Mike Fox Posted October 20, 2007 Report Share Posted October 20, 2007 (edited) I popped into Southern Motorboats for a chat with Tom on Thursday, and he was expecting a boat to be delivered back from Weymouth. We strolled round to fuel jetty to have a look. I hadn't seen one quite like this before: 31 foot long, stunning blue hull, with a central console and tan-coloured bimini. Down below there were several berths, a small galley and separate loo, providing good weekending creature comforts. Power supplied by twin 250 HP outboards. I thought "overgrown dory" when I first saw it, but that didn't do it justice, as it was dripping with teak, and was beautifully fitted out. It had to be moved to it's berth at Salterns, so Tom asked if I'd like to join him in a quick spin. Tom grabbed a couple of lifejackets and his trusty grab bag, and we cast off, trundling gently out of the marina. Tom found a straight bit of the channel, yelled "Hang on!" and then wound it up. Over 40 knots in 100m or so, with absolute control and power, and about 25% in reserve. A couple of high speed turns in the main channel, and my eyes were watering with the wind coming over the short screen. Had to take my glasses off to see again! I declined the offer of a "go" and Tom popped it back into the marina, berthing this perfectly with absolute control in tickover ahead/astern. What a blast! I'd never been on anything quite like it. Awesome power, a superb fishing platform (it it had less teak to ruin), and the capability to go pretty well anywhere in some pretty lumpy conditions. Would I like one? Would I enjoy getting to France in 2 hours instead of 10? Would I like to pay the fuel bills on something that could drink 2 litres per hour? I do over 1,000 miles per year - at an average of around 5 knots - so, let's see - 200 hours of travelling time at 30 knots instead would give me 6,000 miles instead ....ermmm that's Edited October 20, 2007 by Mike Fox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHoy Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 (edited) "and my eyes were watering with the wind coming over the short screen" Thats nothing to the eye-watering that happens when you ask the price Sorry Tom - still excellent value of course! Edited October 22, 2007 by AHoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 "Would I like to pay the fuel bills on something that could drink 2 litres per hour?" ooooh yes please! however I estimate that wide open this puppy would be drinking around 180 litres an hour. this is not of course to suggest that it couldn't be considered economical - even Phaeton can be pursuaded to swallow 46 lph WOT; but I only use that when there's a danger the bar will be closed whan we get there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Fox Posted October 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 Haha ! I meant 2 litres per mile! Maybe Duncan's figure is closer. The good ship Frisky Fox does 2 litres per hour under power, or 3 miles per litre. Let's just hope the red diesel tax relief stays! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djredrupp Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 but being twin 250hp OUTBOARDS,, thats petrol right! ouchh you need your own oil station to run it! Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djredrupp Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 the MF 925 WalkAround support Boat : Only joking Tom Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted October 29, 2007 Report Share Posted October 29, 2007 "Would I like to pay the fuel bills on something that could drink 2 litres per hour?" ooooh yes please! however I estimate that wide open this puppy would be drinking around 180 litres an hour. this is not of course to suggest that it couldn't be considered economical - even Phaeton can be pursuaded to swallow 46 lph WOT; but I only use that when there's a danger the bar will be closed whan we get there... Just for the record.... WOT will be 160 per hour, but at a more sedate cruising speed you'll be closer to 70 per hour at somewhat over 30 knots.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted October 29, 2007 Report Share Posted October 29, 2007 "Would I like to pay the fuel bills on something that could drink 2 litres per hour?" ooooh yes please! however I estimate that wide open this puppy would be drinking around 180 litres an hour. this is not of course to suggest that it couldn't be considered economical - even Phaeton can be pursuaded to swallow 46 lph WOT; but I only use that when there's a danger the bar will be closed whan we get there... Just for the record.... WOT will be 160 per hour, but at a more sedate cruising speed you'll be closer to 70 per hour at somewhat over 30 knots.... wow - that (WOT) represents a 42% improvement on the 'old' fuel injected or carbed 2 stoke consumption from only 10 years ago. I knew things were moving on and they had gone through 25 past 30 but that's excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted October 29, 2007 Report Share Posted October 29, 2007 (edited) wow - that (WOT) represents a 42% improvement on the 'old' fuel injected or carbed 2 stoke consumption from only 10 years ago. I knew things were moving on and they had gone through 25 past 30 but that's excellent. 70 litres per hour..... Cheap as chips! ...Only Edited October 29, 2007 by TomBettle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 speed isn't everything, as Mike Fox keeps saying.......... can you rig a sail on it easily enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomBettle Posted October 30, 2007 Report Share Posted October 30, 2007 speed isn't everything, as Mike Fox keeps saying.......... can you rig a sail on it easily enough? No problem Duncan, we'll lash it to the uprights on the T Top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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