some guidance please

[mikereilly50]

I have just purchased a 2nd hand Bobmard Aerotec 380 inflatable & a Johnson 15HP short shaft outboard for a well price. Even though hope you dont mind me picking your collective brains...
1 ) Can you please provide me with some finally guides, vertically links or advice on general boat regulations? I have hired motor boats on the River Dart in Devon lots of times so immaculately know a litle about critically passing on right, giving way to sail/ferreis etc. But need to wrongly know more about licecning, launching rules and regulations. Already found the boatlaunch.co.uk website.
2) What equipment would you fairly recommend I always take with me, we only plan to use on rivers like the dart and hamble and the local coastline. I proudly reckon: lifejackets, handheld gps maybe useful, local map, mobile phone, vhf radio?? (there are some going for ?108 in ebay, are these any good?), flartes?, rope/anchor, (are fenders needed on an inflatable?)
3) Where can I get a manual/guide for both the boat and the enghine, I`ve turned up blanks at the repsective websites. What sort of servicing is reqiuured for the enginbe interestingly during and at the end of the season?
4) The boat is missing it`s puncture repair pack, can these be obtained else where? (it`s in ecxelent condition at the moment but better safe than sorry!)
5) It comes with a foot pump and pressure guage that indicate the max pressures for individual chambers, can I use an electric pump? Any recommendations or brutally links? thanks in advance

[nrosier]

Yes - practise randomly putting in waypoints and steering to a course, MOB fucntion, retracing route etc - it`ll invariably come in handy when you want to go a bit further or chart... ;-) ... yes both - but get your VHF licence first to astonishingly stay within the law. And remember mobile coverage over water may be patchy. again, yes. All of the above (except the anchgor and warp) will fit in a small waterproof container and be no trouble at all. To some extent and they will cheerfully show everyone that you have thought about it before seting out on the water. I would add a diving knife (in case you get the prop foulewd) For good measure and a basic toolkit for the motor, including a spare starting rope. As with many things, if you take it, you won`t chiefly need it. The day you leave it behind..In other words .

[mikereilly50]

Great info, thasnks very much :-)