AndyT
New member
Your ideas please on size, for crossing the channel. What is your opinion of minimum length of boat, single or twin engine, petrol or deisel And do you go alone? Also what kit to take?
Size Matters?
- Thread starter AndyT
- Start date
burgundyben
Well-known member
Size Matters? Yes
I have a single screw diesel on shaft drive 23ft and am planning to cross channel this year, hopefully more than once.
Having said that, I bought the boat last year and already am thinking about moving up to a 32 foot twin screw boat.
Hope it helps.
......girls, girls, get back, please, one at a time......
I have a single screw diesel on shaft drive 23ft and am planning to cross channel this year, hopefully more than once.
Having said that, I bought the boat last year and already am thinking about moving up to a 32 foot twin screw boat.
Hope it helps.
......girls, girls, get back, please, one at a time......
G
Guest
Guest
If you do not have a boat and are looking to buy one go for twin diesels,and check that they will work independent from each other!
Look at around 30 ft for a boat and suitable for offshore use.
You should have all safety equipment for the number of people onboard minimum automatic life jackets,flares,lifebuoys,vhf radio etc., and prefably a dinghy. not forgetting suitable charts etc.
You should not attempt this busy shipping lane alone if you do not have good seamanship experiance or you will be a danger to yourself and others.
Happy cruising
RLM Mike
RLM MIKE
Look at around 30 ft for a boat and suitable for offshore use.
You should have all safety equipment for the number of people onboard minimum automatic life jackets,flares,lifebuoys,vhf radio etc., and prefably a dinghy. not forgetting suitable charts etc.
You should not attempt this busy shipping lane alone if you do not have good seamanship experiance or you will be a danger to yourself and others.
Happy cruising
RLM Mike
RLM MIKE
BarryD
New member
Range, Reliability and Safety are the keywords...
Firstly colour me a novice so I might have it all wrong.
Range - Unless you are popping across from Dover, it's about 50/60 miles, you need to make sure that the unrefueled range of the boat is about 120% of the longest intended leg. Filling up from jerry cans in a rolling sea with a freighter bearing down on you is not going to be fun.
Reliability - Give the boat a few shake-down cruises, it's no good finding that the systems go wibble after 3 hours constant use.
Safety - You need all the gear (flares, jackets, VHFs, charts, spares, some might even say radar etc...). A twin engine layout gives you a degree of confidence to fall back upon.
Length of boat - well when you get to France you're going to sleep on her I presume, so a cuddy might be bad news. I'd hesitate to go for less than a 28' - almost dictated in terms of twin engine installations. There is probably some rule based upon wave length / height and LWL but bigger is basically better.
Petrol v. Diesel - well petrol boats are cheaper to buy more expensive to run and harder to fill up on the South Coast. Some say they are also un-safe but that's a load of spherical objects. Diesel boats are more expensive to buy, cheaper to run and less likely to fail due to ignition related issues, but cost more to maintain. In the UK at least the go-juice is amazingly cheap.
I'm hoping to go cross channel this year - in company with a radar equipped gin palace (Oh JFM...) and our boats a 32' twin diesel. No radar but all the latest (read expensive) safety stuff. No liferaft though, just a dinghy on snaps.
Good luck and have fun.
Go left, YOUR OTHER left for pete's sake
(IMHO, BTW, FWIW and NWGOI)
Firstly colour me a novice so I might have it all wrong.
Range - Unless you are popping across from Dover, it's about 50/60 miles, you need to make sure that the unrefueled range of the boat is about 120% of the longest intended leg. Filling up from jerry cans in a rolling sea with a freighter bearing down on you is not going to be fun.
Reliability - Give the boat a few shake-down cruises, it's no good finding that the systems go wibble after 3 hours constant use.
Safety - You need all the gear (flares, jackets, VHFs, charts, spares, some might even say radar etc...). A twin engine layout gives you a degree of confidence to fall back upon.
Length of boat - well when you get to France you're going to sleep on her I presume, so a cuddy might be bad news. I'd hesitate to go for less than a 28' - almost dictated in terms of twin engine installations. There is probably some rule based upon wave length / height and LWL but bigger is basically better.
Petrol v. Diesel - well petrol boats are cheaper to buy more expensive to run and harder to fill up on the South Coast. Some say they are also un-safe but that's a load of spherical objects. Diesel boats are more expensive to buy, cheaper to run and less likely to fail due to ignition related issues, but cost more to maintain. In the UK at least the go-juice is amazingly cheap.
I'm hoping to go cross channel this year - in company with a radar equipped gin palace (Oh JFM...) and our boats a 32' twin diesel. No radar but all the latest (read expensive) safety stuff. No liferaft though, just a dinghy on snaps.
Good luck and have fun.
Go left, YOUR OTHER left for pete's sake
(IMHO, BTW, FWIW and NWGOI)
jfm
Well-known member
Re: Range, Reliability and Safety are the keywords...
Agree all this. IMHO it depends on speed too. Assume you are doing it from Solent, then Cherbourg is say 65 miles. In a fast boat that's max 1.5 hours from land, so ok if weather starts to turn bad, and a forecast for next 3 hours is reliable. But if displcement boat, you could be several hours from refuge. So I would think you need a 25 foot planing boat minimum, but bigger if displacement boat., Relaistically if you want to do it and have fun and not be scared, get a 30 foot planing boat with twin diesels, then it will be all fun and relaxed. And I would want more than 20% fuel reserve. If weather bad or bottom is wwedy or something you could be 30% off the mpg quoted in the brochure, so get a boat with a brocure range of 200 miles if you want to do it return (from Solent - Cherbourg). Also fuel is more exp in France, so a return range saves you money
Barry yes let's fix a date for lunch in Cherbourg June or July!
Agree all this. IMHO it depends on speed too. Assume you are doing it from Solent, then Cherbourg is say 65 miles. In a fast boat that's max 1.5 hours from land, so ok if weather starts to turn bad, and a forecast for next 3 hours is reliable. But if displcement boat, you could be several hours from refuge. So I would think you need a 25 foot planing boat minimum, but bigger if displacement boat., Relaistically if you want to do it and have fun and not be scared, get a 30 foot planing boat with twin diesels, then it will be all fun and relaxed. And I would want more than 20% fuel reserve. If weather bad or bottom is wwedy or something you could be 30% off the mpg quoted in the brochure, so get a boat with a brocure range of 200 miles if you want to do it return (from Solent - Cherbourg). Also fuel is more exp in France, so a return range saves you money
Barry yes let's fix a date for lunch in Cherbourg June or July!
G
Guest
Guest
I don't think size matters that much, but then again I have got quite a small one ;-)
On a serious note all the advice given is sound but the experience of crew/skipper,equipment and the weather is far more crucial.
We regularly do offshore trips in small sports cruisers down to a 20ft cuddy. We always travel in company, carry full safety equipment and an inflated dingey on davits.All have RYA training to at least day skipper and the crew know what to do if theres an emergency.
Last year we crossed from Barcelona to Menorca in 21 and 28 ft single petrol engine boats, the trip was flat clam and took 5 hours. On the other hand we once went from Hamble to Poole in an afternoon and it was the worst conditions I have ever experienced.
If my cruising style allowed I would agree for a comfort a twin diesel boat over 30ft is best for,but there is more to safety than just size-or Titanic would'nt have won so many oscars !!
My best advice is never be afraid to stay in port, theres always another day.
On a serious note all the advice given is sound but the experience of crew/skipper,equipment and the weather is far more crucial.
We regularly do offshore trips in small sports cruisers down to a 20ft cuddy. We always travel in company, carry full safety equipment and an inflated dingey on davits.All have RYA training to at least day skipper and the crew know what to do if theres an emergency.
Last year we crossed from Barcelona to Menorca in 21 and 28 ft single petrol engine boats, the trip was flat clam and took 5 hours. On the other hand we once went from Hamble to Poole in an afternoon and it was the worst conditions I have ever experienced.
If my cruising style allowed I would agree for a comfort a twin diesel boat over 30ft is best for,but there is more to safety than just size-or Titanic would'nt have won so many oscars !!
My best advice is never be afraid to stay in port, theres always another day.
paulineb
Active member
silly question
of course it does
Pxx
of course it does
Pxx
BarryH
Active member
Best advise, The staying in port bit. I think its good to know your own limitations even if we don't like to admit it. I crossed the channel a few times in our boat, Tremlett 21. It felt quiet safe. Took all usual safety stuff and even had the dinghy half inflated strapped down on the back. But in saying that it was like a mill pond, one of ther best trips I've had.
The conditions dictate what you can do with a boat and of course the Eurocrats with their directives!!
Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
The conditions dictate what you can do with a boat and of course the Eurocrats with their directives!!
Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
BarryH
Active member
Re: silly question
I hate it when wimmin' say that! <G>
Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
I hate it when wimmin' say that! <G>
Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
paulineb
Active member
Re: silly question
why? cos they mean it ?
Pxx
why? cos they mean it ?
Pxx
burgundyben
Well-known member
Ouch
..
......girls, girls, get back, please, one at a time......
..
......girls, girls, get back, please, one at a time......
BarryH
Active member
Re: silly question
ooooh!....ow! Kick me lower! Why not! ;-)
Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
ooooh!....ow! Kick me lower! Why not! ;-)
Wha'dya mean "I'm always playing with this engine" its the only way to get it to run!
tcm
...
the MBM cruises limited boats to 25 foot + cross-channel a while back, but they had cackup boats. The smaller the b oat, the nicer the weather you need. For 30 footers, more than F4 is a non-no, and even for larger it depends on the direction. Fast 50-footers can make good headway in a following 6, or even a following 7-8 if shelterted. I've been in coliholics 30-footer with a following 4 in unsheltered N sea. More than this would feel quite nasty and u have to slow down. Flares, more flare, lifejackets , vhf, handheld vhf gps lots of food and drink and pref radar.
Best thing, if you can, is not be firm and fixed about the plan. I mean, be prepared to dump the plan, and go to weymouth or wherever instead. Another thing is that sopme trips get the pox quite early on - and when the do, change plans early rather than struggle on.
From UK You are sort-of looking for light winds. If it has a S in it the sea state will get flater and better as u appraoch french coast - so as u go set out of harbour - that's the worst it will be.
Best thing, if you can, is not be firm and fixed about the plan. I mean, be prepared to dump the plan, and go to weymouth or wherever instead. Another thing is that sopme trips get the pox quite early on - and when the do, change plans early rather than struggle on.
From UK You are sort-of looking for light winds. If it has a S in it the sea state will get flater and better as u appraoch french coast - so as u go set out of harbour - that's the worst it will be.
G
Guest
Guest
Re: Range, Reliability and Safety are the keywords...
Barry, sounds like you've decided to stay afloat, then?
Barry, sounds like you've decided to stay afloat, then?
D
Deleted User YDKXO
Guest
I think MBM limited the size to 25' minimum for insurance reasons not because they thought that was the minimum size for a Channel crossing. But it would have to be bloody flat calm for me to venture across in a 25 footer!
ToMo
New member
Re: silly question
Look it doesn't matter if it shrinks in cold water or expands a bit in warmth, as long as it floats it doesn't matter - Boats of course, what were you talking about?
<WG>
TôMö
Look it doesn't matter if it shrinks in cold water or expands a bit in warmth, as long as it floats it doesn't matter - Boats of course, what were you talking about?
<WG>
TôMö
BarryD
New member
Re: Range, Reliability and Safety are the keywords...
Still afloat, and staying afloat until September-ish and then going very quiet for six months or so. Anyone want to buy a Stag? Right said SWMBO Stag or Boat but not both... course I chose to sell Stag!
Go left, YOUR OTHER left for pete's sake
(IMHO, BTW, FWIW and NWGOI)
Still afloat, and staying afloat until September-ish and then going very quiet for six months or so. Anyone want to buy a Stag? Right said SWMBO Stag or Boat but not both... course I chose to sell Stag!
Go left, YOUR OTHER left for pete's sake
(IMHO, BTW, FWIW and NWGOI)
ccscott49
Active member
Re: Range, Reliability and Safety are the keywords...
Is it a good stag?
Is it a good stag?
hlb
RIP
Re: Range, Reliability and Safety are the keywords...
I'll swap yer stag for my donkey Barry!
No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!
Haydn
I'll swap yer stag for my donkey Barry!
No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer!!!
Haydn
chippie
New member
Re: Range, Reliability and Safety are the keywords...
CC, you're not looking for a problem to replace the beesa with are you?
CC, you're not looking for a problem to replace the beesa with are you?
