Is it safe ?

Question

me and my friend are planning to buy a really small cabin boat and go 2 sea sailing around scotland where we live, is it to dangerous to go to sea for such a long time in such a small boat ? how reliable are boat engines ? can they do alot of miles before they break? basically is this trip possible, ps i say sailing i mean driving with the engine

Answer 1

As you are a novest best stay in shore till you have yrs under your keel

Answer 2

Behold the dreamer... for it is he who changed the world from flat to round...

     Did you know that John Paul Jones used to do that when he was a kid...   only he did it in a sailing dinghy and had to be home at night.

     Don't ever give up on the dream... but, sorry, you have to give up the idea of doing it in a 17 foot motor boat (of any kind). cabin boat or not.  No, you probably won't die... if you wear your life jackets, but you will be absolutely miserable.  That is, if you intend to go out and stay out, as your question suggests.

     For one thing, you won't really get very far... (kinda like the kid that threatens to run away from home one morning - only to have his Mom pack his lunch - but he is back before lunch time anyway. lol)

    You don't have enough fuel... for another you have no fresh water...  so when your boat runs out of gas (which will be about the time you loose sight of your home port)  Then what?

Don't get me wrong...    It is an admirable dream - just the wrong vessel to do it in.

Worst case scenario... you will motor out past the Fifth of Firth - run out of gas, and the wind and current will NOT take you back into shore, but rather continue to take out to sea... so far from those White Cliffs of Dover - you may never see them again.  

However, in about 60 days (depending on how well and how fast your boat drifts)  you should have drifted into the Azores, possibly even made it to the Canary Islands... but, you could probably survive that if you and your friend were able to take enough fresh water to drink - and food to eat.

     So, lets see... 2 people x 1 gallon of water per day for 60 days = 120 gallons of water at 8 pounds per gallon = 960 pounds of water... 960 pounds divided by 64 (thats pounds of water in a cubic foot) You will need 15 cubic feet of your 17 foot boat just to store your fresh water.  So, lets pretend that 960 lbs of water, plus the weight of you and your friend, and the weight of your food, tackle, gear, etc... doesn't sink your boat...  We won't even add the 6 pounds per gallon weight of your fuel, because you have run out already...

But with 15 "cubic" feet taking up space on your 17 foot boat, Where then will you put your selves, your food, your clothes, emergency gear, and what the heck... where you gonna put the porta-potty?

So, if you get my drift (pun intended)... you and your friend need to do some homework... get some books out of the library, study up, and find your selves the right boat to do this in...  

I don't want to be reading about you in the newspaper...

Happy & Safe Boating!

Answer 3

Ciamar a tha sibh!

Okay, yes, everything Capt. John said (generally a good rule of thumb, he knows his stuff).

That said, you have a lot of options available to you. The journey of a thousand kilometers begins with a single step. There are lots of amazing places in your area to begin sailing  around and getting experience with the seas and currents there. You have hundreds of kilometers of beautiful salt-water lochs, and in the summer (only, for now) the Hebrides are an amazing place to hone your seamanship.

Boat-wise, you live in the land of the best sailing microcruisers ever built (West Wight Potter, Drascombe, Hurley, etc), do give some consideration to sailing, or motorsailing, for fuel conservation if nothing else. If you're determined to use power only, give very serious consideration to a converted trawler. There are lots of them in your area, for a reason.

Most importantly, you have the very best resource in the world right at your fingertips. It's called the Royal Yachting Association, and it has the very best training program for small craft ever developed. Find a flotilla nearby, and start hanging out with them; they'll have more "local knowledge" than any group like this ever can.

Slainte!

Answer 4

you sound like you have no clue,don't bother you'll die yes, it it very dangerous. i sail.

Answer 5

That's pretty much certain death. The boat is too small for the waves in that area and the unmarked rocks will destroy the boat. You'll probably have issues with finding places to fuel the boat as well because 17 foot cabin cruisers won't last too long on just one tank.

Answer 6

i dont know

Answer 7

Be prepared to eat your friend when you run out of food.

Warning they may eat you!

Answer 8

Pay Heed to Capt John. The man sounds like he Knows his stuff.

Answer 9

It's possible but of course, dangerous.  Too dangerous?  Only you can evaluate the risk to yourselves.  

Why not practice on something more doable...Miami to Bimini, for example?

You will have to be really, really good friends.

Answer 10

sounds like it wouldn't be safe for you to do it

Answer 11

It would be best to ask local mariners around the area of your nautical adventure. Observe the vessels arriving and departing from your local port during poor weather conditions. This will give you an idea what more experienced mariners would take on. Ask the departing vessels the amount of experience they have and what they expect to encounter. Also ask how they prepared for the bad situations. The arriving vessels should be asked the same type of questions. These will be the people to ask about tips for local conditions, hazards, and advice for the voyage. Anything is possible just take smaller trips with other vessels for support. Strengthen your knowledge of the area and and get your feet wet slowly. Variable communication devices and full safety gear will give you a much better chance of a positive outcome. The engine should be very reliable if properly maintained.Sound your tank mark your position then run at full throttle for a few hours mark your position then sound the tank again. This will give you an idea of your range. Never push the full range and dont run at full throttle for long periods. Give yourself 1/3 reserve for reaching your destination to refuel. Planning your trip cannot be stressed enough set times for arrival at certain locations. You must give a voyage plan to someone you will keep in contact with during your voyage. Give them instructions on who to contact if you do not contact them at the scheduled time. Anything can be made safer with a full understanding of the risk and planning for that risk. Good Luck