I am taking delivery of a new B-343 soon in Texas. I am a new sailor and will welcome any advice or recommendations as a new Beneteau owner.
New Beneteau 343 (soon to be)
- Thread starter SteveinTexas
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Congrats
Congratulations on the new boat, I'm sure you'll enjoy her as they sail very nice. You may find you have to reef early to keep her under control. Not a biggie, just something to keep in mind when the winds pick up. Have a ball with her!
Congratulations on the new boat, I'm sure you'll enjoy her as they sail very nice. You may find you have to reef early to keep her under control. Not a biggie, just something to keep in mind when the winds pick up. Have a ball with her!
congratulations
congratulations on your new boat. you say you are a new sailor. i think the sailing is easy but felt the most challenges with my new boat (323) was the docking and the diesel engine. i hired someone for the day to teach my family and me how to dock. i also took a diesel class from the distributor of the engine (mine was yanmar and mack boring). both were really worth my time. with a boat that nice you can go far and have a blast. i know everyone uses gps but i think the asa navigation class will also help you enjoy your boat. good luck
congratulations on your new boat. you say you are a new sailor. i think the sailing is easy but felt the most challenges with my new boat (323) was the docking and the diesel engine. i hired someone for the day to teach my family and me how to dock. i also took a diesel class from the distributor of the engine (mine was yanmar and mack boring). both were really worth my time. with a boat that nice you can go far and have a blast. i know everyone uses gps but i think the asa navigation class will also help you enjoy your boat. good luck
Do it on a week day
Steve when you and the family want to learn how the boat handles and docks do so on a weekday. Weekdays provide a quiet atmosphere, absent of every overly helpful captain on the dock shouting what to do and when to do it. Take her out and approach an open dock by coming along side but still well off the dock. Get the feel for how much it takes to stop her. See much she'll walk when you apply power in either forward or reverse from a dead stop. She should walk to port in reverse, stbd in forward. Learn how to use prop walk to your advantage. How well can you communicate with the person on the bow? Do you have to shout to be heard? Develop hand signals common to both of you to avoid screaming at each other in tense situations. Take her out in the open and at a just a few knots of speed get a feel for how tight she'll turn. Try backing her up for a couple of hundred feet to see how she moves in reverse, very different than forward that's for sure. Every boat handles differently and you'll need to get used to yours. Once you understand all the nuances of prop walk, how she stops, turns, etc. You'll be much more comfortable in docking skills. If you're able to find a certified training course in your area I'd highly recommend you attend one. I'd also have the wife do the same. Whether you attend the same class or separate will depend on how dominate each of you are. If you'll over shadow your wife have her attend on her own. Classes of this type will teach you boat handling as well as sailing skills. Course generally include how to use dock lines to "spring" or leverage you into and out/away from docks. They are well worth the money. Good luck and enjoy your new "baby". Mike
Steve when you and the family want to learn how the boat handles and docks do so on a weekday. Weekdays provide a quiet atmosphere, absent of every overly helpful captain on the dock shouting what to do and when to do it. Take her out and approach an open dock by coming along side but still well off the dock. Get the feel for how much it takes to stop her. See much she'll walk when you apply power in either forward or reverse from a dead stop. She should walk to port in reverse, stbd in forward. Learn how to use prop walk to your advantage. How well can you communicate with the person on the bow? Do you have to shout to be heard? Develop hand signals common to both of you to avoid screaming at each other in tense situations. Take her out in the open and at a just a few knots of speed get a feel for how tight she'll turn. Try backing her up for a couple of hundred feet to see how she moves in reverse, very different than forward that's for sure. Every boat handles differently and you'll need to get used to yours. Once you understand all the nuances of prop walk, how she stops, turns, etc. You'll be much more comfortable in docking skills. If you're able to find a certified training course in your area I'd highly recommend you attend one. I'd also have the wife do the same. Whether you attend the same class or separate will depend on how dominate each of you are. If you'll over shadow your wife have her attend on her own. Classes of this type will teach you boat handling as well as sailing skills. Course generally include how to use dock lines to "spring" or leverage you into and out/away from docks. They are well worth the money. Good luck and enjoy your new "baby". Mike
Same Boat
Steve, I've the same boat on order arriving next week I'm told. Sold my Hunter last Fall and thought I'd give Beneteau a try this time. Don't have any specific advice on the 343 yet but I'm bad to form opinions, modify systems and on occasion be a little hard on equipment so stay tuned. You'll find a wealth of knowledge (and opinions) on this board and the answer to almost any question you can come up with. Most of these folks have 'been there / done that' and are very quick to help. I hope you enjoy sailing and your new boat. Congratulations and have a great day!
Steve, I've the same boat on order arriving next week I'm told. Sold my Hunter last Fall and thought I'd give Beneteau a try this time. Don't have any specific advice on the 343 yet but I'm bad to form opinions, modify systems and on occasion be a little hard on equipment so stay tuned. You'll find a wealth of knowledge (and opinions) on this board and the answer to almost any question you can come up with. Most of these folks have 'been there / done that' and are very quick to help. I hope you enjoy sailing and your new boat. Congratulations and have a great day!
More ben 343 boards
Hello all For more ben 343 information there is also a specific group with over 100 beneteau 343 owners on Yahoo groups, you can view without subscription but please join us and keep an eye on this board and the Beneteau board on google groups. most beneteau related questions can be answered on these. Enjoy the 343 , ours is now 3 seasons old. As said earlier reef early for comfort cheers Franky
Hello all For more ben 343 information there is also a specific group with over 100 beneteau 343 owners on Yahoo groups, you can view without subscription but please join us and keep an eye on this board and the Beneteau board on google groups. most beneteau related questions can be answered on these. Enjoy the 343 , ours is now 3 seasons old. As said earlier reef early for comfort cheers Franky
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