Motoring to France - Frequently

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CrawfW

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Dear Knowledgeable People,

I am new on here, at least in terms of posting, but have spent uncountable hours lurking - i joined in 2003!

So, I am looking for something that can be kept near Exeter and used to blast down to Dartmouth (or Lyme) – but, and this is the key point, also used to cross regularly to France. Making the continent accessible is the essential requirement for me being able to sell this to my American wife.

Success means covering the ~80 NM in 4 hours or less, using 1 litre NM or thereabouts, in F1/2 weather – but with a sporting chance up to F4ish.

I have read at length the arguments about how outboards break down, petrol boats explode, radar is essential and yet all sorts of vessels returned as successful Little Ships. I would class myself as comfortable with moderate to high risk, but not very high: I drive fast, like motorbikes and small planes, but don’t Basejump or Freedive.

Compared to many of the people on here our budget is tiny: under 20K. Having said this, if the answer is that everything become possible if we spend XXX then that would be useful to know. After all, I currently have two kidneys….

I was originally thinking of thinking of something peche promenade style, but then stumbled across a Sealine S24. Where they venture out from rivers, at least some people seem to think they are reasonable offshore. Others don’t. To my mind, the lack of French doors seems to make them less comfortable for those who find Northern Europe cold. Right?

So, Peche promenade or Sports Cruiser? 20 knots? 35 knots and new dental work? (I like Topsham, but am not sure how these would take to the mud.)

I have a decent vehicle for towing, reasonable experience moving big things, and plenty of space to conveniently store over-winter. So, being able to tow would be nice but isn’t essential.

For context, my original interest was in sailing – dinghies and bigger – but I have failed to interest my partner in this. Sailing things at this price point, whilst undoubtedly hugely capable, are a little lacking in glitz and glam. More fundamentally, I realised she had a point when it came to the amount of time we have available: with busy careers, we simply haven’t the time to pootle along at 4 knots. Hopefully we will one day!

So, with apologies for rambling and due preparedness to be violently corrected – opinions very welcome.

Crawf
 
I have done the crossing from the Exe to the CIs and Cherbourg quite a few times. Invariably there are 3 differing sea conditions on the way across, it's very unusual to have a crossing with flat seas from beginning to end. And unfortunately, never both ways.

As for doing about 20kts and burning only 1l per nm, I think you'll be hard pushed to find anything that will be comfortable and safe in the price range you're looking at. My immediate thoughts were get a decent sized RIB, but then you said you want doors and an inside space. Can't help much with those criteria.

As for keeping it up at Topsham, I'm assuming you mean the pontoons at Trouts boatyard? All sorts of boats are kept there, the mud is deep and accommodating. Spaces are, or certainly were, very hard to come by. Have a chat with Mark Trout, see what he says.
 
I have a 'Peche promeade' Merry Fisher 645 with a 115 suzuki outboard. A fantastic boat but i wouldnt like to do an 80 mile channel crossing with it tbh.
It has two comfortable speeds, 6knts and 22knts (and 22knts only when its flat calm i.e under an f3) any sort of chop and it starts to slam.
At 22knts it will use approx 3ltrs per mile (depending on how loaded the boat is)
Modern outboard engines if looked after are very good.
You could tow a boat this size with the appropriate vehicle and trailer, but the launch and recovery would need a couple of people who know what their doing and a decent slipway.
Why the need to cross the channel? you can have plenty of fun pottering about the coast.
When i got my boat i justified it by saying i would do extended trips (boat kept in Poole harbour) with trips to the IOW and round to Weymouth, but the reality is all my trips have so far been day trips and usually in and around the harbour or just outside in Poole bay.
After 3 years of use, its funny how the things you thought you would use a boat for change.
btw, if you havent already i recommend doing the level 2 power boat course.
 
The Sealine S24 is certainly capable of sea passages although being a smaller boat conditions will matter. If you visit the Sealine Forum and look on the ‘Share your Adventure‘ section there is a member who goes by the name of Naughty-Cal who has an S23 and has been far and wide. If memory serves the have been across the Wash from Boston to Wells and further round to the Norfolk Broads. Not channel crossings but enough in the N. Sea and an illustration of what you can do in a smaller boat.
 
Greg2 said:
The Sealine S24 is certainly capable of sea passages although being a smaller boat conditions will matter. If you visit the Sealine Forum and look on the ‘Share your Adventure‘ section there is a member who goes by the name of Naughty-Cal who has an S23 and has been far and wide. If memory serves the have been across the Wash from Boston to Wells and further round to the Norfolk Broads. Not channel crossings but enough in the N. Sea and an illustration of what you can do in a smaller boat.
Click to expand...
I think Nautical-Ca l used to post here too?

If it’s who I think it is they made some long journeys on the East Coast but crossing the channel is a different ball game all together.

W
 
We had a S24 for many years and have our boat base in the Costa Brava where f4 is quite common. Very capable boat but at f4 you will be down to 8 or so knots. Our current S37 handles f4 nicely but f5 and we are down to plodding speed.
I think your plan is too ambitious.
 
I feel your price point and expectations might be hard to satisfy particularly if you are time poor and not looking for an old DIY project but a friend had a small Orkney which pottered around . Personally I would not be taking any outboard vessel cross channnel unless it had twins but to fit in the creature comforts you might want on arrival and speed etc you might need to be either looking at more cash or a project I suspect. I’ve seen people sick from fear having just travelled from the Solent to Poole in a small mobo in what a yacht would consider BAU weather for sailing. Also remember buzzing along in a rib say a cobra around 8m just down the Solent while fun can be tiring after a 30min run even with diesel inboard and you won’t be getting those at 20k . I’m sure you can take a sealing cross channel but maybe try crewing with others before you rush in to buy with this objective.
 
Hi,

Thanks for all the responses. Clearly my ambitions are ill founded - a sad but necessary realization!

Re-framing the question, if an S24 is on the cusp of being able to cross the channel, at what size and price does such an undertaking become more realistic and comfortable?

I accept that such a thing would have radically higher fuel consumption, but are there designs that would cross at a steady and comfortable 15 knots or thereabouts?

Overall - and risking offending this section - is it quite striking that motorboats struggle so much more than sailing boats. If only we could sail faster: my wife would be happy for a 4 hour adventure, but not an 18 hour one!
 
A dragonfly tri will sail at 10 to 15 knots but your budget will require an zero. At your budget you would be best to stay with a small boat for pottering around locally and that you could tow to new locations for a short break holiday.
 
I might be teaching you to suck egg...

The initial outlay for a suitable CC boat is probably not
going to be the issue. The mooring cost and maintenance is likely to be.

Going to France or the CI isn’t that difficult- how that will change Brexit I don’t know but I d do it with an instructor or in company the first time at least.

W.
 
I have a 16ft centre consol lightweight shallow v boat with a 50hp 4 stroke. At 20 knts on calm sea probably doing 10 litres per 20 miles. But 20 miles can beat the crap out of you and your boat once there are waves.
You need a deep v for more comfort but a lot more power to propel it.
A semi displacement is probably best for offshore but will need a good amount of fuel to propel it.
 
For your French kicks don’t buy a small mobo where you are to do x channel .
Buy something to potter locally on a fine day .
Then ( you say time poor ?) fly to the Cote d Azur ( zillions of flights - well there was :) ) , and rent an apartment hire a rib or small open thingy .
Around Cannes visit the Lerin islands, around further E say base @ Cavaliere the Porquerolles islands .
There are others but theses two should scratch the itch .

She will like that scene and will compromise with your boat hobby .
 
CrawfW said:
Hi,

Thanks for all the responses. Clearly my ambitions are ill founded - a sad but necessary realization!

Re-framing the question, if an S24 is on the cusp of being able to cross the channel, at what size and price does such an undertaking become more realistic and comfortable?

I accept that such a thing would have radically higher fuel consumption, but are there designs that would cross at a steady and comfortable 15 knots or thereabouts?

Overall - and risking offending this section - is it quite striking that motorboats struggle so much more than sailing boats. If only we could sail faster: my wife would be happy for a 4 hour adventure, but not an 18 hour one!
Click to expand...
Should have discussed that prior to getting down on your knee!?
 
Buy yourself a nice weekender for pottering around locally and the odd few trips along the coast. Line up a few mates as crew and leave the wife at home. When the sun comes out or she gets bored, she will be delighted to get out for a spin along the coast.
 
I have campaigned for ages to try and convince her that local is OK, but no joy. She isn't a big fan of the UK, weather especially. The one thing that scores compared to California is that the whole of Europe is next door - much more varied than the US. So, going CC really is the key.

Appreciate it is a long-shot, but above all appreciate Colhel coming up with a suggestion that keeps the dream alive!

Are there others like the Nimbus?
 
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