Cusco,
Can't help I am afraid on how long an Arrow would float for and I hope I never have to find out!
I am a part owner of an Arrow 4 and fly probably 6/7 return trips across the Channel each year. I do occasionally fly long crossings (eg Worthing - Le Havre to go to Deauville about 34/40 minutes over water) being based at Blackbushe. Western France will see me use Isle of Wight - Cherbourg (about 25 minutes) and Eastern France the short crossing. However I increasingly wonder whether this is really sensible in singles after an event in June 1999.
Half way back to Worthing from Le Havre at 4000' and we have rough running, lowering oil pressure and the CS unit going to fully fine intermittently. It could not have started in a worse position! With help from D&D we nurse it back into Le Havre and since then my outlook on long crossings is very cautious. I still do them (went St Tropez to Corsica in May - 1 hour over water) but I ensure I am 110% happy with engine performance, wear life-jackets and carry a raft.
Still I will always take a shorter crossing if available and practical even if that means a slight extension to the overall journey time. I would be very reluctant to do a long crossing in the Winter - Dover Calais wins then I think!
arrow 2
[This message has been edited by arrow2 (edited 07 November 2000).]