We are looking to buy a boat but have no knowledge or experience with them at all. We are looking for something around 12 meters long, that can get us from our place in Locarno to our place in Stresa. (The road between the houses is horrible and takes forever in the summer.)

We went to look at some boats today. There were some reasonably priced second-hand boat and then there was the Riva. My husband and I fell in love instantly. The sales person said this type of boat really keeps its value. In fact, there was a 30-year old Riva for sale that cost more than a brand new one!

Any advise on the Riva or other brands would be appreciated. The boat would only be used on Lago Maggiore.

Also, we need to get our marine license. Can this be done in English? Do you need to take lessons? How difficult is it?

Oh Lynn, this sounds like fun!!!!

sorry can't offer help it couldn't comment ;-)

The permit is very difficult according to a friend of mine who grew up with boats in the US. He had to take the test in German, in Lucerne.

There are a few threads on this...

Congratulations on wanting to buy a boat, my husband as his License, which he got many years ago i didn`t take it because it was only in German (still does not stop me having fun on the lake speeding around like a maniac lol, my hubby is there to control me so don`t worry). I can post more info for you later when he gets home if you like

There are threads on boat licenses elsewhere on the forum. At 12m you will certainly need a skippers ticket. I'm not 100% sure of the requirements in Switzerland but to get a day skipper (closest equivalent which could be used in lakes) for such boats in the UK would take a fair bit of time.

You will need to learn about seamanship, boat handling, a little navigation and possibly a little bit of maintenance. The actual boat handling test should take a couple of hours, but it will take quite some time to get the handling skills to pass the assessment if you have not driven such boats before. A boat that size will carry a large amount of windage so will make close quarters handling something that needs a lot of practice.

This might help

Boat Captain's Licence (Getting/Converting)

Also all the knotts i remember my husband spending hours at home trying to figure out how to do this knott, and what was it called, man over board e.t.c.

I've got a bit of experience with knots from learning to fly a helicopter. But I'm sure this will be quite different.

It would be great to rent a boat for a few days to see how we like the whole experience. Too bad it's winter.

Is it me or are you James Bond?

Sorry for the off-topic but I only know about boat stuff around the lake of Zurich and the vital info has already been given from what I can tell...

Not quite but pretty funny!

Do you own a helicopter aswell did you know i am your long lost sister

LOL! No helicopters. Sorry! I was just studying to get my license in New Zealand. Never quite made it as I didn't continue after we moved. It was fun though. If push came to shove, I could definitely keep the bird in the air but hovering and landing.... well, that's another story!

Helicopters are fun last summer we was flying over the mountains and the guy who was flying us had fun with us where my stomach nearly ended up in my head (or something like that) so much fun, i don`t know how i kept my language to myself with having the headphones on good job i did

We did a flight over the Grand Canyon this summer. It was amazing!!!

Stop that i am jealous now, i wasn`t before honest.

Interesting. How many types of knots did they teach you in order to secure the heli to the helipad?

Cannut, hope it's not a virus!

Ha ha ha! More than I could count!

That I could have guessed...

Smartass!