Cruising abroad 

Help for those looking to take their powerboat abroad or charter

Andrew Norton RYA Motor Cruising Projects Manager provides guidance for those thinking about taking their power boat abroad or chartering a power boat for the first time.

Be honest about your own ability

Whether you choose to trailer your own boat or charter abroad it is important to be honest with yourself about your own boating ability when you are deciding where to go.

If you want to take your own boat abroad France is a popular choice; it's close and offers a great variety of cruising.

However, whilst the coast of Brittany, for instance, is beautiful it's not called Cote Sauvage (Savage Coast) for nothing. It's very rugged, with large tides and currents and numerous outlying rocks therefore presenting a host of navigational challenges.

If you are not used to dealing with such challenges then don't use your holiday to start tackling them. Choose somewhere that you feel fits with your ability. Areas around the South of France may be more appropriate where there are no tides and navigation can be less taxing.

Use the pilot books and almanacs to research potential locations you may be interested in going to. These will provide you with useful information on navigation, tides, facilities and contact details that will help guide your decision. If you are thinking of chartering then talk to the charter companies about the waters in their area and get information and advice from them.

Launch and mooring arrangements

Pilot books and almanacs will give you a good idea of what to expect at a given location but it's also a good idea to contact the Harbour Master to discuss your intentions. They are normally very helpful.

Trailering your powerboat Service your trailer

In particular put in new bearings, check your brakes are working properly, do not bind and are corrosion free. Finally check that your light board is fully operational.

Take out suitable Insurance

Take out suitable car insurance that will provide adequate international breakdown cover for both your vehicle and trailer. Some insurance policies will only provide breakdown cover for boats up to 6m, others up to 8.5m, so check with your insurer that the policy does cover your length of boat.

Check the regulations

National regulations on towing differ from country to country. Check what the legal limits are on widths and lengths and what lighting requirements for the country(s) that you will be driving through. Contact cruising@rya.org.uk for a copy of the RYA Trailer Towing Guide.

Essentials

Make sure you have the usual safety equipment that you would normally carry on board. You will also need to ensure that you have the following paperwork.

• Boat insurance which provides cover for the waters you are going to cruise.
• SSR registration for the boat.
• International Certificate of Competence.
• VHF Operators Licence. You are required by law to have a licence to operate a VHF radio fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on any British vessel. If you don't have one then the winter months are the perfect time to take the one day Marine Radio (SRC) course.
• The boats VHF licence
• The ships papers – make sure that they are in order. You must take the originals, copies will not be accepted by the authorities. More information on essential paperwork.

Chartering a powerboat

• Again, choose somewhere that is within your ability
• When you have decided on an area and a charter company call them to make sure that they comply with any local and national regulations for commercial use.
• Check with the charterer whether you need a qualification. In most cases this will be at least an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) and if going inland an ICC with a CEVNI endorsement.
• Charter a boat you can handle. You can only relax if you are using a boat within your own capabilies.
• When you arrive check the boats inventory and paperwork. Spend time working out where everything is and that it all works with a representative from the charter company.

Andrew Norton, RYA Motor Cruising Projects Manager