solent crossing OK?

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chi-girl

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she is a shetland 498 with a 20hp 4stroke outboard.

i want to take her to bembridge or cowes and was wondering if she would be ok on a good day. i know at the moment i havent the experience but im just asking about the boat.
 
I don't have much motorboat experience, but certainly I wouldn't be surprised to see a boat like that crossing the Solent.

Pete
 
Yup - should be fine.
20Hp - what's your cruising speed? 6-8knots or so? Wouldn't think 20hp would get it up onto the plane - but you never know!

Going you'll usually be into the wind - so will have a bit of chop on the way.
Way back you'll be with the wind - and at 6-8 knots the waves will probably be overtaking you - so will try and slew the stern around putting you broadside to the waves - which you need to try and avoid ..

I would suggest initally NOT doing the trip on a Spring tide or when there is going to be a strong sea breeze (normally forecast) as this will increase the size of waves on the way back.....
 
with just me on board and no equipment she will JUST plane but normally she can do 9-8knts. with bigger waves she will slam but she does stay dry and no water makes it in to the cockpit.
 
I think you will find that all Shetlands are category C craft and therefore suitable for inshore use which I believe extends out 3 miles.
 
chi-girl said:
Photo0532.jpg


she is a shetland 498 with a 20hp 4stroke outboard.

i want to take her to bembridge or cowes and was wondering if she would be ok on a good day. i know at the moment i havent the experience but im just asking about the boat.
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On a good day it is fine. On a good day, you could swim it!
Seriously though, just build your knowledge and experience. Maybe you do a couple of miles out first time. Just remember conditions ont he way out need be no guide to conditions on the way back.
As my old instructor said.. never leave the harbour unless you are sure you can get back in. The entrance to Chichester can be aweful, and Bembride runs out of water.
Its is do-able yes. But its not something to do without thought and planning, especially re wind and tides.
 
Oh - in addition - a HH VHF would be very handy ...
Some mobile networks have very poor coverage just outside Chi Harbour ... O2 being one of them ...
 
fireball said:
Oh - in addition - a HH VHF would be very handy ...
Some mobile networks have very poor coverage just outside Chi Harbour ... O2 being one of them ...
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Do pay attention at the back there.

She already told us that she has a H/held VHF :D
 
id never attempt to leave the harbour until i have more experience. if i was to leave the harbour it would be for a trip up the arun but its prob easier to tow it to the arun.

the chances of me going to iow this yr is nil until i get some more experience and some more instruction( in hand for 2wks time) rya pb lv2.

it would be such a lovely adventure to get my own boat over the sea to another island.
 
For info', the 'sea breeze' usually happens on hot sunny days, and is particularly strong off Hayling Island seafront ( foreshore ).

It's caused by the land heating up; hot air rises, so the cool air from the sea rushes in to replace it - convection.

It's not often appreciated that this reverses at night with the 'Land Breeze' as the rapidly cooling land has the wind blowing offshore to the sea, this is usually after dusk.

As well as a spare engine, I'd suggest an anchor with say 30 metres of nylon warp would be well worth having.

If you contact a sailing club, you may well find a boat going the same way to keep you company, for the first trip across at least, though you might have to throttle back to 5-6 knots.

Bembridge has the same tides as Chichester, so it will be necessary to set off on an incoming flood tide, to ensure there's enough water at Bembridge; and be prepared for your boat to dry out.

The entrance channel can be a little confusing for the first time, so a waterproof chart in the cockpit can be handy ( or just with a bit of luck follow someone in, but try to be sure they know what they're doing ! ).
 
ive just been out and got 40mtrs of 14mm rope for the anchor as the stuffon there is rotting.

witrhout going into an anchor argument i have one at 10kg with 5mts of 8mm chain and another at 5kg with no chain.

have vhf hh. brand new and not even out the box yet.
will get a f/f next week so i know how deep the water is.

the idea of going with a saily boat is an excellent one plus i think id invite someone to come along in my boat just for moral support but im determined to do it in the next 12months. do we get calm days in the winter aswell
 
chi-girl said:
id never attempt to leave the harbour until i have more experience. if i was to leave the harbour it would be for a trip up the arun but its prob easier to tow it to the arun.

the chances of me going to iow this yr is nil until i get some more experience and some more instruction( in hand for 2wks time) rya pb lv2.

it would be such a lovely adventure to get my own boat over the sea to another island.
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A trip to Bembridge or anywhere in the Solent would be an easier trip thanChichester to the Arun. IMHO

I have never ventured eastwards from Chichester.

Uncharted, shark infested,

Dragons too. This one lives around Arundel.

dragon-picture-009.jpg
 
Why not "persuade" someone more experienced to go out of the harbour with you? To convince my wife that everything was safe went out at neaps, ie out on the ebbing tide in the morning, back on the flood tide late afternoon. Had a look at the Nab. She thoroughly enjoyed the trip in the end.

Bembridge is fine, alongside the pontoon doesn't dry out, just get there in time. Not difficult to follow the buoys in, honest.

Or try Ryde, though it does dry out.

Best of luck
 
TBH - you're probably best trying short trips just out of the harbour first - then go for the big one ..

See if your PB instructor will take you out to West Pole ...
 
i need to cross my first big hurdle which is getting out of the harbour.
ive been around the harbour and into langstone aswell via the sub barrier but havent been over chi bar. would like to do that before i venture further out
 
Do you have a chart & local pilot book? I know they are expensive (around 30 squid for the 2 of them) but they can provide hours of entertainment of an evening planning your trips. Oh, & it may help you get out of trouble if you need to change your plans during the trip.

A compass & a h'h GPS is also useful to reassure you that your nav is OK.

Your anchor & warp is Ok for about 8mtrs depth in mud or sand, but I wouldn't use it much deeper or in dodgy ground unless it was only a lunch break. The beauty of the Shetlander is that you can easily beach them & go for a walk ashore while the tide goes out & comes back.

Are you planning an over night on her? Even in the harbour that is a great experience. You only need a Li-Lo, sleeping bag plus food & drink. Does she have a cooker for hot drinks & snacks?
 
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