Crossing to IOW in a tender

[GrantD]

Ok, probably my first really daft question

But if, in extremis I kept our boat on the IOW - temporarily perhaps - is it acceptable/normal/daft/pushing it/why not/routine/doable


For me to go visit/use her by going across on a well founded tender with a decent outboard and wearing lifejackets

Thoughts?

Be gentle ?

 

[Biggles Wader]

With last nights gale blowing----no way.
On a nice day---why not?

 

[john_morris_uk]

I’ve sailed across in an open sailing canoe so why not a tender?

Our tender planes at 12 knots one up so it wouldn’t take too long for me. (May I suggest that you take some spare fuel and hand held radio...?)

 

[Catalina36]

Years ago I had a Jag 27 on a Langstone Harbour Board deep water mooring and kept the small dinghy tender in a yard at Eastney. After one or two hairy trips out there to the mooring I bought a 15 foot dory and stuck a 50hp Yam on the back. It doubled as a fun/fishing boat and a tender and although it seemed outrageous at first it soon proved its worth in ferrying crew plus stuff out to the boat for trips.

It rather depends on the size of the tender and the conditions. I've sailed 12 foot dinghies to IoW from Portsmouth, then again in a stiff SE blow on the ebb between the forts 27 feet didn't seem big enough.

 

[[70521]]

Last time I visited the IoW there was a perfectly acceptable ferry service.

 

[GrantD]

I’ve sailed across in an open sailing canoe so why not a tender?

Our tender planes at 12 knots one up so it wouldn’t take too long for me. (May I suggest that you take some spare fuel and hand held radio...?)

My thoughts exactly

Lifejackets
Fuel
VHF
Torch
Bars of chocolate ?

 

[PilotWolf]

Last time I visited the IoW there was a perfectly acceptable ferry service.

Things have changed then!

Albeit after I used RF a couple of times I decided the extra mainland driving time was more than worth it.

W.

 

[GrantD]

Last time I visited the IoW there was a perfectly acceptable ferry service.

For £70 return ?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I wouldn't want to do that in a tender that would stow on the boat you've just bought! Or at all to be honest. IOW berthing is a bit cheaper than the mainland - but it's also inconvenient if you live on the mainland, especially for spur of the moment weekend trips.

 

[PilotWolf]

Again isn’t it all relative?

Lymington to Yarmouth or Southampton to the. Back of the island?

As mentioned the weather is a factor too.

W.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

For £70 return ?

You'll save that in berthing fees. Plus you'll have your car and all the kit you need with you, easy for supermarket shopping etc.

 

[matt1]

I'd add a small anchor to the growing list of stuff you need to take, just in case the outboard plays up ;-)

I think freeboard of the dinghy is probably the most important requirement. I sailed a Wayfarer across in my yoof in a blustery F5 and as expected, no problems. Great perspective on the then Calshot Spit lightvessel.

On the other hand I went from Potter pier in Poole Harbour to the fuel barge there in an inflatable that turned out to be quite the adventure!

I'd try and time the tides to do it at slack water if possible as wind against tide quickly makes a difference

 

[PilotWolf]

For £70 return ?

Try and get a ticket for that in peak times.

I don’t think it was that cheap 15/20 years ago.

W

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Try and get a ticket for that in peak times.

I don’t think it was that cheap 15/20 years ago.

W

Just tried a quote, you're right it's almost 160 quid return this weekend.

 

[scruff]

Sounds like you'd be cheaper berthing it in France!

 

[mikegunn]

I'd add a small anchor to the growing list of stuff you need to take, just in case the outboard plays up ;-)

I think freeboard of the dinghy is probably the most important requirement. I sailed a Wayfarer across in my yoof in a blustery F5 and as expected, no problems. Great perspective on the then Calshot Spit lightvessel.

On the other hand I went from Potter pier in Poole Harbour to the fuel barge there in an inflatable that turned out to be quite the adventure!

I'd try and time the tides to do it at slack water if possible as wind against tide quickly makes a difference

I’d add a pair of oars too.

Mike

 

[jbweston]

It depends what you mean by a tender, and whether you'll be happy to cross only in really good settled weather or want to be able to plan a crossing to fit in with your other commitments (so doing it in less-than-perfect weather, the dark, etc).

It would be fatal in a 6 foot pram dinghy at quite a lot of times in most summer seasons. You could do it safely (if not comfortably) most of the time in a 20 foot rib with a couple of reliable outboards.

 

[Greenheart]

...a well found tender with a decent outboard...

Detail required.

I put my 3.5 Tohatsu on the Avon Redcrest and went for a float in Southampton Water the other day...

...before I was a quarter of a mile out, in flat water, I got nervous about the old Avon possibly bursting a seam.

Even in flat water, it felt like a long slog coming back in. Would have been fairly terrifying if there'd been any problem, or fairly arduous under oars, and that wasn't even the open sea.

Speed is important, I think. I've sailed a boat I could lift off the beach, very slowly across to the island from Chichester when we couldn't see the destination from the start. If you're going there from necessity to reach your yacht, you don't want to be idling along relying on Plan B because you're driven off course by a bit more tide or wind than was foreseen.

If you have good visibility and the boat can be relied upon to plane easily and comfortably, definitely do it.

 

[mikegunn]

Ok, probably my first really daft question

But if, in extremis I kept our boat on the IOW - temporarily perhaps - is it acceptable/normal/daft/pushing it/why not/routine/doable


For me to go visit/use her by going across on a well founded tender with a decent outboard and wearing lifejackets

Thoughts?

Be gentle ?

One of the best bits of advice I have ever received is to, never go further in a tender with a single engine than I would be prepared to row.
Mike

 

[Wansworth]

Equipment needed for trip

oars plus spare

life jackets

torch

thermos and box with emergency rations

vhf radio

bailer and or stirrup pump

outboard and spare fuel and engine spares plus basic tool kit

foul weather clothes

flares

sun hat and basic first aid Kit

anchour and rode

compass