Trusted Guidance for New Boaters
Getting into boating should be exciting, not overwhelming. Whether you’re dreaming of weekends on the water or planning to make a boat your full-time home, we’re here to make your journey simple, safe, and enjoyable.
With over 36 years of hands-on boating experience — including 25 years living aboard — I understand both the joys and the challenges of life afloat. From choosing the right boat and finding a mooring, to navigating licences, training, and year-round living, I offer clear, reliable advice tailored to your needs.
Unlike forums and casual opinions that can often be conflicting or misleading, this consultancy is built on accurate, trusted knowledge gained from a lifetime on the waterways. My goal is to remove confusion and give you the confidence to start your boating adventure the right way.
Whether you’re buying your first boat, exploring the idea of living afloat, or simply want to understand the practicalities, you’ll find honest, straightforward guidance here
About Me
Boating has been part of my life for as long as I can remember — in fact, I was boating independently before I even started primary school. By the age of 10, I was already helping to train junior members at one of the UK’s largest and longest established boating club, passing on knowledge and encouraging others to enjoy the water.
I was one of the youngest in the country to achieve the RYA Helmsman qualification, later gaining both my Day Skipper and Yachtmaster shore-based qualifications. At just 12 years old, I fitted out my first cruiser, and from then on, boating became much more than a hobby — it was a way of life.
Over the years, I’ve been trusted to skipper boats in many different circumstances, including being invited at the age of 14 to skipper a vessel for the current King. I’ve also successfully delivered a wide range of craft, from cruisers, narrowboats, and wide-beam barges to larger vessels. Alongside this, I lived aboard my boat while studying Genetics at the University of Leeds, gaining invaluable first-hand experience of the challenges and rewards of life afloat year-round.
Passing on advice and promoting boating is a deep-rooted passion. After more than 36 years of active boating, I founded this consultancy to help others avoid the confusion and misinformation that often surrounds the world of boating. My goal is to provide trusted, practical, and accurate guidance to support you at every stage of your journey.
I can help with:
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Choosing and buying the right boat for your needs
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Training, Qualifications, Licensing and Compliance
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Finding and securing moorings
Fitting out and maintaining your boat
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Understanding the realities of living afloat in every season
Whether you’re dipping your toes into boating for leisure or preparing to embrace life on the waterways full-time, I bring decades of hands-on experience and a genuine passion for helping others discover the best of life afloat.