting enthusiastic people onto the water. Me included.

You are already on a good forum for answering questions about boating, it is clear to me that there are many very competent and experienced sailors contributing regularly.

To answer your question, then, I would say use this forum and also get in touch with your local marina or sail club and post adverts for yourself which offer to crew for boatowners. So long as you are very clear and honest about your inexperience, nobody will mind and you may be suprised at how much help and tuition you will get.

You might like to try www.sailmatch.com as well, it is a website for matching crew to skippers and vice versa.

Good luck!