Very Basic Boat stuff

[steveoel]

hey lads

As i said in the last post here am looking at upgrading a boat and moving from the shore fishing side of things to more boat fishing.

So it's time for an education!!!!!!
Can you guys by any chance share any information, tips, knowledge, rules etc. for boating and/or general upkeep as well as tips for boat fishing.

Know this sounds like a silly question but i like to cover all angles, esp. in relation to safety and where better to get the information than from here.

Thanks a million lads,

Steve

[petekd]

Cant really cover that properly in a couple of posts Steve, best thing I can say for you to do to avoid doing things the hard way, ie making all the mistakes and hopefully living to tell the tale, is to get in touch with some of the small boat owners on here and hitching a ride or two. Or, offer them a ride out of your own port. Where are you based by the way?

[steveoel]

Based in Tralee

I have a shetland 535 that i have brought out a few times (around very shallow waters in fenit) that was kind of passed onto me but it has seen better days.
The outboard is thirty years old and in need of serious help or being put to sleep!!!!!
The boat hull is perfect but it is very rough on the inside and would need serious work to put it right.
I have also heard that they are not the best boat for sea and are afr more suited to fresh water lakes and rivers???


I'm looking to get into the boats in a much more serious way and have started doing some serious reading but am looking for hints that may be very basic and as such left out of books or overlooked!!!!

[Mohawk]

I would strongly recommend completing a powerboat course level 2 or better still advanced power boat the problem with just tagging along with others is that some will probably not know as much as the think they do.. 99% of the time that will be OK but the other 1% of the time you may pay for it with your own or someone else's life.. The course will cost a few hundred yo yo's but it's money well spent... It's only a matter of time anyway before it will be law to have it as the powers that be have been making rumblings now for a long time

[petekd]

Jaysus, well, with a 30 year old outboard, the first thing I'd be doing is buying a new Auxilliary engine! Mohawk is right, doing a course is a good route to take. You can pick up a lot however from others too in the meantime.

The Shetland 535 if im not mistaken is primarily a lake and river cruiser. Thats not to say you cant use it in the sea, indeed, there are a fair few on the water. Throw up a few pics and let those that know more about these things than I have a nosey. Seriously though, I'd look at upgrading that engine before I do anything else, thats from someone who over the past few years has had more than their fair share of heartbreak from old engines and been saved by the Aux on several occasions. Its one thing having an engine problem in a lake or a river, its quite another at sea.

[steveoel]

I'm looking at chaning the engine for sure and the boat as well!!!!!!!!

I will get some pics up as soon as possible!
Thats some sound advice on the power boat course!
Anyone got any ideas where i can do a power boat course?? Near Kerry that is!!

is there any reading that anyone can suggest to compliment this??

Thanks,

Steve

[petekd]

Didnt they stop making the 535 in 1975 too.....?! There is something on the RNLI site that covers a few basics for you, Ill try and find a link.

[petekd]

http://www.rnli.org.uk/who_we_are/press ... oadSearch=


Some downloads available here.

[Timbo]

Try this site www.westcorksailing.com they do lots of courses. Well worth a look and not to far to travel as its in Adrigol and thats half hour from Kenmare...
Tim..

[ennagail24]

if you are near tralee, head to Landers sports store at the limerick side of the town. On the door is a flyer advertiseing power-boat courses, that will set you on the way, If its not there head to O'Sullivan Marine, they will point you in the right direction. if all else fails go to
http://www.sailing.ie/training/coursePr ... ?pageID=76, irish sailing association web side, trainning, powerbaot.
cant reccoment it enough

[Neil]

I'd echo the Powerboat Level 2 course, it's money well spent. I've never had a Shetland, but I've heard good reports of it as an inshore sea boat. You need to have confidence in your engine though - that makes or breaks a happy boating relationship. Tidy up the boat, and put a good engine on it - you'll get more bang for your buck