Help on an efficient boat and motor combo

[kalj]

Hi,

I'm looking at purchasing a property that is only accessible by boat. I'm looking for ideas for a boat that is cheap to run and safe to use on seas up 2+ metres the distance to the property is 20km so it would be nice to not take much longer than 20 minutes one way. So something that travels comfortably at 40 - 50km/h would be ideal and that doesn't chew the fuel. I was thinking an open aluminium dinghy around 4.2m and a 40hp engine. But some specific information would be handy.

Thanks a million.

 

[penfold]

Where in the world would help, although your requirement to be able to traverse 2m swell will not be possible at the desired velocity! Nor will travelling at that speed be frugal, although frugality is in the eye of the beholder. Is the route coastal water, sheltered inshore, exposed to ocean swell and prevailing wind etc.

 

[Hugin]

Hi,

I'm looking at purchasing a property that is only accessible by boat. I'm looking for ideas for a boat that is cheap to run and safe to use on seas up 2+ metres the distance to the property is 20km so it would be nice to not take much longer than 20 minutes one way. So something that travels comfortably at 40 - 50km/h would be ideal and that doesn't chew the fuel. I was thinking an open aluminium dinghy around 4.2m and a 40hp engine. But some specific information would be handy.

Thanks a million.

40-50km/h = 22-27knots; seas up to 6-7ft and a 14ft dinghy. I think not!

I assume it's some very remote property if there is 20km to nearest "civilization"

 

[adey]

I think you'll need a little bit more than 40hp...

http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2004/Rib-36-36-2658121/Denmark
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/1998/Delta-RIB-2626653/Jersey
http://www.yachtworld.co.uk/boats/2013/Yamaha-Waverunner-VX-Deluxe-2549246/United-Kingdom

 

[Spi D]

That speed through such seas makes me think

A heliflopter might be better suited to cover 20 km in 20 mins over 2m seas....

Or an Interceptor
http://www.safehavenmarine.com/

 

[jfm]

only accessible by boat.

A 4.2m tinny with 40hp will not do this

Do does the boat have to take all your food to the house, and furniture and clothes and dry cleaning, and fuel for generators, paint, lawnmower, spares for your watermaker and all of that? And other people of course. Or is it carrying just you?

Will it be required to go on demand (eg you have to catch planes or be at the office 9am every day) or can it/you wait for nice weather? Is there any nice weather?!

Is the 20km open water or along a coast with safe havens? What is relative direction of prevailing wind?

 

[kalj]

Hey guys, it's inshore property protected by the Great Barrier Reef and a cape. it isn't an island but an isthmus. I said 2m swell as that the biggest it generally gets, short of a cyclone coming through. Most of the 90% of the time it is relatively calm waters the boat will be used as a daily commuter to get to work. Hence the want for something efficient. I did the maths on a 4.5m tinny with a 60hp engine and it would cost around $90aud a week in fuel. I also thought perhaps a longboat (panga) as these are supposedly more efficient due to the narrower hull beam. I would like to use it to carry some equipment if things break of play up over there eg strap a new fridge or washing machine to the deck if it plays up. But in regards to home renovations etc. I would leave this until I understand everything that is needed to be done and transfer everything in one hit with.barge.. Just after some realistic ideas and want to know if the dream is a viable one.. Most the year wind is SE but swings around to NE which is onshore at the property and from this direction lies a neighbouring island 2 0km away and the mainland.. We are in australia so 20km to us is a very short distance people often commute 100*km to work a day. It's not normal but it happens.. I'm happy to have a longer commute 30+mins to keep cost down. Just want to know what you'd would do in the same situation.Cheers for the help this far.

 

[AndieMac]

Hey guys, it's inshore property protected by the Great Barrier Reef and a cape. it isn't an island but an isthmus. I said 2m swell as that the biggest it generally gets, short of a cyclone coming through. Most of the 90% of the time it is relatively calm waters the boat will be used as a daily commuter to get to work. Hence the want for something efficient. I did the maths on a 4.5m tinny with a 60hp engine and it would cost around $90aud a week in fuel. I also thought perhaps a longboat (panga) as these are supposedly more efficient due to the narrower hull beam. I would like to use it to carry some equipment if things break of play up over there eg strap a new fridge or washing machine to the deck if it plays up. But in regards to home renovations etc. I would leave this until I understand everything that is needed to be done and transfer everything in one hit with.barge.. Just after some realistic ideas and want to know if the dream is a viable one.. Most the year wind is SE but swings around to NE which is onshore at the property and from this direction lies a neighbouring island 2 0km away and the mainland.. We are in australia so 20km to us is a very short distance people often commute 100*km to work a day. It's not normal but it happens.. I'm happy to have a longer commute 30+mins to keep cost down. Just want to know what you'd would do in the same situation.Cheers for the help this far.

The biggest problem with tinnies is they are a wet boat, and although being in Far North Queensland in tropical waters, wind driven spray will soon become annoying. Tinnies also have little weight carrying capacity, and when loaded up will become unstable.

Consider a good quality Rigid Inflatable Boat with an extra, retro fitted cover over the upper sections of the inflatable tubes to protect the material (preferably Hypalon) from sun damage, check out various charter boat companies in the Whitsunday's, they all use these covers to protect their RIB's.
The inflatable tubes will deflect most/some of the sea spray and also provide extra buoyancy and load carrying capacity if needed.

 

[kalj]

Something like this: http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1050013091

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Something like this http://www.xoboats.fi/

 

[AndieMac]

Something like this: http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/1050013091

The Naiad is a well respected Kiwi brand among commercial operators Oz wide, just check the year model on the Etec outboard though, stay with the late to latest models.

 

[penfold]

The biggest problem with tinnies is they are a wet boat, and although being in Far North Queensland in tropical waters, wind driven spray will soon become annoying. Tinnies also have little weight carrying capacity, and when loaded up will become unstable.

I'd agree that a 'tinnie' sounds like it would get tedious really quickly if you're using it daily and not much good for carrying more than a couple of bags of shopping; an acquaintance who lives in a similar situation in Greece, albeit without the need to commute, has a 7m launch with a wheel house and can carry perhaps 5 people in comfort or 10 if they're friendly, or 500 kg of cargo. Something similar would be my choice, 20-25' vee hull with a cuddy or small wheel house for shelter. An alternative might be one of the american Boston Whaler style fishing boats with a centre console and a large screen with provision for a bimini.

 

[kalj]

How about a smaller RIB something that two people could pull up on the sand or is that unrealistic? i know that this wouldn't be any good for carrying a load but would it be a good option for a quick commute?

 

[jfm]

How about a smaller RIB something that two people could pull up on the sand or is that unrealistic? i know that this wouldn't be any good for carrying a load but would it be a good option for a quick commute?

Problem here kalj is that we don't know all the requirements. When you are commuting to work is it ok if you arrive at work with a wet bum? Or will you be able to get changed? Small ribs/1km = wet bum. Small RIBs/20km = wetter bum

 

[MapisM]

How about a smaller RIB something that two people could pull up on the sand or is that unrealistic? i know that this wouldn't be any good for carrying a load but would it be a good option for a quick commute?

20km in 2+m waves with a RIB which 2 people can pull ashore? You must be joking.
The only scenario in which I'd be happy to do that is after the mothership sunk and I had no other means to save my soul....!

 

[Nick_H]

If you plan to use this boat for a daily commute then I think you need an enclosed wheelhouse, or at least closed on three sides, or you'll need a shower every day when you get to work to get all the salt spray off. Also 20km is a long way in a small boat, and even in small waves the boats you're looking at will pound constantly all the way there.

I admire anyone who wants to try something different, so i don't want to put you off, but I think you need to be looking at bigger boats with some spray protection, and you'd need an alternative way of getting to work when the seas are over say 1m.

Have you tried hiring a small boat and doing the run to see how you get on?

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Problem here kalj is that we don't know all the requirements. When you are commuting to work is it ok if you arrive at work with a wet bum? Or will you be able to get changed? Small ribs/1km = wet bum. Small RIBs/20km = wetter bum

If posterial hydration is acceptable on arrival, wouldn't the ultimate cheap/quick one-person commuter tool be a jet ski?

 

[penfold]

Problem here kalj is that we don't know all the requirements. When you are commuting to work is it ok if you arrive at work with a wet bum? Or will you be able to get changed? Small ribs/1km = wet bum. Small RIBs/20km = wetter bum

There's also the issue that with any kind of chop you either dial your speed back or get an impacted spine; I get to play in 6m RHIBs in the middle of the North Sea, and in anything other than a flat calm we're doing well to average 15kts without injuring the crew or inverting the boat off a wave crest. To put your 2m in perspective, we're not allowed to launch the RHIBs in more than 2m swell unless it's an emergency and not allowed to launch at all over 3m. Larger rescue craft with enclosed cabins and pneumatically sprung seats can go out in worse conditions as they are more seaworthy and offer more protection to the crew.

 

[Kawasaki]

Hi,

I'm looking for ideas for a boat that is cheap to run and safe to use on seas up 2+ metres the distance to the property is 20km so it would be nice to not take much longer than 20 minutes one way. So something that travels comfortably at 40 - 50km/h would be ideal and that doesn't chew the fuel.

That vessel has not been designed yet
Even the Gurus on this Sceptered Forai will struggle with this enquiry
One will have to compromise somewhat one thinks

 

[AndieMac]

How about a smaller RIB something that two people could pull up on the sand or is that unrealistic? i know that this wouldn't be any good for carrying a load but would it be a good option for a quick commute?

Yeah, I was wondering what the 'berthing' arrangement was going to be at the home berth. A beach berth will complicate things, especially if the beach is exposed to the prevailing S.E. to N.E.
Perhaps more info on this.
Of course the forum members are correct regarding an enclosed wheelhouse, the weather may be always hot, but in the Monsoon season the rain will teaming down also.