First time at sea, advice please

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valerian

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Hello all, first post. I have a 27ft motor boat on the broads, equipped with VHF radio, depth and speed gauges and a powerful (125HP) engine. I have a radio licence and have done a basic navigation and seamanship course. I want to venture out to sea for the first time. I thought Lowestoft would be suitable to avoid the larger commercial traffic at Gt. Yarmouth. Initially I thought a short trip within about 2 mile radius of the harbour, to the east and north east would be appropriate. A calm day with no adverse weather forcast would be a given. Is there anything apart from the obvious (eg sand banks to the south), I should be wary of? Any reason this might not be such a good idea?
 
First of all make sure the fuel tank is clean, first bounce around will stir up any sludge that would never bother you on the rivers.
I go in and out through gt.yarmouth and don't have much bother with commercial traffic, call in once under haven bridge and they'll tell you of any movements.
You'll often find it a bit bouncy at the entrance of both gy and lowestoft even in calm weather but it settles once out, don't hug the coast as it's not very deep.
Enjoy it.
 
valerian said:
Hello all, first post. I have a 27ft motor boat on the broads, equipped with VHF radio, depth and speed gauges and a powerful (125HP) engine. I have a radio licence and have done a basic navigation and seamanship course. I want to venture out to sea for the first time. I thought Lowestoft would be suitable to avoid the larger commercial traffic at Gt. Yarmouth. Initially I thought a short trip within about 2 mile radius of the harbour, to the east and north east would be appropriate. A calm day with no adverse weather forcast would be a given. Is there anything apart from the obvious (eg sand banks to the south), I should be wary of? Any reason this might not be such a good idea?
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If you fit under the bridge at Gt Yarmouth without having to arrange for it to be raised then Gt Yarmouth is easier with less commercial traffic and the entrance from sea into the mouth of the river Yare is much more straightforward with less cross current and less build-up of waves than Lowestoft

At Lowestoft there is very frequent windfarm maintenance vessel movements plus other commercial traffic with less space to manoeuvre and you have to be very alert to the vhf communications with the Port Control as, on the seaward side of the road bridge, there are 4 docks,basins,marinas,channel with boats crossing between them and lots of port control lights ("traffic lights".). make sure you know the difference between green,green,green and green,white,green. Also, just outside the entrance the current runs across the entrance and the waves can be quite large for a small boat, especially with any east in the wind. So, Lowestoft is still good but not as straightforward.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
As a guide I can drop to 8'8" and can always get under haven bridge at half tide or less with good clearance, the bridge hasn't been opening for ages (they may get it fixed one day) so I just time my trip accordingly, for an out and back in a falling tide is best so you have plenty of time for the return.
What is the comfortable cruising speed of the boat and what boat is it?
 
As said by others, the tide across is very strong which may be the first time you have a fast cross tide, when we came in a couple of years ago was running about 4 knts, it also can be quite bumpy and again could be very uncomfortable if you are used to flattish water.
 
On another occasion, or perhaps this one if you are feeling adventurous, you could make a round trip of it - go out via Lowestoft and back in via Great Yarmouth, or vice versa.

As Snowbird says, the waves and swell can stir up crud in your tank which hadn't been a problem in flat water. Take several spare fuel filters with you and make sure you know how to change them. You probably won't need them, but better looking at 'em than for them, and they'll get used eventually.

I believe there's works going currently at Lowestoft to do with the construction of the new bridge. There might be restrictions or at least work boats milling about. I think I also read or heard that those works result in fewer bridge openings then normal at present. Be worth checking out in advance via Broads Control or Lowestoft's website (ABP?),
 
Thanks for all the replies so far :) To summarise what I have gathered so far, the cross tides at Lowestoft can make this an uncomfortable first time out to sea, and traffic movements in the harbour area can be challenging. Yarmouth sounds like a gentler introduction for me, I have never used marine radio but have previous experience of ATC radio so am not too stressed about this aspect. Also potential to stir up contents of fuel tank. Not sure how I would check the state of the tank though as there is no inspection access.

snowbird30ds said:
What is the comfortable cruising speed of the boat and what boat is it?
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Comfortable would be around 10-12 mph in flat conditions. I have managed 16+ mph over Breydon, but it would be tiresome to maintain it for too long. It's a Shetland 27 (Cat C rated).
 
valerian said:
Hello all, first post. I have a 27ft motor boat on the broads, equipped with VHF radio, depth and speed gauges and a powerful (125HP) engine. I have a radio licence and have done a basic navigation and seamanship course. I want to venture out to sea for the first time. I thought Lowestoft would be suitable to avoid the larger commercial traffic at Gt. Yarmouth. Initially I thought a short trip within about 2 mile radius of the harbour, to the east and north east would be appropriate. A calm day with no adverse weather forcast would be a given. Is there anything apart from the obvious (eg sand banks to the south), I should be wary of? Any reason this might not be such a good idea?
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What make/model of motor boat ?
 
Advice hey?
Don't drink the water
Tell someone, harbour master etc that it's your first trip out and an approximate time of return.
Cruise about and live the dream ,good luck to you.
 
nortada said:
First time - I would invite a more experienced friend to accompany you.

On a broader front, I would not go to sea with a single means of propulsion - too much can go wrong.
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Eek. I've been doing single means of propulsion every since I had to sell TG. Most local fisherman are doing single engine stuff as well. I think in fairness, the point is that the boat must be maintained and properly serviced. And the point has been made about clean fuel. I admit being a little paranoid about servicing but it is reassuring. Always spares on board and if annually serviced, normally filters can be changed without difficulty. I suspect it is an oldish engine? Good stuff if it is - no Electronics, no turbo. If it runs and has clean fuel it will run .... and run ..... and run.

The more experienced point is a good point. I have taken out a couple first on my boat and then went out on their boat. I think they enjoyed both processes and gave them a lot of confidence. After all, it is supposed to be fun!
 
Yes oldish engine - 2003, done 1700 hours but does have turbo. Runs well on rivers. Good point about not drinking the water :)
 
tillergirl said:
Eek. I've been doing single means of propulsion every since I had to sell TG. Most local fisherman are doing single engine stuff as well. I think in fairness, the point is that the boat must be maintained and properly serviced. And the point has been made about clean fuel. I admit being a little paranoid about servicing but it is reassuring. Always spares on board and if annually serviced, normally filters can be changed without difficulty. I suspect it is an oldish engine? Good stuff if it is - no Electronics, no turbo. If it runs and has clean fuel it will run .... and run ..... and run.

The more experienced point is a good point. I have taken out a couple first on my boat and then went out on their boat. I think they enjoyed both processes and gave them a lot of confidence. After all, it is supposed to be fun!
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What about that huge Yanmar wing engine??? ?????
 
Recon that the main problem , if any happen , is that the Fuel tank will have oodles of shit just aroused by the new found wave actions , so on its was to your Carb / Jets whatever ; I would strongly suggest that to fit a tempoary fuel tank with a direct feed into your Engine fuel line feed ; this extra tank then needs to be toped up with clean new fuel and eeither run on the old tanks for a while then check to see if and Shit is in the Fuel system ; you can then decide wether to continue with the Old tanks if OK or switch over to the New tank /fuel to get you back home again ; where you can clean out the old tanks , ready (this time) for another trip of adventure
 
nortada said:
First time - I would invite a more experienced friend to accompany you.

On a broader front, I would not go to sea with a single means of propulsion - too much can go wrong.
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what nonsense over half of the boating world goes to sea with one engine. I do it all the time as does almost all the pe pole. I boat with. You just need to have confidence in your engine and have a good anchor
 
valerian said:
Shetland 27 (Cat C)
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Should be OK in decent weather, don't take it to sea if the forecast is for winds above about 10 knots, max.

The advice about fuel is sound, rigging a jerry can of fuel ready to connect if you have a problem makes sense.

Taking someone with you who has experience is a really good idea.

Make sure you understand tides and how they work, you'll be motoring on a moving surface whos depth will change. Cross currents in the entrances are something to be very aware of in your location, as already said.

Take care, be sensible and go for it. (y)
 
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