Help - St Kats to Ramsgate

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shane1202

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Hello,
I am new to coastal sailing, I currently own a Four Winns 238 Vista and would like to plan a trip from St Kats to Ramsgate in May. My concern is fuel stops, can anyone advise me what my options are, fuel type is Petrol?

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Gillingham Marina--eight miles up the Medway from Sheerness has petrol on its fuel pontoon available at all states of the tide. Can't think of anywhere else in between St Kats and Ramsgate where you could get petrol other than going ashore and buying it in cans from a land based patrol station.

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There are quite a few variables!

1. How much fuel can you carry
2. How many gallons per hours you consume
3. Travelling with tide will help save fuel
4. Taking the shortest route will help save fuel, passing by S.E. Margate bouy, etc
5. The state of the weather. i.e. lumpy seas = more time at sea = more fuel used!

Gillingham is fine for Petrol, but it is NOT available at all states of tide. Phone the Harbour master or use your almanac.

Good luck Barry


<hr width=100% size=1>I just want to retire with my boat to the Med!
 
Access to the inside of Gillingham Marina through the lock is not avilable at all states of the tide, but the fuel pontoon, which is in the river outside of the lock gates definitely is.

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Welcome to the forum /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif about time too !!!
click the "user options" button above and then you can update your profile.

ps Its not my fault you are now a "Forumite" and I shall not be held accountable by your SWMBO for any consequential events that may follow. /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

p.p.s. what time on Tuesday ??

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>Kelisha</A> Nothing is better than a Holiday
 
Gillingham is the first and only alongside petrol on this trip and is not exactly enroute. It may be better to go straight to Ramsgate assuming you have the capacity. In fact there is no petrol available on the Tidal Thames at all and you have to go a fair bit into the non tidal part before you find some. How have you filled up in ST Kats? If by cans, then use these cans to carry extra capacity but be careful how and where you carry them. Any spilt fumes would be dangerous if they sunk into the bilges.
If you leave at HW and take the tide all the way you will save fuel. You will also get better mpg by running at displacement speeds but this would be a tedious trip at 4-5knots.
What is your capacity and what engine do you have?

Neale

<hr width=100% size=1>When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading
 
Don't know what engine or tankage you have but when we had a Bayliner with a 7.4 mercruiser we could get from Gillingham to Ramsgate and back to Cuxton (approx 90 miles) on one tankfull which was about 60 gallons.Normal cruising was about 30 knots if it was ok.(faster if Mrs unit 18 was asleep).
If you go the inshore route watch out for Margate sands.
Regards Al.

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.
 
Nice trip, we did it in reverse (and back fo course) in January and were terrified the 5L Mercruiser would polish off the petrol before I even got to the flood barrier. In the end it was easy going and we made it with a tad to spare.

I am based near Ramsgate so please feel free PM me when you have an exact date,
Soong


PS The fuel barge in Rams is 98p ltr at the mo for petrol.

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Please find more details below, hopefully this will help confirm if this trip is possible or not?
1) 50 gallons - However I will leave Walton on Thames full, top up at Teddington then arrive at St Kats. The plan is this will be Day 1 (May 8th)
2) Not sure, most the time I am only crusing on the Thames at 5 knots? The Boat has a 220 hp V8 5L Volvo Petrol, which should reach max speed of 34 Knots?
3) Tide is with us on the 8th, however not planned what time to leave St Kats on the 9th, any suggestions?
4) I have ordered the Thames Estuary to Ramsgate Map, thisd has not currently arrived
5) I agree the weather will have an impact, this will be more obviously 3/4 days before the trip

Any further assistance as to weather this trip is possible would be great. Ramsgate I can fill up with fuel and would then plan to return to St Kats on the 10th May, then St Kats to Walton on the 11th. This if it comes off will be my first big trip. So the more advice received the happier I will be.

Thanks
Shane

<hr width=100% size=1>Shane (Intrepid) - A prudent questionis one half of wisdom!!
 
So apart from you who else is going to be on the boat with you ???

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>Kelisha</A> Nothing is better than a Holiday
 
Re: Only if mega desparate.

Nearest petrol to Sheerness,but only if running on fumes will be Queeenborough.
All tide landing will enable you to go ashore but nearest actual fuel is about mile away at Cowsted Corner(24H).Or much cheaper Tesco about 2 miles away.
Remember to not run tank to low cos going to be bit lumpier off coast and any water/muck in bottom of tank will ALWAYS come up to get you when well offshore.
As I know only to well.
Your main concern will be wind against tide.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.
 
Shane, why on earth do you want to leave St Katharine's and go to Ramsgate??? The shops there are totally poo! Does your wife know about this /forums/images/icons/tongue.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Pxx

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.paulinebeddoes.co.uk/php-cgi/gallery2>Perils of Pauline in Pics</A>
 
Fuelwise I am pretty sure that you will easily make it all the way to ramsgate. I would have a liferaft on board, and 1 or 2 x spare 10 gal jerrycans. You would want wind without any east in it - south west would be best for prtotection from land. In that boat winds F5 and above will be too much for a pleasant trip. I would set off just as early as possible in daylight or near-daylight to maximise the available time for the trip/breakdown in daylight, or of course to make it to ramsgate for erm shopping or going to the temple (?) yacht club lounge for lunch. Northeasteries along the channel are not uncommon in May and need to be avoided in a small boat in ther thames estaury.

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HW St kats on 9th is 05:35 and 17:57. St Kats lock operates HW-2 to HW +1:30. You want to leave at around HW so you can take the tide down the Thames. Problem will be that they won't open the lock that early in the morning. I tried to get them to open it for me at 7o/c the other week and it was a no go. You need to give them a ring to check as the hours do change for summer. You could do what I did and gives St Kats a miss. Other options might be: Gallions point marina which has a longer lock opening window or moor up on a pontoon on the tideway for the night. I used Chelsea marina outer pontoon. Cost £15 for the night for a 40fter and able to come and go at any state of tide. You can then leave at the optimum time.

You say you are filling up at Teddington but as there is no alongside petrol I assume you are using cans. It will be worth carry these can full as well in case you get low. Your engine will burn around 8gph at 20knots but alot of the journey will be at slower speeds. Keep a listen on required vhf channels for temp speed restrictions past places like tilbury, holehaven etc. When slowing down, your boat will be at it's least fuel efficient around the 7-12 knots range when you are going faster than the hull speed but too slow to plane. I would be looking at either doing 5 knots or up on the plane for maximum mileage.

Neale

<hr width=100% size=1>When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading
 
Shane

If you like to have a stop at Faversham at around high tide, I will be able to run you to our local fuel station.

Otherwise you can always call over night, I can also provide a mooring for the night and recommendations for good food or beer,


Tom


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Faversham? That will be Shepherd Neame then:-)

More sensibly, how easy is mooring in Faversham? I'm leaving Ramsgate on Sunday 2/5 with the intention of St Kats, but if the weather isn't conducive to any speed then hiding in The Swale for the night and sneaking out of the Medway the next day has an appeal.

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.
 
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