Fuel cost from Southampton to Costa Del Sol in a Sealine 310

Prima

Prima

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Hi all,

I'm in the process of buying a Sealine 310 Statesman fitted with twin Volvo Penta AD41/DP (200 HP) engines, and will be taking it down to the Marbella, Fuengirola, Malaga area once everything goes through with a bit of luck

I had initially decided to have it transported down there, however, having received a couple of quotes in excess of GBP 5,000, I'm now wondering how feasible it would be for me to sail it down there myself with my wife and child on a month long trip stopping off en route at ports in France, Portugal and Gibraltar before finally heading up to Spain

The main issue (aside from my inexperience of sailing at sea which I will adress with some training once I have purchased the boat :-P ), seems to be the fuel cost - I assume plenty of you on this site have done similar trips, and hopefully will be able to give me a ball park figure of what it would cost, and also what sort of speed I should be trying to aim at to get the optimum time/distance/economy figures

Or, if you think it's madness to take on such a trip with little experience, please say so... I don't want to be another Uncle Albert statistic lost at sea!!! :-D
 
I think it will be cheaper to transport by road and you have weather etc to contend with.
Once down in the Med its a great experience you will enjoy.
 
Prima said:
Hi all,

I'm in the process of buying a Sealine 310 Statesman fitted with twin Volvo Penta AD41/DP (200 HP) engines, and will be taking it down to the Marbella, Fuengirola, Malaga area once everything goes through with a bit of luck

I had initially decided to have it transported down there, however, having received a couple of quotes in excess of GBP 5,000, I'm now wondering how feasible it would be for me to sail it down there myself with my wife and child on a month long trip stopping off en route at ports in France, Portugal and Gibraltar before finally heading up to Spain

The main issue (aside from my inexperience of sailing at sea which I will adress with some training once I have purchased the boat :-P ), seems to be the fuel cost - I assume plenty of you on this site have done similar trips, and hopefully will be able to give me a ball park figure of what it would cost, and also what sort of speed I should be trying to aim at to get the optimum time/distance/economy figures

Or, if you think it's madness to take on such a trip with little experience, please say so... I don't want to be another Uncle Albert statistic lost at sea!!! :-D
Click to expand...
That's a small boat in a big sea. I would, if it were me, look for a boat that could get under all the bridges in the French canal system and go down the mighty Rhone and costal hop all the way to Spain
 
Bouba said:
That's a small boat in a big sea. I would, if it were me, look for a boat that could get under all the bridges in the French canal system and go down the mighty Rhone and costal hop all the way to Spain
Click to expand...
A great alternative providing your airdraught is not too great. You do not have to worry about wind or tides and though low speed it should be possible in a few weeks.
A great experience with minimal risk. There are youtube videos and books about it.
 
The 310 Sealine is a great boat, but now quite old, and it will be a huge risk taking her by sea to the Med, unless you have a lot of sea experience on her, and are fully confident of the engines and drives.
In terms of fuel consumption, I would estimate something like 2 Nm per gallon.
 
What's preventing you buying a boat in Spain ?
Any recci / inspections could be fun family hols and you will have change from £5 K
Plus wider choice of more of a Med specced boat
You know , aircon , passerelle , Bimini , geny , poss teak etc
 
rafiki_ said:
The 310 Sealine is a great boat, but now quite old, and it will be a huge risk taking her by sea to the Med, unless you have a lot of sea experience on her, and are fully confident of the engines and drives.
In terms of fuel consumption, I would estimate something like 2 Nm per gallon.
Click to expand...
Yep, this is the kind of thoughts I am having, it was just a bit of a shock how expensive it would be to have it transported, so I came up with the idea to take it there myself... which to be honest scares me the more I think about it, and reliability on a used boat is of course going to be an issue

Portofino said:
What's preventing you buying a boat in Spain ?
Click to expand...
Nothing other than I haven't yet found a boat with the internal layout I like as much as the Sealine 310, nor the overall external lines and shape - it just seems to be the boat I'd be most happy with as an overall package for my needs

Basically just trying to do all my homework before I take the final plunge (pun not deliberately intended though I usually can't help myself :-D )
 
First of all I have the same engines in a 10 and a half Mtr Targa and I can manage 2mls per gallon at 24knts cruising. We had the same dilemma 5yrs ago and decided to put her on a low loader and 4 days later we met both lorry and load at Sant Carles to start our Med adventure. It was a no brainer for us. You could be stuck in some places for days on end and marinas are not cheap. £5k seems like not a bad deal to me. Smaller motor boats like us can be more susceptible to see conditions and you will get some choppy seas on a journey like that and things can fall off. Put her on a lorry you won't regret it.
Regards David.
 
mm1 said:
First of all I have the same engines in a 10 and a half Mtr Targa and I can manage 2mls per gallon at 24knts cruising. We had the same dilemma 5yrs ago and decided to put her on a low loader and 4 days later we met both lorry and load at Sant Carles to start our Med adventure. It was a no brainer for us. You could be stuck in some places for days on end and marinas are not cheap. £5k seems like not a bad deal to me. Smaller motor boats like us can be more susceptible to see conditions and you will get some choppy seas on a journey like that and things can fall off. Put her on a lorry you won't regret it.
Regards David.
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I think you have just echoed every worry I was having. Just the idea of putting it on the back of a lorry for 5 grand seemed daft when I could spend it on an extended cruise instead half seemed like a good idea initially.

Thanks everyone for the input, it's all helped
 
I suspect that with some shopping around you could get road transport for less than 5k, and if you add up the fuel cost, marina fees and hassle factor the price differential between own steam and road will be marginal.

You state that you don't have much sea experience, and that is probably a more critical factor than costs of getting there.

It's a lot of money which ever way you look at it, but if it were me I would want to make sure my family enjoyed their first few nights on the boat - in a comfortable marina - than enduring what could seem like endless days making a very long trip.

I think they say that "motorboats are more about the destination than the journey" and this is a good example.

Good luck with whatever you decide and I hope you enjoy the boat and the Med
 
Andy Bav said:
I suspect that with some shopping around you could get road transport for less than 5k, and if you add up the fuel cost, marina fees and hassle factor the price differential between own steam and road will be marginal.

You state that you don't have much sea experience, and that is probably a more critical factor than costs of getting there.

It's a lot of money which ever way you look at it, but if it were me I would want to make sure my family enjoyed their first few nights on the boat - in a comfortable marina - than enduring what could seem like endless days making a very long trip.

I think they say that "motorboats are more about the destination than the journey" and this is a good example.

Good luck with whatever you decide and I hope you enjoy the boat and the Med
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Valid comments, thanks
 
Hi
I'd say it totally depends on your personal situation, time and finances.
It's certainly been done before.
I would love to take on such a trip and it was considered a while ago with my parents boat.
From research, we discovered that the princess 385 was just that too tall (air draft) for the canals and just that bit too thirsty for the long way down. There is no doubt, the cheapest way to do it is by road transport....unless it's a sailing boat or a frugal displacement hull.
If you were to consider each of the two sea going routes, some things to consider;
By canal
Your 310 may just squeeze under the low static bridges, perhaps look into this, especially if she has a collapsible radar arch.
If you are in the canals for a sustained period, perhaps consider reducing both propeller pitch. Often such a boat is fiercely pitched for open water and at even just tick over will be running at 5 knots. Not ideal for a high load suited turbo charged VP diesel (presumably)

Bay of Biscay route
Having sailed this route a few times in my merchant navy days, I can tell you that this route can be as calm as a mill pond for days on end or absolutely horrendous. It hasn't earned it reputation for nothing.
There are many ports and marinas along the way, but you may require deep pockets for berthing fees, should the weather turn.
There is also the consideration of perhaps ageing engines and sustained use over a time. If they are reliable, then great, but consider spares perhaps required. Fuel filters and belts would be a certainty. Needless to mention safety gear and a decent rib as a tender.
Regardless of which of the two seagoing routes, it will take time, money and planning. Perhaps you are retired and have the luxury of all three.
The sensible way would be by road, but the adventure would certainly be by sea. I love the thought of it.
Whichever you decide, the best of luck !
 
Inland French waterways are fantastic if you have the time. I’d consider going up the Seine to Paris then lorry to Lyon. I don’t think a 310 can do the canals.
 
Approx 2000 + miles by sea ??? @ 2mpg average fuel £ 1,20 per litre, = £5.40 per gallon ,£5.4 K in fuel.
Lets say 200 miles per day and thats a long long old day,so add 10 marina nights + food and grub at each stop add £1000,assuming straight run and not seabound for several days anywhere.
Chum of mine has just taken a Turbo 36 to the Med (with the arch down via canals.
Ps Do you have any A/C you will probably need it with any nippers on board especially babies or toddlers.
 
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Get more quotes! .... I had a 30ft Monterey shipped down here a couple of years ago .... £2500 .... boat haulage guy from Hythe, you can find him on Google. I'm on the boat at the moment so haven't got the paperwork and can't remember his name! Shop around, it's a very long trip in a small boat. I sold that boat from the South of France and it got trailered to Greece, which is a long way from here, also £2500 ... there are deals out there!
 
Think seriously about what can go wrong with a trip by sea because the first law of the sea is if it can go wrong plan that it will go wrong.

Oldish boat with an unknown history. Something electrical breakes Mid Biscay.

No power, no VHF, no gps, large swells, debilitating sea sickness and a unforcast storm on it's way.

The journey is possible with a lot of experience, mechanical knowledge, metological knowledge, back up equipment and a watch keeping crew but defiantly not advised (that is a polite way of saying absolutely crazy) for a novice with family.

Ask a professional (a real professional not a guy down the yacht club who does deliveries) delivery skipper for quote and I think most if not all will say no.

I would buy a boat in the Med or use the canals or have it shipped.
 
I'm not sure that the Atlantic coast of Portugal is worth the diesel. From Bayonne to Lagos isn't a particularly interesting cruising ground.

All IMHO of course.

Garold
 
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