Preparing

C

Cker

New member
I know I'm going to find a boat - I don't know what kind (yet) or how large (somewhere between 20' and 25') and I will probably do more cruising and sightseeing than outright fishing. It's been many moons since I concerned myself with boating skills, seamanship, instrumentation, radio and CG procedure, etc., and I need to begin studying. I think most of my cruising will consist of day trips or an occasional weekend on the East Coast ICW, freshwater lakes/rivers or maybe if I'm lucky the Gulf Coast of Fla. In a craft this size and my age/physical limitations, I doubt that I'll attempt any oceangoing adventures but I'll be in the Big Guy's Water, so I need to know what I'm doing. Used to use a VHF radio on my old boat but know nothing of any instrumentation more complex than a fishfinder. Talk of chartplotters/radars sounds very intimidating and very co$tly.
Suggestions would be most welcome since at this point I don't even know what I don't know.
 
A step at a time, Cker. GPS is your friend... won't be long and you'll wonder how you lived without it. Take a Power Squadron or USCG Aux Safe Boating Class - that will help bring you up to speed very quickly. You don't have to have a boat to take the class; the fundamentals are all the same.

Then, time to hit the docks and check out boats that tickle your fancy. Then, it's time to get out on the water on some boats and see what works for the way you'll use it.

Hang out here and ask some questions as they come up.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
What James said; start out with a course as a refresher to your previous experience and buy a color hand-held GPS that accepts chart chips. Once you decide to buy a larger "main" system your hand-held will be your necessary and critical backup. Also buy the nautical charts for your cruising waters and chart plotting tools. You will (hopefully) use these during your course and they (along with your compass) will serve as your backup should all electronics go kaput for whatever reason. You can get a nice hand-held unit for a few hundred bucks, a full "main" nav system can be had for 2-3 thousand to include radar.

I use charts to plan every (non-familiar) voyage. I like looking at the big picture and I select the GPS way points to enter into my primary nav system.

The preparation and learning is part of the fun! Good luck with your search.
 
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