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kareheat

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:rolleyes:Hi

Can anyone please tell us how would we work out how much fuel we will need and how long will it take us to get across to France with a single engine 200hp 3 litre Nanni engine.

We have a Merry Fisher 805 and would be leaving from Portsmouth and probably travelling around 12 knots.

We would be most grateful for any help anyone can give us.


Karen and Ross
 
kareheat said:
:rolleyes:Hi

Can anyone please tell us how would we work out how much fuel we will need and how long will it take us to get across to France with a single engine 200hp 3 litre Nanni engine.

We have a Merry Fisher 805 and would be leaving from Portsmouth and probably travelling around 12 knots.

We would be most grateful for any help anyone can give us.


Karen and Ross
Click to expand...

distance / speed = hrs x Lts per Hr + reserve
 
kareheat said:
:rolleyes:Hi

Can anyone please tell us how would we work out how much fuel we will need and how long will it take us to get across to France with a single engine 200hp 3 litre Nanni engine.

We have a Merry Fisher 805 and would be leaving from Portsmouth and probably travelling around 12 knots.

We would be most grateful for any help anyone can give us.


Karen and Ross
Click to expand...

Well if you cant work it out, I'd stay where you are. France is a big place, just where are you going?? Is the boat petrol or diesel?? How big is the tank??

I guess that if speed is 12 knots, you'll have gone 12 miles in an hour, but maybe not.

Your lack of info tells me, your just not experienced enough to try.
 
Fuel capacity is 230 litres, so fill it up, and in the best traditions of the forum, stick a spare jerry can of fuel in the boot.

Consumption is variously reported at as much as 25 litres/hour, so using the satnav, head for Gaul, about 115 land miles away. That's nearly 10 hours, so you should get there with a few litres to spare. Now about the reserve tank for the reserve tank business..... Do you really want to end up on the front page of Le Monde if the wind is southerly ?

In view of other comments, are you sure its nice clean fuel, do you have spare fuel filters, do you know how to bleed an aireated diesel engine, have fuel funnel or pump, blah blah.

Good luck and enjoy the trip.


PS. Got a spare outboard ?
 
All these guys are being cruel... You need to make a passage plan, which will look at things like the weather, tides, were yer going, how long it will take, alternative destinations, etc etc.

If this is all new to you then I would recomend that taking the RYA Dayskipper theory course would be a very good idea. It will equipe you with all the basic nav stuff that is a good idea to know about.

Have a good time!
 
sarabande said:
Fuel capacity is 230 litres, so fill it up, and in the best traditions of the forum, stick a spare jerry can of fuel in the boot.

Consumption is variously reported at as much as 25 litres/hour, so using the satnav, head for Gaul, about 115 land miles away. That's nearly 10 hours, so you should get there with a few litres to spare. Now about the reserve tank for the reserve tank business..... Do you really want to end up on the front page of Le Monde if the wind is southerly ?

In view of other comments, are you sure its nice clean fuel, do you have spare fuel filters, do you know how to bleed an aerated diesel engine, have fuel funnel or pump, blah blah.

Good luck and enjoy the trip.

I was taught,. A third to get there, A third to get back and a third for if **** hits fan. Seems a bit OTT, but maybe sensible.

MY BIL once try'd to have a conversation with an ecclesiastical lot on a train, they would not answer him. Because he was asking all the wrong questions. This seems about the same.
Click to expand...
 
photodog said:
All these guys are being cruel... You need to make a passage plan, which will look at things like the weather, tides, were yer going, how long it will take, alternative destinations, etc etc.

If this is all new to you then I would recomend that taking the RYA Dayskipper theory course would be a very good idea. It will equipe you with all the basic nav stuff that is a good idea to know about.

Have a good time!
Click to expand...

We are not being cruel, the question is un answerable. There fore he should not go. He needs more education. An IRA course wont tell him how much fuel his boat uses or what weather him or his boat is capable of.

Presumably he's going from Portsmouth to the Nearest Frensh port. (where ever that is.) We do not all keep a set of charts around the puttor.
 
The entrance of Portsmouth Harbour to Cherbourg is about 75 miles.
At 12kts over the ground, that will take maybe 6.5 hours.

Add on 20% for poor progress for whatever reason, is it a boat with an 8 hour endurance?
Are the crew up for what could be an 8 hour trip?
Tides are also going to be a factor at 12kts.

In some ways, a faster boat can be easier for a cross channel cruise, because at 20kts you only need to find 4 hours of good weather, which could be starting at 05:30 and a second breakfast at your destination.
 
Last edited:
Why not join one of the MBM cruises this year??

They may have a place or two left - its where a lot of us cut our teeth as novices and is a splendid way to go forward in comparative safety.

May
xx
 
hlb said:
Well if you cant work it out, I'd stay where you are. France is a big place, just where are you going?? Is the boat petrol or diesel?? How big is the tank??

I guess that if speed is 12 knots, you'll have gone 12 miles in an hour, but maybe not.

Your lack of info tells me, your just not experienced enough to try.
Click to expand...

got it in one . If you don't know your MPG at various speeds then you haven't got the necessary experience
 
kareheat said:
:rolleyes:Hi

Can anyone please tell us how would we work out how much fuel we will need and how long will it take us to get across to France with a single engine 200hp 3 litre Nanni engine.

We have a Merry Fisher 805 and would be leaving from Portsmouth and probably travelling around 12 knots.

We would be most grateful for any help anyone can give us.


Karen and Ross
Click to expand...

HLB may seem a bit blunt, but he does have a very good point. A lot of things can happen, especially scary if you've got to cross shipping lanes.

It would be better to get a few longer trips under your belt where you have safety points that you can duck into if something doesn't go quite to plan.

By doing these various longer trips (with plenty of fuel) you'll get a good idea of distance/fuel consumption your boat does at different seas and speeds.

Mine's not too bad on a flat sea, start punching into a head sea and the figures take a nose dive.
 
I reckon 4 galls an hour is a safe measurement with an 805 at 12 kts
So sarabande has it about right.
Paul Gooch has it right too, the boat is capable

Whether you are capable kareheat is up to you to decide.

Weather, Spares etc etc etc , all need to be thought about.
As others have posted.

You don't really give us lot much of a clue as to your experience.
However working out your consumption ie galls or litres per hour or mpg is pretty basic stuff.

So kareheat me awl fella
Where have you been what have you done boaty wise etc?
 
there used to be a fuel station mid channel called EC2 :p failing that fill the tanks up and a jerry can which your not aloud to carry in france any more (someone correct me if i'm wrong) if you run out hoist your sails.
 
kareheat said:
:rolleyes:Hi

Can anyone please tell us how would we work out how much fuel we will need and how long will it take us to get across to France with a single engine 200hp 3 litre Nanni engine.

We have a Merry Fisher 805 and would be leaving from Portsmouth and probably travelling around 12 knots.

We would be most grateful for any help anyone can give us.


Karen and Ross
Click to expand...

You should head to Dover refuel at Eastborne .
From Dover its 28 miles to Boulonge

Loads of safe havens, if you dont like it you can stop at eastborne,
Its about 105 miles from solent , extra 30 miles detour but so much more convenient, you will not need any french fuel which will helps towards the cost of the detour, Boulonge is heaps better than Cherbourge.

I would question 12 knots as a cruise speed, 200hp in an 8m boat surely should be happy @ 20 knots .
 
Kawasaki said:
I reckon 4 galls an hour is a safe measurement with an 805 at 12 kts
So sarabande has it about right.
Paul Gooch has it right too, the boat is capable

Whether you are capable kareheat is up to you to decide.

Weather, Spares etc etc etc , all need to be thought about.
As others have posted.

You don't really give us lot much of a clue as to your experience.
However working out your consumption ie galls or litres per hour or mpg is pretty basic stuff.

So kareheat me awl fella
Where have you been what have you done boaty wise etc?
Click to expand...



Kwackers me mate. We have no idea if it will use 4 gallons per hour.

For all we know the hull could be covered in barnicles and thats why it does 12 knots flat out.
 
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