Happy, your boat's becoming dangerously overloaded

[BrendanS]

Re: Example

Other thing to bear in mind. Sea state was 'slight' in the Solent most of weekend, so could plane just about everywhere flat out, even in boats our size. Weather was jucky, sea state was excellent.

Very different when the conditions get rougher, or you head outside Solent (It can still get very rough inside Solent so don't expect it to be like that everytime you go out.)

Making comments about it's easy, just like skiiing and I picked it up in no time, will not gain you any favours with crew when you hit slightly rougher water, or even very rougher water.

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[DepSol]

Re: Example

Well said. Small boats in bad weather are no fun and when the waves start coming over the top and you need your boat to be very responsive to every situation every wave and every turn you could find she doesnt go so fast turn so quick or handle that well.

A good balance is the key.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

2003 is going to be a good year for me

 

[ccscott49]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

I couldn't agree more, I thought it was all a laugh, but this guy carries more than I do and I thought I was bad. Mind you it takes a lot of gear to make Englander drop in the water. But it's often not what you carry, but where you have it stored, can't see him putting a computer and VHF in the bilges somehow!

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[BarryH]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

The question I would ask myself is how much of it is really safety equipment. Most of it is "comfort" gear. In all that kit on board, I've yet to see one spare spark plug, filters oils etc or any tools to fit them with.

Look in the engine conpartment and there's a big fire extinguiser, but its in the wrong place IMHO, tucked in a corner nice and neatly out of the way. Given an hour or so, I could go through that lot and junk, probably, 70% of it.

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[ccscott49]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

Mind you I was just thinking, I could probably get H1s' boat in my davits anyway! tee hee

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[Happy1]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

I think what you are all forgetting is that I have only just got the boat, you or most of you have years of experience, so in time I will know what I need and don't need. At least I don't need to waste time in Chandlery shop's, just on the For Sale forum when I find what I don't need (only the Silva windwatch so far). I will be able to keep the gear at home and select what I need for each specific trip. As for the weather e.t.c. it was my first time out in real sea, it was enjoyable but I have now only got 8 hrs on my hour meter, still a long way to go on my learning curve. Anyway there is no rush, I have read the books, just take my time and learn by experience. Still there is nothing niver than a piece of hot toast with butter on it on a cold day at sea /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif Re spares, I keep an impeller, prop, fuses, fan belt and 3.3 engine, plus all the tools required to fit these or do basic maintenance, volvo said that was all I needed. (I do see a bigger boat coming on though, but how big I don't know, the bigger it would be the older it would have to be)

Hope to see some of you about as I keep going out to knock up my first 1,000 hours at sea /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Tiger Rag]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

Dear Happy, luckily I think I can help we currently have two yachts listed for sale which should fit the bill, firstly "Evergreen" she is 92 metres l.o.a. and being offered at $70,000,000 built by the evergreen corporation in Japan early 1999, or if you prefer "Constellation" built by Oceanco in Holland in 1999 and a snip at $68,000,000 please let me know if you require further information.

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[scottnewcombe]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

Hi Happy1

I've been reading your posts for a while now and found all of them quite interesting. I've been boating for about ten years and I still feel like a beginner. I've done my dayskipper theory and I'm halfway through my coastal/yachtmaster theory. Still I get in my club and there are people with huge expensive boats who can't tie a bowline and those with floating sheds who have sailed around the world.

I have come to the conclusion that you can do all the reading and buy all the kit but when you get out on the water it's 'you' who makes the decisions. If you feel it's the right thing to do then you must do it. Take advise, sure. Listen definitely. But do what you feel is right. What if the others are wrong and you are right. You only have to look at the difference of opinion on any of these threads to see that nobody knows it all. In most cases people only know what affects them.

Listen to all the advise but make your own decisions.

As far as overloading goes..have another look and assume that you come up with the idea yourself that it might be too much. Could be easier to handle.

Sounds like you're having some great fun. I'm stuck in the murky Thames Estuary with my boat on the hard, haggling with SWMBO for time off to get it fixed.

Best wishes
Scott


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[Happy1]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

Send me a PM, you are welcome to come out with me anytime, an experienced person on board is always welcome to learn from. I'm at Chatham MDL

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Happy1]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

Err, I think I will build myself up slowly. It would have been easy to go and get some massive boat, but I have decided to learn from the bottom up, a bit like starting in a dinghy nefore going up to a yacht. Just because I bought gear for each and every eventuality doesn't mean to say that I take it all at once /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

I don't think I will ever go bigger than 34ft if I ever get to that dizzy length. I like my other hobbies as well and to have to sell some cars would be a disaster, best just keep getting those lottery tickets /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[paulineb]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overlo

Ooh sounds lovely - can we all come for a sea trial please Russell ?

<hr width=100% size=1>Pxx

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.paulinebeddoes.co.uk/php-cgi/gallery>The Perils of Pauline in Pics</A>

 

[wakeup]

Look at the photo of Happy\'s boat!!!!

It is clear from this photo that the boat is already sitting very low indeed for such a small boat. I would take some gear out straight away. First time you hit some heavy weather your goining to have a nasty surprise.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/mercury/Let_me_drive_Dad>http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/mercury/Let_me_drive_Dad</A>

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by wakeup on 13/05/2003 10:03 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[scottnewcombe]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

I actually laughed when you said experienced! It's all relative I suppose. I will probably be over your way next weekend (Bank holiday w/e) on my brother in laws ketch, on a club cruise. I think the club is going up to Rochester but he has too many sticks too high in the air to get under the bridges so we might well be in Chatham anyway. If we go I will PM before and maybe have a bevvie.

Scott

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[Forbsie]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

<But do what you feel is right.>

Oh please, NO!!! Pete don't listen to him!! I saw that fax from Bechtel regarding the installation of the desalination plant on the boat. I know that you think that this is a safety feature but you'll be a lot safer just bringing an extra bottle of Evian. /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/forbsie?&page=1>My Project</A>

 

[Happy1]

Re: Look at the photo of Happy\'s boat!!!!

That's the way the boat sits in the water, sleek and ready for anything. What about this one, just warming up :-

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/mercury/Cleared_for_takeoff>http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/mercury/Cleared_for_takeoff</A>

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Happy1]

Re: Happy, your boat\'s becoming dangerously overloaded

You should recognise my burgee, it's the one with a smiley face on it, isn't it Haydn!!

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Guest]

Re: Look at the photo of Happy\'s boat!!!!

Means bugger all, Peter. We had an incident in the entrance to Poole harbour last year...

We followed an overloaded 20 footer (six adults, and very low in the water at displacement speed) out of the harbour, and as we cleared the speed limit, he opened up and started to peel off to port. I checked we were clear, and opened up and turned to starboard to go towards Studland. As our bows rose, and he dropped from view for a second, he hit a large wave, pulled back the throttle and turned back to starboard. By the time I saw him again, we had piled up a big bow wave, and despite drastic evasive action, our wake very nearly swamped him.

In different circumstances, he would have taken a foot or more of water over his stern, which would have left his entire cockpit and cuddy awash. A normal bilge pump could take an hour or more to clear that volume of water, during which time he would be unable to plane due to the weight, unable to manoeuvre well, and far more prone to taking on more water. In the choppy conditions, I think it is reasonable to expect him to have sunk in a minute or two, at most.

So, what good would your outboard/tender have been? Your best (only) hope would have been to have the tender inflated, and hope you could grab the paddles in time. And this is less than 250m from land...

A correctly loaded boat has the bouyancy and freeboard to avoid such disasters. Horsepower and hydrodynamic lift are no use in those circumstances.

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[joanne2]

Re: Look at the photo of Happy\'s boat!!!!

Happy1

I am a 'Little Miss Worry' which Nick would confirm. We have two girls 3 and 5 and above anything else on board their safety is always my main concern.

We have lifejackets for all on board and always wear them, flares, dingy, h/h GPS and h/h VHF. As long as we can all get off the boat safely if needs be with these items then I hope we will be ok.

The storage on our boat is awful, and things on board have to be neatly packed away therefore in the event of an emergency the above items are all easy to hand.

As well as Nick doing his Dayskipper (Shore Based and Practical) and VHF I have also done them all and am doing a First Aid course tomorrow - I want to know as much as Nick just in case.

Joanne



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[Happy1]

Re: Look at the photo of Happy\'s boat!!!!

Well we are the same, Louise has done the same courses, PB level 2, VHF DSC and we are both intending to do our advanced shortly that gives night passage training. We have to consider baby Charlotte 17mths, and of course would only go on fine weather passages with her on board, I could never live with myself if any harm came to her. Buying a boat is full of choice, we had no idea what is what, we started looking at a RIB but that was a nonsense for a baby, or so Louise told me, I do agree now. An open deck would limit where you would go with the baby and dog. I was very impressed with the selection of boats at the meet, but it is plain that everyone is different and has different needs and requirements. I have just spoken to my dealer as TCM has worried me, I asked if we could get the Glastron 279 that is coming into stock, unfortunately it has been sold, so a long wait for another. The finish on the 279 is not too good, but we would get a designer to sort out all that and spend say £6k or so on it. The boat new is only £53k so very cheap compared to a Sealine 28 at £108k. They have the same KAD 32 diesel with duo props. I have been offered all the money back on mine so that's not too bad. BUT deep inside I don't think I am ready to make a choice on a bigger boat, I think we need to live with this one for a bit. I will loose my trailerability and flexibility, I am committed to MDL at Chatham for the year, but this could be transferred to S. Coast. Travelling time to Chatham is 40 mins, to Southampton 2 hrs +, so no popping out after work for an hour or two in the evening. I may see what this Camper canvas does, nobody knows what it looks like e.g. if it extends up from the screen to give head height, or if it just goes straight out from the existing cockpit cover thing. If it does the second thing then it has been a waste of £660 as you would not gain much more than the sloping cover I have that adds onto the cockpit thing.

I would think that if I waited I could probably make an offer on a forum members boat when I decide which one I liked. It is a bit like being in a self service restaurant, you select something, pay, and then on the way back to your table look on someone elses tray and wish you had got that, like wives really /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

Goodness I have done 8 hrs, it would be a record change time of boat if I swapped now!! I have got to like it, it's fast, manoeverable, well equipped, great fuel consumption and has a nice owner /forums/images/icons/wink.gif Oh! did I not tell you it's Louise's boat /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[Happy1]

Re: Look at the photo of Happy\'s boat!!!!

Listen, my boat is NOT overloaded, that is the sleek lines of it. As far as waves coming over me, that's life, I have a small boat, I have to deal with it e.g keep away from big waves. I do have a spare manual bilge pump which is very good, although I don't intend having to use it. I have never had more than four adults on my boat and that was on about day one, it carries six by EC standards and eight by US standards, I would have thought it would be the other way around if you know what I mean /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

It is all very nice having a big boat, but we all have different circumstances and amounts of spare cash. I would never dream of borrowing money for a boat, but that's me, we may very well need to one day if we went 'large', but we have to decide if we like boating, it's only one of many things we do. We are lucky and have a fair amount of luxury foreign holidays each year, these would need to stop if we committed so much to a larger boat. Putting all your eggs in one basket is a dangerous thing unless you are certain of what you are doing.

We have worked hard, investing money in properties, these will all be paid for in 6 years, I don't want to see it all go down the pan on a bad rushed irrational decision. So until the time is right I will be staying in waters and conditions that my present boat is safe in.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>