New boy help please

Daddy Matt · 19 July 2018, 13:43

Hello everyone

I'm new to boating and being a little older with more money than sense have gone out and bought myself a 3.1m Avon.... with a professionally reinforced transom to take the 25Hp Yamaha 2 stroke on the back.

Now I do have a fair bit of common sense and before I take the kids to Cornwall and just start throwing petrol and oil into it and killing myself and kids I thought I would ask for any advice from you ladies and gentleman about, other than a boat and life jackets, what do I need to sort out prior to taking to the water?

Thanks for any help or advice in advance.

Brian · 19 July 2018, 14:23

Afraid we need to know a little bit more than that, i.e. will you be going "out to sea" or do you intend to just float about on inland waterways/rivers/lakes etc.?
What weight will your boat be carrying?
How far do you intend to go?
Will you be anchoring at any point?
Are you going fishing?

Fenlander · 19 July 2018, 14:29

Hello Matt and welcome to the forum.

Is this an inflatable or small RIB? Will you carry deflated in the car and daily inflate?

Kids.... 25hp on a 3.1m... not sure that is a good fit... unless teen boys.

Have you insured the outfit?

Re kit have a look at this thread and see if it gives any you ideas.

David

Daddy Matt · 19 July 2018, 15:36

Hi guys

My boat is an Avon 3.1m rib.

I've bought the Rib, just for splashing about on coast lines and playing in estuaries.
I doubt very much I'll be using it on inland waterways.

The vision with the boat was about loading wife 60kg, myself 75kg and teenage daughter 50kg and a picnic, hoping from beach to more secluded beach for days out.

No serious long trips. I have an anchor (came with) but I doubt it'll ever go in water. Used to pin the boat to sand at most.

I haven't looked at insurance yet, what sort of cover will I need and are there any preferred companies you experienced guys use?

Thanks

Matt

Fenlander · 19 July 2018, 15:56

That's close to what we've been doing for the past 10+yrs. Teen daughters now 21 & 23 so don't want to come sibbing any more.... so it's just self and Mrs F.

By no means exhaustive but just running through my own kit list mentioning a few pointers...

Anchor, decent length of rope and chain a very good idea as it can hold you in place if the unexpected happens and you need a short while to make decisions.

Paddles useful... not for serious distances but even 10m off the pontoon if the engine conks nice to be able to get back.

Extending boathook useful.

Means of alerting attention... think about marine radio, mobile phone, air cannister horn, flares, electronic flares etc.... even a T-shirt on the extended boathook.

Baler and big sponge.

Spare/second mooring rope.

Knife (pot ropes round prop).

Compass & waterproof torch.

Spare fuel?

Second kill cord.

Very small OB toolkit inc plug spanner and spare new spark plugs (pre gapped). Spare fuel line with primer.

Some means of seeing charts for the area, paper or electronic.

Fenlander · 19 July 2018, 15:59

Well worth getting insurance which is asked for in some launch areas and if nothing else 3rd party cover is very wise. The most used smallcraft company mentioned here is Craftinsure online. Either do it all online or email them if you are uncertain which category/cover you need. I am on my 16th policy with them.

BigE · 19 July 2018, 16:08

It's a relatively small boat for 4 people so I think space will be at a premium. If it was me I'd consider these the essentials:

1. Life Jacks for each person
2. Paddles
3. VHF Radio
4. Knife
5. Anchor + suitable length line
6. big sponge / towel

Everything else is a nice to have extras if room and conditions allow.

Daddy Matt · 19 July 2018, 16:14

Thanks Fenlander

I have ticked a few of those boxes already, just out of common sense.

Anchor just has about 20 meters of rope, no chain, but I can fix that.
Paddles yep
Boat hook, I'll buy.
Means of contact, I was thinking if I'm out of mobile phone reception I'm probably dead already :-) Will look at flares of some description. not sure what or where to buy but the internet will help.
Compass and waterproof torch, I don't think I'll be out anywhere near dark and I doubt I'll ever loose sight of land.
Kill cord, boat came with one but I bought two spares yesterday.
Tool kit has safety knife, plug spanner and two plugs, couple of jubilee clips, small first aid kit.
Spare fuel. I have a 20L tank, under jockey seat and was planning on keeping another 5L can and 1L of oil hidden in the bow locker.

Daddy Matt · 19 July 2018, 16:17

Thanks BigE
Have bought light weight jackets for us all.

FYI Amazon, if you are a prime member are selling Helly Hanson ones at silly money in a sale!

Striker · 19 July 2018, 22:46

“Compass and waterproof torch, I don't think I'll be out anywhere near dark and I doubt I'll ever loose sight of land.”

We were less than a 1/4 of a mile off the coast of Anglesey last bank holiday on what can only be described as perfect conditions. Still, hot and flat seas.

With about 5 minutes notice a haze on the horizon turned in to a fog bank and visibility dropped to about 100 Mtrs.

I have a chart plotter and all the safety gear. But the thoughts of being mown down by someone else was overwhelming and we headed into land and on the plus side found a beautiful sandy cove we had never explored before. So nice we stayed after the fog burned off.

Get a hand held compass at very least. They cost buttons. Or better still get the Navionics chart plotter app for your phone (maybe even one of the backup usb battery packs to extend your time between charges).

At least then you know roughly what your heading for including depths etc.

As an added bonus you can lie in bed as I do planning my next adventure! - I really must get a life!

Pikey Dave · 20 July 2018, 00:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddy Matt

Compass and waterproof torch, I don't think I'll be out anywhere near dark and I doubt I'll ever loose sight of land.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition [emoji57]

Poly · 20 July 2018, 00:28

Quote:

myself 75kg

Not sure many people here will be able to equate to your position ;-)

Poly · 20 July 2018, 00:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition [emoji57]

Just in case PD’s comment was too subtle: shit happens at sea, the torch may be way more important than you think although hopefully you are proved right. The compass will only be useful if you are in sight of land or some other visible navigation feature, but getting lost at sea is embarrassing!

beamishken · 20 July 2018, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poly

Just in case PD’s comment was too subtle: shit happens at sea, the torch may be way more important than you think although hopefully you are proved right. The compass will only be useful if you are in sight of land or some other visible navigation feature, but getting lost at sea is embarrassing!

Compass is pretty handy if your out of sight of land too at least you will know which general direction to head to find it.
Even if you dont find the right bit of land id say any land is better than no land even in poor visibility you should be able to follow the coast untill you find a suitable landing spot to orientate yourself

Pikey Dave · 20 July 2018, 07:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamishken

Compass is pretty handy if your out of sight of land too at least you will know which general direction to head to find it.
Even if you dont find the right bit of land id say any land is better than no land even in poor visibility you should be able to follow the coast untill you find a suitable landing spot to orientate yourself

+1 [emoji106] I always have a general feel for the direction we left port in, a reciprocal course will always get you back to somewhere you should be able to recognise. Also, when we've been out fishing/picnicking/sunbathing etc & completely lost our bearings, the compass always allows me to orientate meself before we set off back.

Pikey Dave · 20 July 2018, 07:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poly

Just in case PD’s comment was too subtle:.........

That's the first time in my life I've been accused of being "too subtle"[emoji23]

Daddy Matt · 20 July 2018, 10:45

Points well made gentlemen and advice taken.

i've downloaded the Navionics app for the phone and I always carry a little back up charger just in case.

Thanks

Poly · 20 July 2018, 10:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamishken

Compass is pretty handy if your out of sight of land too at least you will know which general direction to head to find it.
Even if you dont find the right bit of land id say any land is better than no land even in poor visibility you should be able to follow the coast untill you find a suitable landing spot to orientate yourself

Indeed.