While I don't feel anyone *must* start off in a small boat, I can by no
means consider it "bad advice" for most first time boaters to start off
with a smaller vessel for reasons of safety and practically. And yes
saftey is an issue if your in a boat you can't operate.

And we're certainly an argumentive couple of cusses considering that we
essentially agree. Refer again to my statement, please. Perhaps it was
carelessly worded or otherwise unclear:

Get a boat that suits your needs and, at the very beginning, learn to
operate
it properly. That may even involve hiring somebody to teach you, one on
one.


All other things being equal, a boater will be statistically and demonstrably
safer in a larger boat that he knows how to operate than in a smaller boat that
he knows how to operate equally well. Both are learned experiences. Does
everybody who learns to drive need to start out in a Mini Cooper, or could the
average person probably handle a 3/4 ton pickup as a first
vehicle with proper instruction? Similar concept.

Would you move your wife and five kids into a two bedroom home because it was
your first house? Why would anybody start off with a vessel that clearly is
undersized for its intended use or desired level of comfort simply because it
is a first boat?



Not everybody needs a big boat. But those who attempt to sleep a family of four
during a weekend or two on a 19-foot cuddy cabin will be lucky to sustain
interest in the hobby long enough to take that expensive depreciation hit and
"step up".

It is my understanding that most boating fatalities take place under calm
conditions, and DO NOT involve recreational boaters, but hunters and
fishermen on small boats that I would not constitute as a recreational
boat.

Yes, but. When you look at the statistics for recreational boaters who are not
hunting.....(and it gets pretty weird to exclude fishing, but OK)......there
are still a disproportionate number of people who die in the smaller craft.
When did you last hear of a 30-foot cruiser capsizing, or swamping in
3-footers?



Hiring someone to hold your hand until you can operate your own vessel is
great. But would you argue that every new boater would exercise this
much common sense? In most cases, the best we can hope for is a dealer
taking the new owner out to get familar with the helm, and that is a far
cry from being able to safeley operate the boat under adverse conditions.


We do have to rely on people showing som common sense. The fact that the OP is
asking questions about size indicates a thoughtful process at work.

Frankly, I don't want some guy bearing down on me at 25 knots in a 16-footer if
it's Day One of his boating experience and he's had no more instruction than
the boat dealer saying, "Here's the keys, Skipper. Good luck!"


We can agree that it is complete idiocy to be out and about on a boat you
are
not prepared to handle. We apparently disagree that it is possible for that
*first* boat to something other than a tiny little runabout.



We don't necessarily disagree on your second point, as I've never said one
can not or should not start out with a larger vessel. You have valid
points supporting the decision to opt for the larger vessel. The
exception I took, is in the failing to point out the potential pitfalls
in starting out with a larger, or "too large" a boat for the the would be
boater.

Perhaps my perspective is influenced by my geographic location. The first
powerboat I learned to operate on more than a casual basis was a 34-foot,
single screw trawler. That's not so unusual out here. With that as a
background, I always marvel at the number of people who are conviced they could
never learn to operate a single engine boat or who are convinced that there is
a narrow range of properly sized boats for a beginner.

Anything bigger than an 8-foot rowing pram is unsuitable for a novice who will
not obtrain instruction. :-)