Thinking of crossing the wash.

[Ajay75]

Hi I would like to cross the wash from Boston to the Norfolk broads
My boat is a bounty boats ( ex broads hire) she is 27 foot with a nanni diesel 50 hp engine on a shaft.
any thoughts??

 

[[2574]]

I did a similar passage from Denver via King’s Lynn to Gt Yarmouth in a semi displacement 18kt Nimbus 30’ cruiser.

You’d need to be absolutely certain that you had no wind about for that passage for your boat. Not many places to run to, Wells maybe but that’s not a great place to go in deteriorating weather. I see that it’s a fair distance to Gt Yarmouth from Boston, 82nm so probably 18hrs at sea minimum, don’t know how fast your boat would go, could it maintain 5 knots? But in all likelihood you’ll need to motor in darkness. You’d need to carry extra fuel.

To be honest, if it was me, I’d lift her on a truck and go by road. Yes that would cost money but so would fitting out your boat to safely make the sea passage.

 

[pvb]

It's essentially a river boat so, as Robih said, you'd need to be sure of a benign weather forecast before setting out. If the boat hasn't been routinely used at sea, you run the risk of wave motion stirring up the crud in the fuel tank and blocking the fuel filter, thus stopping the engine. So you need to take some spare filters with you, and know how to change them quickly at sea in unpleasant conditions.

Putting it on a truck would be much less stressful.

 

[Lee Shaw]

The timings of tides is another big factor because it can run up to 3 knots around the Norfolk coast and tides will determine when you can get out of the Wash. As has been said above, that's quite a serious passage if your boat hasn't been to sea before. The truck option sounds right.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I used to keep a boat in The Wash, i'd definitely say, don't do it with that boat. Weather and sea state on that stretch of coast can go from flat calm to 2m waves in an hour, with nowhere to run to. Been there, done that, in proper sea boats.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I sailed through that area. Lots a sandbanks and after Wells Next the Sea and Blakeney there is nowhere to run for cover if there is a need until you get to Great Yarmouth. If you plan it right with the weather and tides you will be ok, but if the sea state changes you need to make sure that the boat can take it and you will need a plan B.

 

[Iliade]

Or pick a period with very light tail winds forecast for a few days.
See what your insurer says first though...

 

[harvey38]

A few questions -

Why are you doing it, challenge, adventure or you have to?

If you have to then I assume it's because you need a change of cruising ground so I'd put her on a trailer and take the stress free route.

If it's for a challenge or adventure, make meticulous plans with numerous alternatives, take a knowledgeable crew, know your boat inside out, make sure you have plenty of safety equipment, know how to use it, ensure you will not be a burden to others if it goes wrong or..........

Find another challenge or adventure.

 

[Halo]

Is there an inland route that will give you a much shorter sea passage? Up the Witham to Lincoln then Fossdyke to Trent and on from there ?

 

[WoodyP]

Hi I would like to cross the wash from Boston to the Norfolk broads
My boat is a bounty boats ( ex broads hire) she is 27 foot with a nanni diesel 50 hp engine on a shaft.
any thoughts??

It depends on the hull. Looking at other bounty boats they seem to have a number that look as though they would do the trip but some that wouldn't. Plenty of narrow boats have done similar trips in the right conditions. You may have to make a few modifications to cut down on the places where you could get water ingress, but 50hp on a 27ft hull should push you along quite well, if it is reliable.

 

[Daverw]

Is there an inland route that will give you a much shorter sea passage? Up the Witham to Lincoln then Fossdyke to Trent and on from there ?

I think that’s going the wrong way, the OP wants to go south

 

[[2574]]

Is there an inland route that will give you a much shorter sea passage? Up the Witham to Lincoln then Fossdyke to Trent and on from there ?

Not possible to get in to the Broads other than via a salt water route. Possible to get from Boston on to the Nene (maybe via the Grand Union - not sure) and from there on to the Great Ouse at Denver sluice but the last bit from the Gt Ouse to the Broads is not connected - though there was talk of there being a connection being made but as far as I am aware there is no progress. Shame as it would make a fabulous inter connected waterway and provide many years of cruising for those that love the rivers and Broads.

 

[[2574]]

It depends on the hull. Looking at other bounty boats they seem to have a number that look as though they would do the trip but some that wouldn't. Plenty of narrow boats have done similar trips in the right conditions. You may have to make a few modifications to cut down on the places where you could get water ingress, but 50hp on a 27ft hull should push you along quite well, if it is reliable.

I’d want a cast iron guarantee from the big guy upstairs that there’d not be more than 3kts of breeze for the duration of the trip before I set off on an 80m North Sea passage in a narrow boat......

 

[WoodyP]

I’d want a cast iron guarantee from the big guy upstairs that there’d not be more than 3kts of breeze for the duration of the trip before I set off on an 80m North Sea passage in a narrow boat......

Me too, but it is done. I have seen a narrow boat in Wells, and the next day heading up to Kings Lynn. I also have seen where someone crossed the Channel in a narrow boat. They put boards over the windows. The op has not disclosed which hull his boat has, it may well be more of a cruiser type, and thus a bit faster and more able to cope with waves.

 

[differentroads]

I've crossed the Wash in a 18' clinker sailing dinghy and a 19' sailing cruiser. Given calm weather, the strong tidal currents, lack of shelter except at high tide and avoiding sandbanks are your main problems. Its a challenging bit of water to deal with tides for the first time. For example, the current can run against you at 3knots on the 30 mile stretch from Cromer to Great Yarmouth and theres nowhere to pull in if you get it wrong. Which I have, and burning fuel for three hours in sight of Great Yarmouth as night falls without making progress was horrible.

But its doable depending on doing the research, making sure your engine is ultra reliable (can you fit a backup outboard?) and have bags of initiative and self reliance.