Crossing channel in single engine boat

[Neil_Y]

Dear all, I'm looking for a little advice.


The boat will have EPIRB, Life raft, Fixed VHF, Portable VHF, Flares, Satellite Phone, GPS, Tow rope, Anchor, life Jackets, Drogue and basic spares for the engine. I am relative DIY capable and will be getting basic engine maintenance training.

You've got more safety kit than I've had in Atlantic crossings, and with a long enough piece of rope you can anchor anywhere, I've anchored mid channel whilst racing when the wind dropped. There are also so many boats out in nice weather that you'd very likely be able to contact a vessel that could help you if you broke down. Biggest risks in my view are getting injured or falling overboard. Even though I've mostly cruised yachts we have often been in situations with no wind relying on the single engine, most risky being one November off Spain in a 10m swell approaching the coast. Just make sure when approaching areas with strong tides you arrive up tide of your destination and I would think about having some long ropes so you could anchor in quite deep water, or at least slow your drift. Have a good trip.

 

[Sailorsam101]

One thing I would add is the likelihood of fog in the channel. Several times we left UK or France in clear blue skies and hit heavy fog mid channel. I'd certainly have AIS available, as that picks up all the ships, and if planning to cross regularly by yourself then maybe consider adding a small radome to the roof, if your plotter is compatible.

You'll want very calm conditions to go in a 8m boat, which often coincides with fog.

I agree about the fog...don't be alone in your boat for sure.

Last July i was heading south towards Alderney..vis was about 5 miles...passed close behind a ferry going the Cherbourg..about half a mile behind him. Both doing 20kts...one min he was to my left about a mile away and then he was gone...FOG..arghhhh. No radar but i have good AIS.

Slowed down and all was OK...spotted things on AIS..went around them and everybody was happy..apart from one thing..a bloody big thing.

About 10 miles north of Alderney with nothing on the AIS a big shape started to appear...it got bigger and bigger. A big huge massive oil rig...not moving..no tugs..nothing....no wash..no wake..no speed...just sat there!

My lady had her eyes on the AIS and i was looking out...two eyes are better than one.

 

[Nick120180]

Thanks for all the advice. The boat apparently already has AIS so it looks like radar is all I'm missing. Looking at the charts it doesn't get so deep that the anchor won't reach bottom even though it would be unlikely to hold. At least this will pull the bow round and slow the drift if necessary.
I've spoken to some outboard mechanics and general consensus is if it's got you out 20 miles it's extremely unlikely to stop during the next 20 and that most faults will make themselves apparent pretty soon after starting. Overall I'm pretty content now so the bigger risk looks more like getting stranded if the weather turns whilst we are over there. Oh well can't fight the weather!

 

[JYAK]

Hello Nick,i know this is an old post,but I was just wondering if you ever made it across to france in your Beneteau,very interesting reading,just that I'm planning to do a trip from Falmouth to roscoff in a similar boat,Beneteau flyer 750 with a Suzuki 300,would be interested to know how you got on
Thanks

 

[franksingleton]

Deleted User beat me to it in mentioning a standby, emergency engine. I have seen many on single-engined boats. You say that you have AIS. Is it Class B? It can be very reassuring if you have to call a large vessel to be told that they can see your signal. You may not present a good radar target. And, yes, having radar can help you arrive with clean underwear.



ha

 

[paul salliss]

I have never read so much nonsense in all my life as long as it's well maintained and serviced just crack on and enjoy yourself. Do the usual checks, have a good plan and off you go. Many of the Little Ships were single engine and during the evacuation they had planes trying to bomb them so if they can do it the suspect you will be fine

 

[paul salliss]

I've crossed the channel many times in a single engined boat without many of the items you list in your post. The most important aspect for me was ensuring the engine was in as good a condition as possible.

All my crossings were by myself, i.e. just my boat, all from Exmouth to either the CIs or Cherbourg, cruising at about 12 kts, I guess if I'm truthful I always felt a bit apprehensive when mid channel but that feeling was far exceeded by the sense of achievement in reaching my destination safely.

So I would say go for it, check the weather and give yourself a large enough weather window to make the return crossing in good conditions. One of my most memorable crossings was about 16 years ago, I had my son and a friend of his aboard, his friend was making his first ever foreign trip. We had fabulous conditions, they had just finished their O levels, they thoroughly enjoyed Cherbourg and Alderney, and the return crossing was made truly memorable by encountering a pod of about 20 basking sharks mid way between the shipping lanes. We stopped and they ambled around the boat for about 10 minutes or so, one of those sights I'll never forget.

Have fun.

In line with my reply follow this mans advice. He got it spot on

 

[JYAK]

Thats a fair point paul,but i do think having an auxiliary engine is a good idea just in case the worst happens,last thing you want is a 200,000 ton ship on top of you,i've got a little 6 hp as a back up,hopefully i wouldn't have to use it,AIS would be a good idea,but unfortunately its not fitted to my boat,just want a decent weather forecast for a few weeks in june so i can enjoy the adventure

 

[MapisM]

Many of the Little Ships were single engine and during the evacuation they had planes trying to bomb them

Weird comparison. They weren't exactly cruising for pleasure in that occasion, afaik...

 

[paul salliss]

Weird comparison. They weren't exactly cruising for pleasure in that occasion, afaik...

it's a great comparison it was 70 year old tech, many were single engine, they had goodness knows what else to deal with and most got back. The truth is that some people just worry and worry and worry but the old ego won't allow them admit it.



Ask yourself if you have owned a sailing boat or a car, or a motorcycle or a light aircraft or have been crew on a large commercial vessel when you last had an engine failure ( ALL SINGLE ENGINE. ) The weekend boater needs one engine and only needs two for extra speed.( Assuming they are well maintained engines.) When it comes to berthing two on shafts is the best, but single with thrusters at both ends is a good 2nd best. People who worry non stop about what could go wrong will always worry and will never truly enjoy boating. Maintain your boat well, get some tuition, and just go have have fun.

 

[MapisM]

P, I never disagreed with the principle that single mobos can be more than enough safe for most purposes - up to ocean crossing, depending on range etc.
Otoh, an outboard powered Antares is neither a Nordhavn nor a commercial vessel...
And a small second outboard would neither be a big investment nor a big installation hassle, I reckon.

 

[paul salliss]

P, I never disagreed with the principle that single mobos can be more than enough safe for most purposes - up to ocean crossing, depending on range etc.
Otoh, an outboard powered Antares is neither a Nordhavn nor a commercial vessel...
And a small second outboard would neither be a big investment nor a big installation hassle, I reckon.

That's a decision for the skipper and no one else. I would save the cash. Just my opinion. He is only crossing the channel not the Pacific

 

[Dazzajohm]

it's a great comparison it was 70 year old tech, many were single engine, they had goodness knows what else to deal with and most got back. The truth is that some people just worry and worry and worry but the old ego won't allow them admit it.



Ask yourself if you have owned a sailing boat or a car, or a motorcycle or a light aircraft or have been crew on a large commercial vessel when you last had an engine failure ( ALL SINGLE ENGINE. ) The weekend boater needs one engine and only needs two for extra speed.( Assuming they are well maintained engines.) When it comes to berthing two on shafts is the best, but single with thrusters at both ends is a good 2nd best. People who worry non stop about what could go wrong will always worry and will never truly enjoy boating. Maintain your boat well, get some tuition, and just go have have fun.

Great words of wisdom. I got a new (to me) boat this time last year and had intentions to go across to France (i'm based in Dover) and visit some of the UK marinas but had quite a few issues which prevented me having the confidence to trust the boat to go further afield. I've just re-launched after 6 weeks out the water and in that time I've had every thing possible checked, fixed, overhauled and serviced so all being well I think I need to just stop worrying and get on with enjoying the season... When it arrives

 

[CCJ]

That's a decision for the skipper and no one else. I would save the cash. Just my opinion. He is only crossing the channel not the Pacific

Some just swim over, admittedly the shortest distance

 

[paul salliss]

Great words of wisdom. I got a new (to me) boat this time last year and had intentions to go across to France (i'm based in Dover) and visit some of the UK marinas but had quite a few issues which prevented me having the confidence to trust the boat to go further afield. I've just re-launched after 6 weeks out the water and in that time I've had every thing possible checked, fixed, overhauled and serviced so all being well I think I need to just stop worrying and get on with enjoying the season... When it arrives

as you say when it arrives. This is after all the winter that won't fxxk off

 

[MapisM]

That's a decision for the skipper and no one else.

Absolutely. But he said "I'm looking for a little advice" in the very first line of his OP, didn't he?
Mind, I'm a fan of the principle that what you don't have, will never be broken - not only with boats, btw.
And also of the (rather american, actually) thinking along the lines of two engines, two troubles.
Then again, for Channel crossing with an Antares 8.80 powered by a 300hp Suzuki, I wouldn't see the installation of a 10hp o/b as just a waste of money.
It would be perfect for a bit of trolling, btw.
But if in your view it's just a waste of cash, well, that's a view as respectable as mine, of course! :encouragement:

 

[Flynnbarr]

it's a great comparison it was 70 year old tech, many were single engine, they had goodness knows what else to deal with and most got back. The truth is that some people just worry and worry and worry but the old ego won't allow them admit it.



Ask yourself if you have owned a sailing boat or a car, or a motorcycle or a light aircraft or have been crew on a large commercial vessel when you last had an engine failure ( ALL SINGLE ENGINE. ) The weekend boater needs one engine and only needs two for extra speed.( Assuming they are well maintained engines.) When it comes to berthing two on shafts is the best, but single with thrusters at both ends is a good 2nd best. People who worry non stop about what could go wrong will always worry and will never truly enjoy boating. Maintain your boat well, get some tuition, and just go have have fun.

+1 to this and post 26.
Well said that man.

 

[alant]

it's a great comparison it was 70 year old tech, many were single engine, they had goodness knows what else to deal with and most got back. The truth is that some people just worry and worry and worry but the old ego won't allow them admit it.



Ask yourself if you have owned a sailing boat or a car, or a motorcycle or a light aircraft or have been crew on a large commercial vessel when you last had an engine failure ( ALL SINGLE ENGINE. ) The weekend boater needs one engine and only needs two for extra speed.( Assuming they are well maintained engines.) When it comes to berthing two on shafts is the best, but single with thrusters at both ends is a good 2nd best. People who worry non stop about what could go wrong will always worry and will never truly enjoy boating. Maintain your boat well, get some tuition, and just go have have fun.

Most breakdowns reported in my local press involving 'rescue', seem to involve running out/low fuel, not actual mechanical stuff. They even recue sailing boats with duff engine power when the wind is blowing.

 

[paul salliss]

Most breakdowns reported in my local press involving 'rescue', seem to involve running out/low fuel, not actual mechanical stuff. They even recue sailing boats with duff engine power when the wind is blowing.

Exactly and to be honest it's why I hardly look at the forum anymore. Being new and nervous is fine and the forum helped me when I was at that stage, but the people who are always worrying non stop just irritate me. Swanwick Marina is full of them!!��������

 

[lisilou]

Exactly and to be honest it's why I hardly look at the forum anymore. Being new and nervous is fine and the forum helped me when I was at that stage, but the people who are always worrying non stop just irritate me. Swanwick Marina is full of them!!��������

Nice.