Can I jump in a small dinghy with an outboard and drive over to the Isle of Wight from the mainland?

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I’m not asking whether it’s safe or not, just wondering what laws (if any) exist to prevent me from driving a small but stable inflatable boat/tender with a 4hp outboard over to the Isle of Wight from the mainland (eg Portsmouth, Southsea etc). Can it be done? Does anyone need to be contacted? Can you suggest any good places to arrive at?

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Answers


  1. Black Knight
    You would be better off trying to walk across as it would be quicker and hopeful you wont run out of food sorry fuel!
  2. + -

    Not sure but keep well away from the ferries.

    Evening all.
    Reply
  3. + -

    depends on the weather that day, and how fast the tide is running ( a 4hp might be overwhelmed, and anyway it will be a fairly slow trip ) and you cant get in the way of ferries or naval/commercial ships that have to stay in the main channel…..but otherwise I would expect in the summer there’s hundreds of dinks and tenders doing that trip….bring a VHF radio and a life jacket and whatever else the RYA/RNLI requires for small boats…….

    and oh, yeah, NEVER jump in a dinghy……you’ll capsize it……..

    yankee_sailor
    Reply
  4. + -

    Sure you can.. just be certain someone knows where to SEND YOUR BODY

    Shark Weak
    Reply
  5. + -

    It’s not safe to jump in any boat. No small craft with only 1 form of power should venture far from shore.Anything can be done. Have life insurance if U do go.

    45 auto
    Reply
  6. + -

    just make sure you have all the required safety equipment and such and you’re good, Isle of Wight is a county of England, so there’s no restrictions on traveling between counties. no one needs to be contacts. but I wouldn’t advise such a small boat for the trip, it can definitely be done on a nice day, but storms can quickly form in the english channel and really make the trip impassible while you’re in the middle of the solent. I seriously don’t advise doing it unless you’re absolutely sure of the weather conditions.

    stormgale
    Reply
  7. + -

    A 4hp is not going to have enough power to deal with sea conditions. Given how slow it would go you’d have to consider that the weather might change quite a bit while you’re out there.

    While you may not want to hear warnings about safety you should think carefully about this. The sea has no sympathy for fools.

    Soler
    Reply
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