Dartmouth

[Martxer]

We are currently on the hamble and this season have not done much boating despite the brilliant summer. This is because the wife is a nervous passenger and encounters with big boats and big wakes around calshot have put her off a bit.

We were going to get a bigger boat my logic being it would make the wakes of other boats look smaller however she still had doubts about being on the hamble. Last week we had a long weekend at Brixham and the weather was diabolical, we walked to berry head and she said she thought she would feel better being based there.

We had a walk around the marinas and spoke to the staff and all said they had a big waiting list for boats around 40’ . We have managed to secure a berth on the dart for the boat we currently have and so we are now keeping our boat and need to move it for April.

The question is can you recommend a skipper to make the move with me as making the trip myself is currently out of my comfort zone.

 

[Hot Property]

If your boat is 40ft long and your wife is nervous in that, then you have a problem....

You can buy stabilisers that take some motion off but it is a boat after all.

Good luck, maybe a holiday home overlooking the sea would fit the bill. You can then scare yourself in a rib or similar.

 

[ozzie]

There is a skipper, Mark Taylor who does a lot of boat deliveries in the South West as well as working all over Europe. He also does own boat tuition, which is how I know him. He knows his stuff so if you accompanied him I think you would find it beneficial. I don't have his number but I am sure either Torquay marina or Sunseeker Torquay will give you his number - he does a lot work for Sunseeker. Where are you berthing in Dartmouth?

 

[Martxer]

Current boat is a merry fisher 895 we haven’t bought a 40’ boat , it isn’t the motion that is making the wife nervous the boat taking off over another boats wake is the trigger .

 

[Martxer]

There is a skipper, Mark Taylor who does a lot of boat deliveries in the South West as well as working all over Europe. He also does own boat tuition, which is how I know him. He knows his stuff so if you accompanied him I think you would find it beneficial. I don't have his number but I am sure either Torquay marina or Sunseeker Torquay will give you his number - he does a lot work for Sunseeker. Where are you berthing in Dartmouth?

Thanks for that I am hoping that making the trip with someone experienced will benefit me and ultimately help the missus have more confidence. We have got a berth at noss on dart, we made enquiries at both Brixham and Torquay but they didn’t get back to us.
The main thing is the wife is looking forward to being there.

 

[Hot Property]

Current boat is a merry fisher 895 we haven’t bought a 40’ boat , it isn’t the motion that is making the wife nervous the boat taking off over another boats wake is the trigger .

Ah ok, still a reasonable size. The MF style of boats are more a semi planing hulls so less adept at wave hopping.

Something like a Cranchi will slice the Solent chop.

Calshot is notorious for mixed seas and chop by the way!

 

[Star-Lord]

I recommend Emma Buckles from Lymington. She will show you how to do it.

 

[stelican]

Thanks for that I am hoping that making the trip with someone experienced will benefit me and ultimately help the missus have more confidence. We have got a berth at noss on dart, we made enquiries at both Brixham and Torquay but they didn’t get back to us.
The main thing is the wife is looking forward to being there.

That's quite a long trip and a couple of daunting headlands enroute. Maybe worth considering you wife takes the car down so easy journey home.
Love the Dart envious.

 

[colhel]

If you're boat's reliable and the weather's good you might find someone here to accompany you.

 

[rbcoomer]

There is a skipper, Mark Taylor who does a lot of boat deliveries in the South West as well as working all over Europe. He also does own boat tuition, which is how I know him. He knows his stuff so if you accompanied him I think you would find it beneficial. I don't have his number but I am sure either Torquay marina or Sunseeker Torquay will give you his number - he does a lot work for Sunseeker. Where are you berthing in Dartmouth?

+1 for Mark. (I have his number - PM if you need it)

 

[penfold]

Current boat is a merry fisher 895 we haven’t bought a 40’ boat , it isn’t the motion that is making the wife nervous the boat taking off over another boats wake is the trigger .

That's more of a helm issue rather than a boat stability issue; slow down over wakes.

 

[Martxer]

That's quite a long trip and a couple of daunting headlands enroute. Maybe worth considering you wife takes the car down so easy journey home.
Love the Dart envious.

The wife won’t be making it by boat for sure ,if she cant make it past calshot she has no chance roundthe bill and crossing Lyme bay .
We have not done any boating down there but it does look stunning , looking forward to it

 

[dunedin]

Perhaps a bit late for this season, but if you a re really “Lancs” based wouldn’t Largs on the Clyde be much quicker to get to? (Plus more pleasant with much less traffic)
And some of the best sheltered cruising grounds in the UK, with massively fewer other boat wakes than the south coast of England.

 

[Martxer]

Perhaps a bit late for this season, but if you a re really “Lancs” based wouldn’t Largs on the Clyde be much quicker to get to? (Plus more pleasant with much less traffic)
And some of the best sheltered cruising grounds in the UK, with massively fewer other boat wakes than the south coast of England.

Just googled Largs and it does look stunning, distance wise there is nothing in it but heading north is definitely easier than travelling south .
Reason we are looking south is the weather being better.
We are closest to North Wales and looking at some of the pictures posted on here by the welsh mob looks equally stunning.

 

[dunedin]

Just googled Largs and it does look stunning, distance wise there is nothing in it but heading north is definitely easier than travelling south .
Reason we are looking south is the weather being better.
We are closest to North Wales and looking at some of the pictures posted on here by the welsh mob looks equally stunning.

Not sure the weather is much different between Dartmouth and Largs. But the Clyde is probably 6x bigger cruising area than the Solent, generally no swell unlike Dartmouth (though can get waves in southern part), all tide harbours, minimal tide flows, plenty of harbours/pontoons and very scenic anchorages. Lots of Merry Fishers in Largs.

 

[Martxer]

That's more of a helm issue rather than a boat stability issue; slow down over wakes.

I have slowed down for the wakes but a light bow and 2 outboards still makes the bow take off , around calshot / Southampton water the wake can come from nowhere, it’s no big deal but it is for a nervous passenger. I have shown her endless haul over vids that are far worse but she is too far gone .

 

[penfold]

Probably worth chartering a bigger or at least heavier boat for a day to see if it's a better experience.

Edit to add; Haul over vids!? Are you trying to put her off for life?

 

[ashtead]

You could also no doubt gain a good intro from a jeaneau dealer who might be able to suggest an upgrade to a more solid hull - I guess your crew might be happier in a nimbus style boat maybe ?

 

[penfold]

TBH I'm having difficulty regarding a 3 tonne boat as being light or easily buffeted by wakes, but there you go.

 

[Hot Property]

I have slowed down for the wakes but a light bow and 2 outboards still makes the bow take off , around calshot / Southampton water the wake can come from nowhere, it’s no big deal but it is for a nervous passenger. I have shown her endless haul over vids that are far worse but she is too far gone .

Have you trimmed your outboards down fully? That makes a huge difference and you won't bounce around. Getting the angle of the bow correct as you hit the wake is important too.

I find 45 degrees or head on, if not too big, works for me.

As suggested in an earlier post, you could slow down.

Ladies are generally not impressed with speed and tight turns, it's just that men think they are! ( And I have my wife's permission to say so).

PS

I took my 7 metre single outboard sportscruiser down to Brixham. About 100 miles. Pick your timing at the Portland race, I took the inshore route, then turn about 90 degrees to cross Lyme bay for 50 miles.

As long as have a full suite of safety kit and a buddy then it's a doddle. We did end up going nose first into a F5 for the last 15 miles but the boat took it well. In a 2 metre longer boat with twin engines it will be a straightforward trip.

Always have a plan B bolt hole to run to if it gets too rough...