If i had a boat !!!

G

Gelmaster

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I have built & worked on boats most of my working life, but never felt compelled into owning one!

Until recently.

I have this crazy idea in my head, of skipping over the channel in one!

(If i had one, that is)

How much piloting / skippering experience would be required,

& how much would it cost overall to go ?

....Boat in mind...probably something like a merryfisher 25....

Is it safe to travel at night?
 
People used to pop over the channel in 14 and 15'ers until boats started to get bigger and bigger as starter boats. You just need to wait for a good weather window, rather than set a date.

It would be hugely preferable to have built up quite a bit of experience before doing it, as you need to know about crossing a very busy shipping lane, navigation (much easier now boats have GPS, but much better to know how to do it without in case you need it), and handling the boat in rough weather if the conditions change outside the weather forecast (quite likely), amongst other things. Doing it at night would be a step too far for a first crossing - why make it more difficult?
 
BrendanS said:
People used to pop over the channel in 14 and 15'ers until boats started to get bigger and bigger as starter boats. You just need to wait for a good weather window, rather than set a date.

It would be hugely preferable to have built up quite a bit of experience before doing it, as you need to know about crossing a very busy shipping lane, navigation (much easier now boats have GPS, but much better to know how to do it without in case you need it), and handling the boat in rough weather if the conditions change outside the weather forecast (quite likely), amongst other things. Doing it at night would be a step too far for a first crossing - why make it more difficult?
Click to expand...

I wouldnt dream of crossing at night, was simply wondering if you need a night licence, as for a pilots (plane) PPL night flight.

any idea which would be the quietest (least traffic) route across?

How much "roughly", in diesel there and back would it cost, and how long "roughly", would it take?

I dont know why, but the idea of it all fascinates me !!
 
Gelmaster said:
I have built & worked on boats most of my working life, but never felt compelled into owning one!

Until recently.

I have this crazy idea in my head, of skipping over the channel in one!

(If i had one, that is)

How much piloting / skippering experience would be required,

& how much would it cost overall to go ?

....Boat in mind...probably something like a merryfisher 25....

Is it safe to travel at night?
Click to expand...

Hmm. Your questions are hard to answer. Much depends on equipment and experience. With modern chart plotters it's easy to find your way. Radar will help at night. But you need to know how to use it. You dont say which bit you want to cross. No reason to do it at night.
 
Gelmaster said:
I have built & worked on boats most of my working life, but never felt compelled into owning one!



VERY WISE

Until recently.


OH DEAR

I have this crazy idea in my head, of skipping over the channel in one!

(If i had one, that is)

Just borrow one




How much piloting / skippering experience would be required,


Fair Bit , there's lots of other ships an stuff out there and all sorts of snags like tides and sandbanks and all that

& how much would it cost overall to go ?

Not counting the cost of the vessel
Fuel , Beer, Wine, summmat to eat, ooh I dunno £500?
Depends who you take:rolleyes:

....Boat in mind...probably something like a merryfisher 25....


That'l do nicely





Is it safe to travel at night?
Click to expand...

Yep- if you know what your doing
And that applies to all of your other questions:D


It's a funny thing lately on here.
Seems this Channel Crossing thing is a 'Thing' that quite a few newbies etc in small boats too, seem to want to have a go at.

Do they know summatt we don't?
Is it 'Dunkerque spirit' or is Wine and stuff going to be so cheap across?

I,m beggining to wonder;);):)
 
hlb said:
Hmm. Your questions are hard to answer. Much depends on equipment and experience. With modern chart plotters it's easy to find your way. Radar will help at night. But you need to know how to use it. You dont say which bit you want to cross. No reason to do it at night.
Click to expand...

I have zilcho experience in (whats it called) skippering? piloting? driving? a boat of any gender!

Its on my list of things to do before you croak!!

Never gave radar a thought!

Am i correct in thinking VHS is compulsary?
 
Gelmaster said:
I wouldnt dream of crossing at night, was simply wondering if you need a night licence, as for a pilots (plane) PPL night flight.

any idea which would be the quietest (least traffic) route across?

How much "roughly", in diesel there and back would it cost, and how long "roughly", would it take?

I dont know why, but the idea of it all fascinates me !!
Click to expand...

You need no licence for a boat. Good idea to do some courses. But you dont need anything.
 
It's a long way from Wales. Why not go to Ireland instead?

Time taken depends on average speed obtained and distance travelled (ie route chosen).

AFAIK no licenses or docs are actually needed, but Frog/Belgian cops & douanerie being what they are, they may ask for proof of ownership, registration docs, proof of VAT payment, insurance, receipts for all fuel bought, International Cert of Competence, passport & your mother's written permission to be out. UKBA may want proof of identity of all on board too.

Night passages are not a problem, but your boat will need working nav lights & you need to be able to know what all the funny flashing lights you see actually represent. & how to avoid the big ships behind them.

Quiet times - not too many of them in the channel, it is one of the World's busiest traffic separation zones - better swot up on that too.

Cost - depends on fuel used at £!/ltr plus marina costs (boat size dependant) but say 50 squid for a couple of days. plus launch site costs & parking for a couple of days (another 30squid-ish?)

So all-in-all it's cheaper to do the booze run on a ferryboat, innit?
 
Kawasaki said:
Yep- if you know what your doing
And that applies to all of your other questions:D


It's a funny thing lately on here.
Seems this Channel Crossing thing is a 'Thing' that quite a few newbies etc in small boats too, seem to want to have a go at.

Do they know summatt we don't?
Is it 'Dunkerque spirit' or is Wine and stuff going to be so cheap across?

I,m beggining to wonder;);):)
Click to expand...


OMG are you suggesting i have an ulterior motive?

By the way (seriously), on this subject....

Are the duty free regs the same as if i flew ?
 
why not go with a sailing school boat first, to see if you like it, if you do, by the time you get back you will know what you need, both in terms of sailing skills and equipment
 
Searush said:
It's a long way from Wales. Why not go to Ireland instead?

Time taken depends on average speed obtained and distance travelled (ie route chosen).

AFAIK no licenses or docs are actually needed, but Frog/Belgian cops & douanerie being what they are, they may ask for proof of ownership, registration docs, proof of VAT payment, insurance, receipts for all fuel bought, International Cert of Competence, passport & your mother's written permission to be out. UKBA may want proof of identity of all on board too.

Night passages are not a problem, but your boat will need working nav lights & you need to be able to know what all the funny flashing lights you see actually represent. & how to avoid the big ships behind them.

Quiet times - not too many of them in the channel, it is one of the World's busiest traffic separation zones - better swot up on that too.

Cost - depends on fuel used at £!/ltr plus marina costs (boat size dependant) but say 50 squid for a couple of days. plus launch site costs & parking for a couple of days (another 30squid-ish?)

So all-in-all it's cheaper to do the booze run on a ferryboat, innit?
Click to expand...

lol good answers... thnx

how many times have you been asked....

was you on fools & horses ?
 
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