How big for a channel crossing?

[polwart]

[ QUOTE ]
Well nearly all the RNLI call outs are to small boats,

[/ QUOTE ]

Nearly all? That suggests 90%+ which I don't believe - unless you are defining small boat as <20 meters or something! Or is this a typical "unsubstantiated internet statistic"

 

[totopalm]

Hi Fred,
only just got back with "Old Ranger", Did E.Coast,
Ramsgit of course, Northern France, Brittany, Channel
Isles, Dartmouth,Brixham, Weymouth, IOW, nearly got
killed by a bunch of nutters in a power boat race, good
thing i saw the helicopter first, wondered why everyone
was on the northside of the Solent, was away seven weeks
just terrific, Ocean Ranger never missed a beat. Did the
Italian thing move off the mooring?

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]


Read my September Cruise report. Not yet posted.

[/ QUOTE ] I think we can all follow that?

 

[BarryH]

ooh that ol' carrot of a question. I love that one only this time it hasn't prompted the reaction it normally gets!.......shame.
I've seen a canoe do it and I've done it in a 16 footer.

 

[BrendanS]

probably cos the pro people got in first, so the negatives are less likely to go against the flow?

 

[JKay]

Some even do it sans boat /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

cheers Joe

 

[BarryH]

I'm waiting for the "steer,drive or helm" one now..........

 

[BrendanS]

16'-20' footers used to do it regularly, and they had less reliable engines and no gps.

Makes me wonder where all the fun has gone sometimes?

Lets face it. Solent to Cherbourg is less distance than Solent round the IoW, and in a fast craft is less than 2 hours. Less of a hoik than from Solent to Salcombe which is 4 hours.

 

[BarryH]

ah yeah but see, they were the good 'ol days when men were men a proper boats ran on petrol. Had gallons of the stuff slopping about all over the place and no an explosion to be heard.....annndd.....it even had lead in it *swoon* how dangerous was that!!

hmm round the island...thats easy init you always keep it on your left and you can't get lost. Now solent to french france thats different, you loose sight of land for at least half and hour or so at the right speed......can't be having that can we.

 

[BrendanS]

hour to hour and a quarter I reckon. Hour and half is pushing it! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[duncan]

If the weather plays ball I would be happy doing dover calais in my tender!
Not sure about 2 people spending 2 weeks on it though.......

 

[fisherman]

In the dim distant past I understand the campaign against smuggling brought about a law limiting fishing boats to 18 ft, but it didn't stop them going across to Roscoff.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

17' rib across the Channel would be a blast. Not sure if it were a bowrider though. I know of a chap who used to do it quite regularly in a 20' Norman with a 120HP inboard, good for 30 knots. Apparently it helped him keep the cost of his smoking habit down

 

[Aardee]

It's been done quite safely in everything from a Wayfarer dinghy to a narrowboat. Some comedians even swim it (pun intended...)

It's as safe/ dangerous as you make it.

 

[ThreeSummers]

[ QUOTE ]
ah yeah but see, they were the good 'ol days when men were men a proper boats ran on petrol. Had gallons of the stuff slopping about all over the place and no an explosion to be heard.....annndd.....it even had lead in it *swoon* how dangerous was that!!

[/ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But someone invented "Health and Safety." What's wrong with risk? Don't anyone follow that with assessment...

/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[KevB]

If everything is in your favour ie Weather/reliability It's not a problem crossing the channel. Dover to Calais will be less than an hour.

I came back from Guernsey a few years ago and was followed by a 3.2 mtr rib. I went east around the Isle of Weight he went West. Brave or mad I don't know but whoever he was he made it.

 

[andy_wilson]

A 30 ft power boat in an F5 / moderate may well become a displacement boat with a frightened family or crew aboard, dependent on wind and tide directions.

I think the weather is a more important factor. The good news is you may only need to be in open water for under an hour. The bad news is the wind may drop, but the sea state could remain a challeng for most of the day.

Which makes patience by far the most important factor in a small boat. A closed foredeck would make a lot of sense in any event.

 

[gibbowolfie]

Well I wouldn't go on my own with my experience level but I would if I was with a few other boats.

Obviously agree on weather permitting replies and I would add that doing it safely *and* enjoyably is important. If you dread the return home you aren't gonna do it again in a hurry.

 

[gibbowolfie]

Oh and why are you worried about the car and trailor, you can find secure parking in your first marina and use that as a base to explore. You can choose a nicer area that Calais then too.....;-)

However if you were thinking of beaching the boat between days I'd be more worried about my boat getting nicked;-)

 

[ThreeSummers]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh and why are you worried about the car and trailor, you can find secure parking in your first marina and use that as a base to explore.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good point, maybe I'm just wary of leaving anything unattended for any length of time.

Thanks for all the responses...