FootballFan
Well-Known Member
Like I said in another post, catching up on some topics I wanted to post.
We recently moved our boat from Clearwater, FL to Kent Narrows in the Chesapeake. I will throw out an approximate number - 1,200 NM.
There are several on this forum for which this is not a big deal. Many I have spoken to do this kind of trip regularly and have for a long period of time. (BTW - thank you for your input and assistance in planning).
For us, it was a big deal. Longest single trip previously was about 700 NM (NC to Florida when we bought our previous 47DB). Lots of Florida loop stuff, 300 NM trips. Nothing like this.
Others can share the details about making a trip like this - they have more experience than I do.
I thought I would share some general personal observations.
First off, due to work timing, we decided to do this in one big trip. Float plan was 10 days or so. Would not do that again. Going back south in the fall and future trips will break into segments - with breaks going home.
Individual days on the float plan was pretty accurate. Made every days target, and over achieved a couple. The individual day targets were not the issue - it was day after day after day that wore on us. Up at 5:30 or so. Morning prep. Some mornings waiting for it to get light enough to see day markers before leaving. One morning leaving while dark since was a pretty tame navigational area.
Then running till sometime in the afternoon. Then a couple of days running into weather issues - getting delayed waiting on a storm to pass and getting in late.
By the time we got tied up, boat washed down, had a cocktail time to go to bed and start over the next day.
Learned a lot. Know a lot more about the boat we bought last fall. Both of us grew in boating skills significantly. Admiral now feels good at the helm meeting boats and passing boats in the ICW - running through bridges.
Float plans never include designated time for mechanical issues but we all know they can occur.
Our first was an Air Conditioner issue for the Salon and Galley. Thanks to some help from members here - we found a resource to take a look at our issue at Cape Canaveral - 4 days or so into the trip. Delayed a day to get it checked out. Estimate was it was going to take several days to get parts in and resolve.
Was about to leave the boat and get it fixed. We had AC in sleeping quarters downstairs and on the helm. Talking it over, Admiral looked at me and said "Suck it up buttercup", we have calm seas for the run off the coast going north - we can do this. So we went.
Got to Cape Fear in NC and hit a hard stop on an issue with the port engine. B positive ground was shorted out - killing the ECU on port. Boat sat for 9 days - turned out to be the Key Switch that had shorted out. $30 part. Needless to say - replace all 4 switches.
Somewhere along the way, we asked each other - why did we do this? Should we have just left the boat in FL for the summer?
On a Sunday evening we pulled into Kent Narrows after a long day from Virginia. Went to the fuel dock, pumped out, then pulled into our summer slip at Mears Point.
An hour after getting secured, power hooked up, and settled we were sitting on the back of the bridge (we call it the balcony) having a cocktail. Looking out at the view of the Chester River.
Not sure who said it first - but the observation was "Wow, we are so glad we did this"!
If you got this far - thanks for reading my long rambling email.
Mark
We recently moved our boat from Clearwater, FL to Kent Narrows in the Chesapeake. I will throw out an approximate number - 1,200 NM.
There are several on this forum for which this is not a big deal. Many I have spoken to do this kind of trip regularly and have for a long period of time. (BTW - thank you for your input and assistance in planning).
For us, it was a big deal. Longest single trip previously was about 700 NM (NC to Florida when we bought our previous 47DB). Lots of Florida loop stuff, 300 NM trips. Nothing like this.
Others can share the details about making a trip like this - they have more experience than I do.
I thought I would share some general personal observations.
First off, due to work timing, we decided to do this in one big trip. Float plan was 10 days or so. Would not do that again. Going back south in the fall and future trips will break into segments - with breaks going home.
Individual days on the float plan was pretty accurate. Made every days target, and over achieved a couple. The individual day targets were not the issue - it was day after day after day that wore on us. Up at 5:30 or so. Morning prep. Some mornings waiting for it to get light enough to see day markers before leaving. One morning leaving while dark since was a pretty tame navigational area.
Then running till sometime in the afternoon. Then a couple of days running into weather issues - getting delayed waiting on a storm to pass and getting in late.
By the time we got tied up, boat washed down, had a cocktail time to go to bed and start over the next day.
Learned a lot. Know a lot more about the boat we bought last fall. Both of us grew in boating skills significantly. Admiral now feels good at the helm meeting boats and passing boats in the ICW - running through bridges.
Float plans never include designated time for mechanical issues but we all know they can occur.
Our first was an Air Conditioner issue for the Salon and Galley. Thanks to some help from members here - we found a resource to take a look at our issue at Cape Canaveral - 4 days or so into the trip. Delayed a day to get it checked out. Estimate was it was going to take several days to get parts in and resolve.
Was about to leave the boat and get it fixed. We had AC in sleeping quarters downstairs and on the helm. Talking it over, Admiral looked at me and said "Suck it up buttercup", we have calm seas for the run off the coast going north - we can do this. So we went.
Got to Cape Fear in NC and hit a hard stop on an issue with the port engine. B positive ground was shorted out - killing the ECU on port. Boat sat for 9 days - turned out to be the Key Switch that had shorted out. $30 part. Needless to say - replace all 4 switches.
Somewhere along the way, we asked each other - why did we do this? Should we have just left the boat in FL for the summer?
On a Sunday evening we pulled into Kent Narrows after a long day from Virginia. Went to the fuel dock, pumped out, then pulled into our summer slip at Mears Point.
An hour after getting secured, power hooked up, and settled we were sitting on the back of the bridge (we call it the balcony) having a cocktail. Looking out at the view of the Chester River.
Not sure who said it first - but the observation was "Wow, we are so glad we did this"!
If you got this far - thanks for reading my long rambling email.
Mark