I’ve never owned a boat in my life and now that I live near the sea I would love to own a small boat to travel along the coast from one city to another.
I have no experience with boats so that’s why I would love to hear some advice if you have any.
Would you recommend a used one or a new one?
And should I get a sailing boat or a motorboat and what type would you recommend? I don’t think I’ll have enough means to get a boat with a room inside, unless it’s relatively cheap.
And is learning how to navigate a sailing boat a long process?
I’m in California and did the American Sailing Association ASA courses. First one ASA 101 is a weekend and was like $300 ten years ago. You need to read the book and it’s 100 question test then the weekend is for hands on sailing. That gets you inland waterways, bays, lakes etc up to 27 ft.
Then rent from local club on those sized boats. I joined a sailing club for a few hundred a year and get discounts. then take your ASA 103 coastal cruising & 104 bareboat courses which were like 700 combined. then you are bare boat certified and can rent up to 50 feet. Rent up to that size for a while then consider to buy.
I still just rent and charter as I don’t have the time to maintain a boat and slip fees are pretty expensive here. The cheaper way is to keep your boat on a mooring ball and have a dingy to get to shore. Wait lists can be long for both slips (dock) and moorings. You could do a small boat there can be put on a trailer too.
There’s additional courses for further developing your skills. I went on to do the catamaran 114 and the pure navigation 105. Then did some endorsement courses for customs/international and night time. I’ve charted boats in Mexico, SE Asia, and Greece as captain with my friends. Great trips. Especially if you are also scuba certified. I bring my gear and do dives in the trips.
If not in US, look up your sailing association. The British one is most respected worldwide I hear.
I’m an expat in Vietnam so it’s a bit challenging in regards to where to begin. That’s why asked.
Perfect! There will still be boatbuilders there, and there are large wooden boat shops because cheap labor.
Start walking around the docks and looking around for personal boats and builders.
Find out what the indigenous folks use to get around on their own. I bet they mostly ride commercial boats, but there are always people who don’t.
Boats are designed for the waters they ply, different condittions everywhere.
You need ti learn localdesigns and materials, weather and nav conditions, how to repair and maintain, etc. Adding a motor is more learning and complexity, but also convenience.
Woodenboat magazine has a forum, for years there was a restoration thread from Vietnam but the poster passed on. It’s lukely the thread is still there.