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Crossing an ocean - fuel

Discussion in 'Engines' started by Centrinario, Jul 23, 2021.

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  1. Centrinario

    Centrinario New Member

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    If you're interested in crossing the Atlantic and are willing to dedicate the 20+ days it would require from Europe to the U.S, how much fuel would you have to bring with you on a reasonable size yacht, like a sunseeker Manhattan 50, for example. I'm guessing a full tank won't be enough. How much more would you have to bring with you?

    Would you be able to stop on whatever islands are on the way to refuel? Is that acceptable?
  2. AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

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    With a Sunseeker you would need the company of a tanker all the way... But with some slow going trawler type of boats this size, it is possible without refueling... In general though, small boats that do the crossing are with sails...
  3. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Nobody crosses the Atlantic with a small fast motoryacht... unless they have a death wish. Some small trawlers (50/60’) have done it a few times but even then it is a tough ride. A few years ago Nordhvn organized a groups crossing. All made it to Europe but I think most said never again. And they had mechanics on a mother ship to assist...

    Yes you can stop in Bermuda and the Azores to refuel but again fuel isn’t the only challenge. Sea conditions is what prevent most boats from crossing on their own bottoms
  4. Centrinario

    Centrinario New Member

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    Is the threat concentrated around the idea of bad weather along the way, or are there any other threats? I mean... if you had clear weather along the way, the yacht was well maintained and fully functional and you enough fuel, why would the distance matter?
  5. gr8trn

    gr8trn Senior Member

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    Pull up a weather application or website and watch the weather systems in the Atlantic Ocean for a 20 day stretch and you will have a better idea as to the potential issues.
  6. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    I would call today's seas about as clear as it gets for a crossing. Worst on the trip, going US to Bermuda to Azores to Portugal is about 6' seas. Not a problem at all in a vessel designed for ocean crossing, but I sure don't want days and nights of 6' seas in a 50' Sunseeker. Of course a week from now we might see 12'.

    You can never guarantee clear weather for the trip and will likely never see it the full way. I love how you say if you had clear weather and enough fuel. My father use to say "if frogs had wings."

    The Sunseeker you mention has a fuel range of less than 200 nm. If you ran slow you might get it up to 300-350.

    There are three challenges to ocean crossing. 1. a capable boat for rough seas, needs to be able to handle up to 20'. 2. Fuel capacity. Needs to be able to handle 2000 nm with a nice reserve. 3. Capable crew with knowledge and experience for an ocean crossing.

    You're o for 3 on your suggested crossing.
  7. Centrinario

    Centrinario New Member

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    If need be, are there ways to transfer a 40 foot motor yacht across an ocean other than doing it yourself? A service that does it for a price or something?
  8. yr2030

    yr2030 Senior Member

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    In a bay boat? Never make it.
    We do the south Atlantic one or twice a year and that's really bad in heavy seas, like last week. We started in Durban, on our way to Port Stanly in 40kt NW winds, seas abeam at 4m, had one wave completely clear the bridge! That was near the Sandwich Islands. That with two on tow. Had to cut speed to 5kts. Ten days of that and most on this ship will want to stay ashore. Almost ran out of LNG.! Fortunately have 12,000 gal of diesel on board.
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2021
  9. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    ...here we go
  10. yr2030

    yr2030 Senior Member

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    I don't know if Dock Wise is running in the Med. We hardly see them anymore.
  11. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    You ship them. Sevenstar and their subsidiary DYT, formerly Dockwise.

    And, yes, still running. We're shipping in November from Genoa to Fort Lauderdale.
  12. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    I’m sorry to be crass here but given you don’t appear to know the fuel range of the boat as compared to the distance you want to travel tells me your experience level is nowhere close to what is needed to consider this type of trip.

    Ask yourself a few hypothetical questions like:
    1. Where will you hide if weather gets bad? Answer- there is nowhere to hide once you’re out there.
    2. What will you do when you have a mechanical issue? Answer- if you can’t fix it or don’t have the spares you’re totally screwed. Help is a long, long way away.
    3. If you get in trouble, will you be putting others in harms way as they attempt to save you?

    Sounds like you really need to look at shipping options as your only option if you need that boat across the pond.
    yr2030 likes this.
  13. johnnry

    johnnry Member

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    I did the calculations, with 15 drums in the staterooms you can make it to the azores with plenty to spare..,as long as you don't mind a little fuel smell while sleeping and remember to smoke on deck ,
  14. Fiammetta42

    Fiammetta42 Member

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    N sea U.K. to Iceland - Green land - Canada - Eastern seaboard States
    refuelling as and when .
    But it’s gonna kill the engine hrs and as others you will need supplementary drums / tanks and be pumping fuel about .Think of those cream carpets :).
    Better as recommended just ship it on a boat transporter from say Malta or where ever in the Med .Cost a lot less and maintain it’s residuals re hrs .
    Or sell it and buy another in the Caribbean.Hat 50 s ubiquitous and cheap as chips anyhow .Whats that special about yours you would like get to nearly probably die on it ?