To think it can't be that hard to drive a boat?

[CatThiefKeith]

I've never really driven a boat, but I was a sea cadet, and I've done a bit of canoeing.

And today I bought a boat. A little (ish) cabin cruiser. With money my parents have given me, on the condition I take them out in it occasionally. (It was pretty cheap in boat terms)

Dh thinks I've finally lost the plot, and that I will inevitably sink it on my first outing.

Aibu to think it can't be THAT bloody difficult, given that hundreds of thousands of people manage it perfectly well?

That is ace, well done

Just asked DH who sails big scary catamarans and such like. He said "Piece of piss as long as the motor is in good working order " Have great fun and report back anything funny, because there is bound to be something!!

What a happy thread!

We had a 27 ft cabin cruiser when I was a child. It was lovely.

Her name was SeaCat - after me!

Please keep us posted about your tales of derring-do!

It has transit Diesel engines, a wine fridge and even a little cooker. Not that I plan to use the oven much? I shall be mooring outside a pub an eating there I think.

Catamarans are epic but would absolutely scare the bejeezus out of me

Cat, yes, please, report back after your outing

I have very sensibly asked a friend who is also a boat surveyor to come on the sea trial with me, along with the current owner and my dad. It'll be a bit of a squish though!

Make sure you always have at least one oar of a decent size just incase the engine gives out. That is 40 years yachting experience distilled to the most important bit. Just for you .

You will have such fun. Remember, 'If not duffers won't drown'.

It clearly can't be that dangerous, I've just been quoted £117 p/a for fully comprehensive insurance, despite being completely honest about my inexperience and lack of qualifications. What an absolute bargain!

I've driven my husbands boat out on a scottish Loch, the weather was horrendous and stormy and it was such hard work.

Well boating gear isn't always that cheap. I thought our insurance was good at 300e with both of us qualified but we have had to buy a lot of other gear that cost us more than we thought. Some you think you might have a bargain somewhere but then get stung for something else.

To get it through inspection we didn't have enough life jackets and flares etc so it's worth checking the seller is supplying those things. I love mooching round the chandlers though and for next summer I covet some crockery and glasses that have anchors on them and perhaps her name!

We got a decent fishfiner gps thingy too. When we took out my parents first boat on trips up the tamar we bottomed out a few times. I find the driving bit and navigation bit easy but you have to consider depth all the time as well. I think dh just wanted a gadget.

Hope you don't ever need the German coastguard......!

This is such a happy and exciting thread! We're wet arse sailors, sold our French sailing boat when we moved inland, but still have the laser, named UFO, and an inflatable. And ships chandlers places are the best

Here's my mums tale of living on a 22 footer in ischia harbour in the 60s (she was a flower power hippie or something and dossing aboutliving in Italy one summer.) anyway she lived for a while on this boat with her American friend and her two children, both with hippie American names. Little boy was 2ish, named Sacha and an 8yr old girl named, gulp, Soonahie(?] girlfriend and her partner had motored round the coast from turkey with the boat stuffed full of hash, which the boyfriend had taken back to America to sell.

Anyway, they woke one morning to find a huge motor yacht had come in during the night and was berthed next to them. Boats name was The Mary Deare. Chatting to the owner,him kitted out in a gold buttoned blazer, yellow silk scarf and a hat like the one posted above, with a full complement of crew, mum asked him why he'd called his boat The Mary Deare? He launched into a tale of the book The Wreck of The Mary Deare. Mum cut him off with "well, we know the book (a best seller at the time) obviously,but you're not telling me why you've named your boat after it... "bEcause," he said " I am Hammond innes and I bought the boat with the proceeds of the book

So, you gonna be writing a best seller about your adventures, Cat? Perhaps you can give it us here in instalments.

Good luck with the inspection/trial tomorrow,.

Yes good luck. I didn't go on the sea trial for mine.

Just previous owner, dh, and our friend also a boat surveyor. Dh was worried I'd get too excited and the price would go up!

Lovely stories on here.

Have you got the safety check cert Keith? Congrats. So check all the systems, water, toilet, bilges, electrics, 12v etc.

More pics please!

According to my boss, who knows a lot about this sort of thing, owning a marina, it doesn't need a safety cert, however boss has written a list of 25 questions to ask the surveyor coming outwith me on Monday, and would it pass a safety certificate is one of those questions.

Here are some pictures of inside.

Will you decorate your boat with pot plants and a talking duck? ...Can't remember the program I'm referencings proper name but I'm very jealous!

Chillyegg have you been on the gin?

Goodness I wish just having flash backs of Rosie and Jim I Googled it.

But on serious note will you decorateing your boat and will you install a fridge for the cheese and wine?

There will definitely be a fridge for the cheese and wine. Not sure I will bother decorating though.

She's gorgeous! Welcome to the boating world. If we do make it round your way on our next circumnavigation leg, we can moor them together for a photo

You must must Keith! Even if it's one of those darling mast sculptures or a skull and bone flag....you wouldn't look odd at all..

I'd quite like a jolly roger to hang from it, now you mention it!

Trinity if you ever make it here be sure to let me know!