The Joy of Boating In the UK and Abroad

By Derek Chambers and Dave Bromley

Ever since reading Jerome K Jerome’s “Three Men In A Boat” I have been captivated by the joys of boating. The scenery changes with every journey you choose to take at whether you opt for the inshore waterways or the open sea you are assured of a freedom that just cannot be found in most people’s day-to-day lives. Where you choose to go boating may be dependent upon which area of the country you live and your proximity to the open water. But whether you are an inshore boater or one who takes their boat from country to country you are assured of an exhilarating experience every time you take to the water.

Boating has, for the longest time, been considered a hobby of refinement and privilege for some, and a means of escaping the control of the masses for others, boating is a passionate interest for enthusiasts who fall either way. Whether you prefer the wind in your sails, a kayak through narrow spaces wedged in the great outdoors, or hanging out in the marina and spending time boating out along the shore. However you wish to experience this joy is up to the individual to consider, and no matter what environment is the most challenging to you, you can be assured that your experience will make you grow in ways you never expected.

Before you set sail it is important to understand that boating has its own laws, rulkes and regulations. As a boater you should show equal regard and respect for all boaters’ safety. There are a few basic rules to follow in order to ensure yours and others safety. You do need to learn these before undertaking any outing on the water, and making the effort to stay aware of these regulations will keep you and your passengers safe from harm or conflict. Not every boater, though, is as ideally cautious as every other one out on the water, but this is always changing with the differences in how the authorities regard their local bodies and passages of water.

If you are new to boating and looking for a way to begin one of the best ways is to search out the local harbours and marinas in your closest proximity, hopefully they will also be able to provide you with lessons in safety and such other important items of information if you are really starting out fresh. When considering how you want your boating experience to go, you must plan on covering as many related aspects as possible for a better awareness of the subject as a whole, and you may find that knowledge coming in quite a bit more usefully than you might have expected prior to starting to research.

Why not visit one of the many Boating centres and hire a boat first to get the feel for it