I'm alive!

Daniel · 11 July 2003, 10:57

It has been noted by some nice RIBnet people that i've been missing for a few weeks - nothing serious, just workload.

Anyway, i've taken a week off and here is what i was up to Monday and Tuesday...

Depart Ramsgate midday (ish) and out to the WW2 forts for lunch

Daniel · 11 July 2003, 10:59

Then up the Thames estury and under the QE2 Bridge (and over the Dartford tunnels for that matter).

The blue RIB is my potential new toy, but that's another discussion!

Daniel · 11 July 2003, 11:02

Past MI5 @ 30 - 40 Knts (i really opened her up under the Millenium bridge because there were so many people watching... hit 42 knts and was flying so had to ease off a bit - prop-air and everthing, can't belive there is no speed limit really)

Daniel · 11 July 2003, 11:04

Moored at Chiswick Pier overnight - the only 24h tidal accessable mooring i beleive. Can't understand why it's not more popular. Some serious lifeboats moored here.

Daniel · 11 July 2003, 11:06

As mentioned - this is the only off-the-shelf lifeboat, cost £150,000 and does 30 knts through two large diesel driven jets. In true RNLI fashipn they are redesigning it at the moment.

Daniel · 11 July 2003, 11:09

Then, following a few beers, we got up early Tuesday morning so as to go back downstream with the tide... past my old mate Tony's gaff

Daniel · 11 July 2003, 11:11

Back out through the estury, stopping at Erith for fuel (you can walk to the supermarket petrol station from this all-tide access old pier)

Daniel · 11 July 2003, 11:14

And (no photo i'm afraid) also called in on Southend for lunch!

Total distance: 178 nm
Total engine time: 7 hrs
Average speed: 25.5 knts
Maximum speed: 42.4 knts
Fuel used (ARGH): 190 li
Average fuel consumption: 1.07 li / nm & 27li / hr

Bilge Rat · 11 July 2003, 11:48

Daniel

Looks like you had a great time and i'm still hoping to do this trip myself sometime soonish with my crew and a few other boats, if your still interested in coming along your still more than welcome and as your now an old hand at Thames cruising you'd be most welcome.
Unfortunately i cant make the BIBOA trip this weekend as i'm involved in a scout event at Whitstable.

Richard

-<=[Tw18]=>- · 11 July 2003, 13:00

nice one daniel, btu that a serious amount of fuel!!! but you did do quite a distance!

Manos · 11 July 2003, 14:59

Great photos. Specially the one with the WW2 fortress and that one with the two RIBs side by side.

dgpw · 11 July 2003, 17:29

like it, what is the blue boat? Interesting seats looks like they are on an inboard, but it has a big out boar? I am confuzed?

Daniel · 14 July 2003, 23:23

The 'blue boat' may well be mine if the keen bloke from Spain appears with the cash we discussed at the end of last week (for Grayswish

)

She is a 24' Vector Vegabond with a Mariner 150 v6.

The large blue 'box' with the seats mounted on it is a 450li fuel tank! There is another two 150li beneth the deck and 80li in the bow! I know some of the history of the boat since i've been looking after various parts of it for the current owner for about 18 months.

The seats are superbly comfurtable upto a point (about F6) at which point you HAVE to stand for the larger waves.

kitten · 25 July 2003, 01:51

Careful with those tanks everyone will want you to go cruising as a bowser.

Pete7 · 26 July 2003, 23:40

Daniel, Kitten has a good point, exactly what was this Vector built to do with 830L of petrol on board ? at a litre a mile thats a long way. Don't think AP had that much when he crossed the Atlantic for the first time. Hmm a murky past perhaps, but it looks fun hope you have a lot of pleasure from her and she should out run the boys in blue down the Thames,

Pete

Brian · 27 July 2003, 10:29

Not only that, but I counted at least 6 x 25l cans at the back as well!

Daniel · 29 July 2003, 22:18

Our conclusion about the history of this boat is similar to yours guys - especialy given it came complete with a 200hp engine although with that Suzuki beast you'r estimate of a litre a mile is VERY conservative Pete!

Tanks 2 and 3 are not currently connected Brian - giving capacity of 450li, the extra EIGHT 20li jerry cans on board (160li

) was to supliment my 100li under deck tank on our 200nm round trip with no scheduled fuel stop.

Grayswish is still here (not sure if that is

or

) although there is something else in the pipeline... watch this space!

Pete - had a really good look for the 24-12v jobbie this morning but no luck mate, one final place to look then i need to eat humble pie i'm affraid - looks like i might be buying YOU a beer to save face here!

Cheers

Dan

Pete7 · 30 July 2003, 23:20

Daniel, found one this afternoon in Towsure, Southampton, for £10, so no worries. I agree the 200 hp suzi would drink it down, my mariner 150 mag does 60 lph at full throttle at that is bad enough. Heard of a Yam 225 4 stroke doing 80lph, eek!

Pete

Daniel · 31 July 2003, 00:40

That's very poor for a 4-stroke - where, what, how etc. did you get that figure?

I've been looking at large (175 - 225) toys for my next 'project' and a figure like that will upset me, i was expecting REDUCED lph (30lph @ 25knts currently) for a much larger engine and longer boat because:

a) newer technology
b) lover revs to acheive the speed - therefore inside economy band of 4-stroke or optimax etc.

Pete7 · 31 July 2003, 16:18

Dan, have a chat with Wavehumper for more details of the boat. Shocked me too !

Pete