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Boating is fun and relaxing and really easy to get the hang of. But where do you begin? One obvious start is to encourage some friends with a boat to take you out for a day so you and the family can get the feeling of life on the water.

Alternatively you might think about hiring a boat. Most of our more popular waterways have commercial hire boat operations where you can rent a boat by the hour or for the day. These generally include aluminium dinghies powered by a small outboard motor or slightly bigger launches with inboard motors - either way they won't be very fast, but they will give you a great opportunity to experience what boating is all about at first hand. If you want a bit more space you might think about hiring a house-boat for a few days.

Another way to get afloat is through local boat and yacht clubs, many of which have training courses where you and your family can be shown the ropes at very little cost. A phone call to one or two of these clubs should set you on the right track.

Then of course the annual Boat Shows offer a great opportunity to see everything under one roof. They're a wonderful showcase of new products where literally thousands of boats and boating accessories are on display. Boat Shows present you with the chance to talk to the experts, see all the products, and do some comparison shopping. See our Calendar of Events page for upcoming shows.

But the easiest way to acquire sensible, straightforward guidance at any time of the year is to see your local BIA member. They'll point you in the right direction, and give you the best advice on what's right for you and your family.