How do I get into boating?

Question

It is something I always wanted to do but not sure how.

Answer 1

Your 1st step should be to take a "safe boating course" offered by the coast guard aux., it's just a "BASIC" course that shows how to be safe on the water, it's only an 8 hr course (1 day), it tell's what to do in an emergency, etc.. It will get you "Certified", after completion, you are given a certificate and card, this will give you an insurance discount of up to 20%, so it pays for itself, be a smart cookie, and take the course.

Answer 2

Get a 20 foot center console boat with an outboard motor.

   You will easly learn how to dock and drive this type of small boat. I have had more fun with this (20 footer) this summer than any other boat(4 others) I have owned.

   Try one out at a marina that sells them.

Answer 3

How about this?

http://www.amazon.com/Sailing-Dummies-JJ...

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Sorry but I don't anything more than this.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

Like someone already said, Take a Boater Safety Course. I know that in Missouri, if you were born after a certain date, you HAVE to take a boater safety course, and pass it, in order to drive a boat at 14.

I took one so I could follow my dad on the jet ski.

Then you should look for a boat. Maybe go out on a friends boat so you can really see how everything works. I've been on a boat since I was 2 months old.

Also, remember that not everybody starts off with a brand new boat.

So don't forget to look at used boats, sometimes, that's where you will find your best deals!

Good Luck!

Oh, Boating is AWESOME!

Answer 5

Take a sailing class at the local yacht club.  Get private lessons near where you live, by the hour on your boat.  Ask a friend to teach you,  have an experienced person come with you on your boat a few times to give you some pointers.  Ask the previous owner to give you a few lessons on his boat if he is local.  Buy him lunch and a few drinks.  Take classes from the Coast Guard Auxilliary,  they are cheap and good.  Happy Boating,  you could learn by trial and error but that could prove to be very expensive if you don't know what you are doing.

Answer 6

As with other questions in this category, too vague. Power boat, sail boat, peddle boat? go down to the local marina and decide what you want to do with the boat, and ask the people launching the same kind of boat you think you want.

Answer 7

I say read and learn. You want to be informed enough to know the type boat you want. In Sailing, do you want to go fast? A Racing Hull. Do you  want to just cruise and spend lazy weekends on your boat? A Cruiser. A little of both? Racer/Cruiser.

You want a Sloop, Ketch or Catboat?

These are words you need to know and understand to buy a sailboat you will enjoy.

The link has lots of videos on sailing. Some may have a short advertisement to start, but, it free. On the right are more videos.

http://www.expertvillage.com/interviews/...

This first page you need to scroll down to all the videos past the list of ads.

Answer 8

as has been suggested by some of the other answers take a safety course also determine where you will be boating.ie on a lake,river,stream, ocean.this can help to determen what type boat you need. also how much you are willing to spend on a boat.another thing to conceder is what can your car or truck tow safely.one other thing always take someone along that knows about boats the first couple of times you go out .

Answer 9

If you live near the water, especially near a city, you may find that there is a community boating center that will make boats and instructions available to you at reasonable cost. Boston has several, including one called (strangely enough) "Community Boating." Regardless of whether you find a friend with a boat or go through a boating club, do yourself a favor and don't decide to get into boating by buying a boat and figuring it out as you go along. That road is always expensive.

Another piece of advice: whether you are planning to be a sailboater, powerboater, kayaker, or pedalboater, do yourself a favor and take at least one sailing course. Learning to sail will give you a better appreciation of all of the things that go into boating, even if your next boat is a Trojan 452.