How difficult is it to skipper a motorboat?
July 11, 2021 12:10 PM Subscribe
We are moving to the west coast of Scotland and I'd like to get a motor boat to explore the coastline and some of the islands. I have some limited boating experience helping out but am mostly a boating novice. I'm definitely wanting to learn the right way and will take the relevant training courses. But how difficult will it be to learn? Also how will I know what size boat I will need to safely navigate the routes I want to take?
I did try to learn to sail a yacht and passed my competent crew certification. But I found sailing very difficult and it didn't come naturally to me. So I think I would prefer to stick to a motorboat. When I search online for information I am finding mostly information about learning to sail.
I did try to learn to sail a yacht and passed my competent crew certification. But I found sailing very difficult and it didn't come naturally to me. So I think I would prefer to stick to a motorboat. When I search online for information I am finding mostly information about learning to sail.
I think a lot of the secret to motor boating is learning to develop your skills gradually- and also to be able to deal with occasional conditions that would make most people panic. Marinas in many of the world’s trickier areas are full of expensive vessels that spend a lot of the year being expensive picnic tables because their owners have pushed themselves too fast and ended up scaring themselves (of their friends, family). The happy news is that there are some good standard courses to follow. It is also quite easy to find people who would take you on as crew - or would come aboard to help you get confident
posted by rongorongo at 12:54 PM on July 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by rongorongo at 12:54 PM on July 11, 2021 [1 favorite]
I am a former speed boat owner. On one level, it is easy to learn if you can drive a car. On another level, there are so many variables that while you can learn to pilot a motor boat, it will take experience to get very competent. You have to learn to drive in all sorts of conditions. Waves, rain, people on the boat distracting you, etc are all critical to learn. Learning how to dock the boat under various conditions and dock setups will take time.
I think your concept is very doable but I advise you to take it slowly. I don't know the water conditions off the coast of Scotland, but I imagine it is dependent on the time of year and the weather.
I had the benefit of learning in a very large lake that was relatively calm, but stepped up to driving in Lake Michigan (ocean like at times), in the Hudson River down through NYC where the rules of the road so to speak are very important, to offshore of Long Island and the Jersey shore.
Just as you would not put a novice car driver in a Lambo or on a race track, piloting a boat well takes time.
posted by AugustWest at 4:00 PM on July 11, 2021
I think your concept is very doable but I advise you to take it slowly. I don't know the water conditions off the coast of Scotland, but I imagine it is dependent on the time of year and the weather.
I had the benefit of learning in a very large lake that was relatively calm, but stepped up to driving in Lake Michigan (ocean like at times), in the Hudson River down through NYC where the rules of the road so to speak are very important, to offshore of Long Island and the Jersey shore.
Just as you would not put a novice car driver in a Lambo or on a race track, piloting a boat well takes time.
posted by AugustWest at 4:00 PM on July 11, 2021
When I was sailing I had to take "International Offshore Safety at Sea Certificate" which was American based and I don't know how much was necessary (I went through a sailing club and friend). If I remember correctly a certain amount of people on the boat had to be trained. It was pretty intense, we had learn how to get out from underneath a life raft that was inflated upside down in a simulated nighttime environment. I'm not a strong swimmer and I'm glad I took it because while I'm guessing I won't remember the exact steps, at least experiencing a life jacket go off in emergency situations in a safe environment I hope means I'm less likely to panic if it happens. This was for sailing, I don't know if it matters or not as you can still encounter the same situation in a motorboat.
People rag on "rich people not knowing what they're getting into" which is like a rich dad equivalent of making fun of the neighbor who got an expensive riding lawn mower they don't use. The best advice I got was the "rich person who doesn't know what they're getting into" is YOU and don't think differently, don't go in thinking you have some sort superior skills.
I don't know what the Scottish competent crew certification involves but if you're used to being in the sea in a life jacket, stopped simulates floods and fires and other emergency situations I think you're good. You seem to have a grasp that offshore boating can go from calm to emergency situation quickly and while Scottish waters are heavily traveled it isn't the same as a dinghy in a park pond.
Also how will I know what size boat I will need to safely navigate the routes I want to take?
Do you have a local club or something similar? I'd simply ask around. Local knowledge of the routes, weather conditions and things that maps don't show is invaluable, obviously retired old guys who like to boat love to talk so you won't find a lack of people.
My biggest concern would be having other people on the boat who are less experienced than you. As you probably are aware people who aren't doing anything on a boat can get annoying, drunk or both. There's a "boating" culture in the US where people take cigar boats or small boats on relatively calm lakes and party... see the Trump boating thing as proof of this. I don't know if that extends to Scotland, but in my experience they treat blue water sailing (or boating) is significantly different and these people don't realize it. Worst people to have on your boat, you can't just swim to shore when you're several miles away.
posted by geoff. at 6:55 PM on July 11, 2021
People rag on "rich people not knowing what they're getting into" which is like a rich dad equivalent of making fun of the neighbor who got an expensive riding lawn mower they don't use. The best advice I got was the "rich person who doesn't know what they're getting into" is YOU and don't think differently, don't go in thinking you have some sort superior skills.
I don't know what the Scottish competent crew certification involves but if you're used to being in the sea in a life jacket, stopped simulates floods and fires and other emergency situations I think you're good. You seem to have a grasp that offshore boating can go from calm to emergency situation quickly and while Scottish waters are heavily traveled it isn't the same as a dinghy in a park pond.
Also how will I know what size boat I will need to safely navigate the routes I want to take?
Do you have a local club or something similar? I'd simply ask around. Local knowledge of the routes, weather conditions and things that maps don't show is invaluable, obviously retired old guys who like to boat love to talk so you won't find a lack of people.
My biggest concern would be having other people on the boat who are less experienced than you. As you probably are aware people who aren't doing anything on a boat can get annoying, drunk or both. There's a "boating" culture in the US where people take cigar boats or small boats on relatively calm lakes and party... see the Trump boating thing as proof of this. I don't know if that extends to Scotland, but in my experience they treat blue water sailing (or boating) is significantly different and these people don't realize it. Worst people to have on your boat, you can't just swim to shore when you're several miles away.
posted by geoff. at 6:55 PM on July 11, 2021
Best answer: I grew up living on a small lake in Michigan that connected to one of the Great Lakes and nowadays I live on an island in SE Alaska. I've been around boats my entire life and they have been a big part of my best memories so I encourage you to get a boat and learn to use it.
However, you should take care to learn proper respect for the water, be prepared for common emergency situations, and do everything you can to learn from people who are familiar with the waters in which you will be operating. Finding yourself in a boating situation that is beyond your expertise or where you are unsure of the outcome can be very stressful and possibly fatal.
Until you know both the boat you will be operating and the local waters, you should start small.
posted by Nerd of the North at 7:14 PM on July 11, 2021 [7 favorites]
However, you should take care to learn proper respect for the water, be prepared for common emergency situations, and do everything you can to learn from people who are familiar with the waters in which you will be operating. Finding yourself in a boating situation that is beyond your expertise or where you are unsure of the outcome can be very stressful and possibly fatal.
Until you know both the boat you will be operating and the local waters, you should start small.
- Never leave shore without proper safety gear
- Never leave shore without checking the weather forecast
- In areas with significant tides and currents, also check the tide forecast
- Always make sure somebody knows (generally) where you are going and when you can be expected back, and will check on you and/or call for help if you have not returned as expected
- Have a marine band radio AND a working cell phone with you, but do not assume that either will get you out of trouble
- Invest in good quality charts of the areas where you will be boating and know how to read them, especially in places that are rocky and where depth changes quickly (as I assume is true of much of the west coast of Scotland)
posted by Nerd of the North at 7:14 PM on July 11, 2021 [7 favorites]
Motor boats are easy to learn. I sat down in one without a minutes training and was fine to take it out, in a Loch setting. Moving to Scotland the thing you will have to be mindful of is how quickly weather conditions can change from one moment to the next. Things can get choppy and grim very very quickly. As Nerd of the North says local knowledge is absolutely key.
posted by mani at 11:29 PM on July 11, 2021
posted by mani at 11:29 PM on July 11, 2021
On the west coast of Scotland your biggest challenges are not necessarily the boat but tides and weather. The weather gets bad quick up there and some of the tidal races are incredibly intimidating.
I suggest you take a look at the RYA website and, at the very least, think about a navigation course, particularly if you're intending to do open water crossings.
Lochs and lakes are one thing, the sea is quite something else.
posted by Faff at 11:33 PM on July 11, 2021
I suggest you take a look at the RYA website and, at the very least, think about a navigation course, particularly if you're intending to do open water crossings.
Lochs and lakes are one thing, the sea is quite something else.
posted by Faff at 11:33 PM on July 11, 2021
In addition to taking the relevant courses, the best way learn is to first "crew" for a friend or a group who are already boating and have experience.
Don't jump into this alone because the learning curve is deceptive. You can very quickly gain confidence boating only in ideal conditions and still be completely unprepared when things go pear-shaped, and there are a lot of ways things can go pear-shaped.
There's going to be a time when you get caught out in bad weather, or you lose power in a strong current, or you're summoned to render assistance to another boater having an emergency. It really pays to do these things first with someone who already has the experience to set a good example for how to keep a cool head, respond appropriately, and instruct you on what to do.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 10:46 AM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
Don't jump into this alone because the learning curve is deceptive. You can very quickly gain confidence boating only in ideal conditions and still be completely unprepared when things go pear-shaped, and there are a lot of ways things can go pear-shaped.
There's going to be a time when you get caught out in bad weather, or you lose power in a strong current, or you're summoned to render assistance to another boater having an emergency. It really pays to do these things first with someone who already has the experience to set a good example for how to keep a cool head, respond appropriately, and instruct you on what to do.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 10:46 AM on July 12, 2021 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Hi, I lived on the West Coast of Scotland for a number of years. I sail, my husband drove a sizeable motored craft (dive boat) professionally, we both are sea kayakers, scuba divers, blah blah blah.
Explore the area before deciding on type of boat. As someone said upthread, tidal races are a thing - read the first chapter of Hebridean Sharker for an idea of how bad it can get. I've kayaked in that exact location, in those exact conditions! It's not for the faint of heart.
I'm biased but if you want to land in most spots, a rotomolded (plastic) sea kayak will get you everywhere. Small ribs will get you almost everywhere. Shallows can often be too rocky for larger or more delicate boats and shingle beaches difficult to land on; large tidal range can make anchorage difficult anywhere. But go out with locals before setting your heart on a particular craft and see what they use. Most people I knew who weren't sailing or kayaking just went out in medium sized ribs.
Great resources that you'll need are the RYA courses (we both have Day Skipper, him for motor and me for sail). Admiralty charts and guidebooks are useful, depending on how many crossings you'll do, but if you stay near shore OS maps will actually be good enough for a lot. The tidal atlas is a MUST; the tide patterns are very complicated because of skerries and islands, far more so that other UK sailing. You'll need a local gazeteer of tide times available from most hunting/fishing suppliers, plus look up online whatever the correction is for the area (example, we bought tide tables calculated for Oban and did corrections to Salen).
If you have any Q's feel free to message me.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 11:52 AM on July 12, 2021 [5 favorites]
Explore the area before deciding on type of boat. As someone said upthread, tidal races are a thing - read the first chapter of Hebridean Sharker for an idea of how bad it can get. I've kayaked in that exact location, in those exact conditions! It's not for the faint of heart.
I'm biased but if you want to land in most spots, a rotomolded (plastic) sea kayak will get you everywhere. Small ribs will get you almost everywhere. Shallows can often be too rocky for larger or more delicate boats and shingle beaches difficult to land on; large tidal range can make anchorage difficult anywhere. But go out with locals before setting your heart on a particular craft and see what they use. Most people I knew who weren't sailing or kayaking just went out in medium sized ribs.
Great resources that you'll need are the RYA courses (we both have Day Skipper, him for motor and me for sail). Admiralty charts and guidebooks are useful, depending on how many crossings you'll do, but if you stay near shore OS maps will actually be good enough for a lot. The tidal atlas is a MUST; the tide patterns are very complicated because of skerries and islands, far more so that other UK sailing. You'll need a local gazeteer of tide times available from most hunting/fishing suppliers, plus look up online whatever the correction is for the area (example, we bought tide tables calculated for Oban and did corrections to Salen).
If you have any Q's feel free to message me.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 11:52 AM on July 12, 2021 [5 favorites]
Forgot to add: when I lived there, XCWeather was absolutely the best and most detailed weather and wind forecast available.
posted by Ardnamurchan at 12:28 PM on July 12, 2021
posted by Ardnamurchan at 12:28 PM on July 12, 2021
Response by poster: Thanks for all the responses. Luckily my weather-obsessed and highly cautious husband grew up on the island where we'd be based so that will help a lot. We will definitely do the rya courses and will gain knowledge and experience from those and from people in the area. It's exciting but we definitely won't take risks. Oh and I'm a scuba dive master so have some transferable skills too.
posted by hazyjane at 1:02 AM on July 13, 2021
posted by hazyjane at 1:02 AM on July 13, 2021
The RYA Ocean Yachmaster theory course is very good if you are interested in the details of weather and tides. It is a theory based course so many places offer tuition for it during the winter. It is way overkill for piloting a small boat not far from shore - but could be helpful if you are enthusiastic to know more about these topics.
posted by rongorongo at 4:43 AM on July 13, 2021
posted by rongorongo at 4:43 AM on July 13, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
The heavier the boat, the more experience is needed, so start with an outboard skiff, and work your way up.
posted by SemiSalt at 12:26 PM on July 11, 2021