insurance premiums are substantial.
If you are mooring in a marina you
will be asked to provide proof of your
insurance. Most people I know are
paying in the vicinity of $1000 to $2000
a year on boat insurance. When buying
a boat you will also need to get a survey
report by a qualified marine surveyor.
It’s not only peace of mind but most
insurance companies will not insure
your boat unless you have provided a
full out-of-water report.
There are plenty of qualified
surveyors around and most marina
offices and brokerages will be able to
point you in the right direction.
SAFETY FIRST
The fact is being on a boat is all about
having quality time to yourself or
with family and friends. With this in
mind, once you become an owner, you
need to make sure your boat is fully
equipped with a decent first aid kit, first
aid manual and safety equipment. Any
passengers you have on board need to
know where to find this equipment.
When talking safety, a 406MHz
EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating
Radio Beacon) that is registered with
the AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety
Authority) is an essential item and costs
upwards of $450. Also make sure your
flares are in-date and your lifejackets
are properly maintained.
State laws again vary on safety
equipment dependent on the size
and type of boat and whether you are
operating in smooth, partially smooth
or open waters. Safety equipment is
paramount at sea and a small price to
pay for something that saves your life
or the life of your friends or family.
MAINTENANCE &
GROUND TACKLE
It’s also good to carry a toolkit and
spares of things such as fuel filters, oil
filters, lift pump, fan belt and assorted
gaskets. If you are looking at kitting
out a liveaboard boat, remember your
investment is only as safe as the lines
and anchor warp or anchor chain you
are using.
Using an old, rusty anchor chain
that is held together by the grace of
god could cost you your ‘home’. It’s
like parking a car on a hill with a faulty
handbrake. When buying a boat it
is good advice not to max out your
investment and keep a few thousand
dollars aside for new equipment and
unexpected repairs.WEATHER WATCH
Most importantly, once you have
bought a liveaboard boat, you will
suddenly become a weather hound.
Concerns about monitoring storms
shouldn’t put you off owning a boat.
There are arguably more bushfire
disasters in Australia than maritime
tragedies, yet that doesn’t stop
thousands of Aussie homeowners from
buying homes in among the gum trees.
Bad weather can hit anywhere. While
North Queensland, NT and WA have
their fair share of cyclone warnings,
NSW, SA, Victoria and Tasmania have
been subjected to some nasty storms
too. Marinas are rated to cope with
these, so mooring in a marina is peace
of mind. Dependent on your location, if
on anchor, you may need to find a safer
haven.
But regardless of the challenges,
many of the boaties I’ve met say
they could never go back to being
landlubbers when their backyard
is the ocean and the world is their
oyster. Here’s a window into the world
of liveaboard boaties and a few more42 trade aboat.com.au