Magical 30 Knots

[sfh]

I read in many boat reports about the "magical 30 Knots", our boat, albeit similar in hull design will do 20 knots flat out, that is it is the twin 180hp engines that restrict out top speed.

Given that the Sea State often governs our comfortable speed, how often can the magical 30 knots be utilised in UK waters? I do appreciate that a boat's engines capable of 30 knots are under less stress at 20 knots, is this the main advantage?

 

[hlb]

Oh. They all live in the Solent or up ditches do this lot. You wont get alot of sence. /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

I wonder the same. My 22 knot cruising seems quite fast enough most of the time. Mind you, thats on proper sea!!

<font color=blue> Haydn

 

[DepSol]

I cruise at 30 knots regulary in anything up to a F4 get France Jersey and Alderney in under an hour.

Stainless steel props helps that alot.

Dom

2003 is going to be a good year for me

 

[sgball]

We can get 30 - 35 knots on a flat sea and if the hull has just been cleaned. Not very pleasant if you hit an unexpected wave. Usually give it a quick blast just to thrill the Nephews. More comfortable cruising at 15 - 20 knots and of course it saves on petrol.

Trudie

 

[byron]

<font color=blue>I can cruise all day at around 20 knots in all but the most severe weather. My hull design coupled to its length seems to iron out the bumps</font color=blue>

http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[omega2]

hear hear Hayden, try to make a cuppa at anything over 15 Knots and see how you get on.

J HAMER

 

[hlb]

Oh. Tutts can make tea and butties at 20 knots without to much trouble. But at thirty knots it might be hard to tell the tea from the butties!!

<font color=blue> Haydn

 

[BrendanS]

Me too, boat is happier over top of waves than in them, and it's most economical speed.

Over force 4 slow down a tad

Only cruise over 40knots when it's fairly flat, though have opened it up in rough seas a few times to see what it's like. Difficult to see where you are going, as the vision blurs from all the rattling

 

[kimhollamby]

The 30-knot figure became something of a holy grail quite a few years ago now and in some senses it still serves as a benchmark. Boatowners, as much as any other force, have been responsible for that it would seem.

In many parts of the world (not just around the UK) it is not always that practical and, depending on the engines it may not be very sensible for long periods as many leisure ratings lie somewhere between no more than one hour in eight and one hour in 12 flat-out.

You can occasionally use the sprint capability quite usefully; have certainly done so on several occasions over the past few years in UK waters but other commentators here are right, you get white horses on your tea and food in your face if catering underway is attempted. I quite like to drop down to eight knots and stick the boat on autopilot for meal and loo breaks; saves all sorts of unfortunate accidents (although I have been known to fry a breakfast at 20-something knots, which can be exciting).

As you suggest the 30-knot capability does in fact give a reasonable reserve to guarantee cruising speeds of around 22 knots, which is not untypical of modern motor boats, or 25 knots when the sea os fairly well behaved and/or the boat is running downwind. For a boat that just about makes 30 knots on test, hull fouling and cruising gear will soon lug that down a little - another reason why boat testers tend to be tolerant of new lightly loaded boats being presented for test slightly under-propped.



kim_hollamby@ipcmedia.com

 

[Guest]

I'd have been happy doing 30knts on some of the med seas I saw over last two weeks, but such seas area rarity over here. Agree most boats not built for lengthy 30knt speeds plus of course it makes the fuel bill rise dramatically.

Friend of mine skippered two boats with owners from SHampton to med during summer, first owner (Manhattan 64) went 26-28 knots all the way spent about £8k plus on fuel, second guy (Fairline 50) worked out it was cheaper to pay my mate more days aboard, and cruise off the plane at 10 knts spent only about £3.5k on fuel even made most of the Biscay in one go at that speed about 230nm covered I think.

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