Hi Everyone,



OK here's my dream; I buy a boat (4 berth cruiser), I use it on the inland
water ways of the UK and every so often take it out to sea, maybe to France
or even around the Mediterranean. Now the problem:



I live in the Midlands

Do I need a licence of some sort?

I've got to learn navigation, where and how?

I've got to moor the boat when I'm not using it; where and how much can I
expect to pay?

What maintenance is required?

What insurance is required?

What else do I have to take into account?

How much per year does the average boat take to look after?



As I've said it's a dream, and I'm brand new to the boating scene so please
be sympathetic we've all got to start somewhere



Thanks in anticipation



Andy

Andy, based on your questions, I assume you are very new to sailing and
boating.

Therefore, I suggest to you that it is very premature to actually buy a boat.
Most "4 berth cruisers" are very expensive to purchase and maintain, and very
time consuming, and you need to make sure that sailing is something you really
want to do before you take the plunge.

My recommendation is that you first make some acquaintances who are sailors
somehow and find a nearby location at some lake where people sail.

Get to know those folks, do some sailing on their boats, pick their brains for
the answers to your questions, and then re- assess your "dream".

Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful, and achievable dream, but you need to
make sure that it's really your dream before you take the plunge.

On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 12:55:49 +0000 (UTC), "AJM"
wrote:

Hi Everyone,



OK here's my dream; I buy a boat (4 berth cruiser), I use it on the inland
water ways of the UK and every so often take it out to sea, maybe to France
or even around the Mediterranean. Now the problem:

You might want to post this questions in uk.rec.sailing. That group
has a groups of experienced UK boaters.

Jack

__________________________________________________
Jack Dale
Swiftsure Sailing Academy
Director/ISPA and CYA Instructor
http://www.swiftsuresailing.com
Phone: 1 (877) 470-SAIL (toll free)
__________________________________________________

Jack Dale wrote:
On Sun, 11 Jul 2004 12:55:49 +0000 (UTC), "AJM"
You might want to post this questions in uk.rec.sailing. That group
has a groups of experienced UK boaters.

Also uk.rec.waterways.
Bob

I'd suggest taking a boating course, then renting boats for a while. This
will give you and the family a chance to see if you like boating.
If so, I'd charter for a while. You can charter a boat nearly anywhere. Let
someone else pay for fulltime upkeep, dockage, insurance, etc until you
confident you want to take on full time ownership. Buying ANY boat is only
the beginning of the expense and work.
MMC
"AJM" wrote in message
...
Hi Everyone,



OK here's my dream; I buy a boat (4 berth cruiser), I use it on the inland
water ways of the UK and every so often take it out to sea, maybe to
France
or even around the Mediterranean. Now the problem:



I live in the Midlands

Do I need a licence of some sort?

I've got to learn navigation, where and how?

I've got to moor the boat when I'm not using it; where and how much can I
expect to pay?

What maintenance is required?

What insurance is required?

What else do I have to take into account?

How much per year does the average boat take to look after?



As I've said it's a dream, and I'm brand new to the boating scene so
please
be sympathetic we've all got to start somewhere



Thanks in anticipation



Andy

Thank you all for your advice and guidance

Andy
"MMC" wrote in message
news
I'd suggest taking a boating course, then renting boats for a while. This
will give you and the family a chance to see if you like boating.
If so, I'd charter for a while. You can charter a boat nearly anywhere.
Let
someone else pay for fulltime upkeep, dockage, insurance, etc until you
confident you want to take on full time ownership. Buying ANY boat is only
the beginning of the expense and work.
MMC
"AJM" wrote in message
...
Hi Everyone,



OK here's my dream; I buy a boat (4 berth cruiser), I use it on the
inland
water ways of the UK and every so often take it out to sea, maybe to
France
or even around the Mediterranean. Now the problem:



I live in the Midlands

Do I need a licence of some sort?

I've got to learn navigation, where and how?

I've got to moor the boat when I'm not using it; where and how much can
I
expect to pay?

What maintenance is required?

What insurance is required?

What else do I have to take into account?

How much per year does the average boat take to look after?



As I've said it's a dream, and I'm brand new to the boating scene so
please
be sympathetic we've all got to start somewhere



Thanks in anticipation



Andy