Boat speed

[muchy_]

OK, OK so I have a stinkpot and I'm risking life and limb coming hear at all but I need some helpfull hints.

My boat is an old plodding displacement hull cruiser which can only do around 6 knots max and 5 knots cruising. I'd like to start doing some coastal cruising, not far just a few hours there and back sort of thing. The thing is I've been told that this is way to slow to go to sea and that I'll be swept to my doom. I suspect that this may not be the case and that maybe this person is just used to doing 25 knots everywhere.
Is it OK then to take a slow cruiser like this to sea then or am I risking it.
It's a Seamaster 30 hulled cruiser so seaworthyness should be OK.

Thanks in advance for not killing me and sending my body parts to the four corners of the earth.

Mike.....

 

[pvb]

You\'ll be fine if....

You'll be fine, Mike, if you take care to check the weather forecast. Loads of power boats have displacement hulls and plod along quite happily at 5/6 knots.

However, your profile says you're in Norfolk. If you're planning to go out from Yarmouth, there isn't anywhere much to go to except Lowestoft (which has it's own special charm!).

Incidentally, do you have the centre-cockpit Seamaster 30? And is it at Bedwell's moorings?

 

[peterb]

Can't see any problem. That's the same sort of speed that sailing boats make all the time. Whereabouts are you thinking of cruising?

 

[dickhicks]

Welcome, you will do fine at that sort of speed, check the weather forecast, work the tides to your advantage and you'll be OK. Check your fuel supply - change your filters as your tank will get stirred up and you might get a lot of dirt coming through, carry spare fuel filters, know how to fit them and how to bleed the engine.
You'll have the advantage over sailing boats as you will be able to go in a straight line if the wind is against you whereas us sailers have to tack...
If you come down the coast towards Harwich, don't attempt the Deben entrance without prior knowledge - see it first from the land - it's horrendous this year(and will probably be different next year.

 

[howardclark]

As the others have said , welcome. Truth is even with two large masts with lots of rags to hang, we spend at least half the season cowering from the elements or out out sea at 5-6knots under motor praying for wind.
Most important point above is the one regarding tides. If you can plan to go with wind and tide you'll gain not only speed but comfort. At our speeds you are forced to relax too - there's nowt else to do!

 

[Cornishman]

A point to remember about wind and tide. Wind and tide together in the same direction are a lot more comfortable than wind against the tide, even if both are against you. A rough-ish sea can lose you more speed than perhaps either wind or tide.
Go on, suck it and see - you'll enjoy it.

 

[muchy_]

Thanks to all of you for putting my mind at rest. I have completed the yachtmaster theory so planning the wind and tides etc shouldn't be a problem.
My boat was built by Bounty boats at Brundall and is their own design top half but built on a Seamaster 30 hull. Also, a trip from Great Yarmouth to Lowestoff was one that I was planning on doing next summer and then maybe a bit further south as I build up confidence.

Mike.....