Forum Newbie - Some questions

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GinjaNinja

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Hi,

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Tim 41 and live in Hampshire. Have a good job which will allow me to save for the next 5 years. I have set myself goals to achieve what I am ultimately aiming for, which is, a MoBo Liveaboard in the Med/Ionian with my better half.

After reading many threads, numerous Blogs etc, I have a huge list of questions to allow me to better prepare and allow me to sell the idea to the aid better half ;-) Some of these questions will no doubt raise some good conversations, others may cause some arguments between the Sailies and the Mobo's, but the intention is purely to learn.

So, to start, and apologies now, as I will be starting a number of threads

The boats I have been looking at are around 35'. I have been looking at boats with 2 engines, and as an example, twin Volvo Penta 200hp. 200hp seems like a common figure. These run at about 35ltr per hour with a cruising speed of 16 knots..

To purchase a boat in the UK, and run along the coasts to the Med will be around 1500 nm.. (again, just an example and taken from GE)

Based on current fuel prices, that would be about 5k+ just on fuel alone, if cruising over at 16 knots

The questions I have are:-

1:- What speed is common to travel the seas at to to the med from the UK, is 6 knots ok in a MoBo?

2:- Is there any benefit in having dual 200HP motors against 2 x 100? Would it help in rough seas having the large engines?

Thanks again, and sorry for such a large first post.

Tim
 
we cruise our mobo at sub 8knots all the time with 2 x 225 Hp engines and indeed cruised to the med from Poole at those speeds with a daily blast at full throttle to keep the pipes open.
You will enjoy the journey at those speeeds far more and use a fraction of the diesel. If this is your planned use avoid planing hull boats and go for displacement or semi displacement.
 
Many thanks for that, certainly opens more options.

Would you say you have ever needed the power of the engines to get you out of trouble in open water? Maybe due to a big swell or bad weather.

Thanks again for your help

Tim
 
35 ft Motor boat

Go for a full displacement hull.2x100 hp is more than adequate.
Fuel is now a significant cost so you need to keep consumption to a minimum.Your optimum cruising speed would be 6-7 knots on a hull of that size.I assume you are not in a hurry.
Its very seldom you will get "caught out" with todays forecasts as you won't be going far offshore(more than 50 miles) in a 35 ft motorboat.Local winds in the Med can be a worry,and if in the unlikely you do get caught out,you won't be any better off in a 2x200 HP planing hull as you won't be able to plane anyway or go broadside on to the sea,so either plod into it or run before it until it dies down.You will be a lot more comfortable in a displacement hull.
Unless you really want to do the Atlantic coast consider the French canals.
We are 58ft (full displacement) and +-40 tonnes but only burn about 15 litres an hour at 8 knots,(2x130 hp).
A Sunseeker of roughly same length at 17 knots will burn about 300 litres an hour.(Anyone correct me if I am wrong) .Try and push any boat/ship over it's optimum hull speed(the sq root.of the waterline length)and it will cost you dearly.
Hope my ramblings have been of some use,
Happy Cruising
 
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Thats great, thanks for the info. Yes, we wouldn't be looking to go breakneck speeds and as you say, fuel prices are just far to high now.

The last couple of posts have really answered my questions, so thanks for the input

Tim
 
If fuel costs are the critical factor then a single engined displacement hull trawler is what you want. 2 to 3 gph seems to be what people report running at 6 knots. I see some down island here that have made the trip out on there own bottoms frem Florida.

If I get to be too decrepit to run my 44 foot sailboat something like this might be an alternative that I would look at.

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...rency=USD&access=Public&listing_id=64991&url=
 
The other alternative to concider a sail boat. We can do good speeds but will use the same fuel in a full season as some power boats do in a day.
Then there is also a sail boat with a large engine so you can do a bit of both.
Also depends on where you want to go. Do you want to go anywhere else besides the med.
There are some beautiful Mobo's and you do get more living space if that is what you are set on but think about what you want to do first and what will suit you rather than getting the boat first and deciding what you can do with it.
 
DownWest said:
GinjaNinja
http://www.french-waterways.com/ check out Grehans site for canal info. Nice easy way to get to the med.
A
Click to expand...

Looks a good link, thanks DownWest :-)

My initial thoughts were to go the Altlantic route, Being a big fan of Portugal (even though expensive) start from there and work our way through Gib, to Spain, then the Balearics, then to France, around some of Italy, across to Corsica/Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Bottom end of Italy, then across to the Greek Isles. A good 3500 nm as a very rough guess on GE.

Obviously using the French canals will reduce that, and we pop out in S France, but then again, it's a good while off yet and of course SWMBO will have a say ;-)

I also thought about buying the boat abroad, with the potential cost savings on Fuel alone getting the boat from the UK (dependent on the Euro of course), but would miss out on some great shores which defeats the object.

The MoBo is the only option for me. I would not be happy sailing and the additional space would suit the better half.

But, still a while off, lots can change in that time, and still reading so much info from various places, I am in brain overload..lol

Thanks again to all that have expressed their thoughts

Tim
 
We coast-hopped France, Spain and Portugal to the western Med from London six years ago, in a Princess 435 with
TAMD 71Bs (380hp). Travelled generally 12-15 knots. Took five months as it was our planned retirement trip. Fuel then cost just under £10K. Had a great time and thoroughly recommend it.
 
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Welcome

We delivered a MOBO to Maryland from the Caribbean and were grateful more than once for the second engine.

The boat we delivered was/is a Cheoylee 55 with twin cat 3208's and it could cruise at 7knt an burn around 6 gallons ph, not bad for a 50 tonne vessel.

The canals are the preferred route to get to the Med for many folks, lots of links and info available.

Good luck with your planning, have you done any MOBOing or is this all a dream waiting to happen?, if yes then you are part way there, if no, then it would be a good idea to go on a few charters to see what you like and more importantly, don't like about various boats on the market. Again lots of info out there, but I would recommend doing a few charters in different areas with different types of vessel to get a better understanding of what you are taking on and how the dream and the reality line up in the cold light of experience.

Do you have any formal training?, if not then maybe a few courses will do a lot to get you more comfortable with your plans to live aboard, also include your better half in any training that you decide you need as she will be your only help most of the time and two trained minds are definitely be better than one, you should not become the guy who sails single handed with his wife as that way lays only problems for you both.

The more info you can give the more help will come your way!

Mark
 
Thanks Guys :-)

To answer your questions Mark, I have been on a few Mobo's, not for long periods, more days out and in Portugal, Shark fishing. I have always wanted a boat from being a teen, and now have the chance of making that dream a reality. I set myself 5 years to fund, but like I suggested to the other half, if it takes 7 year, then so be it, but it will happen.

I have been looking at various courses, and as you so rightly suggested, the better half will be coming on them as well. When we do bite the bullet, I want to have all the courses I needed, ICC/RYA skipper, VHF, Diesel engine, probably fire fighting, these types of areas.

It may well transpire that I get a boat in 5 years, but not leave for another year or so, purely to get the boat as ready as possible. I am very much a safety freak in the normal world, and areas such as bilge pumps too small etc, waterproofing battery areas etc, would all need to be done prior to my going anywhere. If I can put anything in place to stop me getting wet unless I choose to, then I want it. That's gonna cost, so I will get to it as soon as I can. As with everything I have read, there is no rush to do this, and it has to be done properly. This will be the best experience of our lives, so I am in no rush.

A little nearer the time, and once the courses have been completed, then I would expect to rent a boat or 2 in the med, get a feel and go buy from there. Nothing like buying a mini expecting it to be TVR :-))

Thanks again

Tim
 
Long distance cruising such as you envisage in a MOBO is very much a minority activity. Some of the negatives have already been hinted at - cost of fuel, need to keep close inshore etc. To this you have to add a couple of other important factors. First is that a modernish twin engine craft of this size is enormously expensive to buy and run and secondly very few have good liveboard accommodation as many are destined to be playthings for weekends. Not all, but the best displacement and SD boats of this size are either old, and therefore often require lots of work to keep going or newer, which gets you back into the expensive bit again.

That is part of the reason why most people undertaking this type of project buy sailing yachts or motorsailers. These are much better suited to longer open sea passages, and there is much wider choice of different types of boat at different price levels. They are generally much simpler and more economical to run and more versatile in relation to weather.

If you are sticking to MOBO then the canal route is arguably better, but there are some limitations - mainly to do with airdraft to clear bridges. Clearly a planing type hull is sub optimal in this situation, although some use the canals as a short cut to get to the Med. Unless you are really fixed on the importance of the journey out there, it is arguably better to buy a boat already there, which is already kitted out for hot weather living.
 
Thanks Tranona,

I do see your point, and I think the bit that puts me off is the sailing bit, however, 5 years a long way off and who knows, I may get onto a yacht and love it :-)

Thanks

Tim
 
Many people, like me, take a charter or flotilla holiday to see whether they like it. You can go with somebody like Sailing Holidays with little experience and learn a lot about both sailing and particularly living on board in hot climates. Take a decent sized boat - 30ft+ as you will likely find that easier to handle. There is not a huge amount of sailing to do because in summer the winds are light so a typical day is about 25 miles of which maybe 3 or 4 hours is sailing.

You will either get hooked and it will help your project along or hate it (unlikely!) in which case you will save a lot of heartache down the line. Med ports, particularly the western end are littered with failed dreams.
 
GinjaNinja said:
Hi,

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Tim 41 and live in Hampshire. Have a good job which will allow me to save for the next 5 years. I have set myself goals to achieve what I am ultimately aiming for, which is, a MoBo Liveaboard in the Med/Ionian with my better half.

After reading many threads, numerous Blogs etc, I have a huge list of questions to allow me to better prepare and allow me to sell the idea to the aid better half ;-) Some of these questions will no doubt raise some good conversations, others may cause some arguments between the Sailies and the Mobo's, but the intention is purely to learn.

So, to start, and apologies now, as I will be starting a number of threads

The boats I have been looking at are around 35'. I have been looking at boats with 2 engines, and as an example, twin Volvo Penta 200hp. 200hp seems like a common figure. These run at about 35ltr per hour with a cruising speed of 16 knots..

To purchase a boat in the UK, and run along the coasts to the Med will be around 1500 nm.. (again, just an example and taken from GE)

Based on current fuel prices, that would be about 5k+ just on fuel alone, if cruising over at 16 knots

The questions I have are:-

1:- What speed is common to travel the seas at to to the med from the UK, is 6 knots ok in a MoBo?

2:- Is there any benefit in having dual 200HP motors against 2 x 100? Would it help in rough seas having the large engines?

Thanks again, and sorry for such a large first post.

Tim
Click to expand...

Another possibility which is becoming very popular in the BVI charter market is basically a sailing catamaran with out any masts. Pricey just now but in 5 years?
 
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