The Family Boat Shop™ |
 |
Getting Started - The First Steps to Boating
|
Selecting a first boat
Will you be going on the sea?
Off a beach it is nice to sail but to
explore the rocks and coastline then it is better to paddle whilst
getting from A-B you will want to use an outboard.
How do you feel about getting wet? For
playing in the surf a sit-on-top kayak is best. For relaxing a pedal
boat is ideal. Otherwise the bigger the better. Consider your
budget? Will you car-top or use a trailer? We would recommend
against a sit-in kayak unless you are going to undergo training and
only go out in groups.
Will you be on rivers?
You can't sail very easily on rivers.
Motor, row or paddle is the best choice. We would not recommend a
pedal boat against a current. A sit-on-top kayak is nice - quick but
a little cramped and wet - so our recommendation would be a Canadian
Canoe. Rowing you can't see where you are going and it is much harder
work. With a friend sitting in the stern (back) you can at least see
them to talk as you row so it is quite sociable. Children in the bow
(front) are hard to keep an eye on. Modern petrol outboards
are quiet but not silent and do cause some pollution. Electric
outboards lack the power to fight strong currents and range can be an
issue. To explore
shallow upland rivers and shoot small rapids then again a Canadian is
great - going down stream - or a kayak, with training, is a must for
white water. Consider the weight of the boat if you are going to have
to carry it back up stream! Possibly invest in a canoe/kayak
'portage' trolley.
Will lakes be your choice?
Lakes if big enough are most fun for
sailing. A row boat or canoe is good for fishing. A pedal boat is a
leisurely way to explore. Go too fast and you've done the lake in ten
minutes.
Do you want to race and/or water-ski? How
many people do you want to take with you?
Budget permitting, our choice would be
between a rowing dinghy that could take an outboard and sails - we'd choose a single sail if
on our own, and a Canadian Canoe. If your main interest is nature
watching and exploration then the Canadian will win hands down. For
fishing or chatting then a row boat will be the most comfortable with
an outboard to get quickly to and from the fishing grounds.
|
|
TEL:
+44(0)1252-834719 FAX
+44 (0)1252-836449 Graeme +44(0)7733-092222
Frimhurst Farm Industrial Centre, Deepcut Bridge Road, Deepcut, Camberley, Surrey GU16 6RF. United Kingdom. info@thefamilyboatshop.co.uk "The Family Boat Shop" ™ is a trading name of AcolocA Ltd |