long term planning, motoring round the Med

[lamb]

I have sailed as crew around Greek Isles but am new to motoring.
Is it feasible, practical, to cruise from Gib to turkey over about 3 months? What type of (used) boat would be best suited for 4 adults? how many hours is comfortable per day? Are pirates a problem anywhere? (is this last one sensible or am I paranoid) how much fuel would I use.
I suppose an alternative to buying my own boat would be to hire boats along the route, then I would not have to retrack my route. Any ideas please.

 

[sailorman]

this a wind-up ?.

 

[lamb]

It's totally daft then?

 

[Tony7]

yes
yes
yes
50ft
4-8hrs
aah jim lad
depends on boat (lots)
good luck and enjoy!!!!!

 

[Renegade_Master]

agree with Tony 7 Perfectly feasible. 40-50ft, up to 8hrs per day, allow say 30 GPH, there are NO pirates, thats down the african coast toward the Canaries.

 

[lamb]

RE PIRATES,

I was worried about Albania as well, but no problems?

Who make boats suitable, where do I find a used one and what would it cost?

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Very feasible and something I'd love to do myself if I had the time. I dont know your budget but a displacement boat rather than a fast planing boat will use less fuel especially when you consider fuel will cost you upto €1/litre in most places
I have'nt really got a clue but I guess a route to take in all the best bits would be from Gib, north along the Spanish Costas, across to Balearics, then French Riviera, south again to Corsica/Sardinia, east to Italy and the Amalfi coast, then around Sicily, maybe take in some of the Dalmatian coast if you had time and through the Greek islands to Turkey. That must be around 3000 miles over 3 months which works out about 35 miles a day, about 5 hours a day at 7 knots
You dont say whether the 4 adults are 2 couples in which case you need only 2 cabins or 4 people who all want separate cabins but, to be comfortable, say, you need 3 cabins. If it was me, I'd be looking for a boat which could happily operate at 6 - 9knots displacement speed but could also run at a faster speed, say 15 knots to make up time or outrun weather. You also need something roomy and with plenty of storage, I'd be looking at something trawlerish like a Grand Banks 42 or Trader 41. You will need good anchoring gear 'coz you dont want to be spending too much time in pricey marinas, aircon, a big generator and a big fridge
Forget about hiring a boat, it wont be possible

 

[tcm]

yep mike's right. It's not at all daft. the first bit of the trip ie spanish coast is a bit crap - but the cities like alicante and some marina catagena nice enough. Benidorm has to be seen to be believed - how much damage humans can do to a coastline. You could head to palma from there, th9ough i wd not miss Barcelona.

a 40plus trawlerish thing would be fine. It needs a sunshade, and i would say it is much nicer with a bit of aircon and a generator - this also allows you to anchor out - esp important when all the popular marinas are full. Summer onshore winds are a bit much and by late afternoon it can seem unwise to stay out but the winds die at nightfall and it's v peaceful.

One-way renting isn't possible cos the guys want their boat back. So do the sailyboats, mostly.

 

[hlb]

Look at 200K min. for the boat then maybe £10K spending money and yes it's easy. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Renegade_Master]

Re: Hi Brian

I've just realised its you Brian..........Clive here.

 

[miket]

If money is a bit tight look at Dutch steel boats. Better value per cubic foot, although you won't outrun bad weather.

To enjoy the trip you will surely want to spend some time in the nicer harbours? It could be that 3 months might be a bit tight.

 

[DavidJ]

Why do people want to rush around the Med. It reminds me when I was in my early twenties and wanted to do as many countries as possible in Europe by car in a fortnight. You end up seeing nothing. Take it easy, plan to winter at various locations and "do" the Med over a number of years. Spend time in Barcelona, San Remo, Bonefacio, and another hundred more, fantastic cities.
As great as motor boating is, after one month on the move I want to do other things.
David