Complete Newbie.. Wants to buy a boat! Console me..

[BoatAfloat]

Hi all.

Figured the best place to start with my questions would be a boating forum!

Basically, for the last couple of years I've really enjoyed boat trips / visiting the Norfolk Broads in general.

I've seen some boats for sale in the local area / online and it suprises me just how much you can get for your money.

For me, as a complete starter / newbie, I think I would be looking at a very small boat to start with -

I have no idea , perhaps something like this ? https://www.gumtree.com/p/boats-kayaks- ... 1185261519

My questions would be as follows ;

1. Where would the boat 'live' when I am not there? I assume I will need to pay for it to be tied up somewhere. Does anyone know a rough figure for this?

2. Are there any rules / regs I need to look into, or can I literally buy a boat and go and pick it up by actually doing it

3. Am I being stupid? I've always wanted a little boat to explore on.. in reality, I'm only probably going to be able to use it on Sunny weekends or with time off work using holiday. Is that a lot of outlay cost for little time, or is that normal and what everyone else does anyway?

4. What happens over winter, are they just stored etc?

5. And advice / things to read or watch would be just awesome.

Thanks in advance !

[Ianfs]

Hi boatafloat and welcome.

You have picked the right place there is an awful lot of experience on here from all over the country.

That boat looks in remarkable condition and if it is like that when you see it, it will be well worth getting. Trouble is the outboard may cost as much as the boat.

Where do you live and where will you be boating?

To answer your questions....
1/ If you have a driveway or front garden, why not store at home on the trailer, cheap and easy? If not a small boat like that could be kept at a boatyard cheaply. Probably best not kept on the water as you would then have to anti foul and scrub off.

2/ No rules or regs in this country.....stupidly. Anyone can get in a boat (as long as it is permitted on the waterway) and boat. You can even go out to sea and drown legally! However, it might be best to get some basic training, even if its anchoring and slow close quarters manoeuvring.

3/ Absolutely not stupid and there is no such thing as a stupid question about boats either.

4/ You can boat in winter but most people store them either at a yard, in a barn on their drives or at a boatyard.

5/ Lots of books to read out there but Youtube is a great place to start. Examples are "boat fails" lots of these and will teach what not to do, "Boat handling"etc.

Hope this helps.

[BoatAfloat]

Hi boatafloat and welcome.

You have picked the right place there is an awful lot of experience on here from all over the country.

That boat looks in remarkable condition and if it is like that when you see it, it will be well worth getting. Trouble is the outboard may cost as much as the boat.

Where do you live and where will you be boating?

To answer your questions....
1/ If you have a driveway or front garden, why not store at home on the trailer, cheap and easy? If not a small boat like that could be kept at a boatyard cheaply. Probably best not kept on the water as you would then have to anti foul and scrub off.

2/ No rules or regs in this country.....stupidly. Anyone can get in a boat (as long as it is permitted on the waterway) and boat. You can even go out to sea and drown legally! However, it might be best to get some basic training, even if its anchoring and slow close quarters manoeuvring.

3/ Absolutely not stupid and there is no such thing as a stupid question about boats either.

4/ You can boat in winter but most people store them either at a yard, in a barn on their drives or at a boatyard.

5/ Lots of books to read out there but Youtube is a great place to start. Examples are "boat fails" lots of these and will teach what not to do, "Boat handling"etc.

Hope this helps.

Hi Ian, thanks for the reply!!

In response, I don't have a driveway I could store a boat on.

My girlfriend lives near to the Norfolk broads, she potentially has an area we could store one, but in honesty ideally it would be better off left in the river/lake/boatyard.

I live closer to London, infact, where I am I'm probably about as much inland as you can be... haha.

That is crazy about the rules and regulations. Not that I'm moaning, I've always been a 'use common sense anyway' kinda guy. So yes would definately e interested in a course or 2!

Off to Youtube I go...

Does anyone have experience with the Norfolk Broads on here?

Cheers,

Tom

[ChrisH]

Welcome. No experience of the broads. But as I understand it is speed restricted. So the example you posted would make a nice day boat to Potter along in. I would guess you would just need something like a 9.9hp outboard if you only intend to use her there. Typical river day boat setup. Can run all day on a small amount of fuel and servicing costs will be very reasonable.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[betty boop]

broads experiance - yes but not as much as the next guy to come alone

loads of ramps. load of water & loads of pubs = lovely place.

I'd say being from S/London with a trailer boat and then 1/2 relocatiing to East Anglia with said boat and working in London for 3 years, the best thing you need to do first is decide where and when you want it. Having a boat in Norfolk and a sunny day in Hampton court doesnt work, Ive been there. Decide that first and then take the next step, storage -if you cant then youre buggered and it'll cost you big time if you're on a budget, private land costs money and boat yards even more our local caravan store cost me £20 a month if paid anualy £30 otherwise and thats CHEAP as Im in the as''s end of nowhere. got the place got the storage got the budget - choose a boat and start to live the dream. Enjoy the journey and ask loads of questions.