Motor Boat & Yachting — November 2017

cabins to ensure we are safe when
sleeping aboard, calculating bedding
requirements and updating the
Navionics Platinum Card we’d bought
for the Raymarine plotter. I watched
the skies, waiting for the change.
As Guy realised that we had made
a bit of a step up from a 6.6m RIB to
the Marex, he arranged for us to have
a mini handling course and a skipper
to show us the ropes. I already had
my RYA Day Skipper and Level 2
Powerboat Handling qualifications,
but getting used to bow thrusters,
more windage and fly-by-wire throttle
response wasn’t on the original course.
We had two sessions around Poole
Harbour with skipper Steve (who was
very patient) and when I twitched
about handling a 31ft boat, casually
mentioned he had just delivered
a 60ft Princess to London from
Poole and he promised the only
difference was practice. We practised
coming alongside buoys, reading
chartplotters and mooring astern,
and we left feeling much more
capable of managing our new boat.
We also had to name our boat,
and pretty much since the day we’d
placed the order, had been busy
writing shortlists and inspecting the
name of every boat we saw, before
either reluctantly approving of the
name and realising we couldn’t pinch
it, or dismissing it on the spot. We
had decided we didn’t want a jokey
name, although Skint seemed very

appropriate. In the end it took a little

bit of inspiration to find the name, and

it arrived one evening while we sat in

the garden listening to music. A track

on the playlist by Chicane came

on, and Julie and I looked at each

other and smiled – Offshore seemed

like the ideal name and we hadn’t

seen it anywhere near Christchurch.

However, as I type this, I can imagine

a few readers sitting there going,

“Oi, that’s my boats name!” so I

apologise in advance if we meet –

I promise I didn’t nick your name.

BOAT FRIENDS

If any of you remember the first

article I wrote, I mentioned that when

we first saw the Marex 310 at the

Southampton Boat Show, we met the

owner of the display boat, Will, who

had bought it that very day. We kept in

touch as we had a common interest,

and all seemed to get on well together.

We exchanged mobile numbers and

from time to time I would text him

with updates about our boat (though

I still kept sneaking down to his boat

to remind myself of what was on order

for us), and in return, Will would

give us information about slight

amendments he’d made to his boat.

One evening, Will was sitting in

Salterns Marina when he had a knock

on his canvas and Keith introduced

himself as the owner of Marex

number three on order with Wessex.

Well you know how the saying goes...

Two is company and three is an

owner’s club. Yes, we have started

a WhatsApp group called the Marex

310 Owner’s Club (very exclusive)

which is great for sharing ideas about

insurance quotes, keeping up to date

with delivery dates and best of all,

socialising. Marex three is due for

delivery very soon and we can’t wait

for her to join one and two on trips

out to Studland, Yarmouth, Colwell

Bay and the rest. Marex is a small

builder with a bit of a waiting list,

but we would love to meet four and

five one day. Richard Hall

Top-class reading

material only

On her home berth

in Christchurch

The bright galley

has been a hit

Plenty of deck

space for the

family to enjoy

91

BOAT MASTER OURB OATS