Written by Andra Tudor
So, you’ve finally done it. You’ve decided to purchase your own boat for hobbyist sailing. Yet of course, owning a boat is not enough to make a sailor. Certainly, we can imagine that kind of retort coming from a bearded man with a peg leg, seven ales deep in our local bar, the moment we tell our friends about the purchase.
That said, such a stereotypical sea dog would be correct in principle. Sailing is a hard practice to get hold of, and requires your utmost attention. However, it’s quite alright, you have time to learn, the space to develop, and an easier goal to focus on than sailing the high seas for plunder and treasure.
So, perhaps the advice worth listening to can remain a little more humble than you may have expected. That sounds fine to us. In this post, then, we’ll discuss how to get started with some beginner nautical advice, advice relating to owning and operating a boat, how to find a community to help you grow, and some safety measures to keep in mind.
This way, you may be able to take your boat out for more intensive travel experiences, like sailing down the coast in the best possible manner. With that in mind, please consider the following advice:
Appropriate Boat Storage Is Essential
Boats are not always in operation year-round, and when working on them, when having professional repairs made, and when transitioning them from one coast to the other, it’s essential to store them correctly. This is why any hobbyist sailor should place their boat, no matter how humble, in StorageArea.com boat storage. That will also give you time to plan out where you’ll rent access to certain docks, and learn the overall anatomy of your boat outside of the water.
Join A Sailing Club
Local sailing clubs can help you nestle within a community of sailors of all levels, from hobbyists to full time fishermen. They’ll be able to tell you how to manage your sails or engine, what maintenance errors to look for, and recommend marine surveyors to ensure your tin can is seaworthy. A sailing club will also provide you the room to make mistakes, which is valuable enough in itself. Beginner tips, like learning how to launch and land a boat can help you retain safety standards throughout. As you become more experienced, you’ll become primed for independent travel.
Learn To Use A Radio
On the water, your radio is your lifeline to every single coastal service. Learning emergency channels in your area and how to contact them is essential. It’s also important to learn how to report given issues and the right terminology to use to better describe where you’re located. Furthermore, equipping yourself with a reliable radio is essential. VHF is your best bet. One with excellent circular coverage, is weatherproof, can light up in darkness, and is able to be hand-cranked or at least easily charged/offers robust battery replacement shielding is key. This way, even if you make a mistake on the water, help is on the way.
With this advice, we hope you can get started as a hobbyist sailor with safety and care.
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