HOW TO GET INTO BOATING
PART ONE
Build up your knowledge before you go shopping. Brokers ’ websites are a good way of seeing what’s out there
Do I have to start by buying a boat?
No, there are plenty of ways to experience boating without committing to ownership straight away. Booking a training course with an RYA-accredited school is probably the easiest and most useful way of getting a feel for handling a boat. You can find a list of courses and schools at www.rya.org.uk. The Powerboat Level 2 course provides a great introduction to motor boating as well as a handy qualification for chartering or buying your own boat.
Chartering a skippered boat is another good way of getting a taste of boating. There are charter companies all over the world, so whether it’s a long weekend in the Solent or a couple of weeks in Greece, you can get a feel for cruising with a skipper on hand to show you the ropes.
Once you have built up sufficient experience and qualifications, you can also charter without a skipper to see if you enjoy running your own boat. Some boat dealers even have their own charter boats so potential customers can try before they buy.
Another alternative to ownership is boat clubs, where you pay an annual membership fee to have access to a small
