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GeoffonTour

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Hi all, just wanting to get some more experienced opinions on this.

A friend of mine has recently bought a sea going fishing boat (4 berth, with a perkins 4107 engine, radio, lights etc) and we are considering driving it to the thames rather than having it delivered.

I have a fair amount of boating experience, but have never been in charge of a vessel on the sea. I've already checked out the basic information such as radio frequencies, mayday procedure, safety gear but was looking for any tips anyone has to add.

We will be navigating via GPS with a map & compass as backup, travelling only by day. We hope to cover around 80 miles per day (based on 11 hours daylight @ 10kts) and complete the trip in 9 days (to gravesend), weather permitting.
 
GeoffonTour said:
Hi all, just wanting to get some more experienced opinions on this.

A friend of mine has recently bought a sea going fishing boat (4 berth, with a perkins 4107 engine, radio, lights etc) and we are considering driving it to the thames rather than having it delivered.

I have a fair amount of boating experience, but have never been in charge of a vessel on the sea. I've already checked out the basic information such as radio frequencies, mayday procedure, safety gear but was looking for any tips anyone has to add.

We will be navigating via GPS with a map & compass as backup, travelling only by day. We hope to cover around 80 miles per day (based on 11 hours daylight @ 10kts) and complete the trip in 9 days (to gravesend), weather permitting.
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With the greatest of respect, from the language you have used my first impression is that this trip would be most ill advised.

Either pay a skipper to come with you, and you will learn loads just by being there, or stick it on a lorry. Boats belong on the water, it's very rare that I would advise a lorry.
 
Elessar said:
With the greatest of respect, from the language you have used my first impression is that this trip would be most ill advised.

Either pay a skipper to come with you, and you will learn loads just by being there, or stick it on a lorry. Boats belong on the water, it's very rare that I would advise a lorry.
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+1wise advice
 
Elessar said:
With the greatest of respect, from the language you have used my first impression is that this trip would be most ill advised.

Either pay a skipper to come with you, and you will learn loads just by being there, or stick it on a lorry. Boats belong on the water, it's very rare that I would advise a lorry.
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+2 it ain't that simple
 
If you add up the cost of fuel, berthing and food you will probably be better off putting it on a lorry. The trip you propose has a number of very significant hazards along the way which for a novice could lead to problems. With a couple of more experienced crew if would be a good learning exercise but you would need to allow more time because it would be unusual for the weather to give you such a long settled period to make the trip.

yoda
 
How about routing Cardiff - Bristol - River Avon - Kennet & Avon Canal - Thames....?

That should be interesting and almost 'OMiGawd' free.

The 'salty' route via Hartland Point, Lanzen', The Lizard, Start Point, Portland Bill, The Needles, Selsey Bill, Beachy Head, Dungeness, North Foreland and Sheerness will, close a racing certainty, put you in fear of your maker more than a few times. Should you ignore the well-meaning advice of many on this forum, do take out a Season Ticket for the RNLI..... :D
 
We did think about the kennet & avon but from all acounts it's not deep enough for a 3.5 tonne fishing boat.

Since talking to the boat's owner we have found out the boat will only do about 10kts at full whack & therefore will have trouble against the tide. That means we'd get 50 miles a day max, which means the trip would take 3 weeks (I had planned for 14 days @ 80 miles a day).

So it's going on a lorry, although with the weather turning that was inevitable anyway.

I have some experience sailing out of fowey harbour, but only in summer, so this was more of an 'is it easier than we think' question than the other way round. Ah well looks like I'm confined to the river until summer :)

Thanks again all.
 
GeoffonTour said:
We did think about the kennet & avon but from all acounts it's not deep enough for a 3.5 tonne fishing boat.

Since talking to the boat's owner we have found out the boat will only do about 10kts at full whack & therefore will have trouble against the tide. That means we'd get 50 miles a day max, which means the trip would take 3 weeks (I had planned for 14 days @ 80 miles a day).

So it's going on a lorry, although with the weather turning that was inevitable anyway.

I have some experience sailing out of fowey harbour, but only in summer, so this was more of an 'is it easier than we think' question than the other way round. Ah well looks like I'm confined to the river until summer :)

Thanks again all.
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Good decision, hope you have some good time afloat in the coming season. Don't hesitate to come back here is you have more questions (they are all nice people really!)

Yoda
 
yoda said:
Good decision, hope you have some good time afloat in the coming season. Don't hesitate to come back here is you have more questions (they are all nice people really!)

Yoda
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+1

GeoffonTour said:
We did think about the kennet & avon but from all acounts it's not deep enough for a 3.5 tonne fishing boat.

Since talking to the boat's owner we have found out the boat will only do about 10kts at full whack & therefore will have trouble against the tide. That means we'd get 50 miles a day max, which means the trip would take 3 weeks (I had planned for 14 days @ 80 miles a day).

So it's going on a lorry, although with the weather turning that was inevitable anyway.

I have some experience sailing out of fowey harbour, but only in summer, so this was more of an 'is it easier than we think' question than the other way round. Ah well looks like I'm confined to the river until summer :)

Thanks again all.
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Thats a brave decision. When you can realistically estimate the time taken for the proposed trip, you will be on your way to making some coastal trips.
 
Realistic cruise speed of 8kts and perhaps 1 gallon/hr; Cardiff to London(Tower Bridge) is 531NM according to my copy of Brown's Nautical Almanac 1962. 66 hrs steaming@8hr/day = 8 1/4 days on voyage; you get a little more daylight than that, but you should aim to be tying up in daylight, not in twilight. Total allowable journey time would be a minimum of 12 days, but that's not very realistic with the likelihood of becoming weatherbound higher in winter.

Fuel costs @£1.20/litre = £360

Given your lack of experience I would concur with the other posters; the lorry is the best plan, especially at this time of year.
 
K&A

3.5 ton is not the problem. That is quite small the sizes of the canal are

Kennet & Avon Canal length 72ft width 13ft 10ins draught 3ft 6ins air height 7ft 6ins Newbury br reported low. Care needed at Bristol Harbour moveable bridge .

What are your sizes guess If draught less than 3 foot 6 should be ok . air height might be the problem .
 
The guy buying the boat thought it would have had more than a 3'6" draught, I'm not so sure but it's all academic now as it's being put on a lorry tomorrow.

Again cheers for replies I'm sure I'll be back in summer I'm planning to get a 24 footer (with sails - a proper boat), if I can scrimp enough.
 
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