Month: September 2024

At the BMEEA, we know that buying a boat is more than just the purchase itself. There are many things to consider and usually these are learnt on the fly which can be frustrating and costly.

 

We will be running a series on “10 things I wish I’d known before I bought my first boat” and round 1 is 10 things Derek Gilbert, BMEEA Chairman, wishes he’d known before he bought his first boat – Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

10 – I wish I’d known that not all equipment is built to the same standard

 

I wish I’d known that not all equipment is built to the same standard, for example stainless steel is not necessarily stainless, NMEA0183 or NMEA2000 data protocols do not guarantee that different manufacturers equipment will share data.

 

There is no substitute for constant vigilance onboard a boat, aside from trips and slips, the use of cheaper materials, untested second hand gear and ‘bargain’ equipment can create a dangerous situation onboard and many frustrating hours trying to integrate things that were never designed to in the first place.

 

There is no such thing as cheap on a boat – only ‘the right thing for the job’ will do!

 

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At the BMEEA, we are experts in all aspects of the boat owning experience, so please do get in touch with your nearest BMEEA member for assistance!

At the BMEEA, we know that buying a boat is more than just the purchase itself. There are many things to consider and usually these are learnt on the fly which can be frustrating and costly.

 

We will be running a series on “10 things I wish I’d known before I bought my first boat” and round 1 is 10 things Derek Gilbert, BMEEA Chairman, wishes he’d known before he bought his first boat – Enjoy!

 

 

9 – I wish I’d learned that Electrics and water do not mix well

 

I wish I’d learned that Electrics and water do not mix well, no matter how carefully cables are run and connections are made.

 

The marine environment will seek out any and every weak point and will cause bolts and screws to vibrate loose, will cause corrosion and high resistance joints in switches and contacts, triggering intermittent operation and power fluctuations in entirely random ways and with entirely unpredictable consequences.

 

More and more boats are having more and more complex systems fitted to try to make navigating, operating and enjoying your boat better.

 

All it takes is a waterlogged connector, a failed battery cell, a loose terminal in the power supply and the experience onboard can be very different, this is when basic navigation skills are needed as a backup – what backups do you have?

 

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At the BMEEA, we are experts in all aspects of the boat owning experience, so please do get in touch with your nearest BMEEA member for assistance!

At the BMEEA, we know that buying a boat is more than just the purchase itself. There are many things to consider and usually these are learnt on the fly which can be frustrating and costly.

 

We will be running a series on “10 things I wish I’d known before I bought my first boat” and round 1 is 10 things Derek Gilbert, BMEEA Chairman, wishes he’d known before he bought his first boat – Enjoy!

 

 

8 – I wish I’d known how important a VHF radio was

 

I wish I’d known how important a vhf radio was onboard a boat – mobile phones require access to land based Aerial masts and so once offshore, the mobile phone is useless, it is essential to do a VHF course.

 

This really falls into the requirement for every boater to take responsibility for their actions and use of a vhf should be a mandatory requirement for every boat owner – every boat should be fitted with one too.

 

VHFs enable you to contact ALL the nearby vessels and in times of emergency, every minute counts in terms of requesting assistance or you assisting another sailor in need.

 

Everyone onboard should also have a briefing on how to use the VHF, never rely on just one person knowing how to make a call, if that one person has an accident, who is going to call for assistance?

 

—————–

At the BMEEA, we are experts in all aspects of the boat owning experience, so please do get in touch with your nearest BMEEA member for assistance!

At the BMEEA, we know that buying a boat is more than just the purchase itself. There are many things to consider and usually these are learnt on the fly which can be frustrating and costly.

 

We will be running a series on “10 things I wish I’d known before I bought my first boat” and round 1 is 10 things Derek Gilbert, BMEEA Chairman, wishes he’d known before he bought his first boat – Enjoy!

 

 

7 – I wish I’d taken classes

 

I wish I’d taken classes to learn about navigation to learn about buoyage and accurate chart reading, how to recognise important details on charts and how to navigate the boat safely.

 

I wish I had learned about boat handling in changing weather conditions, the effect of wind and tide on a boat when on passage or even when manoeuvring in harbours and rivers.

 

The sea can look so benign, so much fun to play on and so relaxing in the sun, yest when it starts to rain, night time falls or fog rolls in, the situation changes in an instant and can become dangerous, with knowledge of safe navigation and boat handling, these situations become manageable and can be handled safely – classic case of a little knowledge is dangerous.

 

Approved courses would have helped to take the stress out of these situations and enable the boat to be sailed safely and under control.

 

—————–

At the BMEEA, we are experts in all aspects of the boat owning experience, so please do get in touch with your nearest BMEEA member for assistance!