Getting back to sea

[Jabez]

Looking at buying a boat on the upper Thames how difficult would it be to pilot it myself through London looking to get it back to Portsmouth

 

[Deleted member 478]

What sort of boat?

 

[Jabez]

What sort of boat?

Merry fisher 805

 

[Pump-Out]

Looking at buying a boat on the upper Thames how difficult would it be to pilot it myself through London looking to get it back to Portsmouth

If you have never done it before I would strongly recommend taking a "pilot" with you. with most of the passenger boats laid up, its not as hectic as usual. Nevertheless it can be a very unfriendly piece of water.

 

[Jabez]

If you have never done it before I would strongly recommend taking a "pilot" with you. with most of the passenger boats laid up, its not as hectic as usual. Nevertheless it can be a very unfriendly piece of water.

what sort of cost is a pilot

 

[Deleted member 478]

what sort of cost is a pilot

Usually about US$ 1.50 per mile plus expenses e.g. trains, food, fuel, marinas, flights etc

 

[sarabande]

Look up Shipley, the transport conglomerate. Get it trucked down to Portsmouth, then learn how to use it on the Solent.

It could take you a week or a month to hop 270 miles from one safe harbour to another and another and another round Kent and along the South Coast, and you will put on a lot of hours which could be otherwise beneficially enjoyed in Solent cruising. Cost for a quick road load is probably less than the total costs of an expedition.

 

[Deleted member 478]

p.s. one of the regular and reliable forumites runs a delivery service. I've never seen a negative comment about him. The problem is I don't recall his name? Possibly @halcyon. I'm sure someone will be along shortly with a link to his profile

 

[Scholar Gypsy]

Sorry I cannot resist posting this cautionary tale: Sheppey sailor UK

 

[Plum]

Looking at buying a boat on the upper Thames how difficult would it be to pilot it myself through London looking to get it back to Portsmouth

The tidal Thames is certainly above average in the "challenging" scale but difficult to advise without knowing your existing level of skill/qualifications. What is your passage plan?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Outinthedinghy]

As mentioned websites like shiply and uship will put you in touch with service providers.
I was going to suggest trailer but looking at the details it seems to be 9ft7 beam which is a bit naughty as it puts it outside of the legal width for a trailer so it will be a wagon and expensive.

Always worth factoring in road transport on newly acquired boats unless you are definitely confident in the vessel's and skipper's ability to undertake a sea passage.

 

[Pump-Out]

what sort of cost is a pilot

London Watermen run a fixed rate system, so much per four hour block.
Try Livetts Launches or City Cruises for an estimate.

As said above, a road move might be a safer bet, especially with so many services not being worked on all cylinders.

 

[Portland Billy]

The cost of road transport when compared to fuel costs and wear and tear both on boat and personel is very appealing .
I have done Thames to Solent twice by sea, but last time came back via road.
Also MF seems a bit small for what you can expect weather wise and also single engine.
We did Teddington to Ramsgate.
Ramsgate to Brighton.
Brighton to Portsmouth
Nice easy hops. But on a 42:ft with two engines.

 

[prof pat pending]

If you do decide to look at getting taken by Road, I’ve had a number of very good experiences of using Tonytugboats.com

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Tony Anderson. He does 4x4 and trailers so it might be a problem if it is over 9ft wide.

I just did a quick search of the boat model and it seems that the beam is 9ft7..

 

[Portland Billy]

It cost about a grand to get our 42 ft back from Hythe to Windsor on low loader.
Plus lifting.
Slightly more than the fuel cost, and not so much fun. But other commitments made it worthwhile.
Would not consider such a passage on small boat with single engine.