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.

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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!