Safe distance in 5 meter sports cruiser

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I have just purchased a Regal Valanti 5 meter bowrider sports cruiser.
It is powered by a 130hp inboard with a mercruiser alpha 1 stern drive.
She has VHF nav lights and safety equip'. and 5o ltr fuel tank.
Does anyone know what sort of cruising range she could safley be expected to cope with as I want to take part in some of the Cruising Club trips but don't know which ones she could cope with.
 

Col

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Check it, but I think there is some kind of min length of boat allowed on these cruises.
Do you mean 50 gallon tank? 50 ltrs is only 10 gallons-won't get far!
If 50 galls, I would guess at about 150-175 mile range, but thats just a guess.
 

BarryD

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Say two hours / 40 miles...

50 litres, call it 11 gallons less 20% for safety = 9 gallons. Reckon at a pinch at cruise you'll see two hours out of the remaining tank. I'd say you've got the legs for 40 miles maybe? But I'm ultra conservative and a wuss ask anyone on the forum - they all think I'm weird 'cos I like petrol V8s.

Always save 20% of your fuel load for bad maths, and carry some spare if that doe'nt leave you anywhere nice. Also join sea start if they operate in your area - sort of like the AA of the sea, but not really.

Have fun.

Barry D.
 

hlb

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Re: Say two hours / 40 miles...

Ahh Barry. But do they sell petrol when you've got there?? So need to come back for some more. So thats twenty miles. But all Ok if sea keeps nice and calm. So maybe get twenty miles there and only ten back.So ring Sea Start. " Hello. Get your arse down her quick. 50. 49.35 N 3.23.492 W. Dont mess about. I'm gong up the rocks any minute"!! <G>

Haydn
 

BarryH

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Re: Say two hours / 40 miles...

You could always take it with you, I do, a 30 litre outboard type tank. Most fuel filters have 2 inlets and 2 outlets. On the inlet that is'nt used plumb in a engine connection from an outboard, its always sealed. then when you run out of juice, just plug in the spare tank, no spills no splashes no water in the filler neck. Only keep you connectors mounted outside the engine conpartment and store the tank properly. Works for me 30 litres got me from yarmouth back to poole
 

jfm

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Agree the other comments above. Also I think you'll find mpg varies enormously with seastate in a 5m boat. If it's dead calm you can run at constant cruise speed, trimmed out. But in waves you will be on/off the throttle, sometimes driving uphill up the face of a wave, and mpg can be nearly halved.

If you have enuf fuel, you can go as far as you like along the coast, but not away from the coast imho

Best of luck. Where will you be sailing, btw
 

ccscott49

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Re: Say two hours / 40 miles...

A bloody good idea, why doesn't everybody with this set up do something similar, stop peeps calling RNLI when run out of fule!
 
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Your range is going to subject to many factors. How many on board, the sea state, the state of your hull and how much fuel you will have in your tank. I had a boat with the same engine and the best fuel consumption ever was 6 gallons per hour. on average it was around 8 galls/hour. Given your capacity is 11 gallons it does not take much to work out how much running time you will have. Ramping along at say 30 knots in a flat sea you will most likely burn between 8-10 gallons an hour. Given a rougher sea you will drop right down in speed but the saving on consuption wont be that much as you will be battling the elements and be slowing down and reving up more constantly. In summary you will be lucky to get more than an hour and half. A boat like this is not intended for distance cruising - its a pleasent run around.
If you want some more advice visit the Pathfinder Powerboat club web site at www.pathfinderpowerboatclub.org.uk There are lots of folks with similar boats.
 

Dave_Snelson

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All these posts here represent sound advice but I would like to look at the word safe, rather than distance. I also run a 5m bowrider as a family sports boat and long distance cruising isn't something I would entertain in my boat. OK I have a Suzuki 100HP outboard 2-Stroke, which uses about 9-11 litres / hr and that is cruising at a comfortable 30mph. But, and the big but, is what your boat is rated for usage wise and what happens when weather turns inclement. Just a moderate blow when off shore will deliver waves that could cause you to ship water, I know from experience.

IMHO I would much rather use my friends Shetland 535 when two or three miles out because the cabin and higher gunwhales keep "ploughed water" out of the boat.

Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy my boat but I have grown to understand and live with its limitations.

Oh and one final thing (before I turn into a crashing bore) always, always, always, carry a spare motor. A little Yammy auxilliary motor is only £200 approx (second hand) and it could save your bacon. It also gives a great feeling of safety and confidence when out on the water.

Have fun with your new boat - cheers.
 

BarryH

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Re: Say two hours / 40 miles...

But you still got to exercise caution when storing the fuel etc. I've got the "emergency" fuel connector mounted outside the boat so to speak. but youve got too remember to close the fixed tanks fuel cock so the 30 litres doesn't drain it to there. Its good for running up the engine if the main tank gets contaminated
 

hlb

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Yes john we are at last in compleat agreament. It's a commpleat Wa*k*r of a boat. Comiserations to who ever posted the thread. Take it to Windemere. or where ever.
No good on sea. I know I was there once!!

Haydn
 

longjohnsilver

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I certainly don't consider any open bow sports boat to be particularly sea worthy, dip the bow into one big wave and you have the makings of a real problem. OK on flat calm days, but no guarantee that it will remain calm until you return to port. Really a lake boat.
 

ccscott49

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I remember taking some surf over the front of my zodiac, a big one and it filled up the boat completely, fuel tanks floating, the whole bit, I was frightened it would short out something and the engine stop, it didn't but I know what you mean! I tend to agree, open bow boats, flat calm, or at least keep going fast enough to hold the bow up!
 
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