When is too far too far?
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Discussion

Steviesam

Original Poster:

1,342 posts

150 months

Yesterday (09:45)
quotequote all
Hypothetical (sort of) question.

Lets say you bought a 30 or 32 foot cabin cruiser in one of the Baleric islands and your berth was in Alicante.
Is driving it over that distance considered a big trip or is it a nice day out that loads of people do in a boat that size?

I currently dont have the correct license to do it (only a few miles off shore for me at the minute that will be rectified soon), but a friend would be the captain who is qualified.

TL:DR Is it a stupid idea to buy a boat in Majorca that needs to be transported to mainland Spain.

Thanks

Simpo Two

89,225 posts

281 months

Yesterday (09:55)
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What's the range and cruising speed of the boat?

StuntCock

109 posts

199 months

Yesterday (09:56)
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As long as the boat and engine are sound, you have sufficient fuel and a good weather forecast it shouldn’t be a problem at all.
If you wanted to break it into two legs, stop in Ibiza / Formentera for a night.

Steviesam

Original Poster:

1,342 posts

150 months

Yesterday (10:01)
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
What's the range and cruising speed of the boat?
Range is about 200 miles at 20 knts. Fuel burn approx 14 gallons per hour.

Steviesam

Original Poster:

1,342 posts

150 months

Yesterday (10:02)
quotequote all
StuntCock said:
As long as the boat and engine are sound, you have sufficient fuel and a good weather forecast it shouldn t be a problem at all.
If you wanted to break it into two legs, stop in Ibiza / Formentera for a night.
Very good idea. I could also go to Denia, stop, rsst and carry on the next day.

Simpo Two

89,225 posts

281 months

Yesterday (10:06)
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Steviesam said:
Simpo Two said:
What's the range and cruising speed of the boat?
Range is about 200 miles at 20 knts. Fuel burn approx 14 gallons per hour.
I would overnight in Ibiza and choose a couple of calm days. But this is simply my logic, I'm not an offshore person.

essayer

10,203 posts

210 months

Yesterday (10:19)
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We did a few times, Morira to Ibiza/Mallorca and return.

Big trip, five/six hours to Ibiza? Really big waves once (by Med standards anyway) and a very different experience to being onshore, lots of concentration required. Some big boats out there.. but very doable with two of you and all the necessary gear.

Boarded by customs twice smile

Steviesam

Original Poster:

1,342 posts

150 months

Yesterday (10:26)
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Thanks. All good advice, and seems very doable!

OutInTheShed

11,566 posts

42 months

Yesterday (10:27)
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There are a few variables.

Firstly, a '32 foot cabin cruiser' could be anything from 'should only be allowed on the canal' to 'capable of crossing oceans'.

Secondly, boats you've just bought can have all sorts of reliability problems, or you can be talking about a well sorted boat, with two good engines etc.

Thirdly the weather, sea conditions etc.

Fourthly, people!
Can you cope with the sea? Can you fix problems that might occur?

How fast does it go? Can you reliably get to the next port within the time you trust the weather forecast for?

Can you wait around and be ready for a weather window?
This is the down side of involving other people, it puts pressure on to get the job done while they are available, or waiting for people causes you to miss weather windows.

Last time I moved a boat a few hundred miles, we did a week of sea trials and repairs before we set off.
That was a sailing boat, so more to go wrong perhaps.
A flexible plan to break the journey or carry on can be a good idea.
There may be no point stopping if you've got good weather and no real problems.

Can you get insurance?

StuntCock

109 posts

199 months

Yesterday (10:41)
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One would assume a 32ft cabin cruiser that is already in Mallorca is relatively seaworthy. You aren’t going to find a canal boat or broads cruiser out there!

Steviesam

Original Poster:

1,342 posts

150 months

Yesterday (10:43)
quotequote all
In answer to those questions!

It will likely be a Fairline Targa, so should be capable of that trip.
There would be no rush at all. A week of testing to check everything would be fine-even longer if needed. The boat will be from a dealer, so while no guarantee, I would be hopeful that at least it would not be a wreck!
The "captain" has sailed all over the world in years gone by, so he is very capable. I am pretty good with fixing stuff, so hopefully could manage to fix things, even temporarily.
Speed wise, its capable of around 35, and its good advice to plan a route where we can get to a port within the weather window. Thanks!
Regarding the weather window, yes we can wait around, Neither of us would be in any rush and we don't need to be anywhere else.
Insurance is a yes.

StuntCock

109 posts

199 months

Yesterday (10:56)
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Sounds like the makings of a lovely trip.
There is a beautiful sandy anchorage on the northern ‘spit’ of Formentera near an excellent fish restaurant called Molí de Sal.
Keep a good eye out for lobster pots between Ibiza and Formentera, there are a lot!

Jo-say8k

175 posts

32 months

Yesterday (12:49)
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Reminded me of Narrow dog to Carcassonne by Terry Darlington readit

Simpo Two

89,225 posts

281 months

Yesterday (14:58)
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Jo-say8k said:
Reminded me of Narrow dog to Carcassonne by Terry Darlington readit
'On the Phyllis May you dive through six-foot waves in the Channel, are swept down the terrible Rhône, and fight for your life in a storm among the flamingos of the Camargue.'

I arrived in Carcasonne by boat a few months ago, but took the somewhat easier/safer/quicker option of doing most of the trip by car!



NNK

1,167 posts

215 months

Back your speed off to 10kn and throw a couple of lures out, should get something tasty on the way.