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Bill Parlatore |
News |
2024-01-14 00:00:00.0 |
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<p><em><strong>When you want more than Captain Ron....</strong></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>During the course of your boating life, there will be times when engaging the services of a professional captain will be desirable, prudent, or even required.</p>
<p>As mentioned in my previous article on <a href="../../../../news/insuring-your-boating-dream">insurance</a>, having a captain on your new boat brings experience and seasoned common sense. This should help as one learns to handle a new boat, especially if it is 10 feet larger than you’ve owned before.</p>
<p>When going up in size, the number and complexity of systems, engines, and gear may be more intimidating, even before leaving the dock. While technology has brought many improvements to the boating experience, in many cases automating some of the decision making, there is still the critical need to have a responsible owner in command. This is universal no matter how large or small, power or sail.</p>
<p>You need to know what you are doing out there!</p>
<p>Besides understanding where things are and how they work, there are routines and procedures for preparing the boat, getting under way, and dealing with the almost infinite variety of situations on the water that require clear thinking, knowledge, and experience. And as boats get larger, it is foolish to expect one can figure it all out alone. This is where the captain comes in.</p>
<p>Along with making you familiar with how to prepare for getting under way, there are many tricks and techniques a captain can pass on that reflect wisdom from generations of seafarers. This can come from touch-and-go practice coming up to a mooring ball or dock in varying wind and current conditions or learning how to lasso a line around a piling. And the ever-present need to get a spring line on the dock before tossing a bow line to the dock attendant isn’t always intuitive.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Are you confident enough to back into a slip?)</em></p>
<p><img title="docking a boat at a crowded marina" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/docking-boat-at-crowded-marina.jpg?cb=555712F4-BD8F-EF1E-F0530D4A5D3F321A" alt="docking a boat at a crowded marina" width="800" height="450" /></p>
<p>As with everything else in your boating life, building practical skills is important for your boating resume.</p>
<p>A professional captain should be viewed as an important step in becoming familiar with a new boat. While some may see it as a necessary evil and expense, I have long argued it is perhaps one of the best things one can do to become a responsible and confident mariner. Especially for people like me who tend to avoid instruction in an academic environment, the hands-on experience of working and learning from the right captain makes all the difference in the world.</p>
<p>What one can learn is more than a simple punch list of tasks, and it will usually be custom fit to the needs of the situation. In addition to a basic review of systems and what to check in the engine space, it may include considerations of current and future weather, reviewing local conditions and forecasts. Given the dynamic nature of being on the water, it is helpful to see how a captain evaluates and responds to all sorts of situations, from overtaking vessels in a crowded waterway, dealing with unexpected delays at bridges and other congestion points, or assisting other vessels either in distress or in need in some way. Even radio communications and what happens next, when they go beyond what is taught in basic seamanship school.</p>
<p>(Live fire exercises of the prototype rail gun at the Dahlgren Sea Systems Command on the Potomac come to mind, as do USCG warnings to our trawler that the inlet to Cape Hatteras is closed and to not even think about coming in to get away from a nasty overtaking storm. Or responding to a mysterious and utterly silent military helicopter that literally appeared out of nowhere as we steamed north in a new, unmarked trawler along the coast of California on our way to Cape Flattery.)</p>
<p>A captain can also help break bad habits and improve ways of doing things that are not the right way to do it on a bigger boat. Fenders, lines, and dinghy management may require a different approach. Even the additional weight and difficulty handling a big shorepower cord becomes a new experience.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Captains can help with the basics, such as the proper way to tie a dock line.)</em></p>
<p><em><img title="proper way to tie a dock line for boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/tying-and-storing-a-dock-line-for-boat.jpg?cb=55A90F53-C706-C2BF-ACE5100DA737D665" alt="proper way to tie a dock line for boat" width="800" height="470" /></em></p>
<p>Many of our seasoned brokers at Seattle Yachts tell me the concept of using a captain when going up in boat size is a worthy investment. They agree the 10-foot rule imposed by insurance companies is a good idea for many reasons.</p>
<p>One is that a captain may help define—or redefine—the roles of crew. A couple running a new, larger boat may be surprised to find that the woman is a much better choice for the helm than her husband, who is more suited for deck duty. Egos aside, this is true fairly often, particularly on bigger boats where deck gear becomes heavy and unwieldy. There is a reason why shore cable reel systems are common on large boats. Compare the fenders on a <a href="../../../../new-northern-marine-yachts-for-sale/">Northern Marine</a> 80 to those on a 36-foot <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/grand-banks-yachts">Grand Banks</a>. Big difference.</p>
<p>Some captains are considered “teaching captains,” and they are ideal choices for less-experienced people taking ownership of a new boat. Ask any broker for the name of a teaching captain and most will offer their short list of proven personalities. Making happy owners is everyone’s goal.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>No One Job Description</strong></p>
<p>I’ve worked with several professional captains over the years, and no two captains offer quite the same range of services or have the same expertise. Some captains specialize in deliveries, some can best be described as teaching captains as described above, and others typically tailor their services to the needs of a yacht and its owners.</p>
<p>For example, one couple recently upgraded from a Catalina 30 to a new <a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Tartan-395-Sailboat">Tartan 395</a> sailboat they bought at the fall show. The 10-foot step up in size made using a captain advisable, but for them it only involved a couple of afternoon sessions to qualify the owners on their new boat. The difference in windage while docking, and anticipating how the heavier boat responds, took getting used to.</p>
<p>The new owners obviously wished to avoid crash-and-burn learning experiences with their shiny new hull, so taking it slow with an experienced captain assured smiles at the end of the day.</p>
<p>Yacht deliveries are a common way to move boats up and down the coast, and delivery captains make a respectable living moving boats year-round. It is possible to find a captain to deliver one’s boat, with the stipulation that you want to be onboard for the learning experience. There is always something to learn and experience for a new owner. This might even include some time offshore to get long-distance miles under their belt.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Seattle Yachts broker <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Martin-Snyder">Martin Snyder</a> and first mate Dave delivering a boat to a customer.)</em></p>
<p> <img title="yacht broker delivering boat to customer" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/seattle-yacht-broker-delivering-boat-to-customer.jpg?cb=55E5EBAA-FE1F-C138-E71B8EDD55ACDA95" alt="yacht broker delivering boat to customer" width="800" height="568" /></p>
<p>One will have to negotiate the specifics with a captain for such an adventure, but the benefits will likely far outweigh the costs. The captain will go over the boat in detail, review what safety gear is aboard and what needs to be rented sort term (EPIRB and life raft), what spares are needed and how many, and a score of other details. And the owner learns something every step of the way.</p>
<p>This is a markedly different scenario from hiring a captain to simply spend a handful of hours running the boat locally with you aboard.</p>
<p>I spoke at length with a couple of captains who have diverse backgrounds to help explore other aspects that may not be obvious.</p>
<p>Capt. Andrea Gaines is decidedly NOT what she calls a “Rolodex captain.” These captains tend to sit in the pilothouse and have contacts to call for pretty much everything that may need to be done on the boat. This is contrary to her hands-on approach. Yes, for one of the boats she manages, she has one electrician, one plumber, and one Caterpillar mechanic that she routinely uses to service and work on projects that comes up. But she is always alongside when one of them is on the boat, always hands-on during any and all tasks or projects. <em><strong>(Read: <a href="../../../../news/running-a-small-ship">Running A Small Ship</a>)</strong></em></p>
<p>As a result, she is intimately familiar with the boat and its systems and is comfortable with changing oil and gear lube in engines, generators, transmissions, and other mechanical gear. She flushes filters, changes impellers, exercises through hulls, tightens wiring, and dozens of other tasks to make the boat as trouble-free as possible. She knows a well-maintained boat is going to be far less troublesome than the alternative.</p>
<p><img title="captain andrea gaines driving a yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/captain-andrea-gaines-driving-a-yacht.jpg?cb=5619A74A-AC97-BDDA-BD1BA12A8A47FDC1" alt="captain andrea gaines driving a yacht" width="587" height="649" /></p>
<p>She currently has three or four long-term clients, and each has its unique set of needs and services. One is a large sailboat that spends its winter in the Caribbean when it is not in Maine. Her time with this client is split between managing other captains and crew who maintain the boat when the owner is absent, run the boat when the owner is aboard and she is not, and deliver the boat back to Maine (and her care) for the season. This way she never loses touch with the boat and always has a hand on its pulse and needs.</p>
<p>For a new boat owner, she might spend a week on the boat with the owners. She will go over checklists for the boat and its systems, show how best to drive the boat, get under way, use the radio, deal with all the micro issues we come across, and generally make the owners comfortable with their new boat.</p>
<p>“At first, learning a new boat is like drinking out of a firehose,” she explained. It may take six months to absorb it all, and hiring a captain proves to be very helpful.</p>
<p>“Every owner wants to enjoy their boat,” Andrea continued. It is at the heart of everything she does. Maximizing their time, enjoyment, and the experience on the boat is what it is all about.</p>
<p>And when the owners’ available window to be on their boat is short, it is vitally important to make sure everything works when they are aboard.</p>
<p>One of her clients has a large <a href="../../../../used-cruising-yachts-for-sale/">cruising motoryacht</a>, and she is very much in charge of the ongoing maintenance as she runs the boat up and down the coast. She changes the oil in the engines and generators, replaces impellers, and is often down in the engine room while the boat sits at a luxury marina. You seldom find her chilling out in the pilothouse helm chair.</p>
<p>Andrea says every owner has his or her needs, which often evolve over time. This is particularly relevant with her long-standing client relationships. They may have once been hands-on owner/operators, but over the years they have become less inclined to spend time in the engine room doing maintenance. Their interests—and abilities—changed with the years. It is the responsibility of the full or part-time captain to worry about what the owner no longer wants to do, or can no longer do with confidence.</p>
<p>And that is an important aspect of the client/captain relationship. Aging owners may not want to give up boating as they lose the ability to do what they once did…and enjoyed. The captain now keeps the ship afloat, so to speak, doing everything from provisioning to keeping a spreadsheet of the complete spares inventory. They perform all maintenance (either doing it personally or managing the work of others) in addition to running the boat for the owners. Given the commitment to overall responsibility for the yacht as the captain, operating the boat on the water may be a small percentage of the total time spent managing the yacht.</p>
<p>To emphasize her mantra of owners getting the most out of their boats, Capt. Gaines says routine maintenance is absolutely key to successful cruising. It may not be the fun part of being a captain, but getting dirty in the engine room or regularly exercising through hulls is as vital to owner satisfaction as making sure there is gin and rum aboard.</p>
<p>Capt. Jerry Taylor has been training, delivering, and providing long-term captain services to clients for decades and his knowledge is extensive. With his wife, Wendy, the couple are regular fixtures in the East Coast trawler community, as they have continued to train, deliver, maintain, and operate large yachts for over 40 years. I’ve known the couple for a long time, have used them to deliver several of my boats over the years, and have the highest regard for their perspective and opinions.</p>
<p>(Below: Capt. Taylor delivers a Grand Banks for a customer.)</p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/l-7Ul7xCmeI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> </p>
<p>Getting new owners comfortable on their new boat, and confident managing the many systems, takes lots of time, and the couple finds it best breaking it up into manageable chunks. They can spend three days going over a boat’s systems, spread out over that time. To do the whole thing at once is simply too much to absorb and owners need a break between sessions. Even on learning trips, Jerry and Wendy get off the boat at the end of the day and stay at a nearby hotel. They let the owners get settled on their new boat and think about what they learned that day.</p>
<p>Jerry feels most clients see the value of what a captain brings to the table when there is a new yacht involved, but it is not always true. Some owners are forced into using a captain because of insurance. The ones who have problems are usually those who confuse their own skill set with what is required to operate a heavy and complex trawler. They don’t think new boat orientation with a captain is worth the time and money.</p>
<p>Jerry knows from experience how this attitude can create problems for the couple and expensive damage to the boat. Egos are best left at the door.</p>
<p>Looking back over the years, Jerry and Wendy see a range of needs of what people should learn or become familiar with. As they reminded me, sometimes the man has the necessary knowledge and experience, but his wife does not. In such cases getting her onboard and comfortable is especially important to the couple’s overall enjoyment of the experience and lifestyle. Wendy is often the key factor in easing the wife into comfortable boat handling.</p>
<p>Of course, not everyone needs to know how to change the oil in their engines, or any of a long list of other service items, but it certainly helps when speaking to a service yard about a maintenance program. The same is true for changing zincs, impellers, and other routine maintenance. A finicky bow thruster that has become choked with contact dust, can be cleaned and serviced by anyone who doesn’t mind either contorting like a pretzel or getting their hands dirty. But not everyone wants to do it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Word of Mouth is Best</strong></p>
<p>Most professional captains have a social media presence. Websites are also standard procedure for every professional who wants to advertise their services.</p>
<p>Yet it is common for most new business to come from referrals from past or existing clients. Nothing seems to have quite the impact as the recommendation from a friend. And that is no surprise. It is also true that if your trusted broker tells you that so-and-so is a good choice for new boat training, there is not much more that needs to be said.</p>
<p>I would like to offer some idea as to the costs of using a captain’s services. As you might imagine, it is a widely variable rate sheet, as there are so many factors that one needs to define. Expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $500 a day for a captain, which is a common daily rate for a normal 8-hour day. That does not mean being onboard 24/7.</p>
<p>But there are many flavors and levels of involvement, from part-time over a couple of weeks up to and including full-time captain duties for an entire season. For vessel orientation over several days or more, it might be a daily rate for a set number of days, or it may be weekly. It may include delivery services, project management, managing repair and/or refit work, bringing on additional crew, provisioning, or remote yacht management when the boat is located far from home.</p>
<p>Travel and expenses, even mileage, are always additional and as the plans and trips get more involved, it is common to provide the captain with a credit card to buy fuel, pay for dockage, and other expenses.</p>
<p>But don’t think a captain assumes carte blanche to spend whatever and whenever. Quite the opposite. Running a tight ship is part of the mission statement of a professional captain.</p>
<p>Capt. Andrea Gaines put it best. “I spend my owner’s money as if it was my money.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Intangible Benefits</strong></p>
<p>I want to mention some of the unforeseen benefits of using professional services that I did not at first expect and have found again and again. Depending on the background of your captain, there may be experience with military, rescue, pilot, or commercial vessels similar enough to your own boat and what she is capable of. And if you need a shot of confidence-building performance, hold onto your hat. Here are just a couple of fond memories.</p>
<p>Watching a captain run our 40-foot Downeast cruiser like a workboat around a mooring ball and then in a tight fairway was a thrilling shot of adrenaline I did not expect. The boat danced in ways I never imagined, even though I do not consider myself a timid boater.</p>
<p>On a 64-foot <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/">trawler</a> yacht, a thousand miles away, another captain surfed into an inlet in running seas that had my heart in my throat, under total control while playing the throttles of the twin diesels. It was marvelous to see such mastery and left me thinking that recreational boaters have no idea how strong our boats really are.</p>
<p>While I do not mean to suggest I’ve seen captains risk boat or crew in an effort to grandstand, they showed that well-built yachts are remarkably tough, and more than capable of the healthy use most of us shy away from. These captains truly enjoy running quality boats closer to their potential.</p>
<p>For me, that alone is worth the price of a captain for new boat orientation. <br />It is common wisdom that going through a storm on your new boat gives you confidence in her abilities. But you’ll get the same confidence with a talented captain without having to survive a scary storm scenario.</p>
<p>Just some food for thought as you consider your options in the future.</p>
<p><img title="captain ron steering boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/captain-ron-steering-boat.jpg?cb=5727F1B3-A6E8-437B-6DB9180229F1911B" alt="captain ron steering boat" width="800" height="475" /></p>
<p>And since I mentioned Captain Ron at the beginning, let me share my favorite line in the movie, when he explains the realities of boating to his clients:</p>
<p>“If anything is going to happen, it is going to happen out there.”</p>
<p>Not with the right captain.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by Bill Parlatore:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/taking-on-the-great-loop">Taking Of The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Preparing For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/lets-go-on-the-great-loop">Let's Go On The Great Loop!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-dawn-of-the-paperless-helm">Dawn Of The Paperless Helm</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
Hiring A Yacht Captain |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
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<p>I have been writing about trawlers and powerboat cruising for many years. It is both an obsession and a fascination for me, as I witness hundreds of people, mostly couples, embrace the trawler lifestyle as a healthy alternative to routine living on land. While the last several years certainly got a lot of people and families to escape from a confined existence, choosing a freer life on the water away from so many imposed restrictions, the trawler lifestyle was already alive and well in North America.</p>
<p><em>(Below: "Growler", a Custom Zimmerman 36 Trawler once owned by Bill Parlatore, founder of Passagemaker Magazine.)</em></p>
<p><img title="trawler boat owned by bill parlatore" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/trawler-boat-owned-by-bill-parlatore.jpg?cb=D6DC7534-B843-2A13-B040270D8AE4AD18" alt="trawler boat owned by bill parlatore" width="800" height="529" /></p>
<p>What is the appeal of this lifestyle? For me, living aboard and operating <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/">trawler yachts</a> represents a quality of life that embraces the values of self-sufficiency and independence, and adventure without sacrificing comfort. One is free to move as the mood dictates, finding a balance of nature while engaging as much—or as little—in society, careers, and other activities that compensate with convenience, glittery things, nice cars and houses, and other material things. Many come to realize at some point they are but distractions from a more grounded existence.</p>
<p>Operating a trawler does not demand the skills and experience required from a similar size <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/">sailboat</a>. And it is relatively easy to learn the nuances of engine and vessel maintenance, navigation, and proper seamanship. Depending on what kind of powerboat one chooses, they can be economical to own and operate, and offer a pleasant home experience that often rivals luxury living ashore. And a point often missed when discussing this lifestyle, the skills needed to competently run a trawler offer stimulating physical and mental challenges that are immensely valuable at the stage of life when most of us pursue this life direction.</p>
<p>It is rewarding to gain confidence and a sense of accomplishment with every new port, every new challenge. Dealing with the vagaries of life on the water makes one stronger, more resilient, and better able to deal with just about anything life throws at us. A t-shirt captured that sentiment: “Calm seas never made a skilled sailor.”</p>
<p>And a final note before I begin. While we’ll look at the cost of admission into this life, most of us are at a point in life where we have more financial worth than time, so the cost of getting into this lifestyle is more than made up by a quality of life that most agree is hard to beat.</p>
<p>This guide to <a href="../../../../buying-and-owning-trawler-yachts">buying a trawler yacht</a> serves several functions, and I hope to satisfy them in the following pages. We will discuss the choices one has in the trawler market, and hopefully explain the value of each type as it relates to selecting the right boat. At the same time, I hope to underscore this discussion with a greater appreciation for what I believe is often missed. Choosing the right boat is only the beginning. There is much more to the selection process than simply choosing a layout that seems comfortable or a boat that comes with all the bells and whistles. Walking through a boat during a boat show is only the first taste of what a boat has to offer. I trust my guide will help people avoid falling in love with the wrong boat. If I am successful, we will keep such misplaced passion to a minimum.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>TRAWLER BUYER'S GUIDE - TABLE OF CONTENTS</strong></span></p>
<ol style="list-style-type: upper-roman;">
<li><a href="#anchor1"><strong>What Is A Trawler?</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="#anchor2"><strong>What Are The Different Types Of Trawler Boats?</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="#anchor3"><strong>What's The Difference Between Trawlers & Cruising Boats?</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="#anchor4"><strong>What About Catamarans?</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="#anchor5"><strong>Hybrid & EV Powerboats</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="#anchor6"><strong>How Many People To Take On Your Trawler?</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="#anchor7"><strong>Where Should You Take Your Trawler?</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="#anchor8"><strong>How Long Should You Cruise On Your Trawler?</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="#anchor9"><strong>What Does A Trawler Boat Cost?</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="#anchor10"><strong>Completing The Process Of Buying A Trawler</strong></a></li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p id="anchor1"><strong>I. What is a Trawler Anyway?</strong></p>
<p>I looked back at some of the references and definitions I offered over the years, as well as those presented by our editors. I keep coming back to the one that still resonates best with me, even as I look over the current field of trawlers and cruising yachts out there. Some are very similar to what was sold years ago, but not all, and each supports a lifestyle that is capable, comfortable, and relatively easy.</p>
<p>I am confident that, as we get ready to start 2024, the word “trawler” is best considered a metaphor for the cruising lifestyle it so well represents. Yacht brokers may disagree with me, but I stand firm. Back in the 1960s, power cruising pioneer <a href="https://www.passagemaker.com/lifestyle/the-life-and-legacy-of-robert-beebe" target="_blank">Robert Beebe</a> suggested that boats aren’t good for “voyaging” under power if they do not strongly resemble “true” trawlers. He referred, of course, to those husky fishing vessels that remain at sea for long periods, surviving anything the weather and sea throws at them, and safely bringing the catch and crew home when the job is done.</p>
<p>Today that analogy is not even remotely fitting for many powerboats that can capably make passages at sea, complete extended coastal and inland cruises, and serve as comfortable and safe homes for their owners. There has been a continuous evolution of the cruising powerboat genre for years now, and they now come in an assortment of styles, hull shapes, and sizes. And there is no better time than now to look at the field of available trawler choices.</p>
<p>In addition to traditional yacht designs that continue to be refined, we now also have new choices that really push the envelope beyond traditional shapes and concepts. And the introduction of powerful and reliable outboard propulsion has brought along a new category of <a href="../../../../used-cruising-yachts-for-sale/">cruising boats</a> that simply did not exist before.</p>
<p>It is all very exciting. I once observed that comparing the cruising characteristics of a full displacement steel trawler to a displacement <a href="../../../../used-power-catamarans-for-sale/">power catamaran</a> or a larger <a href="../../../../used-downeast-boats-for-sale/">Downeast cruiser</a> is pure folly. Each can make a superb cruising boat for owners. Which is the better athlete: a football player, a hockey goalie, or a ballet dancer?</p>
<p>Once you understand the many kinds of boats on the market today, and the choices you have, given your budget and other considerations, it is important to match whatever boat you choose to your style of cruising. This is at the heart of this buyer’s guide. Yes, it is vital to know what is out there to choose from, but it is even more critical to understand your needs and what kind of boat will best fit those needs. While this may be a challenge for some, hasty mistakes can lead to broken plans, create unnecessary anxiety, and put an unfortunate end to one’s dream cruising plans. All of which is totally avoidable.</p>
<p>Let’s begin with a practical look at the main types of hull shapes to understand the positive and negative aspects of each as they relate to cruising. Then we’ll look into how they may fit your needs.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Trawler owners meet up during the Pacific Northwest Nordic Tug Owners Rendezvous. Also called <a href="https://panntoa.com/" target="_blank">PANNTOA</a>.) </em></p>
<p><em><img title="friends enjoying their trawler boats" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/friends-enjoying-their-trawler-boat.jpg?cb=D9501246-D8A5-8018-26112CA6D10414C6" alt="friends enjoying their trawler boats" width="800" height="449" /></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p id="anchor2"><strong>II. Choices Come in All Shapes</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Full Displacement</strong></p>
<p>What was once the only real choice for those intending to cruise under power is the full displacement hull shape. It is the earliest form of powerboat and most commercial and fishing vessels are of this type. It is the most seaworthy and efficient hull shape. Many popular cruising boats are full displacement, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../new-northern-marine-yachts-for-sale/">Northern Marine</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/kadey-krogen-yachts">Krogen</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/nordhavn-yachts">Nordhavn</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/selene-yachts">Selene</a></li>
<li>DeFever</li>
<li>Hatteras LRC</li>
<li>And dozens of custom steel and fiberglass trawlers.</li>
</ul>
<p>These vessels travel efficiently through the water, with no unnecessary energy spent trying to lift the hull up onto the wave in front. They are well matched to lower horsepower engines, as they offer minimal resistance going through the water.</p>
<p>These boats are very forgiving at sea, which makes them very seaworthy. Rather than resist wave action, they give way, and roll to let the wave energy pass by rather than resist it, which keeps them safe at sea.</p>
<p>The full hull shape has the most volume for a given length, which translates into superior inside dimensions for accommodations, large tankage, and exceptional storage. They make fantastic liveaboard boats and for long distance cruising these small ships can carry all your stuff. Onboard weight is not an issue compared to any other type of hull shape.</p>
<p><em>(Below: A Northern Marine 57 is a good example of a full-displacement trawler yacht.)</em></p>
<p><img title="northern marine 57 full displacement trawler" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/northern-marine-57-full-displacement-yacht.jpg?cb=DA22EE08-E586-53F0-DAA075B5BC93EA77" alt="northern marine 57 full displacement trawler" width="800" height="468" /></p>
<p>Again, the low energy requirements to travel through the water, rather than try to get on top of it, means they are best powered by relatively small diesel engines to run at the displacement speeds within the maximum hull speed of 1.34 times the square root of the waterline length. This is Froude’s Law and is the limit of their speed potential. Combine this lower horsepower engine with huge fuel tankage and owners have the range to travel long distance. In some of these full displacement trawlers, one can make across-and-back ocean crossings, or enjoy a full year of cruising, without stopping to buy fuel.</p>
<p>For efficient and economical cruising, a full displacement trawler is the way to go, for many reasons. Rather than bother with the generally tedious sailboat mentality of electrical and battery load management, owners of full displacement trawlers just don’t worry about it. The boat is fitted with one, two, or even three generators that supply all the electrical power needed to run even a full suite of domestic galley appliances, HVAC, and pilothouse electronics.</p>
<p>Not only do these gensets make for relatively unlimited self-sufficiency whenever the trawlers remain at anchor, but the better builders take advantage of the hull volume to thoughtfully plan accommodations during construction. Generators are then strategically located to minimize noise and vibration throughout the boat. Just like being on a small ship, one is vaguely aware that a generator is running somewhere. The boat is designed and built around that concept, so there is always plenty of quiet, available electrical power. Whatever sense that one has of distant humming from running machinery, it is nothing more than evidence of shipboard activity. I have always loved the sense of independence and freedom it provides. On the right boat, it is so muted that it does not detract from the feeling of being one with nature, as when alone in a quiet anchorage tucked inside a rugged Alaskan island coastline.</p>
<p>Some high-end expedition trawlers go one step further. Northern Marine, for example, often designs the boat around a pair of identical 20kW generators to share generating duty. There might also be a small third unit for nighttime use when loads are much reduced. And much like the commercial and working vessels that are the heritage behind the company, nothing is hidden or tucked away. Serious business demands serious access.</p>
<p><em>(Below: The Northern Marine 57 has two 20kW generators for long-distance adventures.)</em></p>
<p><img title="generators on the northern marine yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/generators-in-trawler-yacht-engine-room.jpg?cb=DA8FED49-C239-91CE-B5F3BD197C97E04B" alt="generators on the northern marine yacht" width="800" height="480" /></p>
<p>There is always a downside, of course. Full displacement boats are limited in speed, and cruising at 7-10 knots is about all one can expect no matter how much horsepower one theoretically adds. It is simply a full shape traveling in its sweet spot in the water. But in conditions where lesser yachts need to slow down to handle the rough seas, these boats just continue on at their normal cruising speed, no big deal and perfectly safe.</p>
<p>The other issue is that such seaworthiness comes at the expense of rolling in a seaway. Yes, it is why these boats are so safe. But it can be uncomfortable for crew, and over time can wear down even the hardiest crew.</p>
<p>That is why most full displacement boats have some form of stabilization. They lack sails to remain steady. These trawlers instead rely on some form of stabilizing technology, either active or passive, and they are quite effective reducing rolling at sea. Active fin stabilizers, flopperstoppers, gyrostabilizers, even flume tanks, have been used with varying degrees of success to manage the roll of a full displacement yacht. And active systems keep getting better, with more sensitive electronic controls and sensors to reduce movement. The current generation of gyro systems, such as the SeaKeeper, are proving popular in the trawler community and for good reason.</p>
<p>Full displacement boats are not the best for close quarter maneuvering, especially as many have a single diesel engine. Learning to drive a big displacement trawler is a worthy skill to develop as it builds confidence. One must understand the ship’s main rudder is designed and sized for optimum performance at sea, not close quarter maneuvering. That is why these boats have bow and stern thrusters. Just like every commercial ship out there. The right tools for the job.</p>
<p>Another potential downside of this hull shape has to do with where one cruises. These boats typically have deeper draft and so would not be ideal for shallow water cruising as one is finds in the Florida Keys, the ICW, and the Bahamas and Caribbean.</p>
<p>Having gone many thousands of miles on full displacement trawlers, I have great respect and appreciation of the beauty of this hull shape. Once out of sight of land, speed becomes the speed du jour, no big deal without reference on land. And a stabilized full displacement trawler is a great ride at sea, easy running and comfortable. Even in heavy weather there is generally little cause for concern…if at all.</p>
<p>One more comment on the speed of travel. I always found the underway travel and motion quickly settles crew into a normal routine, with everyone going about their day as if they were in a marina or back on land. Laundry gets done, writing takes place, leisurely cooking in the galley, maybe a brisket in the crockpot. There is always the need for some maintenance, catching up with cruising guides, email with family and friends, and other activities. This is in sharp contrast to traveling at speed, where the motion forces one to hold on, firmly seated at the saloon table, or wedged into a corner cushion. Baking cookies was a favorite memory and one the rest of that crew surely remembers. The boat smelled fantastic, even if I could barely keep up with the disappearing cookies off the cooling rack.</p>
<p>For many reasons, life on a small ship has much to recommend it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Semi-Displacement</strong></p>
<p>The other hull shape that defines the trawler style cruising boat is the semi-displacement hull. It is perfect for those who don’t need the fuel and storage capabilities of the full displacement trawler, and do not intend to spend a great deal of time making passages, cruising remote areas, or going all season without buying fuel. The semi-displacement trawler is a fabulous compromise. Designers have come up with ways to get more performance, reduce draft, and still serve as a comfortable home while traveling or living aboard.</p>
<p>One way to improve performance is to lose weight in the form of fuel and water tankage, reducing both the size and number of tanks in the boat. They may also cut back on some of the backup redundant equipment and tighten up accommodations. Going on a diet is definitely a path to higher performance. While those granite counters and flooring seem right at home in a full displacement trawler yacht, substituting lighter weight materials will result in a higher speed potential in a semi-displacement yacht. With less weight there is less boat in the water, less draft, wetted surface, and resistance, especially without a deep keel.</p>
<p>Changes to the hull shape come from modifying the typically rounded stern into a flatter hull form aft with hard chines. The flatter hull form will reach higher speeds when adding more horsepower to drive the boat up onto the leading wave. And the flatter stern adds stability, taking out some of the inherent roll associated with a full displacement trawler.</p>
<p>While these boats are quite happy to run along at displacement speeds, the semi-displacement cruiser can also really get up and go, if there is enough horsepower. With bigger engines pushing the boat, it can break free of the water, traveling at 12-15 knots or higher, depending on how much horsepower is in the boat.</p>
<p>This is by far the most popular trawler hull shape primarily for this reason. It can be powered by a variety of engines, still has good load carrying and accommodations, has reduced draft, and provides many—if not all—of the benefits of the full displacement trawler yacht.</p>
<p>Most trawlers in our cruising community are of the semi-displacement type, and brands like:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/grand-banks-yachts">Grand Banks</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../new-nordic-tugs-for-sale/">Nordic Tugs</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/fleming-yachts">Fleming</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/ocean-alexander-yachts">Ocean Alexander</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../new-endurance-yachts-for-sale/">Endurance</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../new-northwest-yachts-for-sale/">Northwest</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../new-alaskan-yachts-for-sale/">Alaskan</a></li>
<li>Mainship</li>
<li>Symbol</li>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/american-tug">American Tug</a></li>
<li>President</li>
<li>Albin</li>
<li>And dozens more prove it is a wonderful all-around platform for cruising</li>
</ul>
<p>(Interestingly, almost all the trawlers built in Asia during the 1970s and ‘80s were semi-displacement trawlers. But they were powered by low horsepower diesels, often the venerable Lehman Ford 120hp and 135hp engines, so they were priced to sell and provide the economical trawler experience to a wide range of buyers. The fact that these boats could only run at displacement speeds gave many the impression that they were full displacement trawlers, a confusion that continues to exist today.)</p>
<p><em>(Below: The Nordic Tug 40 is a good example of a semi-displacement trawler.)</em></p>
<p><img title="40-foot nordic tug trawler boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/40-foot-nordic-tug-trawler-boat.jpg?cb=DB601A5E-C12F-775F-F42D22C0E2D6ECAC" alt="40-foot nordic tug trawler boat" width="800" height="436" /></p>
<p>The top speed of a semi-displacement trawler is limited by how much horsepower the builder reasons is sellable in the new boats. In my opinion, it was downright shameful when the management of the high-quality Grand Banks brand, the hands down bullseye of the trawler market for many years, decided at one point that all its models had to be capable of cruising speeds above 18 knots. The phenomenally successful and classic beauty of the original GB hull did not lend itself to a pair of high horsepower engines. It was painful to watch the amount of water pushed by a Grand Banks making 22 knots, made worse by the fuel burn to achieve that performance.</p>
<p>To some extent, larger semi-displacement trawlers also take advantage of generators to supply onboard electrical power, as there is not enough room for dozens of dedicated house batteries for the boat’s electrical needs. In most cases a running generator is not as quiet or unobtrusive as one comes to expect on a full displacement trawler, but a modern installation with underwater exhaust does much to reduce the impact of a running generator.</p>
<p>The benefits of the semi-displacement trawler clearly explain why it remains the most popular choice for most people. It has reasonable storage and fuel capacity, comfortable accommodations, and can run at higher speeds. All things considered, for most people it is the best package of features one looks for.</p>
<p>But it is not perfect. One of the disadvantages of the hull form is its less-than-ideal handling in rough seas. Some of these boats have small rudders to allow better control at higher speeds. The boat’s motion tends to lose its normal composure in rough water, when the boat must slow down, and the rudders are less effective.</p>
<p>(On modern boats, this is somewhat negated by stabilizers and gyrostabilizer systems. They do a remarkable job of reducing the rolling motion in these boats, and owners are more than satisfied to have motion under control on their semi-displacement trawlers.)</p>
<p>Owners of semi-displacement boats really appreciate being able to run faster to their next destination. The difference between eight knots and 11 knots is readily apparent when one can see the destination ahead and the crew is anxious to get there.</p>
<p>One of the tradeoffs of the semi-displacement trawler is that when they achieve high speed, they burn obscene amounts of fuel, and quickly. To own a large, semi-displacement trawler capable of 20+ knots is an exercise in balancing economy with distance and time. Those who don’t have the time will spend more at the fuel dock. It is just that simple.</p>
<p>Everything considered, the semi-displacement trawler is justifiably very popular for most cruising, even when that includes long distance travel. Flexibility is its best feature.</p>
<p>Big and small, fast or slow, the full displacement and semi-displacement hull shapes are what we talk about when we talk about trawlers and the trawler lifestyle. Motoryachts most often fit into the semi-displacement category, and one will find them cruising along with the trawler crowd. But the motoryacht is much better staying at a luxury marina will full shorepower and other hookups. One rarely finds motoryachts anchored out for days on end, where trawlers often spend their time. It isn’t what motoryachts are designed to do.</p>
<p>For many years, the cruising scene consisted of sailboats and trawlers, and that was it. Visit any popular cruising destination, from Marsh Harbour to Roche Harbor, and the anchorage and marinas were full of sailboats and trawlers. Both excel at life on the hook, and the constant scurrying of crew, dogs, provisions, and gear by speedy dinghies are as much a part of the cruising life as sundowners on the beach watching for the Green Flash.</p>
<p> </p>
<p id="anchor3"><strong>III. Not All Cruising Powerboats Today Are Trawlers</strong></p>
<p>There are two other kinds of powerboats that we find cruising in North America today. And they have really grown in popularity in recent years.</p>
<p>One has taken the world by storm, in my opinion. Almost every sailing couple I know who came to the Dark Side has gone in this direction, but they are certainly not the only ones who choose these boats. For many people, the lure of being on the water, even if it is only for weekends, must be satisfied in short order. People with limited time have a need for speed that full-time cruisers do not. These people want efficient, high-speed running, and it is more desirable than load-carrying ability or accommodations. Without a planing hull, they can’t go.</p>
<p>The planing hull quickly moves from hull speed up on top of the water. A burst of horsepower drives the boat up, and it doesn’t take as much power to stay there. It is an efficient speed machine. Some boats in our niche can really blast along in calm water, cruising efficiently at 25 knots…or higher. Some examples are:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../new-nimbus-boats-for-sale/">Nimbus Boats</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../new-legacy-yachts-for-sale/">Legacy</a></li>
<li>Eastbay</li>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/sabre-yachts">Sabre</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/back-cove-yachts">Back Cove</a></li>
<li>MJM</li>
</ul>
<p>A planing hull has a shallow draft, with a sharp entry and a flat, minimal underbody. This allows a planing boat to reach its destination quickly and then slow down if owners choose to gunkhole in skinny water. But watch that running gear, as there is nothing to protect the props and rudders designed for minimal drag.</p>
<p>This boat is best suited for those in a hurry. But they are still cruising boats, and they open up possibilities for those with only so much available time. <a href="../../../../news/the-great-loop">The Great Loop</a> becomes possible for those who can’t spare a year or more. Boaters headed to Florida for the winter and don’t have months to do the ICW. Puget Sound owners with weeks instead of months to explore the Inside Passage, or East Coast boaters who want to experience the Abacos but don’t have all winter to do so.</p>
<p>Get there quickly, then slow down and smell the flowers. Sounds like a plan to me.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Sidonia & Fred kept their 62-foot trawler, but purchased this Nimbus 405 to complete the Great Loop. <a href="../../../../news/lets-go-on-the-great-loop">Read their story</a>.)</em></p>
<p><img title="couple cruising the great loop on their nimbus boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/couple-cruising-the-great-loop.jpg?cb=DC04812D-F661-5265-A832204D6A3B9598" alt="couple cruising the great loop on their nimbus boat" width="800" height="498" /></p>
<p>One potential disadvantage of the planing boat is that high-speed efficiency is directly tied to weight. Given that many of these boats are built with the latest infused fiberglass construction, often using high-tech cored material, the goal is to save weight where possible. Keeping weight down is important. And limited bilge and accommodations spaces don’t offer much general storage anyway.</p>
<p>But this is not a problem for owners not planning to live aboard. They are not spending weeks on the hook, nor are they expecting guests to accompany them on their Great Loop. They are bringing along just what they need to enjoy the boat as is, and no more. (Our recent series following a couple doing the Loop on their Nimbus 405 Coupe showed this lifestyle perfectly. A great trip on the Great Loop.)</p>
<p>Unfortunately, when the weather turns sour, any boat designed for efficient, high-speed running will be at a decided disadvantage when it is time to slow down, where they experience less control. Some handle this transition better than others, but generally small rudders do not have enough surface area to be effective at slow speed. But these boats are still all-around great cruising boats which explains they popularity and growing numbers out cruising. If the weather is bad, they don’t go anywhere. Their speed potential allows them to pick their travel when the weather window improves.</p>
<p>A relatively recent move is to power these boats with outboard engines. Using one or two large outboards (or up to four engines on some of the more extreme machines) makes a statement about using technology to advance boat design. The area in the hull usually dedicated for machinery and propulsion is now open for tanks, storage, and a more relaxed interior for accommodations.</p>
<p>The move to outboards eliminates the need for rudders and traditional steering systems, which removes complexity from the boats. Modern outboards are quiet and smooth, and this translates into a better running experience under way. Many find it a worthy tradeoff to the longer engine life offered by diesels. The access on outboard engines makes maintenance easier, and systems integration simplifies the boats at the same time.</p>
<p>Some builders tell me how easy life becomes when one can lift the engines out of the water when they are tied up in a marina. No more worries about underwater growth on running gear, eliminating corrosion issues, and fouled surfaces that require frequent cleaning.</p>
<p>During those times where one is living on a planing boat at anchor or without shorepower, the smaller house battery bank means one must run a generator more frequently, often several times a day. That assumes there is a genset on the boat, which is usually required if the boat has air conditioning.</p>
<p>The degree of self-sufficiency on a planing boat is directly tied to the need to keep things light and only having the essential systems, tankage, and accommodations. If your cruising involves staying at nice marinas with great facilities, who needs all that storage and extra staterooms? For Loopers, it offers flexibility and travel at a different level than chugging along, mile after mile, seeing the same landscape all day long.</p>
<p>The motion on a boat doing 20+ knots does not allow much activity on the boat and crew is restricted in what they can do while making miles to the next destination. That is not to say it isn’t thrilling to blast along, threading the needle among the San Juan Islands. Heading down Chesapeake Bay at speed is satisfying in ways that eight knots just doesn’t cut it. The same is true along Hawk Channel, Biscayne Bay, or Lake Ontario.</p>
<p> </p>
<p id="anchor4"><strong>IV. Catamarans</strong></p>
<p>The second type of cruising powerboat that does not fit the description of a trawler is the power catamaran. A somewhat fringe boat within the cruising powerboat category, power cats are nevertheless a great platform for anyone looking for a cruiser that offers space, outstanding maneuverability from widely spaced engines, and excellent shallow water cruise ability.</p>
<p>Power cat builders have evolved mostly from builders of sailing cats, so it is not surprising that the early boats were nothing more than sailing cats without masts. But more companies came out with boats design as powerboats. (The compromises of creating a power cat from a boat designed for sailing went away for the most part.)</p>
<p>Companies that offer (or did offer) power cats included:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/fountaine-pajot-yachts">Fountaine Pajot</a></li>
<li>Aquila</li>
<li>Prestige</li>
<li>PDQ</li>
<li>Lagoon</li>
<li>Leopard</li>
<li><a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/endeavour-catamarans">Endeavour</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Some of these companies are no longer in business but made enough boats that they are usually available on the used market.</p>
<p>There is a lot to be said for a cruising catamaran. Economical cruising at 15-18 knots is the domain of the displacement catamaran, while planing cats, which are not suited for liveaboard cruising, can run quite well at 30+ knots.</p>
<p>The advantages of power cats include relatively shallow draft, great initial stability, and open interiors. The bridgedeck adds great living spaces, where one might find extra accommodations.</p>
<p>Many cats can be safely beached without a problem, which is a unique ability for any cruising boat.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Example of an Endeavor Power Catamaran.)</em></p>
<p><img title="example of endeavor power catamaran" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/endeavor-power-catamaran-for-cruising.jpg?cb=DC78100D-E58C-D435-957AFB3E17CF5F5E" alt="example of endeavor power catamaran" width="800" height="476" /></p>
<p>The economy of running a power catamaran is quite addicting. I owned a 41-foot power cat that would run along at 18 knots with hardly any wake, while getting exceptional fuel burn at that speed. The wide platform made for great living aboard, and the separation of the twin diesels, particularly when running at speed from the flybridge, seemed magical. It was quiet with lack of vibration, and quite relaxing as we reeled mile after mile on calm seas. It was a great cruising boat with outstanding maneuverability from widely spaced engines. I could literally walk the boat sideways using the two engines, while everyone on the dock assumed I used bow and stern thrusters to make it happen. (The boat had neither.)</p>
<p>The only issue I have with the power cat is the height of the bridgedeck between hulls. If it is too low, it can slap in head seas with an unnerving bang and motion that feels most unsettling, as if the boat is going to break. Multihull pioneer Malcom Tennant took me around several waterfront marinas in New Zealand to show me various interpretations of power catamaran bridgedeck design. When the bridgedeck nacelle stayed 36 inches or more above the water, the power cat would not slap under any conditions. The buoyancy of the hulls took over long before the bridgedeck met waves. And I reminded myself this was in New Zealand, where going to sea invariably involves rough seas and strong winds. (From my limited experience, the definition of pleasure boating in New Zealand has a decidedly different definition from anywhere else!)</p>
<p>While the displacement power catamaran has reasonable load carrying ability, it is generally prudent for a power cat owner to still keep an eye on weight and its distribution around the boat. While the larger power cats (one Tennant 20-meter cat comes to mind) can take 3,600 gallons of fuel for extremely long legs, cats under 48 feet are best kept light when possible.</p>
<p>I am quite smitten with the concept of the power cat for general cruising. I wish more builders would enter this market with well-engineered, lighter weight designs that showcase the benefits of the concept rather than simply building stable platforms that can hold a crowd. But unfortunately, heavy party barges are what one sees at the boat shows.</p>
<p> </p>
<p id="anchor5"><strong>V. Hybrid and EV Powerboats</strong></p>
<p>I suppose I would be negligent to not mention the push for electric and hybrid boats to mirror the somewhat political trend in the automotive world. To be honest, we own a Prius, but I much prefer driving my older Porsche. I also happen to like the smell of a diesel engine. In automobiles, I’m just not sold on a concept that requires such major (and overwhelmingly expensive) changes to our nation’s infrastructure.</p>
<p>As it relates to recreational boating, electric and hybrid power has come and gone in a variety of prototype cruisers, from Reuben Trane’s early solar catamaran to Greenline’s models of hybrid powerboats. I know the sailing community is generally united in their campaign to ditch the diesel engine, and YouTube influencers are falling all over each other trying to get the first serious system that offers a viable solution.</p>
<p>As well articulated by experienced broker, Seattle Yachts’ Dan Bacot, we won’t see much interest in this form of power cruising until someone builds a boat that can honestly make 100 miles in a day at six knots under electric power. That will make it feasible for the Great Loop and other cruising plans.</p>
<p>Until that milestone is reached (and I’m sure they will) such alternatives are just not worth serious consideration.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The Lifestyle</strong></p>
<p>Now that we have looked at the various hull shapes and categories that define the trawler and other cruising boats, let’s see how to find a match from these different platforms to fit your plans.</p>
<p>It is important to think through this process with as much honesty as possible. It is so easy to slip into the unrealistic world of the ultimate boat. But most eventually agree these are more fantasy than anything remotely close to what any of us will do. Buying a boat that is capable of crossing oceans to reach exotic places like Tahiti is just not appropriate if you really intend to do the Great Loop in the next few years. That is also true if the idea of spending winters (or summers) in the tropics or the rugged Northwest Territories isn’t ever going to happen because you can only take a couple of weeks off at a time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p id="anchor6"><strong>VI. How Many People Will be Aboard?</strong></p>
<p>Is it just the two of you for most of the time? Will you have guests or family only occasionally, or do you expect to have others with you for most of the cruise? Families with growing children will have different needs than retired empty nesters who rarely have company.</p>
<p>The answer to this question will help determine the size of the boat, its layout and accommodations, and help define the boundaries of your search.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Obviously this image from the Mid-Atlantic Nordic Tug Owners Get-Together would be a little much!)</em></p>
<p><img title="too many people on this trawler boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/too-many-people-on-a-trawler.jpg?cb=DD015BAC-B7E1-F041-1847E10CEE79B394" alt="too many people on this trawler boat" width="800" height="502" /></p>
<p>A word of advice from the stories of many cruising couples: Don’t buy a boat bigger than you need and make the assumption you will always have company to share your adventure. As I’ve heard many, many times, couples go ahead and buy a boat with multiple staterooms with the above assumption. Once they leave home and begin cruising, however, they make lots of new friends, all on their own boats. After a couple of years, they realize they don’t use those extra staterooms very often. And they can accommodate occasional family members with other arrangements, such as setting up the saloon. They eventually downsize to a smaller boat because they don’t need that extra room and a smaller boat is easier to handle and less expensive to own.</p>
<p>Two people can comfortably cruise on a boat that is 36 feet or so. This is certainly true for people who are down in the islands for the winter on a Monk 36, or cruising north on a Nordic Tug 37. No problem. But they are not living full time on the boat, or cruising with friends enough to require separate cabins. Both will drive up the space needs considerably. And it is not just about space. A water and holding tank large enough for two people will seem much smaller after only so many days. And I’m not talking about rationing water or limiting showers. This is cruising, after all, not minimalist camping.</p>
<p>A boat’s layout is as important as size, at least until one reaches the greater flexibility afforded by larger boats. There is a classic separation of living spaces in some boats, such as the Grand Banks 42 and the Selene 40. They have two nice staterooms, with the master in the stern and guest stateroom in the bow. That works great, offers privacy, and people share common spaces in the saloon and galley. Other boats group all staterooms forward, with the master and one or more guest cabins located near the bow. This is what one finds on the Nordic and American Tugs, Fleming, Krogen, Northwest Yachts, and most others. And all have proven successful, especially when extra people are family.</p>
<p> </p>
<p id="anchor7"><strong>VII. Where are You Going?</strong></p>
<p>I am not going to spend time with trawlers best suited for crossing oceans, as so few people really intend to do that these days. The world is a different place, the changing climate has more severe weather, and the relative ease of shipping one’s boat worldwide makes this a lot less desirable than it was decades ago. And a boat designed to cross the Atlantic to explore Europe is not the best type of boat for exploring Europe once you arrive, particularly if you want to head into the extensive canal systems.</p>
<p>Not to get off the point, and before anyone questions why I am such a fan of full displacement boats like the Northern Marine when I admit having no plan to cross oceans, let me clarify that the joy of owning such a great yacht is much more than being able to cross an ocean. All the benefits that make these great boats are just as valid for living aboard and coastal cruising, and many other adventures. One does not need to spend two weeks at sea to enjoy them.</p>
<p>The majority of people have plans that include the Great Loop, British Columbia and Alaska, the ICW on the East Coast, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, Mexico, the Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Chesapeake Bay, Canadian Maritimes, and New England. One can spend several lifetimes exploring right here in North America. Doable, affordable, and close enough to family, friends, and support.</p>
<p>The best boats for many coastal and inland adventures are more about ease of operation and maneuverability, and keeping the draft down and the height within whatever restrictions exist for the chosen cruise.</p>
<p>It is quite possible to travel from Alaska to Maine as one big extended coastal cruise, although that would be a long trip. And all of it is within sight of land with very few and short exceptions. If you consider the new SeaPiper 35, add a truck and suitable trailer and you are good to go!</p>
<p><em>(Below: The <a href="../../../../news/heading-out-for-the-summer">Triangle Loop</a> is a great trip for trawler boat owners.)</em></p>
<p><img title="map of triangle loop trip" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/one-route-of-the-great-loop.jpg?cb=DD5F0A2E-C153-0C97-F19DF86219375BD1" alt="map of triangle loop trip" width="800" height="619" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p id="anchor8"><strong>VIII. For How Long?</strong></p>
<p>Which brings up how long one expects to be on the boat. Obviously, a full-time liveaboard couple will have space requirements unlike those planning a month on the boat. And the need for creature comforts is also a sliding scale, as occasional cruisers can live without comforts that would be unacceptable if the same people were to spend several months on the boat.</p>
<p>For example, if you use a dishwasher at home, you might be fine with hand washing dishes after each meal on the boat…for a time. But after a while that might seem too much like camping and not what you had in mind when you dreamed of cruising. The same goes for a separate shower versus the wet head found on smaller boats. (Definitely consult your spouse on these points!)</p>
<p>Again, I feel that 36 feet is about the minimum for full-time living aboard and cruising. Some have gone smaller, or somewhat bigger on a planing boat, but it is accepted because the duration of the planned cruise is short. The couple who did the Great Loop on their Nimbus 405 Coupe had plenty of space because they had what they needed, and nothing more. It served their needs for this trip. They take their longer cruises aboard their other boat, a 62-foot custom trawler.</p>
<p>Some couples expect to have the same creature comforts on their trawler as they enjoy ashore. But that usually means a generator, air conditioning, and/or a diesel furnace. While they may not know it, they also require large water tanks as they are not thinking about water management, and they want space for all the provisions and personal possessions. If they are liveaboards, where do they plan to store holiday decorations?</p>
<p>For most people, the length of time they expect to be aboard dictates comfort levels and determines which compromises they are willing to make.</p>
<p>These points also point to their style of cruising.</p>
<p>The diversity of cruising is its chief attraction, and each day brings something new, something different. Anchor out or stay in a marina…or even reserve a slip at a luxury marina with lots of facilities? Eat aboard or enjoy local cuisine? Wait for a perfect weather window or go no matter what? Move from one location to the next or stay in one place for a long time and take lots of small side trips?</p>
<p>As should be obvious, your style of cruising will have a huge impact on selecting the right boat. If you tend to be the sort who has a plan and follows the plan no matter what, then you will be far happier with a more seaworthy boat that can take whatever conditions come up each day. That is quite different from the fair-weather cruiser who waits for ideal weather and is content to wait.</p>
<p>If you like the idea of keeping on the move rather than staying in one place, then you will likely be more interested in the underway characteristics of the boat than one that is most livable when tied up at a marina.</p>
<p>Boat speed figures into this question as well. I know successful cruisers who swear the best plan is to get under way as early as possible and run the boat at speed for four or five hours. On a faster boat this gets them miles down the road, but then they stop early in the afternoon. They refuel, wash everything down and then play tourist for the rest of the afternoon. It is far more leisurely than nonstop travel. And they also take days off. Three days running, then two days off, staying put wherever they stopped. It keeps the cruise from becoming a blur.</p>
<p>Those who lust to spend weeks on the hook in paradise are going to be very unhappy if they must run the generator twice a day to keep the refrigerator running, and which requires them to refill their water tanks frequently. As for the holding tank, that is obvious as well.</p>
<p>On the flip side, if you love the energy and varied activities of resort marinas, you will be thrilled with the conveniences of an all-electric boat that relies on shorepower facilities, using the generator only when away from the dock.</p>
<p> </p>
<p id="anchor9"><strong>IX. What Does A Trawler Boat Cost?</strong></p>
<p>This is where an experienced broker can make all the difference. One can expect to pay anywhere from between several hundred thousand dollars to a couple of million to find a suitable boat. It may not be close to home, and a good broker will use the available resources to identify the right boat and then find one that fits and is in the condition one is willing to pay for.</p>
<p>New boat prices are high, and I don’t see that changing. Working with a broker is vital to success here, even after you have done your homework and know (or think you know) what you want. The broker will help locate boats that may be close enough to what you are looking for, and he or she may even steer you in a slightly different direction if they think it may serve you better for what you describe as your ideal trawler.</p>
<p>I strongly recommend buying a new or newer boat whenever possible. It just makes sense, and I would go down in size rather than get an older boat. A newer boat will be less problematic than an older boat with vintage systems, engines, wiring, plumbing, and construction. Leaks are a pain to deal with, and you are not buying a boat as a project.</p>
<p>Honestly, spending your time looking for discontinued parts and then repairing a boat when you and your spouse are supposed to be out cruising is no fun. It sucks. And it quickly wears down the excitement of the adventure, even if you like to tinker on the boat. And your spouse will get tired of reading books on the settee while you make another repair. This is not what you both planned. I’ve seen it over and over, enough to be 100-percent convinced.</p>
<p>Buy a new or newer boat and just enjoy the adventure.</p>
<p>Keep in mind there are other costs beyond the purchase price, and your broker will be very helpful, flushing them out and identifying some you may have missed. There is annual maintenance, for example, insurance, dockage, and the need for occasional repairs. Parts wear out, which will happen most often on an older boat. The mindset of “out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t make it go away. That hidden cutless bearing needs replacing on occasion, as do many other moving parts on a boat.</p>
<p>There is a ballpark figure that floats around the cruising community. Some suggest 10 percent of the cost of the boat is about right for these annual expenses. I have never verified that to be accurate with my own boats, but it is worth considering.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Currently a pre-owned Nordic Tug like this can range from $250,000 - $600,000 and more.)</em></p>
<p><img title="pre-owned nordic tug trawler boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/pre-owned-nordic-tug-trawler-boat.jpg?cb=DE697208-EEF5-C37F-64BC191461133913" alt="pre-owned nordic tug trawler boat" width="800" height="453" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p id="anchor10"><strong>X. Putting It All Together</strong></p>
<p>From my experience, validated by many owners over the years, it is easy to spend too much time agonizing about what kind of boat to buy. If it allows you to enjoy your time on the water, it can be made to work. No boat is perfect. They all represent compromises in one way or another.</p>
<p>Besides your efforts to find the right boat for the kind of cruise you intend, there are two other key factors that contribute to a successful ownership experience. The first, and one that I have been making throughout this guide, is to buy a boat that is as new as possible, even if it means you might have to downsize a bit with your available budget. If it will work for you otherwise, but you must lose the hot tub on the flybridge, it is a worthy tradeoff. You will still have a genuine cruising boat.</p>
<p>The horror stories of old Asian trawlers built to low standards are now mostly irrelevant, as these examples of boats to avoid are now so old one should not even consider them. Besides, there is the reality of today’s marine insurance industry, hit by the large number of damage claims from named storms in recent years. One will find it difficult to get insurance for boats even at 20 years old, let alone 50+ years.</p>
<p>There is another factor that should figure into this buying equation, and it will make all the difference between wonderful and satisfying ownership and a money pit that needs continuous repair by outside services wherever one travels.</p>
<p>That is accessibility. If you can’t get to everything easily, things will be neglected, and system parts will wear out and break. Being able to see, touch, inspect, and take apart every major component on the boat is vital, no matter if it is a Nordic Tug, a lavish Hampton motoryacht, or an expedition trawler. It is even more important on a planing boat like the Nimbus or Back Cove, where available space is at a premium and the builder had to be creative during construction to fit it all in.</p>
<p>Owning a boat with a non-working stern thruster that can’t be inspected, serviced, or repaired without removing the genset shoehorned just above it would cause me great distress, to put it mildly.</p>
<p>If you study the differences, pros and cons, and other considerations, you will be much better equipped to step aboard boats at a boat show. All lined up with brokers standing by to answer your questions, it will feel good to examine each boat on your list to see how it feels, and whether it might fit the needs of what you hope to do. This process can take a couple of years, which is fine. In fact, I know folks now searching for their retirement trawler that is still five years away. There is nothing wrong with taking one’s time.</p>
<p>I would caution, however, not to take too long. Because life goes on, and things happen. Reality changes. Aging parents, volatile portfolios, world stability, and inevitable family medical issues are all things that command our attention at some point.</p>
<p>In addition to the above issues, it is good to remember that nothing in life remains static. When you find your plans or goals change, it is okay if that perfect boat is no longer the right choice. Edits may be needed to the original blueprint. It is very important to realize and accept this.</p>
<p>The notion that there is only one boat to satisfy every dream is totally wrong. But there is a boat for everyone looking to go cruising, that fits every plan, purpose, or budget.</p>
<p>My purpose for this guide is to help you find a boat that brings you the most fun and adventure, in comfort and safety and within your budget. Successful cruising can happen on most any boat.</p>
<p>The key to this adventure is to get started and go!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these Trawler-related articles</span>:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-liveaboard-trawler">What Is The Best Liveaboard Trawler?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-makes-a-yacht-a-trawler">What Makes A Yacht A Trawler?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../trawler-yachts-faqs">Trawler Yacht Frequently Asked Questions</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../buying-and-owning-trawler-yachts">Owning A Trawler Yacht</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
The Ultimate Trawler Boat Buying Guide |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Boating Advice,Cruising Tips |
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<p>It is that time of year when boat owners, with planned summer cruises on the family cruiser, cast off their lines and head north to Alaska, New England, Canada, or points of interest in other directions. The weather, except for the pesky hurricane season on the U.S. East Coast, is perfect for extended travel to new places for the family to make new friends, explore new places, and make memories of a lifetime. Remember our cruise back in 2023? That will always be a special memory.</p>
<p>So, when Bob told me he roughed in the itinerary of a summer trip with his wife, Beth, on their <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/grand-banks-yachts">Grand Banks</a> Eastbay 43, I was all ears. The couple are experienced cruisers, having sailed their Bristol 51 sailboat for years on the East Coast. His travels on the Eastbay include the ICW down and back to Florida, and they want to use the boat to see and experience as much of the country as they can over the next few years.</p>
<p>“It is a cruising boat,” Bob said. ‘So, we need to be using it to go cruising.” It is that simple. If they wanted a boat to just explore around <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-annapolis-maryland">Annapolis</a> and Chesapeake Bay, there are many other, less complicated boats that could serve their needs well. A cruising yacht like the Eastbay is wasted if one only goes out for cocktail cruises or daytime visits around home waters. A <a href="../../../../new-nimbus-boats-for-sale/">Nimbus</a> or <a href="../../../../new-ocean-sport-boats-for-sale/">Ocean Sport</a> might be a better choice, or a <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/boston-whaler">Boston Whaler</a>.</p>
<p>What is particularly interesting about Bob’s plan is that he is an accomplished pilot. And his family has become rather spoiled by traveling by private plane around North America for vacations. No lines at crowded airports, endless security checks, and other travel restrictions. Sounds pretty nice.</p>
<p><img title="Grand Banks Eastbay Yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/grand-banks-eastbay-yacht.jpg?cb=43030CAC-C0FA-0AFB-A1D7A7D31965ADDC" alt="Grand Banks Eastbay Yacht" width="800" height="530" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>In case you don’t see the connection here, let me explain. How an experienced pilot approaches trip planning is anything but spontaneous and carefree. Given the reality of flying, there is a critical need to make sure all major elements of planning are done thoroughly and accurately. As Bob once pointed out, the need to carefully map out fuel availability along a route is more than just a nicety. Running out of fuel on a boat is an inconvenient hassle. Running out of fuel in an airplane is another matter given the obvious consequences.</p>
<p>This thoroughness is extensive in all of Bob’s trip planning, which is why, of course, I was keen to hear more about the details. And I wanted to see how he approaches the process. This would be especially interesting this year, as the couple’s travels take them far north from Annapolis into Canada and include leaving the boat for a couple of weeks for other family commitments.</p>
<p>It is a summer cruise most of us can relate to, even if we boat in the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes, or some other cruising area in North America.</p>
<p>Bob’s Triangle Loop is about 1,700 statute miles long, involves five major canal systems of 103 locks, and travels through New York, Canada, and Vermont. The route is familiar to Loopers, as it encompasses popular sections of variations of <a href="../../../../news/the-great-loop">the Great Loop</a>.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Map of the Triangle Loop. Image Cred: MainelyBensley.com)</em></p>
<p><img title="map of the triangle loop" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/map-of-triangle-loop.jpg?cb=43443E65-E198-4276-897067D4597C7F7B" alt="map of the triangle loop" width="800" height="630" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>The basic plan is to leave Annapolis July 1st. First stop is Cape May, NJ. Then:</p>
<p>Great Kills Harbor, NY<br />Liberty Landing, NJ<br />Waterford, NY<br />Erie Canal<br />Brewerton, NY<br />Lake Ontario<br />Clayton, NY on the St Lawrence River<br />Alexandria Bay<br />Kingston, Ontario<br />Rideau Canal<br />Ottawa<br />Montreal<br />Chambly Canal<br />Lake Champlain<br />Hudson River<br />Cape May<br />Annapolis</p>
<p>There are a couple of hard dates, such as being in NYC for July 4th. They also need to be in Ohio for family time the second two weeks of July. Montreal is on the schedule for August 17th, Burlington, Vermont a week later, and NYC again first of September. The couple will arrive back in Annapolis for Labor Day, September 4th.</p>
<p>Obviously the planned itinerary can change given any number of circumstances. No matter how it ultimately unfolds, however, it is all about having fun.</p>
<p>As Bob said, it is “all about the experience, not making miles.” If only all cruisers could hold to that simple truth and not fall victim to focusing on connecting the dots of a plotter’s route!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Resources</strong></p>
<p>We are lucky to live in the time of the Internet, and the proliferation of hundreds of data sources that complement (and sometimes contradict) other cruising information.</p>
<p>Bob specifically mentioned the value of the <a href="https://www.waterwayguide.com/" target="_blank">Waterway Guide</a>, <a href="https://www.skipperbob.net/" target="_blank">Skipper Bob Cruising Guides</a>, and <a href="https://www.rideau-info.com/canal/visitor-guide.html" target="_blank">Watson’s Guide to the Rideau Canal</a>. Some material, such as Watson’s, is available for free download, and having a printed copy on hand is a big help during the planning phase, as well as on the cruise.</p>
<p>(Below: Image of Watson's Guide.)</p>
<p><img title="watsons guide to the rideau canal" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/rideau-canal-map.jpg?cb=43030CB9-DADE-6FE4-D56A6603274461CF" alt="watsons guide to the rideau canal" width="800" height="1016" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>He purchased all paper charts of the Canadian waterways to get familiar with any subtle differences in presentation from his U.S. charts, as well as inspect the route options while planning the trip. Despite the consensus of electronic charting, there is some comfort in having official paper charts of all areas one expects to transit. There is always some level of detail one can appreciate from the paper charts.</p>
<p>It is necessary to get permits to travel some areas, as well as crossing between the U.S. and Canada. All of Bob’s planning comes from his aviation orientation. His focus takes into account fuel stops, logging all data of the trip, and tracking usage of the engines and hours of operation. It is a valued habit of a pilot, and there is certainly no harm in accounting down to such a detailed level.</p>
<p>He commented that commercial locks on the St. Lawrence require advanced reservations, as pleasure boats are secondary to commercial use. By requiring reservations, the lock operation can stack the pleasure boats together to go through locks in times between commercial traffic.</p>
<p>I include some images of his log pages as examples, and each has its value. (Also read: <a href="../../../../news/do-you-keep-a-logbook-while-cruising">Do You Keep A Log Book While Cruising?</a>)</p>
<p><img title="log book for cruising" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/log-book.jpg?cb=43030CB5-B989-CF67-60AA1EC1DE4BEA44" alt="log book for cruising" width="800" height="605" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bob called ahead to each of his expected fuel stops to get current fuel pricing. He uses this as a guide when he cruises as he also keep cruising notes on various alternative travel scenarios that might be considered if the original plan changes. Perfect weather conditions, for example, may urge him to keep going on any particular day, rather than stop prematurely at a planned stop, knowing that the great weather window may not be so ideal the following day. (I have found having predetermined alternatives along a route is a common thing for experienced cruisers. Why leave anything to chance when so many other factors are out of one’s control. It makes sense and offers piece of mind.)</p>
<p><em>(Below: An example of Bob's cruising notes.)</em></p>
<p><img title="cruising notes for the great loop" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/cruising-notes.jpg?cb=43030CB0-F3B9-AD11-80B48247AF8D55BA" alt="cruising notes for the great loop" width="800" height="818" /></p>
<p>The smartphone app Nebo is quite popular with Great Loopers, and will be aboard for the trip. The boat’s electronics are all Garmin (no surprise, as his airplane has a full Garmin glass helm).</p>
<p>And the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol’s ROAM app will be helpful when necessary.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Some Details</strong></p>
<p>The Eastbay 43 is a Downeast classic, a twin-diesel motorboat that cruises at 20+ knots. The Ray Hunt hull form is efficient and slippery, and offers great performance when compared to a typical displacement trawler. But to keep its slippery shape at its best, Bob plans to have the boat hauled the day before he leaves to have the bottom thoroughly cleaned to maximize his speed and economy through the water.</p>
<p>This brought up the subject of fueling and how much fuel to have in the boat. Full fuel tanks on the Eastbay will add thousands of pounds, as much as 3,600 lbs when 450 gallons are aboard. That is not good for maximizing efficiency, so Bob’s flying experience dictates balancing required fuel and its weight against the fuel one truly needs to travel safely from one place to the next. It is simple math that anyone with a fast boat should practice.</p>
<p>Keeping the boat as light as possible is a good strategy for this hull shape, essentially having only enough fuel onboard needed for the next leg, with perhaps 50 gallons as a minimum reserve. It makes no sense to top off one’s fuel tanks when there is cheap fuel ahead, perhaps at the very next stop. When they reach Brewerton, where they will leave the boat and head off to family events in Ohio, Bob already knows he can expect cheaper fuel than elsewhere.</p>
<p>But it is not an absolute, and an example of the need for flexibility regarding the fuel equation is when they take off from Annapolis. The boat will have full fuel tanks. They plan to stop on the first day in Cape May, New Jersey. However, if the weather and conditions are really good, it may make more sense to keep going to Great Kills Harbor, to ensure being in NYC for July 4th.</p>
<p>(With this discussion of fuel and associated factors, it might seem a fixation of the trip is on fuel conservation and efficiency, but that is definitely not the case. The couple intend to enjoy this special adventure of history, culture, and natural beauty.)</p>
<p>All of us have different ideas about provisioning, especially when one will be in a town almost every night. So there is little need on this trip to eat canned food stored in the bilge. They will eat aboard less than 50 percent of the time, and will provision accordingly. Fresh and perishable food is more of a priority than emergency cans of Dinty Moore stew. Greek yogurt with fresh fruit is the breakfast staple, so no need to load the fridge with bacon, eggs, hash browns, and pastry. As things are consumed, they will reprovision along the way.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Bob's Grand Banks Yacht docked in front of the South Carolina Yacht Club in Windmill Harbor.)</em></p>
<p><img title="Grand Banks docked at marina" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/grand-banks-docked-at-marina.jpg?cb=43030CBD-EE9F-59B7-4FEC2D038DBFEAD5" alt="Grand Banks docked at marina" width="800" height="516" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I’m always curious about people’s style of cruising. What is their daily routine? Bob told me they like to get under way around 9am, and they do so without a lot of talking and interaction. He runs the boat away from the dock and she straightens up the interior for the day. They have their own routines which have been honed by years of cruising on their boats. They know things will be different when they have to deal with more than 100 locks this summer. And if there is something special that demands their attention, passing the Statue of Liberty comes to mind, no problem. It is all about the experience, after all, not making miles.</p>
<p>Ideally they like to “be there” no later than 2pm after a day’s run. Given the Eastbay’s cruising speed of 20+ knots, that is plenty of time to cover serious distance.</p>
<p>Bob ordered two new e-bikes for the trip, both from <a href="https://jackrabbit.bike/" target="_blank">Jack Rabbit</a>. The lightweight micro bikes each only weigh 24 lbs with batteries. The tradeoff for the small size and weight, which makes for easy handling, is that range is limited to only 10 miles or so. But that is more than enough for cruisers heading to the store from the marina for bananas and milk. The bikes cost about $1,000 each and will easily fit in the guest stateroom.</p>
<p> <img title="Jack Rabbit e bike" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/jack-rabbit-e-bike.jpg?cb=4400C47E-DCD7-1DD1-DC79D1B1F4F71BBD" alt="Jack Rabbit e bike" width="800" height="469" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Bob suggests one makes sure everything works before leaving on such a long cruise that spans the summer. And knowing how to really use the chart plotter, beyond the basics needed for a local cocktail cruise around home, is important. There is so much value in modern electronics and their capabilities, yet many of us never take advantage of any of it.</p>
<p>During my recent time aboard Bob’s Eastbay 43, the boat was clearly ready to go. Sparking clean, nothing out of place, no clutter around the helm or on the decks. Not a book or sunglasses sitting around. It is the definition of being ready, prepared to get under way.</p>
<p>It reminds me of an article I wrote about Carlton Mitchell, the world-class sailor and yachtsman who defined yachting so well. In a marina among the fleet before the start of a Bermuda race, while the boats are torn apart and everyone is off scrambling to take care of last minute details and forgotten “need to have” gear before the start, his pretty yawl Finisterre sits quietly in her slip, fully prepared, nothing out of place, lines coiled just so, ready to get under way on a moment’s notice. And then she blows everyone else out of the water with another victory race out to the Rock.</p>
<p>When it is done right, it shows.</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Bob. I hope you and Beth have a great summer!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by Bill Parlatore:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/taking-on-the-great-loop">Taking Of The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Preparing For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/lets-go-on-the-great-loop">Let's Go On The Great Loop!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-dawn-of-the-paperless-helm">Dawn Of The Paperless Helm</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
Heading Out For The Summer |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Cruising Tips,The Great Loop |
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<p>I enjoyed looking at photos that one of the Seattle Yachts’ brokers posted of his clients removing personal stuff from their yacht as a result of purchasing an <a href="../../../../new-endurance-yachts-for-sale/">Endurance motoryacht</a>. What a lovely moment in time, and I’m quite excited for the new owners. I wish them great success enjoying their new yacht with many years of happy memories to come.</p>
<p>Box after box, piles of pillows, enormous treasure chests of expensive furnishings, art, and trinkets collected from cruising over the years. I have no doubt that some of this loot was originally brought over from earlier boats, perhaps multiple boats.</p>
<p>That certainly was the case with me. And I imagine many of us perform this ritual when we move from one boat to a new one.</p>
<p>There is no denying it can be something of an emotional roller coaster when settling into a new boat. This is especially trying when the window to get it done is short and the boats are physically close enough that everything taken off one yacht immediately goes onto the new one. When that happens there is often very little thought given to what gets moved, or where it rightfully belongs in the new home. Everything must be off as soon as possible.</p>
<p>I’ve been through this numerous times, and each time it is accompanied by factors that I mostly have no control over. Perhaps the time factor is critical, as the buyers of one’s old boat need to leave for its new home. Maybe a quick closing was an important sale contingency, and you must work with these deadlines to just get it done without much planning. In such cases, and trust me I have been there often, everything comes out of one drawer or locker and goes in a box to be unloaded in the equivalent drawer or locker on the new boat. And there is no time to think about the contents.</p>
<p>That may explain why I found a well-aged coaster from Seattle’s Olympic Hotel along with a newer one from a Tiki bar in Key Largo. Both have moved multiple times and the Olympic memorabilia is several decades old. I keep saying I’ll go through this stuff after the move is completed. Famous last words! Despite every honest intention, rest assured it will never happen. That also goes for books of matches (remember those?) and other tchotchkes collected from a life on the water.</p>
<p>I always envision that one day I will enjoy a day on the boat with lots of quiet time. I will read cruising guides of all the exciting places I might go, dreaming and making lists of future voyages filled with excitement and wonder. Who am I kidding? Any free moment on the boat is already slotted for maintenance of some kind. How can I relax and dream of distant shores, stretched out on the settee with the sound of rain hitting the deck overhead, when I hear the water pump cycle on for a second or two every hour? How am I supposed to relax when the boat is talking to me to get up and fix or investigate some sound? I have never experienced the idle luxury of a Maytag repairman. Never been that lucky.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Bill checking over the engine before heading offshore.)</em></p>
<p><img title="checking boat engine" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/checking-the-boat-engine.jpg?cb=093690BD-915A-70D1-1E48B224911A1278" alt="checking boat engine" width="800" height="592" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>At one time or another I could justify each thing or tool on the boat. Everything onboard had a purpose, even if it was from long ago…or from another boat.</p>
<p>The chart table is always the worst place to find such things. Carried over from my sailing days, some of which were also when I lived aboard as a single guy, all kinds of baubles transfer from one chart table to the next. Over several decades this creates a hodgepodge that rivals any kitchen junk drawer. The contents du jour represent over 50 years of routines, habits, and life.</p>
<p>At least two calculators, often more. One is always solar, a freebie from a fuel dock long ago. Another is an early attempt at hybrid power, with both solar and battery power sources. Of course, the battery is long dead. Rather than getting rid of either of these, for some reason I just add newer versions that work better.</p>
<p>The same is true for tape measures, note pads, pencils and pens, stamps that are no longer sufficient for even a postcard, corkscrews, lighters (some work, some don’t), rulers, rubber bands of undefined vintage, and more. If I have a multimeter, surely a second or third spare is better, right?</p>
<p>And the flashlights! What is it about flashlights that captivate me so that I have literally dozens around every boat I’ve owned? Some are long dead, every bit as corroded as invasive marine life on a sunken wreck. Others are solar powered (???), and there is one that a friend’s company was trying to market that needed to be shaken for five minutes to generate even a pathetic beam of light. And of course, I always have Surefire, Stinger, and other quality lights I’ve collected or received from my days with the magazine. If I have an addiction, it is clearly flashlights.</p>
<p>I am never surprised to see the familiar cruising guides that come off the boat, even those that sit on the shelf in company with newer and updated editions of the same guide, published by the same company. What am I, a hoarder!?! (To be fair, my cryptic notes in the margins of the old guides, as along the ICW, are invaluable.)</p>
<p>When time forces us to finish the deal as soon as possible, we simply go through the motions, filling empty boxes and containers with everything on the boat we are leaving.</p>
<p><img title="moving day on your boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/moving-day-on-your-boat.jpg?cb=099BBDF9-FB68-0087-6659F8A039F2A8FB" alt="moving day on your boat" width="800" height="525" /> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It is staggering just how much stuff one collects after a few years of active cruising. And the list is endless: night vision goggles, cables for computers and chargers and who knows what, remotes, tackle boxes of blocks (even though we sold the sailboat years ago), pieces of twine and rope, endless pairs of reading glasses, first aid kits in every shape and size, cruising guides and other books for world travel that now have that rich patina of boat smell. Extension cords, epoxy kits and containers, galley tools that surpass what I have at home, navigation books and tools, and rules of the road. And let’s not forget the three volumes of sight reduction tables, all nicely bound for use on ships from years ago.</p>
<p>“You do know we use electronic charting these days, don’t you?”</p>
<p>There is no excuse, really, and I am guilty each time I go through this. “I promise this time will be different.” Yeah, right. Who are you kidding?</p>
<p>Well, maybe there is hope for this old salt. I recently sat aboard one of the new Ocean Sport 30-foot cruisers at the <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-annapolis-maryland">Annapolis office</a>. It is a shiny white boat with two big outboards, and this boat can fly. It is also a good size for folks who want to downsize from a larger boat. It has everything one needs to go cruising…and not a thing more.</p>
<p><em>(Below: The Ocean Sport 30 Roamer.)</em></p>
<p><img title="ocean sport 30 roamer" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/ocean-sport-30.jpg?cb=0A30CDA7-E427-A8C9-F34780BBED35CC52" alt="ocean sport 30 roamer" width="800" height="454" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>As I sat at the dinette of the <a href="../../../../new-ocean-sport-boats-for-sale/">Ocean Sport</a>, I fantasized preparing the boat for some new adventures. Perhaps New England this summer, maybe a trip down the Florida Keys this winter. If I could base it out of the Pacific Northwest, it would be ideal to head out to the San Juan Islands, perhaps even SE Alaska. I met a bunch of cruisers one summer in Misty Fjords when we were cruising on a <a href="../../../../new-northern-marine-yachts-for-sale/">Northern Marine</a> 64. The small flotilla was from Bellingham, and included boats that were much smaller and perhaps not the best choice for Alaskan cruising, including a couple of gas-powered cruisers and a tiny Willard 30 with a sewing machine-sized diesel engine. If they could do it, surely an Ocean Sport would be a grand choice.</p>
<p>Another twist we’re considering for potential future cruising is the idea of heading to a resort destination and then staying at the resort, keeping the boat in the marina. That way, we can enjoy the luxury and comforts of the facility and easily trade the compact, combined head/shower to a full bath with plush white bathrobes. Instead of making meals on the boat, we will enjoy fine dining at its best. At this stage of life, I feel we deserve that. Ask my wife, it’s her idea.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Abaco Beach Resort has a great marina and is a beautiful destination to dock.)</em></p>
<p><img title="abaco beach resort" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/abaco-beach-resort.jpg?cb=0A147347-A519-5BF5-D82D6AF986CF488C" alt="abaco beach resort" width="800" height="479" /> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>As I sat quietly in the boat, looking around at the accommodations and use of space of this versatile cruiser and fishing boat, I realized that we could do it. But to be successful, I would have to make some serious changes in my new boat routines. This time I would have to pick and choose the gear I brought aboard the Ocean Sport, as it does not have a dedicated chart table, nor does it have storage for all the books and paraphernalia I have been accustomed to carrying with me…for no reason other than perhaps I do not know what else to do with it.</p>
<p>It was at that moment I had an 'Aha moment'. This old sailor, this creature of habit, may have turned the corner. If I had any illusion to go cruising on the Ocean Sport, I would have to ditch the stuff still sitting in boxes in my garage. All of it.</p>
<p>Instead of reloading the packed contents into a GMC Yukon and then into this new boat, as I have done before, I will have to get rid of stuff. Like the four extra dispensers of dental floss, the extra cushions that serve no purpose whatsoever, and the body lotion and sunscreen bottles that date back decades. All of it would have to stay off the boat and find a new home…in a dumpster.</p>
<p>I finally understand that it is time to rethink my boating needs and fit new cruising plans with the reality of what I must work with. What I can fit to use in the Ocean Sport galley will have to be minimal, which would be more than enough. I don’t plan to make Thanksgiving dinner on the boat. We go out these days, or I make pasta. Nothing wrong with that!</p>
<p>Thinking back to the pictures of boxes destined to move to the new Endurance, I stop and take a breath. Just because I can fit it all into a new boat does not make a plausible case for bringing everything along…just in case. I’ve spent a lifetime aligned with that “just in case” sentiment, and I can’t recall even once where that saved me from starvation, drowning, or the slightest hardship. Yes, I once fixed a wobbly bimini with dental floss, but we were not fighting for our lives against storms or pirates or killer whales off Gibraltar. No one was at risk, and that was intentional.</p>
<p>You see, mostly I go pleasure boating these days. And it is refreshing to consider going with less…</p>
<p>In fact, that might be a good name for my next new boat, a reminder that there is no longer any need to embrace my old attitude and the mantra that came with it…Just in Case.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other similar boating articles</span>: </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/its-always-something">It's Always Something</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/importance-of-a-spring-sea-trial">Importance Of A Spring Sea Trial</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/beyond-spring-rituals">Beyond Spring Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/whats-the-best-way-to-dock-your-boat">What's The Best Way To Dock Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/end-of-year-boat-clean-out">End Of Year Boat Clean Out</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/getting-ready-for-boating-season">Getting Ready For Boating Season</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/yearly-engine-service-and-beyond">Yearly Engine Service & Beyond</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/have-a-backup-plan">Have a Backup Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools - How Do You Keep Yours?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/prepare-yourself-for-offshore-cruising">Prepare Yourself For Offshore Cruising</a></li>
</ul> |
Trading Spaces: Moving From One Boat To A New One |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Boating Advice,Cruising Tips |
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Moving your belongings from one yacht to another can be quite a job when you've sold one boat and have bought another. |
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<p>Experienced boat owners will spend months researching and touring possible candidates for their next boat. Ultimately, many order a new build for this yacht. It might be a long-legged trawler, like the new Northwest 55, or a classy cruising motoryacht such as those popular Hampton and Endurance yachts, also represented by Seattle Yachts. The company offers these as well as Northern Marine and Seaton-designed yachts that incorporate all that has been learned from the past 25 years of trawler cruising. These builders incorporate the latest technology and design ideas in yachts that are capable, eminently luxurious and comfortable, and showcase yacht design and build quality that once was only associated with the best European yards.</p>
<p>It is a great time to own one of today’s outstanding cruising yachts, designed to help celebrate one’s hard work in life. Those built in Asia are particularly known for incredible joiner work, the choicest hardwood and interior furnishings, and now engine rooms that are second to none.</p>
<p>In most cases, these new yachts are then loaded on ships, in Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, or a port in China to begin the ocean voyage delivery to North America. Arriving at Baltimore, Los Angeles, Tacoma, <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-british-columbia">British Columbia</a>, or South Florida, the new yachts are lowered into the water for the first time, and dealers take the new yacht back to their location to complete the build and commissioning process. It is a tried-and-true scenario that has worked well for decades.</p>
<p>When the owners finally take delivery of their new yacht, they get to enjoy and learn their new boat close to home. Plans are made for future cruising to the islands, the rugged Northwest and Alaska, or perhaps many less-exotic places closer to home.</p>
<p>But if you listen to experienced cruiser and veteran Seattle Yachts - <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-philippines">Philippines broker</a>, Brian Calvert, you are missing out on a fabulous opportunity that probably wasn’t even on your radar screen. Brian’s argument is worth a listen, as he has some inside information that could change your perception of this “normal” delivery equation and replace it with a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that will change you view of cruising forever.</p>
<p><img title="View from yacht in Philippines" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/view-from-yacht-while-cruising-philippines.jpg?cb=6AB033B9-0E2A-559A-0922AD47E133EF0C" alt="View from yacht in Philippines" width="800" height="476" /></p>
<p>Brian makes a solid case for bypassing normal red tape of yacht delivery and pursuing a different direction that makes the traditional process pale in comparison. When you really think about it, perhaps the old way of doing things has become obsolete in world cruising.</p>
<p>In short, Brian wants you to consider taking delivery of your new <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/">trawler yacht</a> while still in Asia and to forgo stateside delivery by ship. For now, or perhaps altogether.</p>
<p>Brian’s intriguing idea offers a treasure map of its own, replacing expensive shipping, taxes, permits, and international bureaucracy with simply taking delivery of one’s new boat, launching it in the South China Sea, and then going cruising. Aboard your new yacht, in some of the choicest cruising grounds on Earth.</p>
<p>Seem too good to be true? Not at all.</p>
<p>It is a fact that a growing number of buyers today want to step outside the box, get off the beaten track, and see what is left in the world that is untouched, pristine, and still gorgeous…while there is still time. To these people, the world is their oyster, and they have more interest in seeing what’s over the horizon than impressing their neighbors on the dock with a shiny new boat.</p>
<p>Let’s look at this new adventure idea, one that is easy, safe, and offers all the excitement and world-class experience one might imagine. It really is irresistible and worth exploring.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Brian's boat "FURTHUR" which he cruises in the Philippines.)</em></p>
<p><img title="trawler yacht cruising in Philippines" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/trawler-yacht-in-philippines.jpg?cb=6AE9CFC7-E0F4-FBFF-175C484C732AFD72" alt="trawler yacht cruising in Philippines" width="800" height="462" /></p>
<p>Consider the idea of ditching the yacht shipment back home. Instead, imagine arranging with a seasoned professional to take delivery of the boat in Asia, where it was built. Then, make the boat minimally operational (we’ll define that in a bit), and then make a short maiden voyage (with experienced crew if you choose) in calm and following seas to the heart of an island paradise of 7,600 islands.</p>
<p>Let’s set our sights on the Philippines, the gateway to much of the South Pacific. A place that is every bit as magical and exotic, yet where life is easy, and exceedingly friendly to Americans and other English-speaking people. The Philippines represent life that is as carefree as one could imagine. Where life is good, inexpensive, and the population is known for its relaxed lifestyle, happy outlook, and everyone smiles.</p>
<p>Brian took off from his home port in Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands on his <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/selene-yachts">Selene</a> trawler and began a multi-year adventure cruising the Pacific. Over the next several years, he visited many delightful island dreamscapes, each one prettier than the next. The pictures on his blog were full of crystal-clear waters, majestic mountains reaching to the clouds, and islanders enjoying life in the slow lane.</p>
<p><em>(Below: A beautiful evening sunset in the Philippines.)</em></p>
<p><img title="evening in the Philippines on the water" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/evening-in-the-philippines.jpg?cb=6B19432A-BCF4-9423-E2A2DCC3E9E04CAD" alt="evening in the Philippines on the water" width="800" height="452" /></p>
<p>Nine years ago, he landed in the Philippines, and never left. He found paradise, love, and all the reasons one needs to put down roots. Today, <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Brian-Calvert">Brian Calvert</a> is the Seattle Yachts dealer/broker for the Pacific, based in Subic Bay. He keeps his Selene trawler at the <a href="https://subicbayyachtclub.ph/" target="_blank">Subic Bay Yacht Club</a>, and spends his time helping clients, diving, and enjoying island hopping with his family.</p>
<p>Brian’s long history of managing boat builds in Asia gives him a unique perspective and ability. He uses his experience and knowledge to inspect clients’ new builds at key stages of construction and he meets with the buyers at the appropriate yard for periodic inspection. A full-service professional, Brian also arranges for clients’ travel plans to the Philippines, and he manages commissioning work done once the yacht arrives in Subic Bay.</p>
<p>His successful professional background makes him the perfect liaison to manage and arrange delivery crews, as required, and the necessary visas to travel to/from Hong Kong and China. Taiwan, he says, is somewhat easier for all the above.</p>
<p>Having a professional broker/agent in the Seattle Yachts network takes much of the worry out of the often-stressful activities surrounding yacht deliveries, entrance clearances, berthing, and all the commissioning and other yacht services once the yacht arrives in Subic Bay.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Why Cruise the Philippines</strong></p>
<p>As Brian explained, the Philippines are the most “American” of SE Asia. The people are predominantly Catholic, and everyone speaks English.</p>
<p>The Philippines are considered the gateway to the rest of SE Asia, from Borneo up to Singapore, and over to Thailand, the Land of Smiles. One can continue down to Indonesia, a land that is both remote and mystical, and home to the famed beasts, the Komodo dragons.</p>
<p>In this area of the Pacific, cultures differ from one country to the next. Malaysia, for example, is quite modern, with large and beautiful cities, high-end marinas, yet elsewhere is Indonesia it is like going back in time.</p>
<p>Bali welcomes cruisers and one can’t help but have amazing spiritual experiences within its unique culture. Brian says Thailand is yet another bend in the prism, with temples, massive Buddha statues, and elephants.</p>
<p>You will find friendly, generous, curious, and open people everywhere you go. Crime against cruisers is basically unheard of. What minor thefts that occur can easily be avoided with basic cautions, much like the rest of the world. And the reality is that the cities and towns in the Philippines are considerably safer than many American cities, from Miami to Seattle.</p>
<p>The 7,600 islands that make up the Philippines provide some of the finest cruising grounds anywhere. There are endless white sandy beaches, friendly boutique resorts in remote locations, and one finds yacht-friendly people and places everywhere you go.</p>
<p>The weather is ideal for nine months of the year, and one can enjoy the best diving in the world in 85-degree water.</p>
<p><img title="yacht anchored at sunset in the Philippines" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/yacht-anchored-in-philippines.jpg?cb=6AB033B5-BD76-D0DC-615DC24293360361" alt="yacht anchored at sunset in the Philippines" width="800" height="494" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Getting There</strong></p>
<p>In Brian’s experience, a buyer can choose to take possession of a new boat in China or Taiwan, and register the boat in any number of places, including the United States, with U.S. Coast Guard documentation.</p>
<p>Taiwan boatyards are only one day away, and Hong Kong is an easy, three-day crossing. By having a boat built in Asia, one enters the Philippines as a regular cruising boat, with no limitations on how long the boat can stay. People require easily extended visas. The savings run up into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, with no duty, sales tax, or shipping costs.</p>
<p>Preparing a new yacht for the short delivery, most boatyards in Asia have matured and can perform basic installations, many up to and including full commissioning of all electronics and systems. So, if one took delivery of their new boat, performed the necessary sea trials in Hong Kong, for example, one would just need some basics for the 600nm trip across to Subic Bay. At a minimum, one needs to install a depth sounder, a radar would be nice, and the rest of the navigation electronics could be performed on a laptop with external AIS and GPS. For his deliveries, Brian carries a full navigation kit in his computer case, along with a portable VHF radio.</p>
<p>He also recommends a life raft and EPIRB, easily sourced in China and Taiwan.</p>
<p>With no duty for boats from China, no sales tax or state registration, Brian says the savings in shipping costs alone can exceed $100,000. Discussing the options with your broker, you can determine the full savings of your new boat, which can indeed be a significant portion of the purchase price.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The Realities of Cruising the Philippines</strong></p>
<p>In Brian’s personal and professional experience, the Philippines can easily be the least expensive place on earth to own a boat. He pays $300 USD a month for a 50-foot slip in a five-star yacht club marina. And the service is outstanding. The marina staff collects garbage once a day right at the boat, they deliver bottled drinking water to your slip, and the marina staff always carries his wife’s groceries and things to the boat.</p>
<p>In addition, he has secure covered parking for his car and motorcycle. The marina has two swimming pools, a nice private gym and a club house. There are two good restaurants on site, and it is within easy walking distance to many more. The security at the yacht club is exceptional, with armed guards, security cameras, and night-time patrols.</p>
<p>SBYC is also near a full-service boatyard and great chandlery with a service department. Skilled labor is $10-15 USD a day. One can hire "boatmen" who are inexpensive yet reliable, and who will capably care for your boat while you are absent. They will also crew with you if you want local knowledge as you begin cruising the area.</p>
<p><em>(Below: The Subic Bay Yacht Club.)</em></p>
<p><img title="subic bay yacht club in philippines" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/subic-bay-yacht-club-in-philippines.jpg?cb=6BBE97D3-FC46-4C3A-2C0F62FA279166C4" alt="subic bay yacht club in philippines" width="800" height="490" /> </p>
<p>It is an ideal home base, as the yacht club is in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, on land that was once "the Base." It is quite modern and very American. As one walks down Main Street, one might think they were in San Diego. (U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay was decommissioned in 1992.)</p>
<p>When I inquired about shopping and buying groceries, Brian said there are five major stores within a kilometer of the marina. All stock plenty of western foods, as there is a large expat population in the area.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>A Reality Check</strong></p>
<p>One of the things that has always intrigued me is how so many aspiring cruisers believe life beyond our borders is more primitive and lacks products and services we take for granted. I encountered that collective mindset every time we hosted a seminar about cruising foreign waters. The questions and conversation always drifted around vague views clearly lacking in knowledge and actual experience. The “how many guns aboard” conversation came up every time.</p>
<p>It apparently takes a while for many of these cruising newbies to realize that life outside our country isn’t all that different. People still have families, drink water, eat food, use diesel and propane, and go fishing.</p>
<p>So, when I inquired about food and the cost of living, Brian had a lot to say. The cuisine of the Philippines, much like its people, is a melting pot of cultures. Chinese, Moro, Spanish, and American influences are everywhere. Most meals are pork, chicken, or seafood based. Everywhere you go, one will always be close to a public market where fresh produce, fruit, and meat are available. And with a significant expat population, western food can be found in most populated areas. As Brian said, you can always find that “cheeseburger in paradise.”</p>
<p>I love looking at the shelves in food stores to get a sense of the diversity and cost of daily living. So, I spent some time exploring online shopping on the website of the SM SuperMarket in downtown Olongapo, close to the yacht club. Brian says the prices are even better on “the Base” but what I found was easily below any budget here in Annapolis, much less in most cases. Whether I looked at bananas, lemons, hot dogs, hamburger rolls, bread, eggs, mayonnaise, even chicken thighs and breasts, the prices were much less than what I would pay locally.</p>
<p>And Brian says the cost of eating out is cheap, with a local meal less than five dollars a person. A one-hour massage is between $5-$8. In other words, the cost of living is very reasonable in the Philippines.</p>
<p>English is spoken everywhere, as it is the second national language. Most road signs and store fronts are in English.</p>
<p>It would take too long to describe all the fabulous places in the Philippines ideal for diving of all skill levels. From intense NITROX diving to shallow, snorkel-friendly outings, there are many opportunities to swim with the marine life among the coral reefs, sunken wrecks, and other attractions all over the many islands here.</p>
<p><img title="dolphins playing near boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/dolphins-playing-by-boat.jpg?cb=6AB033B1-CAF2-D659-05B296DD9C20B092" alt="dolphins playing near boat" width="800" height="495" /></p>
<p>One of the most popular and easily accessed diving sites is in Busuanga Bay, situated between Busuanga Island and Coron Bay. On September 24, 1944, aircraft from Fast Carrier Task Force 38 off the USS Lexington surprised a dozen anchored ships of the Japanese Navy. The ships arrived the previous day, seeking shelter after repeated attacks in Manila Bay.</p>
<p>Believing they were now safely out of harm's way, they were pounced upon by 96 F6F Hellcat fighters and 24 Helldiver dive bombers of Admiral Mitscher’s forces, traveling 340 miles to find the ships, which was a new distance record at the time for such attack sorties. In one hellish period that morning, the unrelenting scream of diving American aircraft overwhelmed the anti-aircraft gunfire from the Japanese combatants. Eight ships went to the bottom.</p>
<p>Today, these wrecks are popular with divers of all skill levels, with outstanding visibility in warm water and calm seas.</p>
<p>Brian has visited the area numerous times.</p>
<p>“We grab a courtesy mooring provided by Marina del Ray Resort, a small family-owned resort that pioneered the area. A quick call to our old friend Gunther at the local dive shop and we arranged for him to pick us up at the boat for a dive.</p>
<p><img title="scuba diving in the Philippines" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/scuba-in-the-philippines.jpg?cb=6B6F2091-0672-D175-60644E0C18D8D3A4" alt="scuba diving in the Philippines" width="800" height="496" /></p>
<p>“The bay is also home to two of our favorite small boutique resorts, where it is customary to patronize the bar and restaurant of businesses that provide moorings. After a scrumptious lunch at Marina del Ray, we climbed the short, steep path to Alfaro Resort, perched on a cliff facing west. The lofty swimming pool is a favorite place for sunset watching. Imagine frolicking in a swimming pool, enjoying a cocktail with a tiny umbrella watching an epic sunset. Life does not get better than that.</p>
<p>“Within a short dinghy ride from Busuanga Bay one can also find two small islands with brilliant white sandy beaches and picnic areas. The snorkeling there is superb.</p>
<p>“For the next few nights and anchorages, we are usually the lone boat, which is common here in the Philippines. There are so few cruising boats and so many places to see.</p>
<p>“One can cruise and anchor almost endlessly as a solo boat if so desired.”</p>
<p>Brian’s own adventures begin and end at Subic Bay Yacht Club, which he recommends. The off season is July through December, and it is a very safe place to keep the boat.</p>
<p>Like cruising everywhere, it is the people that make such a big difference in the overall experience.</p>
<p>“Wherever one goes there are bright smiling faces of locals greeting you,” said Calvert. “Ask any visitor to the Philippines, they will rant about the beauty, the diving, and the adventures—but all will agree, it is the people that make the Philippines the wonder that it is. Westerners are often jolted by how friendly and generous people who own so little can be so happy. It is a life lesson for sure.”</p>
<p><img title="Brian playing at the beach with kids" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/brian-playing-with-kids-in-philippines.jpg?cb=6AB033AD-FF89-BB07-00ED0F3D7B6CF804" alt="Brian playing at the beach with kids" width="800" height="465" /></p>
<p>Thankfully, the storm season is during the rainy season, and usually ends by December. Most typhoons never reach land, although they dump a great deal of rain. Typhoon watching is a national pastime, with a great deal of forecasting available. The cruising season is generally calm, dry, and safe.</p>
<p>The threat of piracy is minimal today, and what dangerous areas once existed are in the far south of the country where it nearly connects with Borneo. Efforts to clean out the bad guys in recent years have been successful.</p>
<p>“Even so, when in remote areas full of curious kids that might come to your boat, we carry candy and toys for such occasions,” Brian said. “I find the ‘leader of the pack’ and pay him the equivalent of 40 cents to watch the boat. That always works.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><br /><strong>Getting Back to the World</strong></p>
<p>Once the cruising is done and it is time to bring the boat home, Brian said most larger boats can easily make the trip up north to Japan, then over the top of the Pacific to Alaska and down the West Coast.</p>
<p>That would be another enormous adventure!</p>
<p>Once in the U.S., one is importing a used boat with lesser value. And, of course, if that seems too much of an adventure, one can always arrange for shipping the boat on the deck of a ship.</p>
<p>I think if I considered building a new boat in Asia with Seattle Yachts, I would contact veteran broker Brian Calvert to explore the Philippines option. The lower costs, outstanding cruising, perfect weather, warm water, and wonderful people have much to recommend it. And having local knowledge in the form of a Seattle Yachts professional certainly adds a level of confidence.</p>
<p>Finding the jewel of a perfect island with its own white sandy beach, and being the only boat for miles around, sounds too good to pass up. As Brian summed it up: Paradise awaits the adventurous.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Other Articles Of Interest</span>:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/taking-possession-of-your-yacht-in-the-philippines-can-save-hundreds-of-thousands">Taking Possession Of Your Yacht In The Philippines Can Save Thousands</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/notes-about-cruising-the-south-pacific">Notes About Cruising The South Pacific</a></li>
</ul>
<p> </p> |
Cruise The Philippines! |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Boating Advice,Cruising Tips |
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<p>The Seattle and Miami shows may be over, and Palm Beach is still on the horizon, but it is a good time to think about the many boat buyers who are shopping for their next boat. With what seems miles of docks of lovely yachts, lined up and showing their very best, it is the magic of the new year boat show season. These events are the only chance to see and compare boats and accessories all in one place. I often tell people to make the effort to attend at least one boat show in Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. They are quite an experience, and great fun.</p>
<p>I doubt many people walking the docks think much about how easy or difficult it is to step on and off the boats they want to check out. Dealer staff go to great lengths to ease the boarding process, sometimes with carpeted step stools to help show attendees step down onto a boat’s swim platform. The added presence of a dealer/manufacturer booth requires they arrange boats a certain way to channel people to get aboard a boat from the booth after checking in. It is common practice for dealer staff to station themselves on the swim platform to assist unsteady or older people with getting aboard.</p>
<p>Other boats in the show are either bow in to the dock, or side tied for access from the show docks. How one gets aboard really has a lot to do with the layout of the show, and how boats fit together like a jigsaw puzzle to maximize the number of yachts put into the show space. It is always important to the show organizers to make sure the docks seem as full as possible. That explains why boats are bow in, stern in, or tied alongside available dock space. There is no universally accepted best practice for putting a boat in a boat show.</p>
<p><img title="crowded boat show" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/crowded-boat-show.jpg?cb=BCC71174-F663-F712-01B51617CE6E4407" alt="crowded boat show" width="800" height="503" /></p>
<p>Apparently this seems also the case for homeowners and their driveways. I’ve noticed something odd since we moved to a townhouse. I don’t think I ever noticed it before.</p>
<p>When people pull into their driveways, a great many of them (maybe half) take the time to back their cars into the driveway. For whatever reason, it is pretty common around here. Drive into any parking lot, and a surprising number of cars are backed into parking places.</p>
<p>I wonder what that is all about, and if there a valid reason for this?</p>
<p>It reminds me of a rendezvous we once hosted for a group of sister ships to our <a href="../../../../used-downeast-boats-for-sale/">Downeast cruiser</a>, a 36-foot lobster boat outfitted as a cruising boat by Zimmerman Marine of Mathews, Virginia. The owner of one Z36 insisted he had to back into the crowded spaces of our T-shaped dock, which I had previously determined would allow nine boats to be secured for the weekend.</p>
<p>He told me he once drove a truck, and learned a long time ago to always back into a space, whether it is a parking lot, a boat slip, or a driveway at home. He felt he could get under way quickly if needed, although I never could understand what calamity he could imagine to make a quick getaway so important as to be always ready to launch an escape by boat.</p>
<p>All this has me thinking about the variety of ways we “connect” our boats to land, whether at our home dock, in a marina, or at a boat show.</p>
<p>Walk around any marina and you’ll see boats, sail and power, docked bow into the slip, or backed in with the stern in first. There may also be some form of finger pier that stretches out some distance along the side of the boat to provide additional access.</p>
<p><em>(Below: If you're cruising <a href="../../../../news/the-great-loop">The Great Loop</a>, you may end up needing to dock your boat in a variety of places and ways.)</em></p>
<p><img title="side docking on the great loop" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/side-docking.jpg?cb=BD023E65-C053-B88F-AC1AFF07CEF1AA8A" alt="side docking on the great loop" width="800" height="490" /> </p>
<p>There are any number of reasons why it might make sense to park one’s boat one way or the other. In some cases, it is simply a rule set down by the facility, mandating that all boats be bow in or stern in to each slip. For the majority of other situations, it is done for practical reasons, or habit.</p>
<p>Powerboats traditionally dock stern in. This brings all shorepower connections, normally located in the aft cockpit, closest to the shoreside power pedestal. For boats with outboard engines, being stern in also makes it easier to flush the engines from hoses on shore.</p>
<p>(Many newer motoryachts and <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/">trawlers</a> come with the added convenience of shorepower connections at both ends of the boat, making the docking decision unrelated to proximity to shoreside power. Or, as was the case on our <a href="../../../../used-power-catamarans-for-sale/">power catamaran</a>, the boat’s shorepower connection was midships on the port side, making it an easy proposition either way.)</p>
<p>Many <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/">sailboats</a> also dock stern in, and if there is a finger pier, it probably only extends out far enough to allow crew to step over the lifelines and move bags and gear on and off the boat. Side lifeline gates make this easier.</p>
<p>Having the cockpit close to the dock or bulkhead opens up the chance for social interaction with people on the docks, either crew from another boat or people strolling along looking at boats. It is very easy to strike up a conversation with people who pass by only a few feet away.</p>
<p>Of course, anyone sitting in the cockpit can decide whether to engage people walking by, as there is no obligation to do so. On a nice afternoon, it is sometimes just so pleasant to sit in the cockpit and read a book. And on every sailboat I have ever owned, whatever work I have to do on the boat was best done in the cockpit, where I could spread out my tools to take something apart, or solder a broken connection, or whatever. I didn’t always feel the need to talk to anyone walking by if I was deep into my work. On the other hand, it can be great fun when someone walking by says something silly, just to be friendly and hoping to talk, because they are intrigued that I am here on my own boat and they just flew in on vacation for a brief break from their winter doldrums.</p>
<p>To further recommend the social aspects of this, on many trawlers and other powerboats, being stern in opens up the world to spend time with other people and enjoy a quiet evening in the best seats in the house. That is certainly true on <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/kadey-krogen-yachts">Krogen</a> trawlers that tend to have social hour each afternoon in the cozy space of the covered aft cockpit. But again it is not universal.</p>
<p><em>(Below: Docking stern in can meet making new friends as people walk along the docks.)</em></p>
<p><img title="docking with stern in" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/docking-stern-in.jpg?cb=BDBF0A0F-959F-53B3-23E2B942B888C69D" alt="docking with stern in" width="800" height="531" /></p>
<p>To offset these positive aspects, this friendly social access comes along with a lack of privacy. It is easy for others to see into the saloon through screen doors and view owners having dinner. On those designs where the layout puts all living on one level, people walking by may even see all the way forward into the master stateroom. For privacy reasons alone, I never assume a stern-in approach is the preferred way to sit in a slip.</p>
<p>Bow in also has advantages, especially in terms of the above privacy. But there is another reason. In some locations, cocktails in the aft cockpit offers the best view when your stern faces the sunset, which may be when the bow is toward the dock. Having drinks and snacks with friends can be the most fitting way to end the day, watching the sunset from the security of one’s cockpit. One Florida marina comes to mind in Marathon, where the transom faced the open water and sunset provided the best seats to witness the elusive Green Flash.</p>
<p>Powerboats and trawlers without an aft cockpit as those similar to the layout of the Grand Banks Classic, or motoryachts that move social activities up to the flybridge. Sailboats with a center cockpit also don’t have these social opportunities, as most socializing will occur elsewhere.</p>
<p>There are other concerns to think about. One Downeast cruiser was left in the Abacos bow in to the slip while the owners flew home. A storm came up and the waves came into the marina and splashed against the boat’s stern. As the storm intensified, the waves eventually overcame the cockpit drains and the boat settled into the water, sinking in the slip. (It was soon raised again and a very expensive refit followed.)</p>
<p>Another downside of boats bow in, especially when the size of the sailboat is somewhat larger than the slip space, is an anchor and bowsprit sticking out into the walkway on the dock. At night this can even be dangerous, as an anchor sticking out from the bow may be at eye level, given the state of the tide. When one finds anchors and sprits on both sides of a dock, it makes for treacherous walking along at night. In extreme cases, I’ve seen people need to walk single file as in a conga line.</p>
<p><img title="sailboat with bow first" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/sailboat-docked-bow-first.jpg?cb=BDEE12B4-D354-463F-CCF4E2B2E14CABFD" alt="sailboat with bow first" width="800" height="527" /> </p>
<p>As we noticed when following <a href="../../../../news/lets-go-on-the-great-loop">the Great Loop adventures of Sidonia and Fred </a>on their Nimbus 405 Coupe, being alongside a bulkhead can be an ideal way to tie up one’s boat, especially as this <a href="../../../../new-nimbus-boats-for-sale/">Nimbus</a> model has an opening door from the side deck to allow one to easily step ashore and then back aboard. Sailboats also usually have side gates in their lifelines along the side decks to make for easy access on and off the boat amidships when alongside a bulkhead or finger pier. It often depends entirely on the tide or height of the fixed dock or bulkhead whether this side access is easy to use or not.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, this side access is only good if the dock is near the same level as the side door. When coming back to a Fleming 55, making the step down through the side door from the dock towering above was downright unsafe. The distance between boat and dock, complicated with a big fender separating the two, and the low level of the tide, put the distance from the bulkhead to the step way too low and far away. With nothing within reach to grab for assistance to swing down to the boat, I questioned why there weren’t other options for getting aboard such an expensive yacht.</p>
<p>To add to the above situation, I recall coming back to our big trawler yacht when we visited Halifax, Nova Scotia. Much like Alaska, Nova Scotia is known for extreme tides. Just because one can easily step off the boat onto the bulkhead alongside (we were side tied inside the municipal marina), there is no guarantee it will be just as easy when you return to the boat after dinner. We had to climb onto the Portuguese bridge when we returned hours later.</p>
<p>One concern with being tied along a bulkhead is that it generally offers far less security. Depending where you are, unless the area is patrolled and well lit, you should have some provision for lighting up the exterior of the boat. Left in the dark, or the glow from a distant street light, there is nothing to stop vandals or thieves, or even a couple of drunks, from climbing aboard. Deck shoes, towels, clothing, binoculars, books, or anything of value left on the cabin top or in the cockpit may disappear during the night.</p>
<p>This is particularly an issue when tied up in an unsecured location, such as along the bulkhead of a municipal marina or along a touristy downtown “free” dock. I don’t mean to scare anyone by pointing this out, but it is part of cruising. More than one owner has found empty bottles, cups, and food wrappers thrown about his boat the next morning. Sleeping through it only makes it more creepy in my mind.</p>
<p>These security issues are an outstanding reason to cruise with a dog. I guarantee that any dog will have zero tolerance for a couple of drunks or amorous teens sneaking aboard for some private snuggle time on your boat. A dog is a fabulous cruising shipmate, well worth the extra effort.</p>
<p>Forget tradition, and classic yachts. The days of the towering Hatteras motoryacht, requiring owners to carry a large step ladder to get on and off the boat are hopefully over. Owners should expect boat builders to understand the boarding parameters of their boats and make provision so owners are not forced to lug around heavy and unwieldy ladders and ramps that are difficult to store.</p>
<p>Of course, things could get even more complicated, such as arriving in Europe after crossing the Atlantic, and needing to accommodate a Med Moor style of docking. A boat puts out a bow anchor and then backs in near a sea wall, where they are tied up, stern to. The trawlers on the <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/nordhavn-yachts">Nordhavn</a> Atlantic Rally arrived in Gibraltar and each yacht had to come up with a passerelle of some kind to allow crew to step off the stern of the boat and walk up their makeshift ramp over a rocky sea wall and onto the shore. Most American yachts are not set up for this kind of mooring, yet it is common when cruising Europe.</p>
<p><img title="nordhavn yacht with passerrelle" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/nordhavn-with-passerelle.jpg?cb=BE1EAFD5-E181-7620-802E9BB3227D592E" alt="nordhavn yacht with passerrelle" width="800" height="511" /></p>
<p>Keep these points in mind when at the shows and shopping for your next boat, whether the new boat will live mostly at your local marina or you will deal with the available options when cruising. I hope you make it a priority during your boat shopping. Ensuring there are multiple ways to safely get on and off the boat should be high on your list of make-it-or-break-it requirements. This is even more important if one or both of you have physical difficulties or lack flexibility.</p>
<p>So, enjoy walking among the field of fiberglass and stainless steel at your next boat show. Unless, of course, you are one of the lucky few who only live on a mooring or at anchor, where none of this is particularly relevant.</p>
<p>Then, getting in and out of your dinghy will be way more important.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-boat-show-advice-you-need-to-hear">Boat Show Advice You Need To Hear</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-makes-a-yacht-a-trawler">When Is A Yacht Considered A Trawler</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/are-nordhavn-yachts-any-good">Are Nordhavn Yachts Any Good?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/winds-of-change">The Winds Of Change</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-lure-of-electric-boating">The Lure Of Electric Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/prepare-yourself-for-offshore-cruising">Prepare Yourself For Offshore Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/how-big-of-a-boat-do-you-need-to-sail-around-the-world">How Big Of A Boat Do You Need To Sail Around The World?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-size-sailboat-to-live-on">What's The Best Size Sailboat To Live On?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-to-know-about-bringing-your-trawler-home">Bringing Your Trawler Home</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/how-important-is-fuel-economy">Your Boat's Fuel Economy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/extend-your-sailing-life">Extend Your Sailing Life</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/yearly-engine-service-and-beyond">Yearly Engine Service And Beyond</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/sometimes-its-all-about-simplicity">Sometimes It's All About Simplicity</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-bucket-a-true-story">The Bucket: A True Story</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/essential-supplies-for-extended-cruising">Essential Supplies For Extended Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">The Exhausting Need To Keep Up With New Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/have-a-backup-plan">Have A Backup Plan!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-exhaust-systems-are-better-by-design">Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/cruising-boats-come-of-age">Cruising Boats Come Of Age</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/going-world-cruising-not-so-fast">Going World Cruising? Not So Fast</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-engines-are-in-your-boat">What Engines Are In Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/getting-ready-for-the-great-loop">Getting Ready For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-winning-great-loop-strategy">A Winning Great Loop Strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Tips For Cruising South</a></li>
</ul> |
What's The Best Way To Dock Your Boat? |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
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<p>Back in the day, and I mean back in the 1970s and 1980s, the cruising scene was relaxed and typical Margaritaville, whether it was in St Micheals on the Chesapeake Bay, Marathon in the Florida Keys, Leland in Michigan, or Friday Harbor up in the San Juans.</p>
<p>A couple comes out of Publix grocery store in Marathon, for example, four or five plastic grocery bags in hand, and they stow the groceries in the pannier bags of their folding bicycles. In my mind, the man is always wearing those khakis with the zip off legs, and both are wearing Tilley hats. One can instantly recognize they are cruisers, wearing well-worn boat shoes, and she has a colorful ankle bracelet she bought in the BVIs a couple of years ago.</p>
<p>They each have folding bicycles, and more often that not, they were Dahon-like bicycles, marinized folding bikes with 20-inch wheels that were as ubiquitous with the cruising lifestyle as the Tilley hat.</p>
<p>Off they go, back to the marina, with perhaps a stop for ice cream. If they were going to stay in town awhile, they would chain and lock each bike, around a piling or the shorepower pedestal. Walk the docks in any cruiser-friendly marina, and one would see a number of these folding bikes.</p>
<p>Fast forward forty years, and the scene remains the same. But that couple now have more transportation options, with Uber and other pay-for-a-ride services, some marinas have loaner cars, and there are even local electric buggies to carry passengers where they need to go within city limits. (Annapolis is big on these electric taxis, super-sized golf carts and able to carry a half dozen people around town.)</p>
<p>But there is another option. The trusted folding <a href="https://usa.dahon.com/products/mariner-d8-brushed" target="_blank">Dahon Mariner</a> is still available for those who want the flexibility of their own transportation, well suited to stow in a <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/">sailboat</a> lazarette or the cockpit locker on a <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/">trawler</a>.</p>
<p>(Seen below: The Dahon Mariner D8)</p>
<p><img title="dahon mariner 8 ebike" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/dahon-mariner-ebike.jpg?cb=EA562449-9F28-7BA4-8233207178D9B126" alt="dahon mariner 8 ebike" width="800" height="546" /></p>
<p>These days, with electric vehicles all the rage, it is more likely the couple will have a couple of folding electric bicycles, or e-bikes. For people who travel the world on boats and RVs, the versatility of the e-bike is unprecedented. Capable of speeds up to 28 mph on some models the e-bike add tremendous utility to the life of a cruiser, some can go up to 75 miles or more. They provide great transportation options for anyone who enjoys getting off the boat and exploring the surrounding area when they stay for an afternoon or more. In the case of the couple in Marathon for the winter, e-bikes are every bit as useful as renting a car for the season.</p>
<p>E-bikes are great for people who would otherwise never ride a bicycle. They provide both exercise and transportation to a wide range of people. Being able to carry a load makes them ideal for shopping. Up and down hills, it makes no difference with an e-bike.</p>
<p>As we’re seeing with Sidonia and Fred St. Germaine on their Great Loop adventure <strong>(Read: <a href="../../../../news/nimbus-begins-the-great-loop">Nimbus LAST ITEM Begins The Great Loop</a>)</strong>, even senior cruisers can easily explore greater distances that is possible (or desirable) by walking or riding a traditional bicycle. Most RV travelers, especially those in smaller camper vans where a towed vehicle doesn’t make sense, e-bikes are tremendously useful for enjoying parks and local sights outside the campground.</p>
<p>A folding e-bike looks very similar to the Dahon-type folding bicycle, as they still have pedals, and the battery is often tucked away or incorporated into the design of the bike. Many fold the same way as the pedal-powered bicycle, while others shrink in size by removing battery, wheels, and folding the frame into a small package that slips into a zippered storage bag, to be stored and protected away from the elements.</p>
<p>E-bikes fall into one of three classes. Class 1 e-bikes have electric motors to provide assistance only when the rider pedals the bike, and power is shut off when the bike reaches 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes can power the bike without pedal assistance, and also stop assisting when the bike hits 20 mph. Class 3 e-bikes are similar to Class 1 bikes except that the motor continues assisting up to 28 mph.</p>
<p>For the cruiser, be aware that the world is still trying to figure out where the e-bike fits in the overall scheme of powered travel. In our national park system, for example, changes to the laws a couple of years ago made them legal to travel anywhere a pedal-powered bicycle could go. Now, with a few years of experience of actual use, these rules are being reviewed and potentially revised based on further study. There is some concern that e-bikes, especially Class 3 bikes, startle hikers, animals, and other bicyclists when they zip out of nowhere along a trail at speed.</p>
<p><img title="ebike in national park" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/ebikes-at-national-park.jpg?cb=EB779C53-CD12-7B0A-073E0B13C251903A" alt="ebike in national park" width="800" height="483" /></p>
<p>In Maryland, even some state counties don’t agree where e-bikes best fit. Some counties allow e-bikes on sidewalks, while officials in other counties feel they should remain on roadways along with other motorized vehicles.</p>
<p>In Florida, e-bikes may be ridden in any area or roadway that allows traditional bicycles. That includes paved roads, bike lanes, bike paths, and sidewalks. Yet some communities have their own interpretation of e-bike travel, so restrictions can change as one cruises the state.</p>
<p>That is also true in states such as Michigan, where there are different rules among the three classes of e-bikes. All are allowed on roads and bike paths, or on any trails where other motorized vehicles are allowed. Yet there are some travel surfaces where a Class 1 e-bike can travel, but a Class 3 is not allowed.</p>
<p>In Washington state, there is an ongoing study to determine where an e-bike can legally travel, and there is special consideration if a rider qualifies for an ADA permit (Americans with Disabilities Act), where they are allowed on non-motorized trails and roads wherever bicycles are allowed.</p>
<p>To be clear, everyone is trying to figure out where the e-bike fits. As of now, there is no consensus, and there are also lots of specific local areas of restriction. Mackinac Island, for instance, no longer allows e-bikes on the island, as they are viewed in the same way as other motorized vehicles, which are banned.</p>
<p>Buying an e-bike can be an adventure onto itself. There are literally dozens of brands of e-bike manufacturers on Amazon, and prices vary widely. With the incredible popularity of e-bikes in China, it is the largest manufacturer for the global e-bike industry. There are other countries that produce them, such as Taiwan, but finding a folding version will be frustrating if one hopes to source one made in North America.</p>
<p>Expect to pay $1,500 or more for a decent e-bike, and the price increases as the quality goes up and the weight goes down. For example, a new Lectric XP can be purchased for around $1,000, yet it is heavy at 65lbs. In contrast, a sleek and sexy Gocycle G4 weighs under 40lbs and will cost you $4,000. But it also has a USB port to charge your phone while riding to and from your latest travel adventure.</p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fgAUuJXRtzs" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Unfortunately, the risk of theft of one’s e-bike is ever present when cruising, especially for an expensive carbon-fiber bike that cost a lot of money. The same is true for one’s inflatable dinghy and outboard. So, it is prudent to secure an e-bike with a chain and lock when it is out of one’s sight.</p>
<p>Most e-bikes can last about 10 years if properly stored in a protective bag out of the elements. Some will have more corrosion protection than others, but as far as I can determine, none are as marinized as the trusty Dahon Mariner. But the market is growing and the popularity of the e-bike outside of its traditional use for urban commuting will no doubt get the attention of some manufacturers who recognize its application in the marine environment.</p>
<p>The range of e-bikes is another consideration, and most can travel upwards of 40 miles on a charge, longer if one pedals as well. Some bikes have considerably longer range, but for the needs of the average cruising sailor or trawlerman, who just needs local transportation, that really isn’t a big issue.</p>
<p>Many states have laws regarding helmet usage, and most require riders wear helmets under the age of 16. But as an experienced motorcyclist of many years, I feel strongly that wearing a helmet is very important when riding any motorized bike or cycle, whether it is the law or not. Every time I sailed to Bermuda, by sailboat or trawler, I was struck by the number of tourists who dumped their rented mopeds making turns in gravel or rain and required emergency medical treatment.</p>
<p>I would particularly recommend buying a bike helmet that incorporates MIPS technology. <a href="https://mipsprotection.com/" target="_blank">MIPS</a> stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. It is a helmet design that incorporates a slippery liner inside the helmet that protects the skull by allowing the head to rotate within the helmet when it strikes a hard surface at an angle, such as a roadway. By sliding the skull inside the helmet during impact, this slip liner reduces the energy transmitted by the helmet up to 50 percent. These helmets are more expensive, but what price is there for saving one’s brain from a concussion?</p>
<p>As battery and electric motor technology continues to advance at a record pace, transportation options such as the e-bike will continue to become standard accessories for the cruising boat.</p>
<p>And for the traditional cyclist who thinks e-bikes are a form of cheating on two wheels, I only suggest they take one for a spin. They will instantly get it, and quickly imagine how fun it will be to ride from the marina over to that lighthouse museum miles away for lunch. It extends the cruiser’s range of enjoyment and sightseeing, and is perfect for an aging cruising couple.</p>
<p>And that adds even more to the experience we call pleasure boating. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-lure-of-electric-boating">The Lure Of Electric Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/prepare-yourself-for-offshore-cruising">Prepare Yourself For Offshore Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/how-big-of-a-boat-do-you-need-to-sail-around-the-world">How Big Of A Boat Do You Need To Sail Around The World?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-size-sailboat-to-live-on">What's The Best Size Sailboat To Live On?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-to-know-about-bringing-your-trawler-home">Bringing Your Trawler Home</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/how-important-is-fuel-economy">Your Boat's Fuel Economy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/extend-your-sailing-life">Extend Your Sailing Life</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/yearly-engine-service-and-beyond">Yearly Engine Service And Beyond</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/sometimes-its-all-about-simplicity">Sometimes It's All About Simplicity</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-bucket-a-true-story">The Bucket: A True Story</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/essential-supplies-for-extended-cruising">Essential Supplies For Extended Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">The Exhausting Need To Keep Up With New Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/have-a-backup-plan">Have A Backup Plan!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-exhaust-systems-are-better-by-design">Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/cruising-boats-come-of-age">Cruising Boats Come Of Age</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/going-world-cruising-not-so-fast">Going World Cruising? Not So Fast</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-engines-are-in-your-boat">What Engines Are In Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-great-loop">The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/getting-ready-for-the-great-loop">Getting Ready For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-winning-great-loop-strategy">A Winning Great Loop Strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Tips For Cruising South</a></li>
</ul> |
The Cruiser's Other Dinghy |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Cruising Tips |
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<p>My recent article on what is <a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-size-sailboat-to-live-on">the right size sailboat to live on</a> got me thinking. There are some other aspects of living on a boat that I didn’t mention.</p>
<p>It is finding and maintaining a balance in your life. Too many people buy a boat, and it consumes them. It is all they do, think about, and live for. Unfortunately, this often leads to some level of burnout, and the wonderful sailing life they have long dreamed of melts away.</p>
<p>The successful cruisers and <a href="../../../../used-liveaboard-boats-for-sale/">liveaboard</a> people I know find a balance between their boating life and other interests and hobbies. They regularly get off the boat to enjoy other things.</p>
<p>When I lived on my first boat in <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-seattle-washington">Seattle</a> back in the 1970s, I also loved hiking and camping. A couple of hours north of Seattle was the newly established <a href="https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm" target="_blank">North Cascades National Park</a>, a wonderland of nature. A bit closer was <a href="https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/snoqualmie-lake" target="_blank">Snoqualmie Lake</a>, another spectacular place, especially seen through the eyes of a guy from New Jersey. A weekend spent hiking and camping in nature was a refreshing break from my work and boat life. It honestly felt great to be off the water. It recharged my batteries. While my hiking and camping gear was a challenge to store on the boat and in the trunk of my car, I made it work because it was important.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: Snoqualmie Lake</em>)</p>
<p><img title="Snoqualmie Lake" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/hiking-adventure-to-snoqualmie-lake.jpg?cb=D763BE87-D3C5-02E6-96CCB72F4AA1CEA9" alt="Snoqualmie Lake" width="800" height="523" /> </p>
<p>As we get older, it is essential to enjoy other interests and hobbies. This keeps us happier, and we tend to live longer. Whether it is gardening or cycling, we stay active, both mentally and physically.</p>
<p>When I speak of successful cruisers, I define “successful” as being able to follow one’s passions for many years, perhaps a lifetime. This is in direct contrast to others, who are super excited when they get their boat, and off they sail over the horizon. Then they burn out after a couple of years of non-stop boating.</p>
<p>Everything in life requires balance. Even in cruising, or perhaps, especially in cruising.</p>
<p>I’ve known lots of boat people who understand this. World cruisers and full-time liveaboards who get off the boat and change things up a bit, pursue other things. They may move from one harbor to the next, constantly on the move for a while, then they pursue something else that gets them off the water and into the world. Out of the pilothouse or <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/">sailboat</a> cockpit, and onto the ski slopes, or Europe, or the Grand Tetons. And many cruisers return every winter to a familiar island or place where they rejoin ongoing local community land projects, such as building a new school.</p>
<p>I compare that to others who dream of spending their retirement years enjoying the cruising life. They save and plan and come to boat shows and Trawler Fest year after year and attend seminars to learn all they can. The plan usually involves shedding some (or all) of their connection to the land: cars, house, all the stuff. They get their perfect boat and cast off the lines.</p>
<p>Away from the dock at last, the dream unfolds.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Staying at a marina near a city, like Annapolis, can offer shopping, historical attractions, and a good break from the water.) </p>
<p><img title="marina near annapolis" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/marina-near-annapolis.jpg?cb=D97B7655-BAB0-467D-0C411A84FF00D002" alt="marina near annapolis" width="800" height="396" /> </p>
<p>They have a marvelous time for the next year or two and make many new friends. But at some point, it starts to get old, too many sundowners perhaps, because this is the only thing they do. Just boat, boat, boat. They have not kept up with their golf or tennis, no more hiking or antique shopping, or tinkering with clocks or cars, music, or any of the other interests they had before they moved aboard.</p>
<p>And they sell the boat.</p>
<p>Let me share some examples of people I know who fully embrace the balance I’m talking about.</p>
<p>One couple cruised extensively on their <a href="../../../../used-yachts-for-sale/kadey-krogen-yachts">Krogen</a> Whaleback. West Coast, Alaska, Mexico, Panama Canal, East Coast, down to the Caribbean and back. They had a very compelling bucket list. But they spread this out over many years. Every so often, they would park the boat in a marina, perhaps haul it, then tour North America by motorcycle. They went skiing, visited family and friends, and enjoyed their time on land.</p>
<p>This couple made it a priority to enjoy lots of activities. They told me this kept life fresh, interesting, and enjoyable. After exploring the Sedona countryside, or getting to know a new grandchild, the couple returned to the boat, refreshed and anxious to get back on the water.</p>
<p>One fellow got his wife to go cruising on the condition that she could play the piano several times a week. To their surprise, they discovered that down in the islands, if one visits any inhabited island anywhere, one will find a church with a piano or organ. It worked out well for them.</p>
<p>Another couple I met through a broker friend were enjoying living on their <a href="../../../../used-yachts-for-sale/grand-banks-yachts">Grand Banks</a> 49. She called it their “Banks.” His passion was the boat, her passion was tennis. They arranged their time so she had the opportunity to get off the Banks and play tennis frequently. They were a happy couple.</p>
<p>Stopping and smelling the roses might include attending a wine festival, or some local cultural event. You have no idea what you miss by staying on the boat when in a new town you don’t know. I fondly recall a young girl tapping on our hull to invite us to a practice concert in a pristine old church in the French village of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clamecy,_Ni%C3%A8vre" target="_blank">Clamecy</a>, along the Canal du Nivernais. The nuns urged the young girls to get a large audience to simulate Sunday’s performance. It was delightful. The town, by the way, was the birthplace of the famous French sailor, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Colas" target="_blank">Alain Colas</a>, first man to sail solo in an around the world race on a multihull.</p>
<p>While cruising the shores of Michigan on a new <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/">trawler</a> I was writing about, the owner and I decided to go ashore to walk around. We learned that evening was a special night in Port Austin. A couple of hours later, sitting in a converted building that was their community playhouse, everyone sang the National Anthem to begin the local amateur show. The evening performances included the town’s lawyer on stage telling lawyer jokes.</p>
<p>It was a taste of Americana I will never forget.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: Port Austin Harbor in Michigan.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="port austin michigan" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/port-austin-michigan.jpg?cb=DA12B00C-9ABF-AE1C-55C81186E3E681D9" alt="port austin michigan" width="800" height="491" /></p>
<p>Boat designer Bruce Roberts told me how he and Gwenda spent their summers cruising the French canals on their boat. That summer she enrolled in a French culinary school, and they planned their cruise around her classes. They had so much fun, not to mention wonderful food!</p>
<p>Three men stopped by our <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-annapolis-maryland">Annapolis</a> office one year to tell me their story. One of them owned a Hatteras motoryacht, and they were headed to Florida, stopping to play golf at every golf course they could find along the ICW. Their wives bid them farewell, and their adventure, which started in Connecticut, was about as much fun as three guys could have. It was great. The Hatteras owner said if the trip went well, he might do <a href="../../../../news/the-great-loop">the Great Loop</a> and write about all the golf courses on the Loop.</p>
<p>I also know a super capable couple from Southern California who built a large <a href="../../../../used-power-catamarans-for-sale/">power catamaran</a> and cruised the East Coast before heading across the Pacific. As much as they love the fishing, snorkeling, and adventure of cruising remote islands, both took time off for weeks at a time. Perhaps she flew home for a family fix, while he stayed on the boat and did maintenance projects, or they traveled together. After many weeks with family back in California, they always returned to their boat with a fresh attitude. This kept their dream alive, year after year.</p>
<p>Keeping a land presence makes it easier for some, even if it is a lock-and-leave condo or townhouse. A place to go back to from time to time, see one's doctors and family during the holidays, catch up with friends, travel by land, and enjoy other favorite activities. Then continue cruising when it is time to return to the boat.</p>
<p>Another important point to consider is that there are many wonderful places to visit that are not reachable by boat. Our country’s national parks are fantastic must-see destinations. But visiting most parks is done by RV, motorcycle, or car.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most extreme balancing act is the couple I first met in Annapolis. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, he is an orthopedic surgeon, and their circumnavigation on a 47-foot, Bob Perry-designed cutter took 12 years. When they reached a new place they liked, they stayed for a couple of years, and he would provide his surgical skills at a local hospital.</p>
<p>It was a remarkable and rewarding way to sail around the world.</p>
<p>Finding a balance that works for you will help ensure a rewarding life for years to come.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-lure-of-electric-boating">The Lure Of Electric Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/prepare-yourself-for-offshore-cruising">Prepare Yourself For Offshore Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-cruisers-other-dinghy">The Cruiser's Other Dinghy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/how-big-of-a-boat-do-you-need-to-sail-around-the-world">How Big Of A Boat Do You Need To Sail Around The World?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-size-sailboat-to-live-on">What's The Best Size Sailboat To Live On?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-to-know-about-bringing-your-trawler-home">Bringing Your Trawler Home</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/how-important-is-fuel-economy">Your Boat's Fuel Economy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/extend-your-sailing-life">Extend Your Sailing Life</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/yearly-engine-service-and-beyond">Yearly Engine Service And Beyond</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/sometimes-its-all-about-simplicity">Sometimes It's All About Simplicity</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-bucket-a-true-story">The Bucket: A True Story</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/essential-supplies-for-extended-cruising">Essential Supplies For Extended Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">The Exhausting Need To Keep Up With New Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/have-a-backup-plan">Have A Backup Plan!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-exhaust-systems-are-better-by-design">Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/cruising-boats-come-of-age">Cruising Boats Come Of Age</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/going-world-cruising-not-so-fast">Going World Cruising? Not So Fast</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-engines-are-in-your-boat">What Engines Are In Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-great-loop">The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/getting-ready-for-the-great-loop">Getting Ready For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-winning-great-loop-strategy">A Winning Great Loop Strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Tips For Cruising South</a></li>
</ul> |
It's All About Balance While Living Aboard A Boat |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Boating Advice,Cruising Tips |
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<p>I’ve been thinking how we’ve written recently about preparing one’s boat for extended offshore cruising or even a circumnavigation. But as much as we discuss getting the boat, the systems, and the bits and pieces of a yacht ready for such an adventure (i.e., the “hardware”), we have not really addressed the “software” components of the equation—specifically, the captain and crew.</p>
<p>I had a conversation the other day with a friend who is also a circumnavigator, Bob Frantz. Bob and his son, Eric, left Norfolk, Virginia in February 2011 on a trip around the world aboard their Hallberg-Rassy 43, Blue Heron. Five hundred days later, they crossed their wake in June 2012, having completed a fantastic trip full of adventure and unsurpassed experiences.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: Blue Heron in the Society Islands.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="Blue Heron sailboat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/blue-heron-sailing-riatea-society-islands-crop.jpg?cb=D63D9526-AF54-E004-37FC332F0CB528F4" alt="Blue Heron sailboat" width="800" height="550" /></p>
<p>My thought was not so much for him to share details of his experience, but rather what he did to prepare himself and his son for this major sailing trip. While I acknowledge that much the world and technology has changed in the last decade, I still think he can offer lessons to be learned and share advice for anyone thinking about world cruising, even if a full equatorial circumnavigation is not in the plans.</p>
<p>Bob is a longtime dinghy sailor, as is his son. Growing up in coastal New Jersey, Bob went sailing every chance he could. An attorney by profession, Bob and his family lived for years in Ohio, and Eric learned to sail and race dinghies as a member of a lakeside dinghy club. It was only later, when the family moved back East, did they get the chance to sail larger boats, and they even bought a share in a 37-foot <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/">sailboat</a> to enjoy on Chesapeake Bay.</p>
<p>(<em>The Frantz Family map below of all the destinations they've visited.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="Frantz Family map of destinations" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/frantz-map.jpg?cb=D64F265E-CE18-D948-04F86CFF13956979" alt="Frantz Family map of destinations" width="800" height="600" /></p>
<p>Bob explained that he read all the classic books that cover topics relevant to a world cruising sailor. Weather forecasting, navigation, the excellent books by Beth Leonard (The Voyager’s Handbook), Jimmy Cornell (World Cruising Routes), Nigel Calder (Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual), and Steve Dashew’s volumes on essential skills and how to solve problems encountered while cruising. I’m sure there are others. These books are still loaded with great insights and advice, even if climate change and political unrest have changed some parts of the world, making a circumnavigation not as attractive to some as it once was.</p>
<p>(Other classics of our generation, such as those by Hal and Margaret Roth, Eric and Susan Hiscock, and Tristan Jones are still fun to read, but not nearly as helpful or relevant as they may have been in the 1970s and earlier. I’m afraid we’ve moved away from tallow-filled lead lines.)</p>
<p>Bob attended every seminar he could find that covered information and insights from accomplished people who have been there. He attended the Safety at Sea program at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, as well as an engine maintenance course put on by Mack Boring, the East Coast Yanmar engine distributor.</p>
<p>To cover all bases, he also took a class on celestial navigation, which is making a comeback in some circles.</p>
<p>Since he took Spanish during high school, it was only natural that he refreshed his second language skills using Coffee Break Spanish, one of the language courses from the popular online resource based in Scotland.</p>
<p>After the family bought their Hallberg-Rassy 43 for the trip, Bob contacted John Neal, the well-known cruising writer, instructor, expedition leader, and consultant who has been training people to go cruising aboard his sailboats since the early 1990s, most recently on a Hallberg-Rassy 46. His company, Mahina Offshore Services, offers boat selection consultation, training expeditions, and seminars focused on cruising.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Blue Heron looking over the rising moon in Bora Bora.)</p>
<p><img title="sailboat in bora bora" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/sailboat-in-bora-bora.jpg?cb=D6B741A4-D339-1DA3-ED1353878FEBC4C8" alt="sailboat in bora bora" width="835" height="981" /></p>
<p>John also offers individual consulting services, and Bob contracted with John to provide voyage planning and local contacts for contractors he could use as they cruised the Pacific, where John has cruised for many years. It turned out to be invaluable, getting general cruising advice as well as the names of people living in the islands who could help if there was a need. Not everything is up to date or complete in general cruising guides, and it is most helpful having the name of someone on the ground to contact about where to come ashore or fulfill certain needs. Having local information and advice about medical resources, finding spares, and the best places for fuel and provisioning made a big difference in their cruising experience. As cruisers all know, sometimes things break, and it helps to have someone local to call.</p>
<p>Bob used a weather service to provide cruising route advice with current forecasts. He also used a weather module in MaxSea software. Today, of course, there is Windy, PredictWind, PassageWeather and other programs and apps that provide excellent information about the world’s weather.</p>
<p>To get offshore experience, Bob crewed on several ocean sailing trips down to the Islands, which gave him a taste of what it is like at sea and be exposed to conditions one must contend with. This knowledge doesn’t come from a book.</p>
<p>They sailed Blue Heron every chance they could. Reflecting on it now, Bob recommends sailing the boat for at least a full season before setting off on a long trip. There are many reasons for this: getting used to the boat and how it handles in different conditions, dealing with gear failure closer to home, and getting to know every aspect of the boat.</p>
<p>To do shakedown passages at sea, Bob and Eric sailed from Chesapeake Bay to Bermuda, then Chesapeake Bay to Block Island. It was a necessary experience to find what it is like when they were oceans away from home, on their own boat. Eric got terribly seasick on the way to Block Island and it gave him some concern about the upcoming global adventure.</p>
<p>They carried the typical spares for extended cruising, including a sail repair kit, although their sails were new, so they did not expect to use it, and they didn’t.</p>
<p>Although the boat was not that old, the electronics on the Hallberg-Rassy weren’t current generation. That was only a problem as their electronics installer could not easily find a way to interface AIS with the electronics, so they upgraded what was needed to have AIS on the boat. Bob would never sail without AIS, and it proved enormously beneficial during the circumnavigation.</p>
<p>I asked Bob how he would prepare crew members for such a trip. He suggested that any crew without ocean experience take one of the offshore sailing courses where people learn by performing all aspects of ocean sailing, from anchoring to sail handling to navigation. These courses, while expensive, are an invaluable way to get up to speed to become a contributing member of a crew.</p>
<p>It always helps to get a storm at sea under one’s belt. The father and son encountered back-to-back storms early in the trip, on their way south towards the Panama Canal. But the storms gave them a much-needed boost in confidence in the boat and themselves and relieved the anxiety that Eric had about getting seasick offshore. In fact, his anxiety was replaced by an attitude that would be his reply the rest of the trip, “We’ll be all right.”</p>
<p>Ideally, Bob thinks three crew is better than two, or perhaps two couples. But the dynamics of mixed crew can lead to issues from varying personalities. It is important to see how everyone gets along.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: Eric and Bob compare their profiles with the Moai.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="Moai statue" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/Moai.jpg?cb=D64F2656-0541-F23A-0F4359D44679C0D2" alt="Moai statue" width="800" height="510" /></p>
<p>Bob’s wife, Janellen, stayed home and was the ground support for the trip. Having someone responsible on shore proved invaluable, as she got well versed in the world of international carriers, such as DHL and FedEx, and how to manage sending packages around the world. Bob used a satellite phone to stay in touch and to request parts and other items to be shipped to their next destination. When they lost their autopilot in the Indian Ocean, they were forced to hand steer until they reached South Africa, as Janellen was unable to get replacement parts to them in this remote area of the world.</p>
<p>There were occasions where they needed to get dressed up, so it turned out to be a good thing to have a blazer on board.</p>
<p>The one question I really wanted to know was, “How did you know you could do this, sail around the world?”</p>
<p>Bob thought about it. It really is the most important question of any sailor thinking of sailing offshore. The captain of a boat has the full responsibility on his or her shoulders to complete a passage safely.</p>
<p>He said that being a lawyer helped to gave him confidence. In many of his cases, he would have to become an expert on some subject he knew nothing about. After a while his success in these cases built his confidence that he could do it. Getting out of his comfort zone became normal, which led to his belief that he could rise to the challenge.</p>
<p>Despite even close friends questioning such a risky endeavor, a dinghy sailor leaving to sail around the world, he reasoned it would be okay.</p>
<p>“I know enough. I’ve done enough.”</p>
<p>The rest he’ll figure out as he needed to. It was time to go.</p>
<p>So, Bob and Eric sailed around the world. Mission accomplished.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: Bob and Eric visit Lizard Island near the Great Barrier Reef.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="Lizard Island" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/lizard-island.jpg?cb=D64F265A-C4A4-3627-CED4B9F4CE7E2B87" alt="Lizard Island" width="800" height="494" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Also Read</strong></span>:<strong> <a href="../../../../sailboat-faq">Frequently Asked Questions About Sailboats</a></strong></p>
<p> </p>
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</ul> |
Prepare Yourself for Offshore Cruising |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
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<p>Most sailors I know have wondered what it would be like to live on a <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/">sailboat</a>. Like the tiny home craze of a few years ago, it seems a reasonable question. With all the basic systems and conveniences needed for daily living, and on the water. What a grand adventure!</p>
<p>I’ve lived aboard several boats in my life, and I can say there is a romantic element to it, having everything you need right around you, on a magic carpet you can take anywhere you want to go. Yet, for the most part, it also comes with some unique challenges.</p>
<p>I knew a couple with a teenage son who lived aboard a 27-foot sloop. They would spend summers in <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-annapolis-maryland">Annapolis</a>, where Dennis worked floor sales at Fawcett’s Boat Supply. During the winter they would sail south and spend the season in the Bahamas where he helped with construction projects for the local community. I never knew how they did it, but they were always happy and upbeat.</p>
<p>Anyone seriously considering a sailboat as a full-time home, naturally wonders what size boat would be most appropriate. Seems easy enough if the sailboat has the necessary creature comforts. But there are several factors that separate “just getting by” from a comfortable life on the water. However, if we take it in steps, perhaps we can identify enough parameters for you to begin a search.</p>
<p>Let’s set the stage. Of course, there are minimalist young people who want a cheap experience much like modern day hobos, just as there are wealthy families who want all the comforts of a luxury resort in a huge <a href="../../../../used-sailing-catamarans-for-sale/">sailing catamaran</a>. When I was young and single, a 30-foot sailboat fit perfectly. The number of single people living on sailboats is surprising, whether they are peddling handmade jewelry in the islands or wandering the world. They are driven by the experience.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen Below: Sailing Zatara is a Youtube channel about a livaboard family that shows daily life on the open ocean.</em>)</p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4e0L5NPiosY" width="760" height="515" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>I want to consider an adult couple, one or both have careers. For any number of reasons, they decide they want to live full time on a sailboat to experience waterfront living. They also want to enjoy sailing as their schedule and careers permit. Again, they are not vagabond wanderers living on the hook, flip flops and bathing suits their primary wardrobe, living for the moment with no schedule or commitments beyond today.</p>
<p>Our couple have jobs, perhaps work remotely, and they manage mail, bills, a car, are members of the community, and they want to experience boat living.</p>
<p>Let’s also assume the boat will be their primary residence, although it is reasonable to include the possibility the sailboat may be a summer or winter home, which certainly relieves some of the issues when it comes to seasonal wardrobe, holiday decorations, and other living considerations.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>A Place to Live</strong></p>
<p>One of the most compelling arguments for living aboard a sailboat is having all your stuff right there with you, in a well-equipped galley/kitchen, a workable head/bathroom, an office desk, permanent bedroom, and storage lockers and drawers. And a dedicated living room to relax, read, watch movies, eat meals, entertain friends, and simply enjoy life. Essentially, all that one needs to live a normal life…and nothing more. I call it the “living module.”</p>
<p>Unfortunately, when people choose a boat to live on, they are often unaware of the compromises they are going to make if the boat has small spaces. After a short time, the reality of boat living may lose its romantic luster. I call that “living in a transformer.”</p>
<p>On a transformer boat, every space must serve multiple purposes, and it becomes necessary to transform saloon settees into a bed, with pillows, sheets, and blanket. The head does double duty as a wet locker, the galley counter serves a workbench, and the V-berth is also a sail locker. To get to one thing requires moving several other things, everything fits together like a puzzle. The smaller the boat the more this is true.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: An interior galley and salon on a <a href="../../../../new-tartan-yachts-for-sale/">Tartan Yacht</a> has many of the comforts of home.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="interior of tartan sailboat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/tartan-yachts-interior.jpg?cb=9ACFE7AD-03C1-150D-155FA5A755631D59" alt="interior of tartan sailboat" width="800" height="506" /> </p>
<p>Living this way is confining, particularly if there is more than one person, constantly saying “Excuse me” to move around the boat. And what about if there is a pet?</p>
<p>Imagine if you must move pillows and cushions every evening to turn down a bed to sleep for the night. How about removing all the throw pillows she put on the master berth as an elegant design touch, but there is nowhere to put them? Trust me. This gets old.</p>
<p>Then there is the issue when looking at a boat with a wet head. Taking a shower gets everything in the head wet. That may be perfectly fine for weekend boating but living with that every day will be unpleasant. And while walking down the dock to use the marina showers may be fine for some people, it is not what I signed up for. On larger boats with wet heads, there may be sufficient room for a sliding shower curtain to keep the water on you, and not the rest of the space.</p>
<p>Can you see how some of these issues might begin to chip away at the dream of living aboard? No worries. Let’s keep peeling back the layers, because the more we understand the important issues, the closer we are to answering the question of how big of a boat one needs to live comfortably on a sailboat.</p>
<p>A truly minimalist approach is fine for young people, who don’t yet have a lot of stuff, don’t mind a wet head or transforming every space several times a day. They can overlook dealing with a lack of clothes storage, and very little space for personal possessions.</p>
<p>I’m all for living minimally…for a time. But that won’t do for everyday living at my current stage in life. It is important to recognize this and then find a balance between what the boat can provide and the style of living one is accustomed to, expects, or desires. It is a personal decision about what to compromise on. What am I willing to give up to live on a sailboat? Think of your hobbies and interests. If you enjoy shooting sporting clays, where will you store the paraphernalia of that hobby? The same can be said for camping, golf, tennis, music, and many activities of a full and balanced life.</p>
<p>I have more than a passing interest in photography and would need space for camera gear. My wife loves to arrange flowers. She is quite good, and for years created beautiful flower arrangements for the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel. She would need some space to continue this passion on a boat, along with space for her tools, vases, and the other components of a flower shop workbench. It would be fine much of the time to work out in the cockpit, but where to store everything?</p>
<p>I believe people who are active in life and their community are not interested in giving up everything simply to live on a boat, so the size of the boat must take that into account. It is similar to couples who downsize their big home when they become empty nesters, and move into a townhouse. They must consider space for their sewing and embroidery projects, movie and music collections, music keyboard, even precious art. Every person I know collects something or is passionate about some activity or sport. One can keep golf clubs in the truck of a car, but what about all the other things that requires space aboard?</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: Sailboat owners are notorious for clever and smart storage ideas. This owner likes to paddleboard, which can take up a lot of room.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="paddleboard storage on sailboat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/sailboat-paddleboard-storage.jpg?cb=9AFD5294-B5C4-BBD0-91A971551B813CCF" alt="paddleboard storage on sailboat" width="800" height="459" /></p>
<p>And where does one plug in all the chargers of the modern world? This will overwhelm the chart table on a small boat, which was only intended for occasional recreational sailing. On larger boats, the chart table accommodates navigation and weather instruments, RDF, radios, maybe a sextant, plotter, radar, as well as navigation books and cruising guides.</p>
<p>I used my chart table as my desk, although many vloggers seem comfortable using the saloon table for laptop writing and video editing. I had a plastic tub that contained my “office” supplies, and when I was finished paying bills or whatever, I would store this tub away. I had a small portable printer that tucked behind a settee cushion. My office did not compromise the chart table for its primary purpose of navigating while sailing.</p>
<p>There will always be a need for a proper work bench space for projects and repairs, which might be in the cockpit, but there will also need to be a place to store tools, parts, and the other essentials to keep the boat and engine running.</p>
<p>Then there is the issue of clothes storage for year ‘round living. For most couples, a wardrobe must also include a minimum of “dress-up” clothes. Is there a hanging locker wide and tall enough for a dress or two and blazer? Or do we stick with khakis and Hawaiian shirts? Cold, damp days in the Pacific Northwest will require heavier clothing that take up space, unless one is fine only owning one wool sweater.</p>
<p>There is only so much space for books, CDs, and other stuff. Thankfully, a Kindle or iPad can hold a full library of books and a tablet can store music and movies, so shelf space can be left for other things.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The Essential Galley</strong></p>
<p>Most residential kitchens have a startling number of appliances and specialty tools that we accumulate over the years. Where does one put it all on a boat? Most galleys offer limited space for the tools of cooking, pots and pans, cutlery, plates, serving bowls, baskets. I look around my kitchen and wonder. How could I even begin to consider bringing along a full-size food processor, VitaMix, blender, crockpot, toaster, panini press, popcorn machine, salad spinner, immersion blender, and let’s don’t forget the spiralizer.</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is there is no room for any of it. You simply won’t have the space. Period. A friend who is a well-known foodie told me about her galley in which she routinely creates complex culinary treats and meals for her husband, family, and friends. She gives lectures at the yacht club and writes a food column for a boating magazine. Lori told me she brought aboard a blender, a portable electric mixer, a small food processor, a toaster, and a butane torch into the galley of their <a href="../../../../used-yachts-for-sale/fleming-yachts">Fleming</a> 55 motoryacht. Her cooking aboard really started in the galley on their Beneteau 35 a long time ago.</p>
<p>After several years on the Fleming, Lori realized she only ever used the toaster, none of the rest got touched. And while she carried about 40 different spices in her galley, she only used six seasonings: Italian, Greek, blackening, chili, salt, and pepper.</p>
<p>(Lori is not into baking, so never carried muffin tins, sheet pans, cooling racks, or baking sheets. She also said she prefers disposable aluminum pans for making roasts, which eliminate the need to carry a large roasting pan that won’t fit in the galley sink so is impossible to clean. She also never carried a bread machine on any of her sail or powerboats, as she always found local breads to be much more interesting.)</p>
<p>So, a sailboat with a large galley will be big enough to serve as a liveaboard kitchen, with enough storage space for stores and provisions, and nesting pots and pans. And don’t forget the French Press and electric teapot to make coffee and tea.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: The galley on the <a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Hanse-460">Hanse 460</a> is one reason it won the European Yacht of the Year.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="galley on the hanse 460 sailboat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/galley-on-hanse-yacht.jpg?cb=9C55C83B-9EFA-5C60-E5D08531E9224148" alt="galley on the hanse 460 sailboat" width="800" height="497" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Tanks Are Key</strong></p>
<p>Gone are the days of overboard dumping, so any sailboat of recent vintage will have dedicated tankage for water, fuel, and waste. The size of the boat, and its intended design purpose, will dictate tank sizes, and that is important to consider for living aboard, even if one never leaves the slip. The daily use of water will be significant, as people use the head(s), shower, and sinks. Water will be consumed at a greater rate than weekending, and both gray and blackwater waste tanks will fill quickly—especially if these tanks are small.</p>
<p>Not all marinas can pump out a holding tank at each slip, so figure it a regular chore to move the boat if that becomes necessary. (More areas today have a mobile pump out service that makes the rounds of the harbor and nearby marinas. One contacts the boat by VHF radio to schedule a pump out when it is next in the vicinity.)</p>
<p>Additionally, if our couple plans to live in the same place year ‘round, they must deal with another issue—if they live in Maine or anywhere south to the Carolinas, or in the Great Lakes. Marinas must turn off the water at the dock for the winter, to avoid damaging pipes. (This is not standard practice on the West Coast, except when unusually cold weather forces a temporary shut down.)</p>
<p>Living on a sailboat in Boston Harbor becomes a challenge, although there is a hardy group who do it every year and find it builds character and a sense of humor. In Annapolis, those of us living on F Dock would string garden hoses together once a week and run the long hose down the dock so we could refill our water tanks. We made it work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Other Factors</strong></p>
<p>If our couple has children, this will change the dynamics of the liveaboard equation, making a larger boat a necessity. For families, especially, the layout afforded by a center cockpit sailboat makes a lot of sense, providing a separation of living spaces important for everyone’s mental health. And there will be a compelling case for needing a washing machine to do laundry.</p>
<p>If our couple has a dog, there will be additional concerns to provide good access on and off the boat, reasonable access down below, and other basics, such as a freshwater cockpit shower. A transom swim platform will also be great appreciated by pet owners, as well as older folks.</p>
<p>If there are watersport interests in addition to sailing, they will also compete for space. A dive compressor comes to mind, with a place for tanks and dive gear. SUPs, windsurfers, and kayaks take up deck space one is unlikely to fit on a small sailboat.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: Brownies makes a tank rack that can be installed in any storage area. This one has a compressor on top.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="brownies tank rack" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/tank-rack-for-scuba.jpg?cb=9CD031D8-FB7A-B2FC-212B1328CC9F6273" alt="brownies tank rack" width="502" height="675" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>A Sailboat That Sails</strong></p>
<p>Up to now we have not addressed the sailing abilities of our liveaboard boat. Small sailboats go slower, are much more affected by wind and wave conditions, and are much less comfortable in a seaway. If sailing in protected waters is all our couple is interested in, then sailing performance is less important in our search for a liveaboard home. But there is a huge difference (on many levels) between a sailboat capable of consistently making daily runs of 200nm and a smaller sailboat that hobbyhorses along making 55nm to the next destination.</p>
<p>Obviously, a step up in boat size means greater expense in cost, maintenance, insurance, sails, gear, and fuel. But life is more comfortable on larger boats. I sailed from Newport, RI to Bermuda on an 83-foot sailboat designed to race around the world. The trip was over in the blink of an eye, as she was so quick. I’ve done trips from Annapolis to Bermuda on 30-footers, and while they took longer, were more satisfying because they demanded more of my skill to tweak our speed, unlike a crewed, 83-foot freight train.</p>
<p>I am pretty sure the ideal boat for both living aboard and great sailing is somewhere in the middle.</p>
<p>Before we discuss our conclusions, I want to point out something I found common after living aboard various boats on both the East Coast and the Pacific Northwest. I have noticed that many couples and families, once they move aboard their boat full time, tend not to go sailing very often. The boat becomes their home, priorities and routines get established, and life goes on. Things that used to be stored neatly, now tend to stay out, and there are pillows, blankets, puzzles, running shoes, books, jackets, hats, shoes, tools, guitars, plants, art, remotes, and projects of all kinds all over the boat. And a small tree or plant in the cockpit.</p>
<p>Does this defeat the purpose of living aboard if they don’t go sailing as much? I don’t think so, because the time to experience living aboard may not coincide with the time to go sailing, or cruising. For many it must wait until retirement and learning the boat while living aboard makes tons of sense.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The Magic Number Is…</strong></p>
<p>When researching this article, I came across some truly laughable blogs and websites that suggested boats that were absurdly inappropriate for living aboard. These sites remind me that one can never believe or trust suggestions from an Internet search without verifying sources. How can someone really recommend buying a 30-foot boat from the ‘70s to live on, a boat that is only 9 feet wide and only has a couple of tiny saloon windows for interior lighting, a tiny head with no holding tank or shower, and no storage of any kind beyond enough for a foul weather jacket. Or a sailboat from a builder who only built 40 boats half a century ago!?!</p>
<p>The big takeaway from these sites or blogs, or whatever they are, is an excellent reminder about the importance of using a knowledgeable and experienced yacht broker. A man or woman who knows boats and can navigate the many choices. A good broker does way more than simply handle the paperwork of the transaction. A broker will make this fun. You will learn quickly and benefit from their experience. And show you where to stow a small ironing board and iron.</p>
<p><strong>The best size sailboat to live aboard comfortably, safely, and provide a marvelous living experience spans from the mid-30 foot range to the mid-40s. I hesitate to be black and white about saying 35-45 feet, because I know people happily living on a 33-footer, and I would easily live aboard a Stevens 47.</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Jeanneau 43 is a good sample of a sailboat live on and is at the midpoint in this range, as it carries 130 gallons of water, and is almost 14 feet wide.</strong> She has a large, bright interior that is very livable. The Hallberg-Rassy 43 carries 172 gallons of water and a holding tankage of 100 gallons. The Stevens 47 that I mentioned above, while older, carries 200 gallons of water, and it will make consistent 200nm days. Many of the Beneteau models would also make a comfortable liveaboard. And there are dozens of other choices in this size range from reputable builders.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: The Jenneau 43 is thought of as a good sailboat to live on.</em>)</p>
<p> <img title="Jeanneau 43 Sailboat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/jeanneau-43-sailboat.jpg?cb=9B56D88A-07CA-794A-76D58AE381BF05C5" alt="Jeanneau 43 Sailboat" width="800" height="502" /></p>
<p>Compare boats in this size range to smaller boats, such as the very popular Catalina 30, with over 6,400 boats built. She carries 36 gallons of water and has a holding tank of 18 gallons. Look at interior layouts and pictures of these boats, the galley, saloon, and living spaces, and what storage is available. One will easily see the huge differences among these boats.</p>
<p>You will need to decide how much privacy you need, and how many cabins/staterooms to make this happen. And then discuss the factors of layout, storage, tankage with your broker. He or she will know the reputation of the builder, will introduce you to other options, such as a sailing catamaran, or another boat you may not be aware of. A broker will show you enough boats to help you refine your search for the right boat, within your budget.</p>
<p>Check out as many boats as you can. Some interiors may seem too dark, as the traditional teak treatment was very popular until recently, others find them cozy. Some interiors can feel cramped, especially on older, narrow boats. There are lots of saloon table/settee arrangements, and what works for you is totally personal. Many older boats have almost vertical companionway stairs/ladders, while the newer trend is towards fewer steps that are less steep between cockpit and the interior, which are dog friendly.</p>
<p>Make sure you can fit comfortably in the head, and make sure the hanging lockers and other drawers will satisfy your needs. There is usually a huge storage space under the master berth. How easy is it to access?</p>
<p>Your broker might introduce you to other liveaboard clients who may be willing to share their experience. There is nothing more helpful than hearing what others have already discovered, such as how enclosing a center cockpit provides more living space on a sunny day during cold weather.</p>
<p>Moving around an interior is every bit as important as moving along the side decks topside. Some boats are much easier to move about on deck than others that require gymnastics around standing rigging. Much like tall lifeline stanchions make me feel way more secure on deck, so do interiors where there is something to hold onto. Perhaps not as important for living aboard than at sea, but hey, isn’t your boat going to do both!?!</p>
<p>It is common knowledge there is no perfect boat, and that every boat is a series of compromises. With a few exceptions I agree with these sentiments. But I do also know that living on a sailboat has a charm all its own, without compromise on the right boat.</p>
<p>The <a href="../../../../used-liveaboard-boats-for-sale/">liveaboard</a> boat community is special, and I have met some interesting people who live full time on sailboats. While there are the usual community of service staff, artists, and people who work in offices, I have met musicians, consultants, and technology gearheads. When I lived on Lake Union, it was an eclectic group of mixed backgrounds and careers, from medical doctors to one humble fellow who had his PhD in the study of Peregrine falcons.</p>
<p>In Annapolis, the dock was shared by a lobbyist in DC, a lawyer and his wife, and the head of public works for the city. And when a hurricane came to town, the folks on our dock threw a party as we stayed up all night adjusting dock lines to keep everyone’s boats safe.</p>
<p>One winter in Marathon, in the Florida Keys, we lived among a couple dozen liveaboards from all over. While they had traveled south for the winter, none were cruising. They simply lived aboard and were able to move south to warm weather while the snow blew up north.</p>
<p>If you are interested in exploring life on a sailboat, there is much to recommend it. People who live on sailboats belong to a unique community, and there is always room for one more.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Also Read</strong></span>:<strong> <a href="../../../../sailboat-faq">Frequently Asked Questions About Sailboats</a></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles:</span></p>
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<li><a href="../../../../news/how-important-is-fuel-economy">Your Boat's Fuel Economy</a></li>
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<li><a href="../../../../news/sometimes-its-all-about-simplicity">Sometimes It's All About Simplicity</a></li>
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</ul> |
What Is The Best Size Sailboat To Live On? |
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<p>This is a popular question in boating circles, especially for new sailors dreaming of heading over the horizon. Lacking experience, it is difficult to know fact from fiction when walking the docks.</p>
<p>The truth to this simple question is a lot less intimidating than one might expect. Small boats routinely go sailing offshore. Beyond stunts to grab the title of smallest ever, a lot of legitimate sailors have enjoyed cruising on small boats. (There is an interesting book for those wanting to know more about the smallest ocean crossing <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/">sailboats</a>: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Speck-Sea-William-Longyard/dp/0071440291" target="_blank">A Speck on the Sea</a>, by William Longyard.)</p>
<p>I knew an architect in Seattle who told me when she was younger, she and her boyfriend decided to sail his Piver 25 trimaran to Bermuda from Charleston. They had limited resources, and with minimal accommodations and storage, they intended to exist on bags of popcorn. Unfortunately, the winds were not favorable, they soon ran out of water, so they turned around.</p>
<p>However, Arthur Piver, one of the pioneers of trimaran design, built a 21-foot boat named Nugget that he sailed down the California coast in the late 1950s. That same boat later cruised down to Mexico. Subsequent homemade boats in the early 1960s were sailed across the Atlantic as well as to New Zealand.</p>
<p><strong>So, the question about how big your boat needs to be to sail around the world has more to do with design and construction than just overall length.</strong> Indeed, there are many cruising boats that most would find too small, but are strongly built and well made, such as the pocket-sized sailboats from Pacific Seacraft. The 20-foot Flicka is by no means the mainstream image of a bluewater boat, yet many have crossed oceans. The 400+ Flickas out there are rugged, much loved, and bluewater capable.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: An example of a 20-foot Flicka sailboat.)</em></p>
<p><img title="flicka sailboat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/flicka-sailboat.jpg?cb=9304069A-9E72-C69D-EE51A204F1B21C05" alt="flicka sailboat" width="800" height="536" /></p>
<p>The same can be said for the slightly larger Pacific Seacraft 24-foot Dana, designed by Bill Crealock. Only slightly longer than the Flicka, the Dana took small boat sailing to another level, as the increased volume and interior allow a couple to comfortably live aboard while cruising, which include making ocean passages.</p>
<p>The adventures of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tania_Aebi" target="_blank">Tania Aebi</a>, who circumnavigated the world in her Taylor 26 (the Canadian version of the Contessa 26) captured the imagination of many sailors. The Contessa is a small but seaworthy little boat with sitting headroom, similar to the legendary Folkboat. Yet its capability is well established. Her slightly larger sister, the Contessa 32, was the only small boat to finish the stormy 1979 Fastnet Race, where 24 boats were abandoned, and 15 lives were lost.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: An overview of Tania Aebi's travels by sailboat.)</em></p>
<p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YgstOxZ70YU" width="760" height="515" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>I once asked Canadian naval architect, Ted Clemens, what he thought the minimum size boat one should consider for going offshore. He smiled and said that it is difficult to say. He then told me about Ben Carlin, an Australian who was the first (and likely only) person to circumnavigate in an amphibious vehicle. After World War II, Carlin bought a surplus Ford GPA (an 18-foot version of the well-known, Army DUKW) and added a cabin and towable fuel “barge” to increase its suitability for crossing an ocean. He named it Half-Safe. (Interestingly, Rod Stephens Jr of Sparkman & Stephens worked on the design of both the GPA and DUKW.)</p>
<p>Carlin successfully crossed the Atlantic with his wife in 1951. Over the next ten years they continued around the world. At the completion of his world travels, Carlin had driven Half-Safe 11,000 miles across oceans and 37,000 miles across continents. Half-Safe is now on display at the Guildford Grammar School in Perth.</p>
<p>To frame the other side of the same question, I once had an absorbing conversation with Ed Monk, Jr in <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-fort-lauderdale-florida">Ft Lauderdale</a> . I asked him what he felt was the ideal size boat to sail across oceans with a high degree of confidence. He told me it was a favorite subject he shared with his father, who was fascinated by rogue waves. The Monk father and son duo spent a lot of time researching available data. They finally concluded that a vessel of 83 feet overall was the ideal smallest and safest yacht to survive all things at sea, including rogue waves.</p>
<p>I’ve since concluded that boat size is perhaps a trifle less important than the quality of its design, construction, and outfitting. Even the small yachts I mention from Pacific Seacraft are nice sailing boats and can sail along smartly in general ocean conditions.</p>
<p>But to say these small boats are ideal for sailing and cruising across large bodies of water would be silly, even if one does bring along enough popcorn. A small boat does not have the storage, the tankage, or the living space that is required for successful cruising.</p>
<p>Having said that, YouTube channels are full of young couples sailing and living the dream in boats that are small, old, minimalist, and cheap. Sailing and living aboard a boat that is 50 years old is not something I look forward to. The Allied Seawind, original Valiant 40, and Alberg 30 are all classic boats that have a long history of successful cruising and offshore sailing. Ditto larger popular boats like the Stevens 47, Passports, and Peterson 44. Yet boats of that vintage are in constant need of rebuilding, refit, and fixing things in exotic places.</p>
<p>I bought a new Baba 30 in 1985. It was a super boat and cozy home for a single guy. I just loved being aboard and sailing this small jewel of a yacht. Yet, a couple of years ago a friend sent me pictures of my former boat, now for sale in Aruba. I shudder to think of the work it now represents. The Yanmar 30GM30F must be tired, the fittings, hoses, and every piece of moving gear needs to be changed, and the rigging surely needs to be carefully inspected and most of it replaced.</p>
<p>To bring her back to my standards would be a costly challenge.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: A Baba 30 sailboat.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="baba 30 sailboat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/baba-30-sailboat.jpg?cb=93FEF744-A170-EF5C-0558D827148E940D" alt="baba 30 sailboat" width="800" height="548" /> </p>
<p>So, let’s consider what is involved with buying a used sailboat to go offshore, at least as far as traveling to the islands or Mexico. A boat capable of sailing offshore but not necessarily around the world.</p>
<p>Unless it is new or nearly so, once you buy a boat, you will need to make some upgrades and refit some of the systems. And down the road you will also need to maintain and repair it as necessary. So, when looking at any vintage sailboat, a potential buyer must be alert to the possibility of fiberglass delamination, rot in plywood bulkheads, moisture or blisters in the hull, and leaking hardware and hatches. They are common issues but also why the price may be right.</p>
<p>It might take a year or more to resolve all the issues, and one can spend up tp 100 percent of the purchase price to complete the repairs. Maybe a new engine, sails, mast and rigging, water and fuel tanks, pumps, hoses, fittings, electrical and electronic updating… the list can be long.</p>
<p>And it doesn’t stop there. What is required to get the boat ready and safe for sailing offshore? Consider another 40 to 50 percent of the purchase price for things like a liferaft, heavier ground tackle and windlass, redundant autopilot, wind vane steering, and the necessary spare parts and extras one should have aboard just in case.</p>
<p>And if it is a larger boat, one might want to install air conditioning, upgrade the boat’s refrigeration, perhaps add a bow thruster, a generator, solar panels, and other equipment for comfortable living aboard. Comfort is a good thing, as one can expect to spend 90 percent of the time at anchor, mooring, or dock…not under way. Did I mention a new dinghy and outboard?</p>
<p>For all the above reasons, I am of the school that thinks it is best to buy a new or newer boat, even if it must be in the smaller end of the size range being considered. A five-year old 38-foot sailboat will have far fewer issues than a roomy 45-footer that is 40+ years old for the same general price range. It is just the way it is.</p>
<p>Looking to do more than simply go offshore occasionally? How about crossing an ocean to do the Atlantic Loop between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, or Hawaii from the West Coast?</p>
<p>Most cruising experts agree that a boat between 35 and 45 feet is the most common and works well for couples. The people who run the <a href="https://www.worldcruising.com/arc/event.aspx" target="_blank">ARC</a>, the annual event that attracts over 200 boats and 1,200 people to cross the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to St Lucia, keep great records of the fleets from year to year. Couples and families cross the ocean as part of this event and then spend a year or more in the Caribbean and perhaps up to the Bahamas and U.S. before heading back across to the Mediterranean. It is a well-traveled and well documented itinerary and a wonderful experience for all.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: An ARC event where dozens of sailboats head for St. Lucia.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="An ARC sailing event" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/arc-sailing-event.jpg?cb=94521ECC-F07C-3A8E-9512554520B1720E" alt="An ARC sailing event" width="800" height="478" /> </p>
<p>According to the organizers, these days the most popular boats are standard production boats, and the most popular in recent ARCs are Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot <a href="../../../../used-sailing-catamarans-for-sale/">sailing catamarans</a>, and Beneteau and Jeanneau monohulls. These and the other European production boats from <a href="../../../../new-hanse-yachts-for-sale/">Hanse Yachts</a>, X-Yachts, Bavaria, Dufour, and Dehler make this trip safely. They are comfortable, easy to sail, and are a good choice without costing a fortune.</p>
<p>An ARC representative said the average water tank size in recent Transatlantic crossings is 500 liters, or 132 gallons. That is fine for general cruising and to do this Atlantic crossing (with a bit of water management), but that would not be the choice for someone planning a three-to-five-year circumnavigation.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that production sailboat builders build boats for the way most of their owners use their boats. And most have no intention of crossing an ocean. So, while these boats may be designed and built for CE certification rating of Class A, the boats are not finished to the level necessary to take on a circumnavigation. And it would be foolhardy for any of these builders to significantly raise the price of their boats to cover the additional and unnecessary effort and expense in hopes of satisfying the desires of only a handful of potential buyers.</p>
<p>Take Beneteau, for example, the largest boat builder in the world. They know their customers very well and how they use their boats. Why would Beneteau intentionally install large fuel tanks when they know the diesel fuel needs of their owners are basically minimal. Most sailors motor in and out of their marina, and maybe motor for a time on vacation when the wind dies. But over the course of a season, they don’t use much diesel fuel. Unused diesel that sits in a large tank over a long time can easily become a major problem, especially if water gets into the tank.</p>
<p>Experienced sailors, on the flip side, know that for long distance cruising, it is a good idea to carry enough fuel to be able to travel under power for 700-1,000nm. That is not a rule, but it is nice to have long legs. It also means one does not have to scrounge around for diesel fuel once they arrive in remote island chains. Owners can wait until they reach a major destination to refuel. Hand pumping diesel fuel out of 55-gallon drums after a long passage into five-gallon Jerry cans to ferry out in the dinghy is not much fun.</p>
<p>The same can be said for water tanks. Even with 80 gallons of water on a boat, if it is not used and turned over, it can develop a nasty taste and smell. Seasonal sailors use water on weekends and on their summer vacations, but it is usually readily replenished when they are cruising. The idea of carrying around a large supply of water is ridiculous to most recreational sailors. Yet it is important to world cruisers.</p>
<p>That is why the boats that participate in the ARC but then continue around the world are built to a different mission statement. They are generally beefier in construction, use heavier and more robust fittings, systems, and hardware, have bigger tanks, and are better equipped for long distance sailing. These boats will be the Oyster, Hallberg-Rassy, Najad, Swan, Malo, Garcia, Amel, and Garcia, to name a few. They are the choice for a circumnavigation.</p>
<p>Having larger fuel and water tanks requires more volume in a boat, which means a bigger boat. On one hand, we might choose a larger boat because it is faster and can cover more miles per day while providing more comfortable living accommodations at anchor. But it will also carry more water and fuel, as well as other storage for provisions, and room for spares. A bigger boat wins in all aspects except cost and perhaps ease of handling.</p>
<p>On the issue of ease of handling, I’ve been particularly interested in the boat choices for older sailors who want to go offshore, but who are not as agile, flexible, or as immortal as someone in their 30s or 40s. For the cruising senior, it is probably best to think smaller, perhaps around 35 feet or so. This will make sailing easier without needing complex gear to run the boat. In my experience it is easier to sail a big boat than a small one, but only with a healthy and athletic crew. Beyond a certain age, I think it reverses itself. A big boat has momentum and is comfortable in a seaway, but a smaller boat is more easily handled (and less stressful) for aging sailors who just don’t have the strength and flexibility they once enjoyed.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: The <a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Hanse-348">Hanse 348</a> has a self-tacking jib system so all lines go to the helm for easily sailing.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="Hanse 348" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/hanse-348.jpg?cb=948C7E16-AF51-DE74-BF10140E0977B8D8" alt="Hanse 348" width="800" height="515" /> </p>
<p>I am a member of the <a href="https://www.oceancruisingclub.org/" target="_blank">Ocean Cruising Club</a>, a UK-based organization of cruising sailors who embody the world cruising community. Its international membership can be found in every corner of the world, including the northern and southern latitudes, experiencing the life many of us dream of. Whenever I am in the company of OCC members, whether manning their booth at a boat show, or at one of their cruising events, I enjoy hearing their stories and conversations between members, such as the best place to buy fuel in Panama, going ashore at St Helena Island, navigating ice fields in Greenland, or which part of New Zealand they enjoyed the most. It is also nice to hear how much they enjoy cruising the Chesapeake Bay.</p>
<p>The annual OCC Members’ Handbook lists the current member roster and what boat they own. I found it interesting while thinking about this article because these people are out there cruising the world and most of the members I’ve met already circumnavigated, or nearly so. So, perusing the handbook about the size and brand of their sailboat, seemed to fit the dialogue perfectly. Very few are production boats.</p>
<p>Randomly opening the handbook to boat names listed alphabetically under “M,” I see Tayana 48, Mason 44, Malo 39, Vancouver 27, Moody 346, Fisher 37, Bristol Channel Cutter 53, Valiant 42, Baltic 48, Bowman 40, Amel Maramu 48, Hylas 49, Sundeer 56, Lagoon 421, Leopard 47, Sceptre 41, Saga 43, Tartan 40, Oyster 55, Hanse 371, Rustler 36, Outremer 45, Catana 42S, Alden 44, and others. These are mostly in the range of boats we are talking about, although given the experience of some of these members, some have gradually stepped in size for a more comfortable home afloat.</p>
<p>Several experienced experts feel that one should look for a boat with a displacement/length ratio under 360, which is a moderate displacement relative to a boat’s waterline length. It is a nice compromise between the ability to carry weight, have a comfortable motion, and sail fast. Heavier boats are slow and harder to maneuver, while boats with numbers under 200 will be limited in what they can carry and won’t be as comfortable when the weather goes south. There are websites that list D/L ratios for most boats out there, and it is just one tool to develop an understanding of how a boat will be out in the ocean.</p>
<p>It is quite possible to enjoy the offshore experience on any size sailboat, but just not on one where the deck flexes under foot, or the size of fittings in the rigging are best suited for lake sailing. With some experience, it becomes easy to pick out the real deal among the less competent boats built to a price point. As a fan of small boat sailing, I am always intrigued by a designer’s ability to fit it all into a smaller package yet robust enough to take on the sea.</p>
<p>Even so, I also understand why so many seasoned cruisers today want a big boat with the ability to make 200 miles a day, which makes for fast passages and being able to sail away from weather systems. That is a valid point as well.</p>
<p>When you decide you are up to the challenge, go out and look at as many boats as you can, and connect with an experienced broker who understands all these factors. And, unless you are intent on making a living publishing your cruising adventures on your YouTube channel, focus on the fun of it.</p>
<p>Making landfall is exciting no matter what size boat you sail. Just hope the rogue waves are elsewhere.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Also Read</strong></span>:<strong> <a href="../../../../sailboat-faq">Frequently Asked Questions About Sailboats</a></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-size-sailboat-to-live-on">What Is The Best Size Sailboat To Live On?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-safest-sailboat">What Is The Safest Sailboat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/is-sailing-a-cheap-hobby">Is Sailing A Cheap Hobby?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-are-the-different-types-of-sailboats">What Are The Different Types Of Sailboats?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/is-sailing-hard">Is Sailing Hard?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/how-big-of-a-sailboat-can-one-person-handle">How Big Of A Sailboat Can One Person Handle?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-to-know-about-bringing-your-trawler-home">Bringing Your Trawler Home</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/how-important-is-fuel-economy">Your Boat's Fuel Economy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/extend-your-sailing-life">Extend Your Sailing Life</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/yearly-engine-service-and-beyond">Yearly Engine Service And Beyond</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/sometimes-its-all-about-simplicity">Sometimes It's All About Simplicity</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-bucket-a-true-story">The Bucket: A True Story</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/essential-supplies-for-extended-cruising">Essential Supplies For Extended Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">The Exhausting Need To Keep Up With New Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/have-a-backup-plan">Have A Backup Plan!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-exhaust-systems-are-better-by-design">Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/cruising-boats-come-of-age">Cruising Boats Come Of Age</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/going-world-cruising-not-so-fast">Going World Cruising? Not So Fast</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-engines-are-in-your-boat">What Engines Are In Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-great-loop">The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/getting-ready-for-the-great-loop">Getting Ready For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-winning-great-loop-strategy">A Winning Great Loop Strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Tips For Cruising South</a></li>
</ul> |
How Big Of A Boat Do You Need To Sail Around The World? |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Cruising Tips |
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<p>You may recall I covered one couple’s provisioning their yacht for extended <a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition" target="_blank">cruising in the Bahamas and Caribbean</a> back in early 2020. It was just prior to the looming pandemic. As a result of the coronavirus, the couple were forced to change their plans dramatically.</p>
<p>Hugh Scarth sent me an update in April 2020. Like so many other cruisers, Hugh and Maria were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><em>Hi Bill,</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>We are now back in Canada. Our plan to cruise from the Bahamas down to Grenada became less and less likely as the days went by. We were in the Bahamas when the situation worsened and going forward with our plans was no longer an option. We needed to get back to Florida and return to Canada as soon as possible, and that became more problematic and challenging each day. I also needed to get the boat out of the water for the hurricane season.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>We arranged to have the boat hauled at River Forest near Stuart, Florida. We had a few long days traveling from Long Island in the Bahamas to the Lake Worth inlet in Florida. The boat was hauled on April 1, and we were home in Canada on April 3.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>I believe we made the right decision. As we moved along on our return to the U.S., we could feel doors closing behind us. The Bahamas made it increasingly difficult for cruisers to get supplies, travel between islands, or even get off our boats. The marinas along the East Coast were also closing right and left, and fuel and groceries was getting harder to find.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Several of our friends live on their boats full time and didn't really have many options. They would have to make the best of it. We had fully stocked the boat with provisions, food, and wine for an entire cruising season, so we gave most of it away to our liveaboard friends.</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>We are very happy to be home. The federal and provincial governments are doing as good a job as possible and learning every day, deferring to experts, and developing a new level of understanding from the rest of the world. —Hugh</em></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thankfully, life goes on and the Covid pandemic eventually ran its course. Life is coming back to normal, so I recently reconnected with Hugh and Maria to get an update on their travels aboard their 2006 Hampton 55 PHMY. We arranged a call between <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-annapolis-maryland">Annapolis</a> and White Pearl, sitting on a mooring in St Lucia, with the famous Pitons visible out both sides of the saloon windows. Cell service is available throughout the Caribbean, but when calling from the U.S., it is very expensive.</p>
<p><em>(See below: White Pearl docked in St. Lucia)</em></p>
<p><img title="hampton yacht in st lucia" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/hampton-yacht-in-st-lucia.jpg?cb=C9C33616-B9FD-333F-4E2EEBB30A268A6B" alt="hampton yacht in st lucia" width="800" height="470" /> </p>
<p>Hugh began by telling me they returned to White Pearl in Florida last December, and left as quickly as possible for the Bahamas, where they enjoyed two or three months in the islands. Life in the Bahamas is getting back to normal—not totally, mind you—but enough to allow the couple to readjust back into the cruising mindset.</p>
<p>A small group of cruisers decided to make the 1,400nm trip south to the Caribbean from the Bahamas together, and they spent another three months working their way down to Grenada at 8 knots, the couple’s original destination. Along the way they stopped in the Dominican Republic, then Puerto Rico, followed by the Virgin Islands. It was a relatively quick trip south, as they chose not to stop where there were quarantines or stay very long in places with other restrictions.</p>
<p>When I spoke to the couple, they were slowly meandering north from their home base in Grenada up to the islands of St Lucia, Martinique, and farther up to other islands in the Lesser Antilles and Leeward Islands as far as Saint Martin. They planned to then turn around and head back to Grenada so they can haul White Pearl for the hurricane season in June. It seems like a pretty good plan and has worked out well so far.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: White Pearl anchored at Sandy Island in the Grenadines)</em></p>
<p><img title="sandy island grenadines" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/sandy-island-grenadines.jpg?cb=C9AE2CC3-D91F-8D77-695A4B811DC083E2" alt="sandy island grenadines" width="800" height="493" /></p>
<p>A phenomenon I find somewhat bizarre, Hugh reports they only saw a rare PHMY after the Bahamas and not too many there either. They came upon two <a href="../../../../used-yachts-for-sale/nordhavn-yachts">Nordhavn Yachts</a> in the Caribbean and three or four similar powerboats in the months they have been there. <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Monty-Miller">Monty Miller</a>, the Seattle Yachts <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-fort-lauderdale-florida">Fort Lauderdale broker</a> who sold them White Pearl, told Hugh they have cruised farther than anyone else that he has sold a boat to. Again, there is no reason why these fantastic cruising grounds are not enjoyed by more in the trawler and PHMY community. Maybe it is time for a <a href="../../../../flotilla">Seattle Yachts Flotilla Cruise</a> or at least a boat show seminar to help introduce new owners to trawler cruising in the Caribbean.</p>
<p>For owners new to cruising, Hugh recommends Bruce van Sant’s classic, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gentlemans-Guide-Passages-South-Thornless/dp/1470146967" target="_blank">The Gentlemen’s Guide to Passages South</a>, a cruising guide that is helpful navigating around the Dominican Republic. Hugh does feel that most of what Bruce preaches is about using common sense when cruising.</p>
<p><img title="Passages South By Bruce van Sant" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/passages-south-by-bruce-van-sant.jpg?cb=C9AE2CBF-95F4-7220-4A3817C514C6226E" alt="Passages South By Bruce van Sant" width="419" height="614" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>What Works, What Does Not</strong></p>
<p>Hugh thinks it is vitally important to not simply follow the advice of “experts” in cruising guides or old salts on the docks. “Make your own decisions,” he said. “Wait for the weather to be on your side.” Don’t rush off if the weather is unsettled and forget following a schedule. Don’t take chances.</p>
<p>Hugh and Maria find reliable cellular service in most areas of the Caribbean, which is helpful to use weather apps to understand what is ahead. Windy and Predict Wind (Pro Version) are particularly helpful. They also subscribe to Chris Parker’s excellent daily marine weather email service (mwxc.com) for the latest forecast.</p>
<p>While there are times that cruisers use SSB shortwave communications, it is not necessary in this part of the world, nor are expensive satellite services needed. They have Iridium GO on the boat, but Hugh did not turn it on for this trip as it is expensive and unnecessary. Cellular works just fine.</p>
<p>While there may the occasional overnight passage between islands, especially if one chooses to sail past one or two island for whatever reason, it is not typical. Day trips from one island to the next are much more common…and easy. The distance between St Lucia and Martinique, for example, is only 44nm. That is an easy five hours or so at 8 knots.</p>
<p>If the couple needs to cover more distance, they prefer to ease out of a harbor early at 0300. Traveling for the day at 8 knots for 15 hours or so provides a respectable distance of 120nm. It is 205nm between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, but as one can see from the chart, most travel distances are much shorter.</p>
<p>I was most interested in the success of their preparations of the boat and systems, which one can read about <a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition" target="_blank">in my first article</a>. </p>
<p><em>(Seen below: White Pearl behind a larger motoryacht in the Tobago Cays)</em></p>
<p><img title="White Pearl in the Tobago Cays" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/white-pearl-in-tobago-cays.jpg?cb=CA5C4A1C-9AE3-886B-26553B80EB403931" alt="White Pearl in the Tobago Cays" width="800" height="480" /></p>
<p>I assumed the boat’s watermaker continued to be of great value once they left the Bahamas. It is. The couple’s preferred style of cruising is to spend time on a mooring or at anchor, rather than plugged in at a dock in a marina. That is how they set their boat up, by installing a larger anchor and having the ability to make water. They can remain self-sufficient away from the dock.</p>
<p>“Bring plenty of watermaker filters, as they are at least twice the price of filters purchased in Florida.” Their watermaker is from FCI Watermakers of West Valley, Utah. The unit was already installed in the boat when they purchased her, and it only had 50 hours on its meter. The local Florida FCI tech came to inspect and service the system before they left, and it has worked flawlessly. Having clean, fresh water is essential for healthy and happy cruising, but when it is purchased in many islands, it is expensive if it is even available. A watermaker allows them to make their own water to fill their tanks. Once considered a luxury for only wealthy yacht owners, a watermaker is a cruising necessity for a <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/">trawler yacht</a> in the islands.</p>
<p>Hugh also mentioned how much they value having a washing machine. By doing smaller loads aboard White Pearl on a regular basis, they avoid taking a large load of laundry ashore and having to deal with that. Their washing machine uses 10 gallons of water per cycle.</p>
<p>The normal routine aboard White Pearl is to run the generator for three hours a day, three days a week. During those three hours, they do laundry, make water, bake bread, and make cookies. And charge batteries.</p>
<p>Most readers will ask the obvious question. How can a fully equipped motoryacht, such as this Hampton 55 PHMY, normally set up to have unlimited shorepower and water in a marina, get by running the generator only three days a week?</p>
<p>The secret is solar.</p>
<p>Hugh installed four, 320-watt panels for 1,280 watts of power generated by the tropical sun. And he also installed lithium-ion batteries for house service. As Hugh states, every amp from the solar panels goes right into the battery banks, as they can accept full rate of charge right up to 100 percent. That makes all the difference in the world.</p>
<p>One of his friends owns a Nordhavn, another complex yacht with many systems. This owner must run his generator eight hours each day, every day. After spending time with Hugh aboard White Pearl, this Nordie owner went ahead and installed solar panels of his boat, and reduced his generator run time to just three hours a day. The owner said it was a game changer for his new-found ability to remain quietly on a mooring or at anchor.</p>
<p>In general, Hugh stresses the need to be prepared for all service issues, as they are nonstop. He said he stopped putting his tool bag away, as there is always a latch to be tightened, a filter to be changed, or something to troubleshoot. That is partly because the boat is 16 years old, and things have begun to wear out.</p>
<p>The adage that cruising is all about fixing boats in exotic places certainly applies to their cruising experience.</p>
<p>“There is no end to spare parts,” Hugh said. “For the Cummins engines, we carry starter motors, raw water pumps, alternators, props, engine-specific parts, pulleys, belts, filters. And we carry the same parts for the generator, which tends to get less maintenance attention as it sits invisibly in its soundbox.” But he had to pull the heat exchanger out recently as the impeller broke up and pieces got stuck in the exchanger.</p>
<p>Thankfully, the <a href="../../../../new-hampton-yachts-for-sale/">Hampton Yachts</a> 55 has enormous storage spaces that keep both parts and spares dry and safe. A lot of powerboats may have some storage space for spares, but they are often in vulnerable locations where moisture and nearby equipment can damage or compromise them. (After one long offshore passage, I remember our disappointment finding hundreds of dollars’ worth of spare parts and filters now worthless as seawater found its way into what seemed a proper storage locker. It was a soggy mess.)</p>
<p>This is something to keep in mind when shopping for a trawler or motoryacht. A West Marine bag of Racor fuel filter elements placed in a lazarette or locker with wet dock lines and other gear won’t cut it, and many older engine rooms simply don’t provide suitable spares storage in the engine space.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: The view looking down on a rainbow near Petit Piton, St. Lucia)</em></p>
<p><img title="rainbow near Petit Piton" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/petit-piton.jpg?cb=CA974C5D-C3C2-0F9F-AE6B363F8CE83544" alt="rainbow near Petit Piton" width="800" height="633" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Know How to Turn a Wrench</strong></p>
<p>“The handier you are the better. Being able to change an alternator is something I have learned to do, and I can also change a water pump, and I have done it several times.”</p>
<p>White Pearl carries a complete set of metric and SAE tools, which Hugh uses almost every day. He might have to fix the galley faucet, or redo the latch on the garbage can door, or unstick the sliding pilothouse door that somehow got jammed. It is everyday stuff and part of the cruising experience.</p>
<p>Hugh is also keen to share that anyone cruising these Caribbean islands must realize they may be in for very expensive repairs if one simply gives the service technician carte blanche. Martinique is a French territory, and it is standard practice to order parts directly from France. In case after case, Hugh was able to find the same parts in the U.S. and shipped for a great deal less. Instead of 11,000 Euros for an assortment of replacement parts, he found the same parts in Florida for $2,200. Or 5,900 Euros for air filter parts for both engines, which he found and purchased in Texas for $800. It pays to do one’s own research.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the Canadian couple speak French to some degree, which is obviously helpful in these French territorial islands. But when it comes to engine and system issues, neither of them has a proper command of technical words and mechanical terminology when dealing with French-speaking mechanics.</p>
<p>The territorial European connection of these islands also means the electricity is based on European standards, not what we are familiar with in North America. That is important to know before you show up at a marina and find your shorepower cord and electrical system are incompatible with what is offered by the marina.</p>
<p>Does all this take away from the fun of cruising? Yes, of course. Sourcing parts for a leaking water pump in some exotic destination takes one away from the daily routine of the carefree cruising life. But it is part of the experience.</p>
<p>White Pearl’s two Cummins diesels only have 2,100 hours on each engine, the generator 2,200 hours. That is not much for a boat built in 2006. But Hugh is quick to point out it is not the hours that causes the issues, it is time. Sixteen years takes its toll; time rots hose, corrodes wiring, and electrical parts begin to fail.</p>
<p>He also finds that as a boat gets older, especially if it has had a couple of owners, one will find wires in the boat that lead nowhere, perhaps from gear removed long ago. The flip side of this, he added, is that a new boat has not been tested, so who knows what gremlins are aboard from improper installation or faulty parts.</p>
<p>Both Hugh and Maria are immensely enjoying their cruising life on White Pearl, and it has been every bit as satisfying as they hoped, perhaps more so. Hugh also now understands that any boat he will own in the future will have a much higher priority for accessibility to systems over lavish interiors, fancy woodwork, and beautiful appointments. Ensuring that everything is working properly is a great deal more important to him now than how pretty the boat is.</p>
<p>As I have seen so many times, and found myself, the priorities become much clearer with experience. These now-veteran cruisers are up to speed with what is important.</p>
<p>A retired surgeon, Hugh again reiterated the need to have all medications, antibiotics, and painkillers on the boat, just in case. Much like engine parts one has no idea how to install, having them aboard means some mechanic or doctor can use these to resolve issues that come up. In a sense, injectors and sutures are in the same category.</p>
<p>And many of the things they carefully considered when initially stocking the boat proved to be dead on, from spices to snacks and wine.</p>
<p>Thinking back to that first article, I asked Maria if she still had 16 pounds of butter in the freezer.</p>
<p>She laughed. She was down to eight pounds.</p>
<p>“It might be time to restock.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/extend-your-sailing-life">Extend Your Sailing Life</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-to-know-about-bringing-your-trawler-home">Bringing Your New Trawler Home</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/coming-to-the-dark-side-moving-from-a-sailboat-to-a-trawler">Moving From A Sailboat To A Trawler</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/yearly-engine-service-and-beyond">Yearly Engine Service And Beyond</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/sometimes-its-all-about-simplicity">Sometimes It's All About Simplicity</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-bucket-a-true-story">The Bucket: A True Story</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/essential-supplies-for-extended-cruising">Essential Supplies For Extended Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">The Exhausting Need To Keep Up With New Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/have-a-backup-plan">Have A Backup Plan!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-exhaust-systems-are-better-by-design">Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/cruising-boats-come-of-age">Cruising Boats Come Of Age</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/going-world-cruising-not-so-fast">Going World Cruising? Not So Fast</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-engines-are-in-your-boat">What Engines Are In Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/getting-ready-for-the-great-loop">Getting Ready For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-winning-great-loop-strategy">A Winning Great Loop Strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Tips For Cruising South</a></li>
</ul> |
Catching Up With White Pearl |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Cruising Tips |
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Bill Parlatore discusses long-distance cruising on a motor yacht with owners. |
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2022-03-31 00:00:00.0 |
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https://www.seattleyachts.com/news/catching-up-with-white-pearl |
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Bill Parlatore |
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2022-01-13 00:00:00.0 |
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<p><em>We first published this story years ago, and it is still one of my all-time favorites. Sadly, Myles Anderberg passed away in 2011. It is all about the human experience, courage, reflection, and seeing one’s place in the universe.</em></p>
<p><em>It has nothing to do with what kind of boat they were on, only that they were together, alone. Any one of us cruisers could be in the same situation one day.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Death by drowning has always seemed grisly to me. Having worked my college years as a lifeguard on Boston beaches, I'd seen, firsthand, the wide-eyed frozen mask of terror on near-victims’ faces. But I've always been a strong swimmer. Most of my adult life I swam a mile a day before breakfast and office. It was my way of keeping in shape.</p>
<p>Now retired and nearing 70, I could not escape the near certainty that I was about to die by drowning. It all seemed so absurd, so bizarre.</p>
<p>My wife, Gerri, and I had just spent the summer cruising the lower Exumas in the Bahamas, on our yacht Berceau and were relaxing for a few days at a snug anchorage in Bimini. When the weather improved, and the Gulf Stream quieted down, we intended to make the 75-mile leg to West Palm Beach, then on to our winter anchorage in Stuart, Florida. Three of our daughters and their children—our grandchildren—live in South Florida. Even now I can see their sweet faces, knowing I'd never see them again.</p>
<p>Anchored off the Bimini Big Game Fishing Club in North Bimini, we had swum and snorkeled every day in the warm, crystal-clear blue water. I knew that when the big estuary of North Bimini emptied on the outgoing tide, the current ran two to four knots, depending on lunar phase. I knew this because I swam against it alongside our boat daily. Gerri had urged me to put on swim fins because of that current. I laughed at the suggestion, as I've been a strong swimmer all my life. And now my life was about to end.</p>
<p><em>(Seen Below: North Bimini Island, Bahamas.)</em></p>
<p><img title="north bimini island bahamas" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/north-bimini-island.jpg?cb=45C446AF-B076-CE21-62035B5F8276A4E7" alt="north bimini island bahamas" width="800" height="438" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>How It Happened</strong></p>
<p>I was standing in the dinghy, preparing to stream it astern for the night. Gerri was washing down the foredeck before starting dinner. It seemed nothing when she called out to me that the current had snatched the bucket and rope she was holding, literally right out of her hand.</p>
<p>I slipped off the dinghy line and the current took me astern, but I couldn't see the white bucket in what was 12 to 15 feet of clear water. Starting the outboard, I began making S-shaped sweeps downstream of our boat, finally spotting the bucket some 300 feet from the boat, tumbling along the bottom. That swift transit should have triggered a cacophony of warning sirens in my head.</p>
<p>Instead, I dropped the dinghy anchor and jumped overboard. As I reached for the side of the dinghy, it shot ahead of me. I wondered how the anchor line could be pulling the dinghy forward, when it struck me that the dinghy anchor had grabbed the bottom, and I was racing downstream.</p>
<p>No problem, the dinghy was only 30 feet away, so I quickly fell into my faithful breaststroke rhythm and started closing the gap. But it was slow work, and it’s been 50 years since I was a 20-year-old lifeguard. With only 10 feet to go, it seemed that the gap was not closing. Switching to a crawl stroke didn’t help, and I realized I could not gain that last 10 feet.</p>
<p>Exhaustion and panic are dangerous, and swimming hard with no gain would quickly bring on exhaustion. So, I rolled over onto my back, relaxed, and let the current take me as I regained my strength. And pondered the odds.</p>
<p>It was off-season in late September. There was not a single boat in the 100-slip Bimini Big Game Fishing Club. It was midweek. It was after 6 p.m. Sunset was at 7 p.m. and the sky was already darkening. Ominous clouds hovered offshore.</p>
<p><img title="storm clouds off bimini" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/storm-near-bimini.jpg?cb=4932719E-E14A-5571-23DFC38172A38954" alt="storm clouds off bimini" width="800" height="491" /></p>
<p>It was close to New Moon, so the high tide would be quite high and the low, lower. This obviously accounted for the overwhelming current. Our boat was anchored a half-mile inside the Bimini Harbor entrance, and I was fast approaching that entrance—going the wrong way. The west side of the inlet seemed closer, so I started swimming toward it, hoping. Because just beyond that Inlet was a five-knot northbound freight train called the Gulf Stream.</p>
<p>Also, I remembered from the charts that there was a shallow sandbar between the entrance to Bimini and open water.</p>
<p>All day, small fast Bahamian boats had zipped back and forth. If one came close to the inlet, maybe I could catch his attention. Or could I? These boats travel at only one speed—wide open. Maybe I'll be lucky just to escape being run over and chopped to pieces by a propeller. Or, considering my dwindling options, maybe a swift conclusion would be merciful.</p>
<p>I thought back to Berceau, and the anguish I’d created for my trusting wife. She had unquestioning faith in my seamanship, and I had failed her...it now seemed fatally so. There was no way she could, alone, raise those two anchors I had swum down and physically hooked under rocks in 15 feet of water.</p>
<p>The only other boat in the anchorage was buttoned up, with no one aboard.</p>
<p>I am sure she'd call a Mayday on Channel 16 on the VHF radio, but who would hear it? Most of the small fast local boats don’t even carry VHF radios, and I also remembered that they were usually gone by sunset. And sunset was fast approaching. Would any of the marinas in Bimini be monitoring Channel 16 after 6 p.m.? If they were still listening, would they have rescue vessels standing by? I doubted all the above.</p>
<p>It was darkening now and fighting despair was becoming a struggle.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>It Gets Worse</strong></p>
<p>Having failed to fetch the western shore of the inlet, I was now being pulled into the great turbulence of the shallow sandbar off the entrance. If I could stand and brace myself against the current, perhaps I could stay there until the tide ebbed. The charts showed water over the bar to be one to five feet at Mean Low Water. However, it was not MLW, the depth was more like six feet, and, as the bottom shoaled up, the water velocity doubled. I accelerated over that bar, never felt bottom, and was now in rapidly deepening water. Thousands of feet deep. And the sea was rising. And that northbound freight train was tugging.</p>
<p>Too bad about that incident last year in Marsh Harbor, in the Abacos. Gerri was returning to Berceau with groceries from the dinghy dock at Triple J Marina, when she put the 5hp Nissan outboard into gear, without first idling the throttle. She was standing as the boat jumped forward and she fell overboard. Fortunately, the dinghy went up against the dock, and some nearby boaters came to her aid. Unfortunately, she never started that outboard engine again. Never again went in the dinghy alone.</p>
<p>Now the dinghy was 300 feet from her, when I last saw her. I had seen she had binoculars on me. Will I ever see Gerri again? Doesn’t seem likely. Fighting despair was now a physical, as well as mental, struggle. Because, though I'd said I wanted to die before she did, it was all hypothetical. And what was happening now was a cruelty I could never have imagined inflicting on her.</p>
<p>Even if she could somehow get to the dinghy, she probably wouldn’t remember how to use the choke to coax that cranky outboard into life.</p>
<p>Never mind. Another 20 minutes or so in these growing seas, and it will be too dark to pick out a bobbing head anyway. Bobbing to oblivion.</p>
<p>How could I have let this happen? How I laughed when the kids admonished me to 'Be Careful'. I’d told them that cruising these tropical islands is what we’ve always wanted to do. And now that we’re retired and able to, of course that’s what we’re going to do. But it needn’t have ended this way, so tragically.</p>
<p>Fatigue began to overtake me now, and cold. Hypothermia. Every passing minute, I knew, diminished my chances of survival.</p>
<p>Could I have closed that 10-foot gap to the dinghy? If I’d known no boats would come by, I’d probably have used my last reserve of strength trying to make those 10 feet. And perhaps failing, ending it there. But my chances then, in retrospect, seemed vastly better than they did now.</p>
<p>I wondered how long I could stay afloat. How would the end come? Would I just slip under without resistance and take that first lungful of sea water? Would I have any strength to resist? If so, for how long?</p>
<p>I again thought of my wife. We loved each other deeply, for so many years, right to the end. And this was the end. Fatigue, darkness, and the end.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>A Merciful End</strong></p>
<p>I remembered the many wonderful years we had shared, and the music, the happy music. Gerri sang and played piano professionally. And the children and grandchildren were all musical as well. They were all safe, at home, and I was literally adrift on an open sea, never to see them or home again. I thought of that Placido Domingo song that begins, “I have seen a summer day that slowly opens like a rose,” and concludes, “I am home, I am home.” Though wet and cold, I felt the sting of warm tears. I would never see home again. Time was running out.</p>
<p>Then a sound emerged out of the distance. My mind suddenly, frantically, focused on hearing that noise, any noise.</p>
<p>No mistaking it, it was a sound, the sound of an outboard, and not too far away. I yelled with what strength I had left, splashing the tops of the waves to make myself be seen in the growing darkness.</p>
<p>Abruptly than the noise turned toward me. The hull was dark, but I quickly recognized it as our dinghy, the sound of our outboard, the sight of my bedraggled beloved. She was soaking wet, wearing a life jacket with binoculars around her neck, and hair plastered across her face.</p>
<p>There was no greeting, no look of anxiety—she was all business.</p>
<p>The outboard was in neutral when I grabbed the gunwale. She had wedged herself in on the pitching dinghy but pulled off the life jacket and thrust it to me. I grunted, “No, I don't need it, just give me a minute to rest, then help me aboard.”</p>
<p>Between gasps, I asked, “How did you get the dinghy?”</p>
<p>“Well,” she shouted, “several people responded to my Mayday, and told me they would try to get help in hurry. But you were fast leaving Bimini and I just couldn’t stay by the radio waiting for something to happen. Back on deck I found you with the binoculars, and my heart sank. You were rocketing out of the inlet. So, I started Berceau’s engine and threw one anchor line overboard. Then I released the windlass clutch to pay out the chain of the second anchor. About 150 feet went out, but then it just locked up. You must have tied the end of the chain down below. I ran to the chain locker but couldn’t see anything tied, and I couldn’t cut the chain. I put the boat in reverse and gave it full throttle, trying to break the damned chain free. The boat tugged and twisted but the chain held. I’m afraid I’ve damaged the anchor roller on the bow.</p>
<p>“When I found you again with the binoculars, you were now outside the inlet, and I saw no boats moving anywhere. The radio was squawking, but everything seemed to be moving in slow motion…</p>
<p>“The dinghy was now only about 150 feet astern since I had drifted downstream while paying out the chain. So, I put on this life jacket and jumped overboard, and prayed I could reach the dinghy and hold onto it. That current was a killer. When I got to the dinghy, I hit it with something hard in my hand, and then realized I was still holding the binoculars. It was a good thing.</p>
<p>“I got my last fix on you about fifteen minutes ago, with these binoculars, and after that I was afraid I’d lost you in the darkness.</p>
<p>“But I spotted you splashing, and I’m here. Are you ready to get in?”</p>
<p>“Yes.”</p>
<p>With her help, I fell face first into the bottom of the dinghy. Then she lost her cool. She threw herself on top of me. We hugged and cried and laughed. She put the engine in gear and headed back towards the inlet, now more than two miles away.</p>
<p>Shivering on the floor, I pulled the wet life jacket over my back to block the wind, and wondered if this was really happening, or was I hallucinating? Was this a dream? The pitching boat, and very real cold, convinced me this was no dream.</p>
<p>I can’t claim to have dodged a bullet, but a bullet had surely dodged me. And that brave, wonderful woman there, straining to see in the darkness, she made it dodge me. There was no doubt in my mind that Gerri had just saved my life. Death by drowning. Grisly.</p>
<p>We passed through the rage of water over the sandbar and finally got inside the inlet. The water calmed, and the wind dropped. I looked ahead and saw Berceau’s automatic anchor light in the distance.</p>
<p>I thought of our cozy cabin, blankets, hugs, and warmth. And the sheer joy being alive, and realizing I am home. I am home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/do-you-keep-a-logbook-while-cruising">Do You Keep A Log Book While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/essential-supplies-for-extended-cruising">Essential Supplies For Extended Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">The Exhausting Need To Keep Up With New Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/have-a-backup-plan">Have A Backup Plan!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-exhaust-systems-are-better-by-design">Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/cruising-boats-come-of-age">Cruising Boats Come Of Age</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/taking-on-the-great-loop">Taking On The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Tips For Preparing For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/going-world-cruising-not-so-fast">Going World Cruising? Not So Fast</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-engines-are-in-your-boat">What Engines Are In Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
The Bucket: A True Story |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Cruising Tips |
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This is a true story that reminds us that anything can happen out there while boating. |
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">A sampling of comments from some of my cruising friends:</span></p>
<p><em>I have always wanted a leather-bound, dog-eared worn out logbook but so far that has not been the case. We kept a logbook on our four years in the Sea of Cortez on board our Lagoon 380. We used it for recording our positions while on passages as well as specific notes and interesting facts about what we saw or experienced, such as whales or the fish we caught. </em><em>When stationary or in a marina the book was generally not utilized. One interesting thing I started doing in the summer was recording the time of sunset at each anchorage. It was so bloody hot that if you could shave off a few hours of the daylight by snuggling up to a steep cliff, it made a huge difference in the quality of life on board.</em> —PH</p>
<p><strong>I do not keep a logbook. Most likely too A.D.D. to focus that long. —MK</strong></p>
<p><em>I keep a record of my trips, but it is hardly detailed enough for me to call it a logbook. It is mostly date, destination, travel time, average rpms, and an estimate of fuel consumption. Will also note adding fuel or water. Will sometimes comment on problems/issues, but I can usually just remember them. I use a notebook from my basement office.</em> —AS</p>
<p><strong>I kept my log on my laptop in an Excel file. —KH</strong></p>
<p><em>I probably should have but we did not keep a formal log cruising the Pacific. I posted to my blog often and kept a log of positions every four hours while doing passages, more for positioning than anything. I kept my blog much more personal and less technical as there were already tons of detailed blogs on the places I went. I did and do keep a maintenance and fuel log, recording all routine maintenance and repairs/replacements.</em> —BC</p>
<p><strong>I have logbooks of virtually every time my boat left the dock starting 1993. I have five logs all full, including our charter voyages to BVIS, USVI, St Lucia, Martinique, and St Vincent. —JM</strong></p>
<p><em>We used two books, a simple composition notebook where I keep the minimum information. In addition, we used a more comprehensive book, log/travel notes/problems/contacts in a separate, green log. I also could insert charts, lots of drawings, but not if there was nothing to report. So, the true log is the composition notebook. The green logbook is used for maintenance, fuel, and contacts. </em><em>When we sold the boat, we took the journal pages of the five green logbooks with us but left the composition notebook with all the waypoints and the maintenance and fuel records from the green logs.</em> —MD</p>
<p><strong>From time to time we tried to use logbooks, but never done so for long. Mostly these logs are chronicles of trips we have taken. I’ve tried to do fuel logs, but sooner or later miss entries and it becomes useless. —JE</strong></p>
<p><em>I assume you’re talking about trip logs, as opposed to maintenance logs. I always keep maintenance logs and do so on an Excel spreadsheet. </em><em>Regarding trip logs, the story is a little more muddled. When we sailed around the world, we were quite diligent about keeping a logbook. It was homemade, with many parameters. We entered data every hour, although there were a few times when we failed to adhere to that schedule. </em><em>For other cruises, I always begin with the best of intentions, planning to keep a log for each cruise. I even went out a bought one of those fancy preprinted logbooks from Weems and Plath. Have I actually used it? No. Do I still intend to? Yes. Perhaps with the new boat I will turn over a new leaf and become a diligent logger with entries to my logbook. Time will tell.</em></p>
<p><em>The reasons for keeping a log are, first and foremost, about safety. If you lose your electronics, your last position will enable you to know where to start tracking your route on paper charts. Second, it’s a historical record that is useful if you are ever traveling to the same place again, or even if you wish to nostalgically recall your trip. Third is liability. If there is a collision, your logbook may provide you with exculpating information.</em> —BF</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>What is a Logbook?</strong></p>
<p>As the above comments show, the logbook of a cruising sailor can be most anything, if one keeps one at all. In its purest form, a logbook (aka ship’s log or captain’s log) is a document where one records important information of a boat under way. That information can be as simple as date, time, position, heading, speed, and sea conditions. It can also be much more elaborate.</p>
<p>I liken the logbook to engine room checks. Some boat operators conduct hourly underway engine room inspections, checking the running machinery for leaks, odd sounds, or smells, taking temperature readings, and generally making sure all is fine. Other cruisers make this a once-in-the-morning affair, checking fluids and looking around for anything that looks amiss before getting away from the dock.</p>
<p>(<em>See below: One boater's fuel log in detail.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="boat's fuel log" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/fuel-log.jpg?cb=6FED134F-DE32-D7B8-F2DCE39DDDA0C783" alt="boat's fuel log" width="800" height="842" /></p>
<p>Recreational boats in the U.S. are not required to maintain a logbook, whereas commercial ships have been required to do so since the beginning of merchant shipping. In the old days before electronics and GPS, the ship’s log was vital for navigation purposes. This purpose has somewhat relaxed in the modern era of satellite navigation, chartplotters, and all the other electronics we have aboard, including our smartphones.</p>
<p>We’ve all seen images of bearded sea captains at their chart table, duly documenting the ship’s progress in a heavy bound book, a record of great value for maritime safety.</p>
<p>Many cruisers use a tablet or computer to keep a log in a spreadsheet or use one of the apps developed as an electronic logbook. After all, most electronics already have the date, time, and position information, and what else is added is easy to do.</p>
<p>Some folks buy those printed logbooks, although I have never been a fan of these books. The companies that make them seem interested in turning a useful logbook into something else entirely, with fields that are completely unnecessary for the purpose of a logbook. I have seen entries for where the fuel fills are located, or where one can find the engine’s oil filter. These books try to do everything, and it is just a waste of page real estate. And some of them are guilty of a real pet peeve of mine, where they provide three inches of lined space to enter one’s home zip code, yet only an inch of space for the owner’s cell phone number.</p>
<p>Some logbooks do more than simply record navigation information and become more like a journal to record interesting information. That might include contact info for people met on the trip, interesting sights and anchorages, fuel prices, condition of marinas, and local information that might be helpful in the future, or comments about the trip at that moment. Some cruisers stop making entries in their logbook when they have reached their next destination, while others continue to record the days ashore.</p>
<p>There is no right way to keep a logbook.</p>
<p>One final note that is vital to know is that when using a book-type logbook, the pages must be numbered, so that pages cannot be removed without being noticed. I will explain shortly about the legal elements of a ship’s log.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>What to Record on Your Logbook</strong></p>
<p>So, what information should one enter into the logbook? There is no fixed set of elements to document beyond the basics for navigating foreign waters. It will also depend on whether one is traveling by <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/">trawler</a> or <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/">sailboat</a>, as the information from power and sail will be somewhat different.</p>
<p>To keep it simple, one might record the date, time, position (lat/lon), heading, speed, distance traveled, wind speed and direction, observation of sea conditions, and perhaps a note of anything noteworthy. Trawlers, cruising powerboats, and sailboats that are motoring will also likely record engine hours and temperature, volts, fuel burn rate, generator hours used, and trip log as recorded on the chartplotter. And comments about anything that broke or needs attention.</p>
<p>For those who want to include everything, one can add state of fuel and water tanks, bilge checks, current sail plan, barometric pressure, visibility, and generally, anything else that can be noted, especially if the watch person will be alerted should an entry change significantly from one hour to the next.</p>
<p>One might also want to keep notes of the passage, as a journal, and I’ve noticed most prefer a separate book or set of pages for this other information. That can be fuel docks and prices, marina information, and general notes.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>The Benefits of Keeping a Logbook</strong></p>
<p>The primary reason for keeping a logbook is for safety. Should anything happen, it can serve to provide position information for outside assistance, or to switch to manual navigation if one loses the boat’s electronics. When entries are made every hour, changes in any of the recorded information will immediately be noticed, such as an increase in engine temperature or fuel burn. (We once picked up a piece of plastic tarp on the prop, and the person on watch noticed our fuel burn increased. We stopped, backed up and it came free.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: A logbook kept on my friend's Lagoon 380.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="example of logbook" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/patrick-lagoon-380-2.jpg?cb=6FCFA890-CF13-F976-98E27828E82DB758" alt="example of logbook" width="480" height="640" /></p>
<p>In a way, maintaining a logbook serves a similar function as a dash camera in a car, which can be helpful when something happens. The person on watch can note anything that happens during the night that, while perhaps not critical, will need attention during the next daylight period when more crew is available to investigate.</p>
<p>(An example of this happened while running a big trawler up the West Coast to <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-british-columbia">British Columbia</a>. We had a gale chasing us and on one of my hourly engine room checks during the night I noticed a puddle of white liquid in front of the engine that had not been there before. While everything else looks fine, I noted that in the logbook so that we would remember to investigate the next day when more crew were on hand. It turned out to be milk. A carton had overturned in the galley side-by-side refrigerator, and milk leaked unnoticed out the door and down the cabin sole, where it drained into the engine room. Following the milk as it ran across the overhead in the engine room, it finally landed and pooled in front of the main engine. What a relief!)</p>
<p>Another benefit of having a logbook and/or journal is for the future. When planning another trip to Alaska, for example, the notes and information from a previous trip can be a big help while planning, knowing areas to be extra careful, as well as nice places to visit.</p>
<p>In my mind, the nostalgia element cannot be overlooked. Looking over log entries, pictures, maps, and other notes of trips from long ago brings back wonderful memories. There is no better way to revisit the cruising in one’s past.</p>
<p>Separate logs are best for vessel maintenance, needed repairs, and track intervals for changing filters.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>A Legal Perspective</strong></p>
<p>Today, there is no legal requirement to keep a logbook for recreational boating, at least in the United States. The rules and regulations one must follow are dictated by the country flag one flies, which might vary.</p>
<p>To see if there were any legal issues with keeping cruising logbooks, I spoke with Todd Lochner of Lochner Law Firm, P.C. His <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-annapolis-maryland">Annapolis</a> firm operates boatinglaw.com and the company handles maritime cases for recreational and commercial companies, vessels, and operators. Todd is well versed in maritime law and was happy to explain any legal implications of keeping a logbook.</p>
<p>Recreational boating rules and regulations stem from laws created for the commercial shipping industry. It should be no surprise there are many more rules and regulations required for all ships operating in U.S. waters, foreign and domestic. Just look at the large ships in this world today, such as the enormous Evergreen Ever Ace, a container ship that carries over 23,900 containers at one time. Imagine the impact of such a ship having an emergency or disaster.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: The Evergreen Ace</em>)</p>
<p><img title="evergreen ace" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/evergreen-ace.jpg?cb=6FCFA888-E096-F5D1-BAEC00DE5CFCA3D4" alt="evergreen ace" width="800" height="666" /></p>
<p>Commercial ships must maintain logbooks far beyond simple navigation information. There are countless requirements for controls, such as the monitoring and recording the levels in oil/water separators, and numerous other measurements and discharge controls that are regularly inspected by the Coast Guard and other authorities.</p>
<p>Todd made two very important points that directly relate to all cruisers who choose to keep a logbook while cruising.</p>
<p>The first is that every log entry has potential legal significance, so it is illegal to erase or obliterate even a single line entry in a logbook. If changes are necessary, no matter what they are, a single line should be drawn through the entry, so that it can still be read. That is also why every page should be numbered, so no page can be removed.</p>
<p>The reason for this goes back to 1939 in a case where it was decided that “where a logbook has been altered, a court cannot avoid the conclusion that it had been dressed up to excuse the ship’s faults.” There it is, in black and white. If there is ever a situation where the boat is involved in a collision, grounding, or other damaging incident, a logbook becomes part of the legal process. If it has been changed for any reason, the presumption is that it was changed on purpose to avoid something.</p>
<p>The other point that Todd made is a great suggestion for all of us who use modern electronics. He offered this as an example: Every boat is responsible for its wake, as you probably know. And there have been cases where someone sues a boat owner for damages allegedly caused by his boat’s wake. The lawsuit might come a year or more after the alleged incident.</p>
<p>All chartplotters by default keep user data which includes position information, waypoints, routes, and tracks. Todd suggests that once a year, use the card slot in your plotter to copy this user data to a memory card. Then you are free to clear the user data in the plotter if you want to get rid of clutter.</p>
<p>Keep the memory card in a secure location for three years. If you are sued by someone who claims your wake caused injury or damage, a lawyer can use this backup memory card to show that the boat was nowhere near the alleged location at that date and time. Great idea.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Keep a Log for All the Right Reasons</strong></p>
<p>If I planned a major cruise on a boat, I think I would have two books to record the travels. Much like some of the comments from my friends, one would contain just the important information, as discussed. But I would certainly have a second book, a journal, where I wrote much more of the experience, from recipes to phone numbers of people I meet, and details of each stop, marina, and town. I also would shoot lots of pictures and keep these digital images on a backup drive. I can then look back at my cruise and relive the experience, which is almost as enjoyable as being there in real time.</p>
<p>And when the waves are crashing over the bow, and the boat is rolling out of control, it is way more enjoyable to remember it from the comfort of my couch at home, gin and tonic in hand.</p>
<p>“Remember that time Jim was sitting on the head when the porcelain bowl broke as the boat came off a wave on our way to Bermuda?”</p>
<p>Yeah, that was fun.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here are some additional examples of Logbook entries:</p>
<p><img title="logbook example 1" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/daily-cruising-log-2.jpg?cb=6FE4DA23-CF04-8FCA-1308FC30BA6BD396" alt="logbook example 1" width="800" height="1074" /></p>
<p><img title="logbook example 2" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/daily-cruising-log-1.jpg?cb=6FE4DA1F-DA10-F4DF-7806BEE408A18219" alt="logbook example 2" width="800" height="1067" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Other Cruising Articles Of Interest</span></strong>:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/essential-supplies-for-extended-cruising">Essential Supplies For Cruising</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-bucket-a-true-story">The Bucket: A True Story</a></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Cruising In The Bahamas & Caribbean</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Cruising In Alaska</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/notes-about-cruising-the-south-pacific">What To Know About Cruising In the South Pacific</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/what-kind-of-cruiser-are-you">What Kind Of Cruiser Are You?</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-cruising-boat-for-you">What Is The Best Cruising Boat For You?</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">Stay Safe While Boating</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">Keeping Up With New Technology On Your Yacht</a></strong></li>
</ul> |
Do You Keep A Logbook While Cruising? |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
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<p>I recently did a piece to address the frequently asked questions about <strong><a href="../../../../used-expedition-yachts-for-sale/">expedition yachts</a></strong>. One of the questions concerned what supplies are needed for a cruise on an expedition yacht. As I got into the details to answer that question, I realized this was not simply about cruising on an expedition yacht but relevant to anyone planning extended cruising on a boat.</p>
<p>While one can typically reprovision while cruising mainstream cruising grounds, what about when the journey takes you out of home waters? To new and perhaps remote areas where the necessities of your life are not available or are not what your crew know and are familiar with. Toilet paper comes to mind. In many parts of the world, the term “squeezably soft” is hardly a fitting description.</p>
<p>Probably the first step in this discussion is to address the most important. Can you identify the various single points of failure (SPOF) aboard your boat? A single point of failure, be it mechanical, electrical, or electronic, is an element in a system that, if it were to fail, it would take down the entire system. This is critical in a well-designed boat, having built-in redundancy to avoid SPOF, whether it is a wireless router in a computer network, or the fuel delivery system on a long-range cruiser.</p>
<p>The most common example of a single point of failure is the engine’s fuel filter. If it becomes clogged or filled with water, the engine won’t operate. Current diesel engine technology requires extremely clean fuel. The common rail fuel injection system specifies fuel be filtered down to two microns to avoid damage to the injectors.</p>
<p>So, in addition to having dual, switchable filters, it is important to carry a supply of filter elements to eliminate any issues. As Caterpillar states, 93 percent of engine problems are fuel related. Any <a href="../../../../used-cruising-yachts-for-sale/">cruising boat</a> heading off into the sunset should have dual, switchable fuel filters.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: An extremely dirty filter.)</em></p>
<p><img title="dirty fuel filter" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/dirty-fuel-filter.jpg?cb=CC26EAD5-DC45-3316-692BE9524357C1F0" alt="dirty fuel filter" width="800" height="509" /></p>
<p>But it is not just about SPOFs in mechanical systems. I consider these to be the hard SPOFs. There are others, which I call soft SPOF. In my experience, breaking the unique glass carafe of a Mister Coffee coffeemaker meant we had instant coffee for the remainder of our Pacific crossing. Not a death blow, but not very pleasant either, for all of us except the owner. It took him back to his days in medical school.</p>
<p>Think about your daily routine in personal hygiene. If you were to run out of toothpaste, you could substitute baking soda, or sea salt dissolved in warm water, and there are several other healthy alternatives. But what if you lost your toothbrush? What could you possibly use in its place? I suppose you might have a nasty, well-worn toothbrush among your cleaning supplies, used to detail your boat. But having a spare toothbrush among your personal toiletries is a better bet. Not having a toothbrush shuts down your dental hygiene “system.”</p>
<p>Other items in this soft family of SPOF include a corkscrew, a can opener, even nail clippers (although I’ve used a Dremel tool in a pinch when I broken a nail). We once had a young crew member break a pair of scissors trying to pry open an old tin of rolled oats. A snapped blade made the scissors unusable. Thankfully one of us had a small scissors in her duffel bag.</p>
<p>Having a flip flop blow unnoticed off the deck is a pain for crew who live in them. I’m not a fan of these sandals as they tend to catch on cleats and steps, but if that is your primary footwear, you will be one unhappy cruiser. What was that Jimmy Buffett song?</p>
<p>Food is also on the list to consider when planning for extended or expedition cruising. I remember grocery shopping with Linda Dashew in Auckland, New Zealand, as she and Steve prepared to head off to Fiji on their new 83-foot Wind Horse. She made sure we bought several jars of peanut butter, as Steve is particularly fond of it. From their many years of world cruising, she knows peanut butter will be unavailable once they leave New Zealand until they reach the United States.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: A stocked fridge on a boat cruising through the Bahamas. Link to story below.)</em></p>
<p><img title="yacht fridge with groceries" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/provisions-for-yacht-cruising.jpg?cb=060A1D01-EA31-5204-E9E0F8B5F47AB269" alt="yacht fridge with groceries" width="626" height="800" /></p>
<p>When considering what consumables to have aboard, and in what quantity, it often helps to do your homework ahead of time. One couple documented their daily routine on a detailed spreadsheet over the course of six months, so they knew exactly how often they went through common things, such as toilet paper, paper towels, freezer bags, soap, shampoo...even eggs. If there are brands of cereal that make you feel at home, stock up so you will have enough for the expected time away from familiar resupply sources. Grey Poupon Dijon mustard isn’t on every grocery shelf.</p>
<p>Speaking of familiarity, are there personal things that one will miss if they are replaced with something that is not quite right, or doesn’t fit as well? Having tried lots of work gloves over the years, I now use 3M Comfort Grip gloves when I do maintenance in my engine room. They work really well for me, but it took awhile to find gloves I like this much. They are not expensive, but they are not going to be found in most stores in the islands, although I did see them in a most unusual general store in downtown Ketchikan, along with wedding dresses and hunting rifles.</p>
<p><img title="comfort grip gloves for boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/comfort-grip-gloves-for-boat.jpg?cb=CCE2C58E-0478-3CF2-63CF3BC532863A83" alt="comfort grip gloves for boat" width="493" height="489" /></p>
<p>Running out of postage stamps might be a big pain if you are of the postcard type, and email and online service may be unavailable where you travel. Not being able to stay in touch and share with family and friends can take away from the cruising experience. (As an aside, I see more and more people leaving social platforms, such as Facebook, over privacy concerns and an increasing distaste for intrusive data practices and harvesting of personal information. Perhaps the old postcard will make a comeback.)</p>
<p>Unless your boat has the luxury of a trash compactor, garbage will have to be dealt with, and it is no small matter, depending on where one cruises. The world is becoming increasingly aware of sustainable and lower impact on the environment, and most cruisers are now expected to embrace “green” boating practices. For the adventure cruising crowd, many isolated areas have strict restrictions on trash and sewage disposal, and recycling is nonexistent. Knowing this trend towards responsible cruising, prepare to have quantities of large garbage bags, and designate a section of the lazarette for storing garbage until it can be responsibly disposed of.</p>
<p>An experienced cruiser will have the right type and number of regular maintenance items, such as zincs, filters, and belts. And we’ve discussed the proper tool chest in previous articles. But there might be items overlooked. The water filter element of the Seagull filter at the galley sink is one of these. It is changed yearly but where will the boat be when it is time to change it?</p>
<p>Holiday decorations, birthdays, and other celebrations are more fun with a little advanced planning. I know lots of cruising families that keep a small Christmas tree carefully wrapped in the forepeak, along with garlands and other decorations to pull out to celebrate the holidays wherever they happen to be. There is no reason for children to miss these special occasions just because they are on a boat. The same goes for birthdays and other big events.</p>
<p>Probably none speaks more of cruising tradition than crossing the equator for the first time. This line-crossing ceremony celebrates Pollywogs (those who have not crossed before) becoming Shellbacks, sons of Neptune. Funny outfits and harmless pranks are all part of this age-old tradition.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: This pollywog ceremony involved kissing a fish! Image from camelsandchocolate.com)</em></p>
<p><img title="pollywog ceremony" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/pollywog-ceremony.jpg?cb=CCBBFD78-AA04-86D9-22EC6A401EAFCA0A" alt="pollywog ceremony" width="800" height="547" /></p>
<p>Preparing one’s boat for a long adventure is almost as much fun as doing it, at least to me. Switching all lighting to LED, rebuilding the windlass to make sure it is in perfect shape, and generally doing my own sea trial and survey ensures that the boat is ready.</p>
<p>And with the essential stores on board, so am I.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Other Cruising Articles Of Interest</span></strong>:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Cruising In The Bahamas & Caribbean</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Cruising In Alaska</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/catching-up-with-white-pearl">Catching Up With White Pearl</a></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/notes-about-cruising-the-south-pacific">What To Know About Cruising In the South Pacific</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/what-kind-of-cruiser-are-you">What Kind Of Cruiser Are You?</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-cruising-boat-for-you">What Is The Best Cruising Boat For You?</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">Stay Safe While Boating</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">Keeping Up With New Technology On Your Yacht</a></strong></li>
</ul> |
Essential Supplies For Extended Cruising |
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<p>We just finished two weeks of boat shows in<a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-annapolis-maryland"> Annapolis</a>, and now it is <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-fort-lauderdale-florida">Fort Lauderdale</a>. Seattle is on the horizon. It is the season to see what is new in boats and equipment, and for many, it is also time to finally buy that boat and get started living the dream. While the current shortage of new boats has created some gaps in an otherwise packed show floor plan, there are lots of boats to see and go aboard. If you don’t mind standing in line, that is. The crowds are record-breaking.</p>
<p>It is also that time of year when I ponder the next boat and my friends and I talk as we all have the itch. They have boats now, but many of these are getting older, needing more repairs and upkeep than they want to deal with. It is part of owning an older boat. One of my friends recently bought a late model <a href="../../../../used-downeast-boats-for-sale/">Downeast cruiser</a> that he is having a blast with and has not had even a hiccup from the engine or any of its systems, which further highlights the issues and downside of older boats.</p>
<p>For those of us above a certain age, we also wonder how many years we have left for quality time on the water. Over the years I‘ve called it <a href="../../../../news/a-case-for-buying-a-new-boat-when-its-time-to-go">the Magic Decade</a>, as so many of us come to realize we likely have ten years of active boating in front of us, and we need to make sure we are fully mindful of that and not watch them pass by. Let’s savor these golden years, where we can enjoy the wisdom and confidence gained from a lifetime on the water and maybe let someone else change the oil. Others have discussed this natural phase of one’s boating life and the need to acknowledge the ticking clock.</p>
<p>This ten-year window is simply a realistic acceptance that we are not immortal, and that we won’t stay as strong, mentally alert, and fully functioning past a certain age. This awareness is powerful, and if we have our health, and we have the means, we can continue to enjoy life…on our terms.</p>
<p><img title="couple cruising on a boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/couple-cruising-on-a-boat.jpg?cb=F7997DCB-FEA9-076B-4D0D6C0A36BD8F36" alt="couple cruising on a boat" width="800" height="509" /></p>
<p>The above discussion is the basis for my justification for selling the older boat and looking at a new one, or one that is only a few years old. You want a boat that lets you go cruising, not “cruising” from one yard to the next, fixing or replacing an endless series of broken parts, sensors, or corroded heat exchangers. This mindset has worked very well for many people I have known over the years, my friend being the latest example. Having a new or newer boat is almost a guarantee your boat will be a reliable companion instead of a ball and chain.</p>
<p>I used to do seminars on buying the ideal <a href="../../../../used-downeast-boats-for-sale/">cruising boat</a>, and even now, my four basic questions remain valid. How many people? Where are you going? For how long? And what’s the budget?<br />Ah, the budget. How much should I spend on my dream boat? Where is the equation to determine how much of my money I should use to buy that next boat?</p>
<p>I recently ran across a survey done on this subject, and I found it odd that they approached it as a percentage of one’s net worth. I’ve never heard anyone speak in such black and white terms, as if the boat-buying budget is based on calculations on a spreadsheet. While the survey results did not share the portfolio values of those surveyed, it was still interesting to see that the largest number of answers were in the 10-20 percent column. That is, these people spent 10 to 20 percent of their net worth to buy their boat. The next highest number of answers were people who spent over 20 percent of their net worth.</p>
<p>What was not mentioned in this report was whether these numbers were calculated post-purchase, or whether these numbers drove the boat buying process.</p>
<p>Obviously, we must all determine how much we are willing to use of our “net worth” to buy that ideal cruiser. But as a percentage of total net worth would not figure into it in my mind at all, as it doesn’t seem relevant. It is too clinical, too black and white, and unrelated to the world I live in. But maybe that’s just me.</p>
<p>(<em>Below: The <a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Nimbus-365-Coupe">365 Coupe</a> from <a href="../../../../new-nimbus-boats-for-sale/">Nimbus Boats</a> is an easily managed, solid cruising boat, perfect for a couple looking to explore the islands, coast, or waterways</em>.)</p>
<p><img title="nimbus 365 coupe" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/nimbus-365-coupe.jpg?cb=F6FDB224-0365-AC00-637AC8D81F276BD6" alt="nimbus 365 coupe" width="800" height="460" /></p>
<p>Whatever that number is, or however each of us arrives at it, this number is only one part of the process. Yes, it will help to create boundaries to keep us from buying something too big, which is a good thing (although the other questions are just as important for the same reason). It also helps one’s broker understand and channel the search in realistic directions. But again, the other three questions also aid in that process.</p>
<p>Obviously, whatever you spend to buy the boat, expect to lose some of that when it is time to sell. That is a fact of life. But take care of the boat, keep it in great shape, and you will be rewarded when you sell it because it will hold its value best. The current crazy market notwithstanding, the financial loss when the boat sells is merely the cost of the adventure. And most will agree it is worth every penny.</p>
<p>Which brings up where I’m at these days. I attended the last cruising event of our yacht club this past weekend, and once again, was reminded of the special moments we experience in boating.</p>
<p>Hearing people talk about their summer cruise to New England, or wherever, everyone had unique stories. Beautiful anchorages, meeting wonderful people, seeing the sites, and dealing with the challenges that come up in so many ways. No one goes cruising who doesn’t wind up with interesting experiences and lasting memories.</p>
<p>There is no other pursuit I can think of that brings such adventure, fun, excitement, fear, fulfillment, and need-to-be-in-the-game than boating and cruising. I heard couples talk about unexpected events around every turn, from whales to logs, good and bad. Some brought challenges that forced them to rise to the occasion. This is not found playing golf or on a river cruise. It is the unpredictability of water, weather, and the many elements of the boats, the people, and the lifestyle. Cruising is unique.</p>
<p>Owning a boat is a healthy release from daily stress and routine, and a great way to unwind, recharge, grow, and stay in life’s game. It can be the foundation of a healthy lifestyle that is balanced and fulfilling. It keeps our passion for travel new and fresh and adds wonderful experience and people to our life's logbook. What price do you put on that?</p>
<p>In the end, these subjective and somewhat intangible benefits are what are important, and you won’t find them on any spreadsheet.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">The Exhausting Need To Keep Up With New Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-bucket-a-true-story">The Bucket: A True Story</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/have-a-backup-plan">Have A Backup Plan!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-exhaust-systems-are-better-by-design">Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/cruising-boats-come-of-age">Cruising Boats Come Of Age</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/taking-on-the-great-loop">Taking On The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Tips For Preparing For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/going-world-cruising-not-so-fast">Going World Cruising? Not So Fast</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-engines-are-in-your-boat">What Engines Are In Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
How Much Do You Spend On A Boat? |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
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2021-09-26 00:00:00.0 |
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<p>I look forward to the boat shows, and all the new products. And after missing last year, I expect most companies will showcase all kinds of new technology. It is all very exciting. I love when companies bring the promise of tomorrow into products for today.</p>
<p>Yet, on another level, I sometimes get weary from everything new. Didn’t I just upgrade the chart plotter from the original Garmin plotter that came with the boat? Oh right, guess it has been a few years, as Garmin discontinued the black 1040xs several years ago. Nice unit, still works great, but how long will they continue to support it?</p>
<p>We live in a world of never-ending improvements and advances in electronics, connectivity, and manufacturing. So, we’ve come to expect at boat shows to see next generation products in every category, from boats to propulsion systems, battery and charging systems, navigation and communications systems, even stereo systems. They will convince you that you absolutely must control your boat’s stereo from your smartphone. Do they even call it a stereo anymore?</p>
<p>So, here’s the question: Is newer always better? As I get older, I find it easier to resist the urge to make that pilgrimage to Upgrade Utopia. I know these companies try to make me feel bad, that my life will be less satisfying, without the new equipment and gear? Your boat still has an inboard diesel engine? Come on, man, get with the program. You need outboards out back. That’s the way everyone does it these days!</p>
<p>There was a time when one could approach change from a purely objective perspective. When I was an Assembler language programmer in the early ‘70s, it was standard IBM practice to rewrite a system from scratch if the total percentage of patches and changes to the original system exceeded 15 percent. That was the benchmark threshold we used. It was all very logical and Vulcanesque.</p>
<p>Today it is infinitely more trendy to just toss the stuff out and replace it with newer, better, more efficient, brighter color, sunlight readable, more sustainable, more compact, more whatever… It can be exhausting, and expensive.</p>
<p>Several of my friends have recently bought new-to-them cruising boats (Read <a href="../../../../news/boat-buying-done-right">Boat Buying Done Right</a>), and the situation is the same for each of them. The boats already have electronics and radios, all work just fine. But this one doesn’t overlay radar onto the chart, and that radio already has its assigned MMSI number from the previous owner. Or it works fine, but doesn’t have an embedded GPS.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: The helm of a Back Cove just purchased by some friends.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="helm of back cove yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/back-cove-yachts-helm.jpg?cb=56974ED6-C2D7-A428-1014FFAA6DDFDD15" alt="helm of back cove yacht" width="800" height="520" /></p>
<p>Each of my friends goes through the same thought process, just change the name of the manufacturer. One loves his family of Garmin equipment, but the boat he just bought is loaded with Raymarine gear. Another swears by the Simrad/Robertson autopilot. How happy will he be if he keeps the one that came with the boat? It works but it is not a Simrad. Like I said, it is emotionally draining.</p>
<p>Will my life feel better if I remove the existing radar that came with the boat, a Furuno NavNet unit, so I can install the latest digital Garmin radar, even though the Furuno works just fine, and can be found on commercial fishing boats around the world? How about forward-looking sonar, or an electric outboard to replace the Tohatsu two-stroke that came with the boat?</p>
<p>Okay, take a deep breath. Now here’s the deal. Ultimately, none of it matters, really it does not. We grow accustomed to using certain products and brands. If the expense of replacing perfectly fine and operating equipment with what you know and love (or think you will love) is not a problem for you financially, then go ahead I suppose. But it should be a conscious decision, and be perfectly clear that you really don’t need to do it.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: A newly redone helm of an East Bay yacht recently purchased by some cruising friends.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="helm of east bay yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/east-bay-boat-redone.jpg?cb=56974ED2-020E-5DC7-AF064FCAB6240C9F" alt="helm of east bay yacht" width="800" height="524" /></p>
<p>We’re all guilty of this. I installed a Lavac manual toilet on my last <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/">sailboat </a>and, to me, it was hands-down the finest marine manual toilet in the world. When the Tecma electric head came out, it too caught my eye, and my toilet lust continued until I could justify ripping out a perfectly good marine head to get what I wanted. No fooling.</p>
<p>But at the end of the day, did it really matter? Of course not.</p>
<p>I find one element of this new technology to be as addictive as a narcotic. And that is the number of new features that come with every new generation of any product line. Anchor watch alarms, Bluetooth connectivity, auto route planning…on and on. The latest release of Apple’s OS 15 is a perfect example. I started watching a YouTube video that would explain all the new and exciting features this operating system brings to my iPhone.</p>
<p>As the presenter went on, drilling down into how you can now have folders inside of folders to micro organize every element of your life, from schedules to lists to share with friends, and files and dates and photos and everything else one could possibly dream up. I felt like my head was going to explode. I stopped the video even though it was only a quarter of the way through. Whew. I need to go outside and get some air!<br /> <br />As I get older, my stuff gets old with me, and that’s fine. Perhaps it is the early onset of wisdom, but I am okay as long as it works, and I get pleasure from it. When I look around, I see things that I own that make me feel good, to touch, to use. It has nothing to do with the latest anything. I have a 1983 Fatty Knees 9-foot rowing dinghy (seen below), and I can’t imagine parting with it.</p>
<p><img title="row boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/row-boat.jpg?cb=56974EDB-F87E-1C1A-A2246955F9E64177" alt="row boat" width="800" height="940" /></p>
<p>I look around at other things that bring me pleasure, and they certainly don’t qualify as the latest and greatest of anything. I drive a 2008 Porsche 911S, one of the last truly mechanical Porsches, six speed manual transmission and all. When I got a tour of the local <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-annapolis-maryland">Annapolis</a> dealer, as part of a tech session to show off their new service center, I realized none of the mechanics were old enough to know what to do if it couldn’t be plugged into a computer. They would be totally unfamiliar with the mechanical nature of my car. There is nothing in this car that is fly-by-wire.</p>
<p>I went shooting at the indoor range near Fort Meade recently and got to see all the latest polymer-framed pistols, all double stack magazines in 9mm or 10mm. I don’t know, are they better? Personally, I prefer the look and feel of a full-size 1911 in .45ACP, a lovely piece of history whose design dates back well over 100 years. It is heavy, shoots heavy bullets, is utterly reliable and accurate, and is brilliantly designed. Mine is a superb Springfield Armory 1911 TRP. It is a work of art that will outlive most anything and is magnificent in ways the Glocks of the world are not.</p>
<p>Back to the smartphone for a minute. In addition to its ability to assist navigating one’s boat, it also takes great photos. These days you would be hard pressed to find travelers using anything else. It is new technology that people embrace, preferring its convenience. However, when I walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain a few years ago, I was the only one in any crowd who carried a real camera. But I was able to capture images inside cathedrals (seen below) that were simply impossible to get with a smartphone. The right tool for the job, and decidedly old fashioned.</p>
<p><img title="Doctor Bernardus " src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/dr-bernardus.jpg?cb=56974EDF-C4D2-FBE2-C5459DF570F13001" alt="Doctor Bernardus " width="800" height="452" /></p>
<p>To a large extent, what defines my affinity to the Porsche and camera and rowing boat is that they put me in manual mode, and require a very personal connection to make them work. They force me to get into the “Zone,” a place where I become one with the process. Shooting a camera in fully manual mode engages me, and I am one with the camera. Coming into a corner and smoothly downshifting using heel & toe shifting feels great. I learned that on a race track. The connection with one’s boat brings out similar feelings. While joystick control on a cruiser may be fun and easy, properly executing a back-and-fill maneuver to move a heavy trawler backwards in a straight line totally puts you in the Zone.</p>
<p>And it is decidedly old technology. Or perhaps no technology at all.</p>
<p>So, if any of my friends ask my opinion about what to do about all this new stuff when walking the boat show, my advice is simple. Live with the boat you just bought as it is for awhile, maybe an entire season. Learn to use what is already on the boat and avoid tearing it apart to reinstall equipment you had good luck with on some previous boat. Maybe Garmin would be your choice for outfitting a new boat, but live with the Raymarine suite as it is already there, is hopefully calibrated correctly, and works. Take a deep breath and just enjoy the new boat as is. Furuno is great stuff.</p>
<p>You might find that it all works well enough to win you over. And save a ton of cash that you can spend on something else, like a new <a href="../../../../new-bullfrog-boats-for-sale/">Bullfrog dinghy</a> to replace that leaky inflatable RIB which should have been retired years ago.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-exhaust-systems-are-better-by-design">Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/cruising-boats-come-of-age">Cruising Boats Come Of Age</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/taking-on-the-great-loop">Taking On The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Tips For Preparing For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/going-world-cruising-not-so-fast">Going World Cruising? Not So Fast</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-engines-are-in-your-boat">What Engines Are In Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
The Exhausting Need to Keep Up |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Cruising Tips |
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We live in a world of never-ending improvements and advances in electronics, connectivity, and manufacturing. So, we’ve come to expect at boat shows to see next generation products in every category, from boats to propulsion systems, battery and charging systems, navigation and communications systems, even stereo systems. |
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Bill Parlatore |
News |
2021-03-17 00:00:00.0 |
2021-03-17 00:00:00.0 |
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<p>Let me say at the outset that today most American cruisers do not actively plan a circumnavigation of the world. Despite the many publicized adventures of couples, small families, and solo voyagers who planted the seeds of distant shores and exotic cultures, most of us really do not expect to follow in their footsteps. For several reasons.</p>
<p>However, many admit it does cross their minds from time to time, and the dream, however much a fantasy, is always there to some degree. I have spoken to hundreds of cruisers who have it in the back of their minds, especially when shopping for the “ideal” boat.</p>
<p>Modern-day Tahiti (or any dream island for that matter) is no longer the place imagined from reading Robin Lee Graham or any of the cruising classics of our formative sailing years. No, forget these exotic shores. Most are now hubs of busy commercial shipping, cruise ships, and tourism on a grand scale.</p>
<p>However, I bring up the subject of world cruising for a couple of reasons. First, my recent article on <a href="../../../../news/millennials-chase-the-boating-experience" target="_blank">Millennials</a> highlights the trend of many of these young couples to get a boat to experience the world. And that often includes an eventual trip around the world. There are numerous YouTube channels that follow their journeys as they learn their boats and the key elements of bluewater sailing. These young people learn as they go and are not hindered by a lack of knowledge and experience. For them, it is a big adventure.</p>
<p>The other reason to look at the current state of ocean cruising is that if you love boating, you are likely interested in the big picture of our water world, no matter if we currently focus on coastal cruising. The world is a big, fascinating place and its oceans still hold plenty of fascination. I have already done my share of world cruising, but the rest of the world still beckons to some degree. It is also nice to know what is going on and to keep plugged into the groups that stay on top of the global cruising scene.</p>
<p>A year ago, as the pandemic began defining a new way of life, Jimmy Cornell gave a webinar about the reality of world cruising in 2020. Cornell, well known as world cruiser, author, and founder of the World Cruising Club, has kept his hand on the pulse of world cruising for decades. His company hosts world rallies for cruisers, beginning with the first Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) in 1986. Today, the World Cruising Club maintains a database of cruiser information that tracks the boats, people, and trends of world cruising from year to year.</p>
<p><em>Seen below: Jimmy Cornell, photo from yachtingworld.com.</em></p>
<p><img title="Jimmy Cornell" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/jimmy-cornell.jpg?cb=8D369898-E678-2BF1-822C3E6E29D487B3" alt="Jimmy Cornell" width="800" height="494" /></p>
<p>According to Cornell, as he went through his informative slideshow of world cruising from 30,000 feet, the popularity of long-distance voyaging peaked in 2010, and continues to decline today. There are many factors that contribute to this decrease in popularity, and all relate in some fashion to safety.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>Climate Change is Real</strong></span></p>
<p>There is no doubt that the changing global climate continues to impact the world’s weather. Polar icecaps go on melting at an unprecedented rate, causing obvious changes that impact our climate. The Northwest Passage remains free of ice during the summer and early autumn, also unknown in the modern era.</p>
<p>The world’s numerous storm seasons have become less predictable and definable in recent years. It is common in some areas of the world to no longer have a “safe season” that allows transit in conditions almost guaranteed to be trouble-free. Typhoons and hurricanes now develop in greater number and with increased severity, again unlike previous recorded data.</p>
<p>To put this in context, major storms now develop outside of traditional storm season windows, which make safe cruise planning a much more difficult endeavor with no assurances. Tropical storm system trends were once easily avoided, but now safe-transit windows can no longer be trusted or counted on with absolute certainty.</p>
<p>Seen below: The Northwest Passage showing little ice. Photo was taken in 2019 by Tomer Ketter.</p>
<p><img title="ice in northwest passage" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/no-ice-in-the-northwest-passage.jpg?cb=8DC7A2DE-0F21-B31B-C93EB0C91D4F0A72" alt="ice in northwest passage" width="800" height="434" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>Personal Safety is At Risk</strong></span></p>
<p>No surprise here, but the increased threats to personal safety are also difficult to manage. Areas of increased violence and crime can be avoided, of course, as can areas prone to acts of piracy. But there are now more areas to avoid, not less. Venezuela, Brazil, Honduras, West and East Africa, even parts of the Caribbean, are all considered high risk areas. Stay away!</p>
<p>Now let’s add in the ever-present travel warnings and restrictions from the coronavirus. On top of everything else, this global pandemic makes voyage planning extremely problematic and out of one’s control. More on that in a minute.</p>
<p>An outstanding organization that keeps tabs on the world situation is the Ocean Cruising Club. Unlike other groups which assist their members by offering solutions to problem cruising areas, the OCC represents a membership that is by nature independent and self-reliant. Its members do not rely on the OCC or other outside resources to stay safe but routinely do their own research and planning for safe cruising. As a member, I find this approach valuable as it does not preach an agenda. It collects information and shares it with its members, who add it as another set of data points.</p>
<p>So, I include the OCC comments regarding this current world cruising situation.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>You Are Not Welcome</strong></span></p>
<p>The big takeaway, in addition to information already presented by Cornell’s World Cruising Club, is about the self-protecting nature of tropical islands, who restrict their borders to protect their own populations, rather than simply to keep foreigners out. These strict restrictions continue to evolve as the situation changes but will likely remain in place on differing levels as the pandemic runs its course.</p>
<p>As reiterated by the OCC spokespeople, the islands’ desire for self-preservation forces voyaging cruisers to bypass most, if not all, islands in paradise. This is a sharp contrast as safe havens to repair, resupply, and regroup. It is not business as usual.</p>
<p>The OCC is adamant in its latest report on this situation. Anyone attempting to cross oceans at this time must be fully prepared to make exceptionally long passages, with no stops along the way. Forget potential intermediate stops for emergency repairs and resupply. Those days are gone, at least for the near-term.</p>
<p>This is certainly not the scenario of the normal cruising life, and for many would-be cruisers, pretty much removes much of the motivation for venturing out in the first place. Many couples have found themselves isolated where they are, with no hopes of continuing their world cruising for the foreseeable future. That is not bad if one is stuck in New Zealand, but it is a different matter in Tonga or many other Pacific islands, not known for world class services.</p>
<p>A UK-based organization, many of the people contributing to the OCC report said they think their chances of leaving UK waters this season are “at best unlikely.” And their advice for sailors thinking of a Pacific cruise: It is best to not continue sailing after the Galápagos Islands, as the rest of the Pacific is shut down to cruisers.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>And What About Those Overboard Shipping Containers?</strong></span></p>
<p>You may have heard of the string of recent weather events that resulted in containerships losing cargo overboard. According to one merchant news source, the string of incidents, involving six containerships since November of last year, means about 3,000 containers have been lost overboard in the Pacific Ocean, considerably more than the worldwide annual average of roughly 1,300 containers. Even that number had been decreasing in recent years to less than 800 containers a year during 2017-2019. This is mainly because modern containerships are four times larger than the previous generation of transport ships, making loss overboard less likely.</p>
<p>According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), around 80% of the world’s trade moves by merchant shipping, and the thousands of ships at sea at any given time cause some to wonder about how safe it is to cross oceans. In one measurement taken over 24 hours, there were over 17,600 cargo ships at sea, of which almost 3,900 were container ships over 1,000 gross tons. And while the containers lost overboard represent less than one thousandth of one percent of the 226,000,000 containers shipped each year, that does not matter much if your boat has an unlikely encounter with one mid-ocean.</p>
<p>One wonders if the collision(s) that resulted in the loss of racing monohulls in the recent Vendee Globe challenge involved containers hit at speed by fragile racing machines. And let’s not forget that totally forgettable film with Robert Redford as a solo sailer who hit a shipping container in All Is Lost. (I met with a BoatUS editor in Virginia during that time and the editorial staff made me promise to never see that movie as it was so technically flawed. They thought I might go mad.)</p>
<p>To inject an interesting note on the overboard container issue, you may recall a container lost overboard in 1992 in the Pacific. It contained, and unleashed, many thousands of yellow floating plastic ducks. It was a dream come true for oceanographers around the world, as these easily recognized toys eventually came ashore on beaches around the globe, including Hawaii, Alaska, South America, Australia, and as far away as Scotland and Newfoundland in the Atlantic. Some were also found frozen in Arctic ice.</p>
<p><em>Seen below: Shipping containers can pose a hazard while cruising.</em></p>
<p><em><img title="shipping containers" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/shipping-containers-at-sea.jpg?cb=8EEDA519-BBCF-4554-F98235AAD682C70F" alt="shipping containers" width="800" height="405" /></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>Go for It?</strong></span></p>
<p>In case you are still interested in heading off to explore the world by boat, I hope you see there are some significant challenges on front of you. Some are avoidable, some can be planned around, but some are inescapable. The travel and entry restrictions imposed by cautious island nations wanting desperately to self protect their own must be respected.</p>
<p>At this point, it is only the foolhardy and self-indulgent who head out regardless of the consequences, thinking they will get by or figure it out as they go. That is inappropriate on many levels, and shows a lack of respect for others, their countries, and their cultures.</p>
<p>Most experienced cruisers, and certainly the well-respected organizations that follow the data, would have you wait another year, sit it out in Mexico (or wherever) until the timing works for everyone. Stay in place until the hospitality of the islands is restored so that it can be the lure that draws us out in the first place.</p>
<p>Which should not really be a problem, There is much to see and experience right here in North America. </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-dawn-of-the-paperless-helm">Dawn Of The Paperless Helm</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
Going World Cruising? Not So Fast. |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Cruising Tips |
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Cruising the world on your yacht may not be possible until international restrictions are lifted. |
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2021-03-17 00:00:00.0 |
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Bill Parlatore |
News |
2021-03-06 00:00:00.0 |
2021-03-06 00:00:00.0 |
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<p>It was inevitable. In fact, I am surprised it took this long. It is 2021, after all, and while we’re not buzzing around in flying cars as predicted by the Jetsons, we have moved way beyond tradition in many ways, on and off the water. Boaters from 50 years ago would be amazed at the technology we employ today. And a change like this, while basic on some level, goes right to the core of what was once considered essential to the safe practices of successful cruising.</p>
<p>I am referring to the demise of paper charts, an event long heralded as just over the horizon. Yet, while many of us wrote about this eventuality, it never seemed to materialize beyond annual press releases and industry speculation.</p>
<p>Well, the time is here, and there is no going back. Paper charts are truly going away.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.noaa.gov/" target="_blank">NOAA</a> presented its five-year plan to transition out of paper charts back in 2019. The cost and effort to maintain traditional paper (and scanned raster) charts is simply no longer justified, given the much better accuracy and management control offered by digital vector charts. There is a decided safety element to vector charts, as they can be immediately updated without having to wait until the next scheduled bulk update of paper files.</p>
<p>All official paper charts will be gone by 2025. To celebrate the beginning of the end, NOAA chose to eliminate the paper chart of Lake Tahoe (Chart 18665), which is now only supported in digital, vector format. Anyone who has a paper chart of Lake Tahoe might consider putting it away for a future episode of Antiques Roadshow.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: A paper chart for Lake Tahoe.)</em></p>
<p><img title="Lake Tahoe paper chart" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/lake-tahoe-paper-chart.jpg?cb=7F80691F-DD20-C79A-F9D5D4E80EDC4100" alt="Lake Tahoe paper chart" width="438" height="679" /> </p>
<p>I remember the lack of press fanfare when airlines converted paper documentation to digital information back in 2011. Alaska Airlines was the first major domestic airline to replace its paper manuals with digital documentation on portable devices. Forty-one manuals of flight, systems, maintenance, and reference information were loaded onto iPads, saving some 2.4 million pieces of paper. Flight crews no longer had to lug heavy books onto every flight. It went largely unnoticed by the public, but this first step paved the way for paperless cockpits.</p>
<p>And now, in our case, paperless helms.</p>
<p>I recall many debates over the years about how valuable paper charts were to the cruising sailor. A lightning strike, a rogue wave, any number of calamities could befall the hapless mariner, and it was always deemed prudent to carry paper charts for any area one expected to visit, even when it was to go around the world. But, despite all the hoopla, paper charts were never really needed after all.</p>
<p>I have two relevant stories to pass along. And I believe they put things in perspective for those who still feel distraught that paper charts are going away.</p>
<p>Experienced cruiser <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Brian-Calvert">Brian Calvert</a> is a former yacht broker from <a href="../../../../used-yachts-for-sale-in-friday-harbor">Friday Harbor</a>. Today Brian is Seattle Yachts’ resident representative in the <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-philippines">Philippines</a>. He cruised the Pacific on his <a href="../../../../used-yachts-for-sale/selene-yachts" target="_blank">Selene trawler</a>, Further, eventually settling in Olongapo on Subic Bay, on the west coast of Central Luzon in the Philippines. He recently offered these comments when he heard the news:</p>
<p>“I was raised a paper chart, plotting guy. I taught those classes at the USPS for years. When I left the U.S., I had all the paper charts in a locker, from the Pacific Northwest to Thailand, all sorted and neatly stowed. These charts represented several thousand dollars and took up an entire locker."</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: Brian's Selene Yacht, Further.)</em></p>
<p><img title="selene yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/selene-yacht-further.jpg?cb=5041BED3-ADC1-1E6D-3B9242A8456F6C0A" alt="selene yacht" width="800" height="419" /> </p>
<p>“Five years into my Pacific cruising, I realized I had not opened one chart, never even opened the locker. I have seven GPS units and four different charting programs on four separate devices."</p>
<p>“Realizing this, I posted these charts for free on several forums and Facebook pages. Free to anyone, just pay for the shipping. A month went by and I had no takers. This chart collection wound up in a dumpster in Phuket. To really add insult to my old-school plotting mentors, some of whom will no doubt haunt me, I repurposed that locker with an ice maker. I now open that locker every day."</p>
<p>“Seven years later, I have not once regretted getting rid of these paper charts or missed them even once.”</p>
<p>Another friend tells the story of his travels back to Chesapeake Bay from New England, and the irony of relying on paper charts. My friend was headed west in the C&D Canal, a 14-mile canal connecting Chesapeake Bay with Delaware Bay. It is the popular route for cruisers in the north end of Chesapeake Bay to transit both directions on their way to or from the Atlantic Ocean. I have traveled it many times.</p>
<p>As my friend left the narrow canal waterway and settled into the widening waters of the Chesapeake beyond Elk River, he noticed a large, older Hatteras motoryacht following him, not alarmingly close but following, nonetheless. He did not think much of it, except that it continued for hours as he wound his way down the Bay. He called the boat several times but to no avail. Eventually the two yachts pulled into Rock Hall for the evening.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: Rock Hall in the Chesapeake Bay.)</em></p>
<p><img title="rock hall chesapeake bay" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/rock-hall-chesapeake-bay.jpg?cb=514405AF-C4DB-6CC0-093946197EC253CE" alt="rock hall chesapeake bay" width="800" height="409" /> </p>
<p>I don’t recall how the conversation came about, but my friend spoke to the owner of the Hatteras once the boats were safely moored for the night. The owner apologized profusely. His radio was not working, and he did not know my friend tried to call him. It turned out the reason he followed my friend was that he was somewhat unfamiliar with Chesapeake Bay, and it being a new boat to him, lacked proper navigation electronics. He purchased a paper chart of the Bay that would get him as far south as his destination of <a href="../../../../yacht-sales-and-brokerage-in-annapolis-maryland">Annapolis</a>, which is what he had been using.</p>
<p>But, as he explained to my friend, a sudden gust of wind blew the paper chart clear off his flybridge into the water, leaving him without any navigation charts of any kind. My friend laughed when he told me this story, as we have both been so conditioned to believe that paper charts are infallible.</p>
<p>In any case, this latest development is just more evidence that the world is moving on, and we must adapt if we are to stay in the game. For those who have been trained to believe paper charts are the best insurance there is, it is time to readjust one’s thinking.</p>
<p>The paper chart has gone the way of the sextant, the taffrail log, and the Dodo. But we will keep the Grog ration for now, thank you very much.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-right-helm-for-you">The Right Helm For You</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
The Dawn Of The Paperless Helm |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
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<p>As a follow up to my last article about<strong> <a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating" target="_blank">security while cruising</a></strong>, I want to address the question that started this conversation. People are buying boats and going cruising in a big way. And when new boaters plan to go on their first extended cruise, such as <a href="../../../../news/the-great-loop">the Great Loop </a>or other adventure, a common question is whether they should carry a gun for protection.</p>
<p>This has many angles depending on where one plans to go. Let’s skip outdoor adventures in bear country, or the dangerous waters where desperate men resort to piracy to get by. No, we are cruising American and Canadian waters, where we want to see new things and meet like-minded people. It is a fabulous lifestyle that allows us to see the world in comfort and style.</p>
<p>As I mentioned in the last article, there are things one can do to greatly reduce or eliminate the threat of petty crime on one’s boat. Lights, alarms, dogs, properly stowed gear, and maintaining situational awareness will remove targets of opportunity and keep you safe.</p>
<p>Thinking about personal safety is very much about managing one’s fear of the unknown. Without experience, we often dream up all kinds of bad scenarios of what could happen. Much like the scary monsters of our childhood, lurking in the shadows and under the bed, the mind can come up with all matter of danger, however unrealistic or unfounded. Many years ago, we worried about sea monsters dragging our ship under, tentacles wrapped around masts as they crunched our ships into splinters.</p>
<p>The fact of the matter, when it comes to the potential danger to personal safety, cruising in North America is downright fun, full of adventure, and safe. As every newbie quickly finds out, the cruising community is close knit, and we are always willing to help each other in every possible way. But if one lets his or her inexperience and fear fester out of control, however, it is easy to develop reasons why we must go armed to the teeth. Which is not real.</p>
<p><img title="gun on a yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/gun-on-a-yacht.jpg?cb=3F65DB03-0513-54A2-B688A99AADDF8B2F" alt="gun on a yacht" width="800" height="433" /></p>
<p>A retired couple on a <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/">sailboat</a> or <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/">trawler boat</a> are not a prime target for criminal activity beyond what I have already discussed. And we have ways to remove that risk.</p>
<p>So, to the question about carrying a gun. The idea of a gun on a boat for protection implies we will need to counter violence with violence. But what are the odds of that?</p>
<p>In the U.S., fully three quarters of all homicides are committed by people who know each other, usually spontaneously and with great emotion. And they mostly happen in large cities of over 250,000 people...four times greater than the small towns we cruise to. Destinations like <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Annapolis-Maryland">Annapolis</a> (population 39,000), <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Anacortes-Washington">Anacortes </a>(17,000), New Bern (30,000), Friday Harbor (2400), and Southwest Harbor (1800) just don’t have the demographics to support violent crime, compared to the 471,000 people who live in Miami. Drugs are often involved.</p>
<p>So, the likelihood of needing to counter violence with violence is negligible.</p>
<p>Imagine you step into your cockpit to find a young man trying to steal your dinghy. Your very presence will cause him to flee. But what if I magically placed a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver in your hand, what would you do? Would you even consider pulling the trigger, more or less aiming at this kid? Having researched this over the years, I can promise you the adrenaline and emotions of the moment would most certainly cause an untrained person to miss. Perhaps even scarier, what if you hit and killed him? Your life will be changed. And you might also put a hole in your boat.</p>
<p><em>Be mindful where you store your weapon if you choose to bring one, especially if cruising in rough water.</em></p>
<p><img title="gun on a boat in drawer" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/gun-on-a-boat.jpg?cb=3FA04D5F-E97C-8E95-C7986047CDE884CA" alt="gun on a boat in drawer" width="800" height="502" /> </p>
<p>A Navy SEAL commander once explained how they train operators to perform flawlessly, where failure is not an option. They don’t practice until they get it right. They train until they cannot get it wrong. Thousands of rounds per week in simulated combat and hostage environments is the norm.</p>
<p>He added that to be good enough to hit a target consistently, a normal person needs to shoot something like 200 rounds a month with a handgun, and maybe 20 rounds a month with a shotgun and rifle. That kind of disciplined practice, even without the emotion of an actual situation, is not part of the cruising experience most of us are looking for. Even police officers don’t do that, which is why he said the average law enforcement hit rate is around 12 percent.</p>
<p>But practice aside, the more critical element of why carrying a gun on your boat is a bad idea is mental attitude. Waving a gun at a real threat (and, at this point, I trust you see how unlikely that is) is not sufficient. I will quote Commander Stubblefield here. His advice is completely relevant to someone going cruising.</p>
<p>“You can’t just threaten to use it, you have to be willing to commit to pull the trigger. You cannot hesitate. Otherwise, do not even bother to pick it up. You are better off using pepper spray, a whistle, or an air horn.</p>
<p><img title="pepper spray for boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/pepper-spray-for-your-boat.jpg?cb=402A588C-B091-7E9B-3A9F15E339FFD04C" alt="pepper spray for boat" width="800" height="600" /></p>
<p>“I can’t emphasize this enough. If you haven’t got the will to kill someone, do not get involved with firearms for protection. And most people do not. They will tell you that they do, and they’ll say how if someone came onboard they’d shoot him. Those are stories. Trust me.”</p>
<p>I offer some other considerations. Guns are fairly complicated, especially semi-automatic firearms. They have lots of sliding and moving parts and require a healthy amount of maintenance to keep them in perfect shape in the marine environment. They need to be cleaned and oiled regularly. Ammunition is subject to corrosion, especially in a saltwater environment.</p>
<p>One might consider buying a corrosion-resistant shotgun or stainless steel revolver to get the best possible weapon for the marine environment. But are you then prepared for the hassle of crossing borders where laws and restrictions vary from state to state, from country to country? And what about declaring your firearms, or having the right permits, and providing the exact number of rounds for each gun? Many experienced cruisers find it simply not worth the perceived value of having them aboard.</p>
<p>Seen below: A Mossberg Mariner shotgun comes with corrosion resistant material.</p>
<p><img title="mossberg mariner shotgun" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/marine-shotgun.jpg?cb=3FC1BC0C-D6B2-F4AC-56F83EB9900B1791" alt="mossberg mariner shotgun" width="791" height="497" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Other Options</strong></p>
<p>If you still feel the need to have something on your boat for personal protection, consider these alternatives. While pulling the trigger of a firearm may not be something one is mentally prepared for, in a real emergency, I doubt there would be any issue whatsoever with spraying a bad guy with pepper spray. They are especially effective if you hit him in the eyes as he is inhaling.</p>
<p>Today’s products include handheld models that spray a peppered gel out to 30 feet, which resists any tendency to blow back onto you if there is wind. Pepper spray and gel are widely used by police departments, and will disable someone for up to 45 minutes, long enough to have it end your way. Some of these products should be replaced annually, while others have a shelf life of up to four years. They are effective and useful both on and in your boat.</p>
<p>I might also suggest a handheld air horn or high-quality whistle. Thieves dislike loud noises, as it draws attention to them, much like a panic button wired to a siren. Loud is bad news for people involved in crimes of opportunity.</p>
<p>There are stun guns and other electrical safety devices, but they require some degree of contact with the bad guy. It is much better to reach out and hit him from a distance.</p>
<p>While it might come across that I am against guns, I own firearms, and rather enjoy the patience and concentration necessary for accurate target shooting. And I appreciate that practice is key. If I don’t shoot for several months, I am back to square one.</p>
<p>For me, removing the pressure of carrying firearms is one less thing to have to deal with. I am out here to have fun. So are you.</p>
<p>Let’s maintain a state of awareness while we enjoy the safety of cruising on our boat and leave the childhood bogeymen out of it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-dawn-of-the-paperless-helm">Dawn Of The Paperless Helm</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/catching-up-with-white-pearl">Catching Up With White Pearl</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
I Am Going Cruising. Should I Carry A Gun? |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
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<p>This is a subject that comes up with every new group of cruisers. How do I stay safe when we go cruising?</p>
<p>And the inevitable question, “<a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I carry a gun?</a>”</p>
<p>I have heard these asked countless times, and the subject seemingly comes up in every cruising seminar. Even the <a href="../../../../news/the-great-loop">Great Loop</a> forums talk about it. And with the increase in cruising interest from the pandemic, it is human nature to ponder what we don’t yet know.</p>
<p>What we are really talking about here is a fear of the unknown. What will it be like, and how do I avoid danger? Until one gains experience, running a boat in varying conditions and venturing into unknown waters and places, it is normal to have some level of anxiety. It is all so new. The cruising life can be a grand adventure, and every new day brings the uncertainty of what is around the next bend. As exciting as this is, it can also be unsettling until one has experience, able to take it all in stride. Tony Fleming and I talked at length about not letting down one’s guard while cruising.</p>
<p>Let me define the playing field here. We are not talking about world cruising. Most people these days are looking to cruise around North America, not travel the high seas in remote areas of the world. The dangerous areas are well known and do not belong on the itinerary of most cruisers anyway.</p>
<p><em>Seen below: Some cruisers make the decision to bring their personal firearms on board their boat during a longer trip.</em></p>
<p><img title="gun on a yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/gun-on-a-yacht.jpg?cb=7A1476ED-FD14-58B8-285E4247657CDB4A" alt="gun on a yacht" width="800" height="532" /></p>
<p>So, let us skip the issues of piracy and terrorism, as they are just not relevant. But among the concerns of new cruisers, is the potential for crime as one travels far from home. Thankfully, the low risk of criminal activity almost always comes in the form of crimes of opportunity, specifically, petty theft or vandalism. Seldom does it escalate into a situation where it threatens personal safety.</p>
<p>Deck shoes and handheld radios disappear off a side deck or out of a cockpit when everyone is off the boat or down below. The theft of a dinghy has a much higher impact, of course, but that, too, can be prevented. Dive gear left in plain sight is also something that sticky fingers can quickly snatch. I know a couple, anchored way off the beaten path, whose trawler’s nylon anchor rode was cut during the night, setting the boat adrift. It eventually settled onto shallow mud.</p>
<p>And these instances did not happen in some snarly dump like Djibouti or Somalia. No, south Florida and on the ICW in the Carolinas.</p>
<p>My own experience with theft was right here in <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Annapolis-Maryland">Annapolis</a>, during the fall <a href="../../../../news/are-you-going-south-on-the-icw-in-2020" target="_blank">cruising migration south</a>. Someone stole my new aluminum propane tank out of its cockpit locker. And left me a rusty steel tank in exchange. I put a lock on the locker.</p>
<p>At the heart of safety at sea is the ability to manage one’s fears. Fear is nothing more than a state of mind. When things go wrong, keeping a cool head is paramount to staying safe, whether it is deteriorating weather conditions, a man overboard, or dealing with a stressful situation, like losing an engine at the worst possible time. Or worrying about someone coming aboard at night.</p>
<p>To be safe on the water, it important for someone new to boating to work hard to become a great boat operator. Learn the elements you boat in, learn what your boat can do in varying conditions, learn how to handle the boat when the weather turns nasty, learn how to dock properly, learn what not to do when conditions deteriorate.</p>
<p>Most of us go cruising for adventure and to meet new people and see new things. Yet, we stay alert to the weather, and we stay alert while running the boat. So, in a broader sense of security, we should also stay alert of everything else while cruising.</p>
<p>It is just a different slant on learning to become a better boat operator.</p>
<p><em>Seen below: A Raymarine Doppler Marine Radar can keep you informed of approaching storms or inclement weather.</em></p>
<p><img title="doppler marine radar" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/doppler-marine-radar.jpg?cb=7A43EE80-049C-DF41-3D036E3D4C3D9A1C" alt="doppler marine radar" width="800" height="544" /> </p>
<p>Staying aware is the number one way to avoid problems while cruising. Know where you are and whether it is a problem area. Drug-related crime is a bigger problem in Miami, for example, that most other cruising areas you will visit. But even in quiet Paducah, Kentucky, I know a couple who were boarded at night by a couple of drunk young men looking for a place to crash. Another friend in Miami had a young couple sneak aboard his <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/Fleming-Yachts" target="_blank">Fleming Yachts</a> 55 to have some intimacy and fool around on the flybridge. They chose his boat as it was dark and appeared to have no one aboard.</p>
<p>If you have davits, don’t leave your dinghy in the water, as it is an open invitation. Even taking subtle, preventative measures lets any potential thief know that you are better prepared than other nearby boats, so he will go elsewhere.</p>
<p>It is all about eliminating opportunity. And to do that means you must stay aware. Consider installing lights on your boat’s exterior, as LED lights are a great deterrent against drunks, romantic couples, or someone looking for easy pickings.</p>
<p>Here is an important point about lighting. You want to light them up, not yourself. No thief (or amorous couples) likes to be in the spotlight, literally. It also blinds them and takes away their night vision.</p>
<p>When you hear a noise on deck, the absolute worst thing you can do is also the most common reaction, to turn on an interior light to get out of your berth. Rather than shed light on the bad guy (if there even is one), you have just killed your night vision, illuminated yourself as well as where you are on the boat. That is as dumb as it gets.</p>
<p>It is much better to be able to throw a switch that turns on your mast and other exterior lights, wired to throw the entire deck and exterior into bright light, easily doable with small bright LED lighting fixtures. Anyone on deck is going to be immediately uncomfortable as the center of attention, and yet he still will not know who you are, where you are, and how many are aboard. This is a much better scenario.</p>
<p>Take control of your exterior lighting. Wire a system together that you can switch on from near your berth, at the helm, or wherever it is easy to reach undetected in the dark interior.<br />If your boat is set up with these lights, and you have a sneaking suspicion that something is off, why not leave some exterior lighting on all night, as it is a good warning to keep anything from happening. It is a simple way to avoid trouble.</p>
<p><em>Seen below: Motion detectors and cameras can not only increase your visibility of who is on your boat, but they also a natural deterrent for thieves should they see they're being filmed.</em></p>
<p><img title="yacht security cameras" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/security-cameras-on-a-yacht.jpg?cb=7A762F29-A983-2D8C-0A0B04FB5CD02E53" alt="yacht security cameras" width="800" height="489" /> </p>
<p>Motion detectors are also worth considering if you want to increase security, so any movement turns on lights or alarms. There are many wireless alarm systems out there now that work with smartphone apps, many use a subscription service, and which can be set to automatically alert emergency contacts.</p>
<p>Again, don't make it easy.</p>
<p>It is no surprise that many cruisers have dogs aboard. In addition to being wonderful companions, a dog is both a great deterrent and a four-legged defensive device. On Spitfire, we cruised with Annie, the sweetest faux golden retriever you will ever meet. She is a real sweetheart, loved by all.</p>
<p>Despite her sweet disposition, Annie is a superb guard dog. She went berserk whenever someone she doesn’t know came near our transom steps. Out of sight, it is easy to imagine she is a rabid junkyard dog, as her bark is ferocious, loud, and downright scary. Her hackles go up when she engages a potential threat, and her blazing eyes shooting death rays and bared teeth are fiercely terrifying, truly a canine demon from Hell.</p>
<p><em>Seen below: Annie enjoying a sunny day on Spitfire while cruising the ICW.</em></p>
<p><img title="dogs on boats" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/annie-on-a-yacht.jpg?cb=7B31AF3C-B8A7-CBD4-E1C60521C19986E4" alt="dogs on boats" width="704" height="708" /></p>
<p>A petty thief would have to be seriously delusional to step aboard, which reduced our cruising risk of crime to zero.</p>
<p>Crime while cruising is not common, although we all know someone with an experience, mostly from simple theft.</p>
<p>Okay, now the question of guns, and what alternatives may be out there. I could simply answer the question, but you would probably think it is just my opinion, and not based on facts and other objective criteria. I would rather provide more background and detail to convince you that my comments come from impeccable sources that are the definition of authority.</p>
<p><strong>The short answer to “Should I bring a gun on my boat?” is NO.</strong> I will explain in more detail in <a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">the next piece</a>.</p>
<p>Go cruising, stay aware of your situation, and be ready to enjoy the adventure of a lifetime.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-dawn-of-the-paperless-helm">Dawn Of The Paperless Helm</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-bucket-a-true-story">The Bucket: A True Story</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating |
https://www.seattleyachts.com/yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore |
Cruising Tips |
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Read about the realities of personal security while cruising on your boat of yacht. |
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2021-01-11 00:00:00.0 |
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https://www.seattleyachts.com/news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating |
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2020-11-16 00:00:00.0 |
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<p>There is continued interest in recreational boating in this country, during these times as a way for people to expand their activities while staying safe with family and friends. That is a great thing, and a wonderful recipe for family memories.</p>
<p>In addition to these new to boating, many others have made the decision to not wait and go out now to explore beyond their home waters. If one follows social media, there are numerous accounts of new <a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop" target="_blank">cruisers heading south</a> this fall to southern waters. And the number of calls for advice in the various groups and forums speaks to their interest in learning how to do this cruising thing. It is all new to them. I see the same level of basic inquiry in the daily exchanges among <a href="../../../../news/the-great-loop" target="_blank">the Great Loop</a> folks, with questions that range from how to bring dog along to understanding bridge clearances.</p>
<p>While it is a bit unsettling to me that these people ask so many basic questions for answers and suggestions from people they don’t know, rather than do any kind of research themselves, it may just be the new normal in this digital age. Perhaps it is just easier having someone tell you what to do, where to go, or what to see. Certainly not the case for my generation, but hey, times have changed.</p>
<p>This is really nothing new, people new to cruising wanting to learn how to do it right and avoid the mistakes that can occur on the water. Is there a better way than to just shove off and figure it out as one goes? (Which appears to be a common approach from what I read on social media.)</p>
<p><em>(Driving your boat in choppy waters with someone experienced can be a great way to learn how to handle inclement weather.)</em></p>
<p><img title="boating in choppy water" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/going-through-choppy-waters.jpg?cb=2DC2EE74-0F3C-4070-4C618146BD6E4A0D" alt="boating in choppy water" width="800" height="492" /></p>
<p>One of the best ways to get up to speed on the intricacies of cruising is to do it in company with experienced cruisers, people willing to share their knowledge and experience. To become a seasoned cruiser may take years to figure it all out. Every trip brings something new, and a combination of unrelated circumstances one has not had to deal with before. While it may be stressful, it is the reason why the call to go cruising is so strong. Life as an adventure!</p>
<p>The anxiety experienced by someone taking a boat to new waters for the first time is nothing to ignore. While it later makes for funny stories, it is quite real, and many of us know it firsthand. A couple I know planned one year to take their trawler yacht up north from the Pacific Northwest to British Columbia and Southeast Alaska. While getting ready for their summer cruise, word on the dock got around and soon got the attention of a couple who had just purchased a twin diesel, 45-foot DeFever trawler. The couple wanted only to go a bit north of the <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-San-Juan" target="_blank">San Juan Islands</a> to get used to the new boat that first summer. They asked my friends if they could go along with them at least across the often-rough Strait of Juan de Fuca.</p>
<p>I don’t recall all the details, but Charlie told me when they departed for points north, they proceeded at their agreed-upon engine speed and course to make quick work of the nice weather window for the 20+ mile crossing across the strait. For some reason, however, Charlie noticed that the DeFever only made 7 knots or so, even though the DeFever owner confirmed on the radio that he was indeed at the normal cruising rpm on both engines. He too could not explain why they weren’t making better boat speed as originally planned.</p>
<p>Long story short, the gripping anxiety got the better of them. The new owners were simply terrified about running a new boat across a scary and daunting body of unprotected water. Once they completed the crossing and prepared to stop for the day, the man realized he had never put his port engine in gear…so strong is the fear and state we can work ourselves into.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: There is safety in numbers when it comes to cruising unfamiliar crossings.)</em></p>
<p><em><img title="yachts cruising together" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/cruising-with-friends.jpg?cb=2DC2EE6F-CFDB-2036-4FB3158BCD1D25D6" alt="yachts cruising together" width="800" height="409" /></em></p>
<p>One year we decided to host a grand adventure of inexperienced<a href="../../../../Buying-And-Owning-Trawler-Yachts" target="_blank"> trawler owners </a>to cruise the Bahamas as a group. Our Pokie Run consisted of a fleet of 39 trawlers, with plans for all of us to cross the Gulf Stream for the very first time together, from Palm Beach to West End. Once in the Bahamas we would then enjoy a guided, ten-day introductory cruise of the tropical paradise.</p>
<p>It was a magical experience for the 70+ people in the event. I vividly recall the concern of each boat crew about crossing the Gulf Stream for the first time. The slower of the two groups was led by friends aboard their <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/Grand-Banks-Yachts" target="_blank">Grand Banks</a> 42. They took their fleet across the Stream, like shepherds with their flock, and Jim laughs when he recalls how the smaller boats would bunch up on his transom, literally feet off his swim platform. He kept shooing them off to fall back to a reasonable distance for the 54-mile crossing at trawler speed. But after so many minutes they would be back on his stern, needing the comfort of the mothership to keep them safe, like ducks in a row.</p>
<p>We all had a good laugh at it, but by the end of the ten days, these cruisers were both experienced and comfortable about cruising on their boats. It was wonderful listening to them talk on the radio, people who were total newbies only two weeks before, as they planned their return across the Gulf Stream to Florida with their new cruising friends. I recall one of the more timid men even called the Coast Guard to inquire about clearing back into the country. He sounded like a seasoned cruiser to me. They had come a long way, and their confidence was inspiring. (Several of these couples retraced their steps a couple of years later with others from the Pokie Run to enjoy a long winter cruise in the Bahamas.)</p>
<p>So speaks the power of cruising with buddy boaters. My own experiences on both sides of the fence reinforce my belief that buddy boating is one of the best ways to get to learn to use your boat properly…in the real world. You can crew for many years on other people’s boats, and learn lots of useful tips and techniques, but it becomes a different story when it is your own boat for the first time. Having skin in the game changes everything, as you are responsible for taking care of your boat, your crew, and yourself. Nothing is more focusing, in my experience, than facing a potentially difficult situation for the first time on your own boat…where it is all on you.</p>
<p><strong>What You Never Would Have Known</strong></p>
<p>I can’t begin to document all that one can learn from an experienced cruiser. Among other things, it is learning the difference between what is “normal” and when it is not. When to reef, slow down, change course, and leave the flybridge for the lower helm. As you build experience, knowledge, and confidence, you will eventually know what to do when expecting to anchor or pick up a mooring in a cozy New England anchorage, while the radio warns of a severe approaching storm with high winds and rain. You don’t want to learn from your mistakes in that situation, a much better scenario is to follow the lead of an experienced buddy boater. Have you put down proper chafe protection (did you even know to do that?), have you taken precautions to put things away that might become dislodged during a brief microburst? These things are best experienced among friends and more experienced cruisers. Next time you will know what to do without second guessing everything.</p>
<p>Even mundane activities become learned skills, such as calling for a bridge opening, or knowing who goes first when a bridge opens on a restricted waterway. When is the best time to run the generator at anchor? It is best to follow the lead of others who know details that may not be obvious to you at first, such as timing it to recharge batteries while also making hot water for dish washing and evening showers. And what exactly do I check when I do the daily morning engine room inspection?</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: Boats cruising on the Great Loop wait for a lock to open. Become experts through consulting experienced boaters and trying easier trips first.)</em></p>
<p><img title="boats waiting at lock on great loop" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/boat-waiting-at-lock.jpg?cb=2F1E0847-00E9-8990-C3CB2E4C7B9D8F60" alt="boats waiting at lock on great loop" width="800" height="490" /></p>
<p>Even stopping to buy fuel and pump out the holding tank has its lessons. Do you know what is appropriate for tipping the young man or woman who helps you get these tasks done, while also answering your questions about the best restaurant near the marina, or marine store, or supermarket?</p>
<p>How else can you learn the hands-on approach to come into a new anchorage and mooring field at sunset and getting properly settled down for the night? Not to mention the etiquette of not disturbing others when you leave quietly the next morning?</p>
<p>Not all this experienced knowledge is life or death, of course. I clearly remember a woman who had several of us aboard her liveaboard Pearson 425 ketch for a July 4th holiday weekend on Puget Sound. She showed us the proper course line to run to avoid the worst of the infamous water-balloon barrage from the nearby shoreside residences not far from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. I remember it as if it happened yesterday, and it brings a big smile.</p>
<p><strong>Avoid the Group Mentality</strong></p>
<p>With everything positive that I’ve said so far, let me add that, on the flip side, I urge you to avoid becoming a member of a cruising “group,” when several cruisers decide to cruise together for any number of reasons. The group camaraderie is, in my experience, often a self-defeating experience if you really want to learn how to go cruising on your own.</p>
<p>The inevitable group discussion to decide the next destination may not be what you would have chosen if left up to you and your crew. If you always heard about walking the lovely streets in the neighborhood around Isle of Hope Marina in Savannah, it would be a bummer if others in the group wanted to stop at Thunderbolt Marina to get repairs done on their generator or fuel system.</p>
<p>I don’t know about you, but going cruising is about being the star of your own experience, not a supporting role for others in a group. And, of course, there is always that one boat in any group, tour, or event, one crew that always has issues, is never happy, and can find fault in everything and everyone. Who wants to spend time around that negative energy?</p>
<p>In WWII, they knew a convoy could only go as fast as the slowest ship. Today, this translates into serving the group while catering to the needs of the weakest link. No thanks, I’m not worried about U-boats these days. Not my kind of cruising.</p>
<p>Thankfully, along most cruising routes, you always have the option to stay put an extra day, or go on ahead, and catch the group in a day or two…or next week. For the new cruiser, every day adds to your experience, knowledge, and comfort level. No need to stay when the urge to break free fits the occasion.</p>
<p>Cruising with more experienced cruisers will always be a big help when you need help with a problem, or a special tool you didn’t know existed, or you need knowledgeable input as plans change. Any boat issues you encounter will likely already have happened to a more experienced cruiser, whether it relates to provisioning or technical air conditioning issues. Why not take advantage of this and remove some stress?</p>
<p>And you will give back some great experiences to your buddy boaters, who get to see cruising again through the eyes of newbies, for whom everything is fresh and new. It makes it fun again.</p>
<p><em>(Seen below: Quiet times at anchorage without a group can be a peaceful and rewarding experience.)</em></p>
<p><em><img title="yacht at anchor" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/quiet-times-at-anchorage.jpg?cb=2DC2EE7A-082E-A8AD-8CCB92A501641B87" alt="yacht at anchor" width="800" height="424" /></em></p>
<p><strong>Take It Slow and Enjoy Learning from Others</strong></p>
<p>All experienced cruisers began at the beginning, thinking they knew more than they really did. So, any helpful advice or wisdom they gained from cruising over the years can be a huge help as you develop self confidence in your boat, your crew, and yourself. I can never thank all of the wonderful people enough who helped me learn how to do things better, safer, and easier. It adds tremendously to my cruising satisfaction, no matter if it is a trip <a href="../../../../news/are-you-going-south-on-the-icw-in-2020" target="_blank">down the ICW</a>, pieces of the Great Loop over several years, or any number of other adventures along the waterways and over distant horizons. You will one day amaze your friends when you can make tasty pancakes from seemingly non-existent ingredients in your pantry, or how to cleat a line from ten feet away. I’m still waiting to learn how to scrimshaw whalebone, but I’m afraid that ship has sailed…</p>
<p>To all my boating mentors over the years, I owe a big debt of gratitude that I hope to continue to repay over and over as my way of paying it forward.</p>
<p>And someday you will do the same. Good cruising!</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-dawn-of-the-paperless-helm">Dawn Of The Paperless Helm</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
Consider Buddy Boating |
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Boating Advice,Cruising Tips |
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Boating with friends can be a great way to learn the ropes from boat owners with experience. |
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2020-11-16 00:00:00.0 |
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79 |
Bill Parlatore |
News |
2020-09-18 00:00:00.0 |
2020-09-18 00:00:00.0 |
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<p>With most boat shows cancelled, except for the Ft Lauderdale International Boat Show in late October, there are safety concerns about the annual migration of cruisers to reach warm weather down south. In South Carolina, winter temperatures remain above frost levels so one can be considerably more comfortable than those who stay up north. Even though the past few winters have not been bad in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states, it is still appealing to be in sunny Florida during the winter, or Charleston, or Hilton Head, or so many other popular winter havens.</p>
<p>Most cruisers with boats that fit under the 65-foot bridge limitation along the ICW will choose that route to avoid being offshore. The ICW also offers many interesting places to stop for fuel, water, and food. The 1,100 miles between Norfolk and Key Biscayne are a grand tour of diversity in culture, cuisine, and people. It should be on every cruiser’s bucket list, at least once. And its contrast to West Coast boating is a draw for many Northwest cruisers. I have done it many times, and each trip has been a different and enjoyable experience.</p>
<p>(Seen below: A fun stop is the wonderful town of Beaufort, North Carolina which has great shopping, restaurants, and the NC Maritime Watercraft Center.)</p>
<p><img title="Cruising By Boat To Beaufort NC" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/beaufort-nc-waterfront.jpg?cb=4E7651DB-A973-399B-CF5026DEF7871020" alt="Cruising By Boat To Beaufort NC" width="800" height="411" /></p>
<p>With Covid-19 still very much a factor, should one go south this year, or stay home? Six months ago, I would not consider it safe to make this trip. We lived in a chaotic world and the safest choice was to isolate at home. If you did get sick, you were near your doctor and known medical facilities.</p>
<p>But I feel differently today, as states continue to ease restrictions, allowing retail businesses to open, and restaurants, and some level of social gatherings based on continued monitoring of local data. There are still limits to seating capacity, but things are moving again as the numbers continue to go down.</p>
<p>Let’s consider the choice to go, say a couple on their cruising sailboat or<a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/" target="_blank"> trawler</a>.</p>
<p>Being on a boat can be safe if everyone stays aboard. If the crew isn’t family, as long as everyone has completed a 14-day quarantine period, one can feel confident the trip begins free of the virus. However, once the boat stops for fuel, crew go off to buy groceries or eat ashore, some level of risk is introduced. Having said that, I believe this trip is doable for those who remain situationally aware, wash their hands regularly, and remain flexible to adjust their plans based on conditions they encounter.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Several yachts heading south that are tied up waiting to enter the Great Bridge Lock in Chesapeake, Virginia.)</p>
<p><img title="boats waiting at the lock near chesapeake" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/boats%20waiting%20at%20norfolk%20lock.jpg?cb=4E7651D8-0255-D58D-FB79D8909208356D" alt="boats waiting at the lock near chesapeake" width="800" height="461" /></p>
<p>Most marine facilities, fuel docks, and marinas are now open for business, and welcome transient cruisers heading south. The few that are closed, such as Southport Marina in North Carolina, were damaged by Hurricane Isaias.</p>
<p>There is a useful resource that uses a model created to provide the latest information in the aftermath of hurricanes. It is a joint project of the Waterway Guide, AGLCA, and DOCKWA. It is a directory of marina facilities, and presents each marina’s current situation, for the entire length of the ICW. Check out <a href="http://www.waterwayguide.com/covid-19-reports">www.waterwayguide.com/covid-19-reports</a>. </p>
<p>Another helpful source of information, and which has daily activity, is the Facebook group, ICW Cruising Guide by Bob423. It is a closed group, but it is easy to join. It has many discussion threads about doing the trip this year, and details from people on the ICW. It is a wonderful example of what can be done with a social media platform.</p>
<p>(Seen below: A sign from the US Army Corps of Engineers along the Atlantic ICW shows the distance to various ports.)</p>
<p><img title="Sign on the Atlantic ICW" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/atlantic-intracoastal-waterway-sign.jpg?cb=4E389F74-C117-535E-CCE8820AADAEFE22" alt="Sign on the Atlantic ICW" width="800" height="461" /></p>
<p>Depending on your health, and other factors, such as age, heart, or any respiratory conditions, it is a personal decision to go or not to go.</p>
<p>Again, the most obvious reason to go south is to pursue warmer climate during the winter months, and to stay on a boat big enough to live on for an extended period. Living in a marina for several weeks or months is also a great way to check out an area, as we have discussed in a previous article. <em>(Read: <a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan" target="_blank">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a>)</em></p>
<p>So, if the draw of a winter down south is strong, and you feel confident you can minimize risk by following common sense practices before and during the trip, then it is my opinion that it is reasonable to make the trip this year.</p>
<p>Wear a mask whenever you dock the boat or stop for fuel. Always wear a mask when you go ashore, except when seated for a meal. You will be traveling for weeks or months and meet hundreds of people who are all dealing with the coronavirus differently. Some wear masks, some do not. Some take safety precautions seriously, others do not.</p>
<p>When planning a day on the ICW, whether it is a run of 40 or 70+ miles, make it a point to check ahead for stops that offer outside dining facilities if you plan to go ashore for a meal. Inside dining in restaurants with inadequate ventilation are some of the riskiest places to get infected. Stay away.</p>
<p>A recent study by Johns Hopkins (reported September 12th), provides hard evidence to better understand the risks about behavior. What is most meaningful to me is that the study used real world data from people rather than statistical models.</p>
<p>(Seen below: <a href="../../../../New-Nimbus-Boats-For-Sale/" target="_blank">Nimbus</a> makes a safe, well-built cruising boat perfect for the ICW. The <a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Nimbus-405-Flybridge" target="_blank">405 Flybridge </a>below offers a great place to drive and enjoy the view.)</p>
<p><img title="nimbus boats 405 flybridge" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/nimibus-405-flybridge.jpg?cb=4F8A789F-FC3F-CDCF-8B18314998CB0830" alt="nimbus boats 405 flybridge" width="800" height="440" /></p>
<p>One proven factor is frequency. If one occasionally goes to the grocery store, say once or twice a week, there is significantly less risk than people who shop every day or so at the same store. The differences in risk are measurable, based on actual data.</p>
<p>The other relevant factor coming out of the Johns Hopkins study is that people who practice strict outdoor social distancing have only a 10-percent chance of becoming infected over those who don’t, and people who frequent inside dining, enclosed malls, and public transportation are four times more likely to get infected with the virus.</p>
<p>That is powerful information and blends perfectly into our planning for this trip.</p>
<p>There are lovely places to eat outdoors in such places as Beaufort, South Carolina. If you would rather eat aboard, most restaurants now offer online ordering with pickup service, some even deliver. Use online resources, such as <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com,">www.tripadvisor.com,</a> to identify potential restaurants for onsite dining. The website has filters for “Restaurants taking safety measures,” and even better, “Outdoor Seating.” Patio dining is preferred.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Beaufort, SC is a wonderfully quaint town with several restaurants with outdoor dining patios.)</p>
<p><img title="boating near beaufort sc" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/boating-near-beaufort-south-carolina.jpg?cb=5053DC57-F10B-DD30-3F746A1A6B5732E0" alt="boating near beaufort sc" width="800" height="382" /> </p>
<p>Take advantage of online shopping and curbside delivery, some to the marina. Reducing the risks whenever possible is the best strategy for staying safe.</p>
<p>Boats that are self-sufficient can spend a good part of the trip anchored out. That is the safest way to travel, staying together on the boat, away from contact with others. Even a raft of a few boats is safe if everyone stays aboard their boat or maintains social distance.</p>
<p>Stock up with masks and hand disinfectant for the trip. Those single-use masks were not manufactured for extended use, and ear straps tend to come apart at the most inopportune times.</p>
<p>I would provision the boat differently than in previous years, when I really looked forward to eating ashore as I traveled through our diverse country. Local cuisine is one of the highlights of the trip for me. One year we had a theme to determine who served the best shrimp and grits, which turned out to be a tie between Fishy Fishy in Southport, and the Driftaway Café within walking distance from Isle of Hope Marina in Savannah.</p>
<p>This year I would provision as much food and consumables before I left, rather than planning to stop every few days to resupply as I work my way south. The Johns Hopkins study validates that it is best to reduce the number of shopping trips.</p>
<p>(<em>Read: <a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition" target="_blank">Provisioning Your Yacht - Alaska Edition</a> and <a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition" target="_blank">Provisioning Your Yacht - Bahamas & Caribbean</a></em>)</p>
<p>In addition, what happens if you are forced by some circumstance to self-quarantine for 14 days on the boat? Rather than approaching this possibility like an item in the abandon ship bag, never likely to be needed, do not fall into a trap of just buying 42 cans of Spam to serve that function in an emergency. You will be distressed enough stuck on your boat, let alone eating boring food, so show some creative imagination and stock food ingredients that will make cooking fun and produce great meals. You will have the time to cook, after all.</p>
<p>(Seeb Below: Youtube is a treasure chest of good cruising videos. This is a timelapse video from user Technomadia going from Miami to Jacksonville.)</p>
<p><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fGMrvHtFau8" width="800" height="550" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>All the guidelines say to wash your hands before returning to your boat. When I think about that, I realize I wash my hands after filling my water tank, handling dock lines, refueling, and after pumping out my holding tank. Handling anything on the outside of the boat usually leaves my hands slimy, so I wash my hands before I start the engines to get under way. So, it is not a big stretch to include hand washing after paying for overnight dockage in the office, or any other activity conducted off the boat.</p>
<p>The goal is to keep the virus out of the boat, as it is your escape pod, the “bubble” that keeps you safe.</p>
<p>I hope I have made a good case for making this trip south as safe as possible, while still allowing it to be the adventure it is.</p>
<p>Now for some other useful comments about traveling the ICW.</p>
<p>Covid-19 or not, avoid turning the trip into a delivery. Many of these small towns, and certainly all the larger cities, have much to see and do, and will certainly fill an afternoon of walking the streets and window shopping. To the extent that you feel comfortable, these retailers are all looking for your business so most will go out of their way to make shopping in their stores safe. It is healthy to get off the boat, after all, while maintaining social distancing. Successful cruising is about keeping a balance.</p>
<p>One experienced couple told me they travel for two days, then take a day off. It keeps them feeling fresh and out of that delivery mindset where one quickly forgets where they have just been. What day is it and where did we stay last night? That is not fun. If you are paid to deliver the boat, that is one thing. The rest of us are pleasure boating.</p>
<p>For <a href="../../../../used-sailboats-for-sale/" target="_blank">sailboats</a>, this relaxed approach is harder to embrace, especially if the cruisers are coming down from Canada or New England. It will take a month or more to get to Florida, running at five knots for eight to ten hours each day. That is tiring day after day. One year I took my boat to Florida and came upon a sailor driving his sailboat at five knots approaching the Rock Pile in Myrtle Beach. He was alone in the middle of the channel, and he must have been in a coma from long days of travel down from Montreal (his hailing port). He was not listening to the radio or checking his six, so I hit my very loud Kahlenberg horns to get his attention so he would move over, and I could safely pass on his port side. I must have sounded like a big commercial<a href="../../../../used-tug-boats-for-sale/" target="_blank"> tug</a>, as he jumped at the blast from these horns. I felt sorry for the guy as he still had such a long way to go to reach Florida, if that was his destination.<br /> <br />Such slow-speed, long-day travel is quite different from a <a href="../../../../used-downeast-boats-for-sale/" target="_blank">Downeast cruiser</a> that cruises at 15 knots. Without a flybridge, it can clear most bridges, so an eight-hour day gets the crew well over 100 miles down the waterway, even considering no wake zones and other obstacles to speed. And there will be times when speed is not possible. Traffic bottlenecks waiting for bridge openings, manatee zones, even getting stuck behind a small cruise ship running a series of narrow ranges in Georgia.</p>
<p>(Seen below: The downeast-style <a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Legacy-36" target="_blank">Legacy Yachts 36</a> offers high-quality construction, excellent performance, and comfortable cruising accommodations.)</p>
<p><img title="legancy yachts 36" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/legacy-yachts-36.jpg?cb=514D59B6-C87F-284F-832AD0BCF5F8F301" alt="legancy yachts 36" width="800" height="429" /> </p>
<p>Another couple I know leaves as early as possible, always before 0700, and run at cruising speed all morning. They plan to stop for the day a little after noon in the early afternoon, which gives them plenty of time to refuel, wash the boat and enjoy the marina and town, and take a nap. A six-hour run at 25 knots eats up miles. They also try to learn about upcoming festivals or local celebrations that might coincide with their schedule, and they often plan their travel to enjoy these events. That may not be as relevant today with so many group gatherings cancelled.</p>
<p>I planned to list my favorites places to stop along the ICW when heading south, but it is hard to trim the list down, and you need to find your own favorites. Each trip is so different, the weather and waterway conditions are never the same, and the boats and people we meet create unplanned stops and may include traveling in the company of other boats.</p>
<p>Even though my description of doing this trip in 2020 may sound like an exercise in traveling isolation, I can tell you with confidence you will meet some great people, no matter how much you stay in your cruising bubble. It is just the nature of cruising.</p>
<p>And that aspect of cruising will never change, pandemic or not.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles by <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-dawn-of-the-paperless-helm">Dawn Of The Paperless Helm</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/boat-tools-how-do-you-keep-yours">Boat Tools: A 4-Part Series</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaska</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
</ul> |
Are You Going South on the ICW in 2020? |
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<p>We had a lovely Labor Day weekend in Annapolis. The weather was marvelous, the temperatures finally cooled, and watching this summer come to an end was cause for celebration. It was the summer that never really happened. We bid it farewell.</p>
<p>In the coming days, the weather will continue to cool down as the days grow shorter. With kids back at school (in whatever form that takes), we start thinking about fall boating, one of my favorite times of year.</p>
<p>In the Pacific Northwest, Labor Day means the Bumbershoot Music Festival in <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Seattle-Washington" target="_blank">Seattle</a>, and then there is the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. I always enjoyed September on boats in the <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-San-Juan" target="_blank">San Juan Islands</a>. Places like <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale-in-Roche-Harbor" target="_blank">Roche Harbor</a> are busy this time of year. It is also time to make my first batch of hot buttered rum batter to keep in the freezer.</p>
<p>Autumn in New England brings its explosion of fall color, which will soon start in northern Maine and move south in the coming weeks, providing us with fabulous scenery from New England down through Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.</p>
<p>The Chesapeake Bay calms down in the fall, as causal boaters are off the water, for the most part, and sailing and cruising are at their best, with cool weather, good breeze, and humidity so low one can see Thomas Point Shoals Light from Annapolis. A weekend on the water is all about great sailing, ports and hatches open, serene anchorages and cool evenings in the cockpit and flybridge. I look forward to getting out my favorite fleece jacket, a cozy alternative to summer’s heat. Even the bugs go away.</p>
<p><img title="fall boating in annapolis maryland" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/annapolis-boating-fall-season.jpg?cb=4FE34627-D170-D267-5970EB1B1EAE3A10" alt="fall boating in annapolis maryland" width="800" height="449" /></p>
<p>(<em>Seen above: The sun sets on a marina at Beards Creek in Annapolis, Maryland. Photo Cred: wreditor on reddit.com</em>)</p>
<p>There will be no fall boat shows in Annapolis this year, a sad but inevitable result of the continued caution with Covid-19.</p>
<p>I will miss seeing the familiar faces of exhibitors I have known for 25 years, although most of us have retired. Many still come back for the same reasons I do. We walk the docks with the crowds, look at what new technology brings us in boats and equipment. I will miss the obligatory roast beef sandwich at the Fleet Reserve Club, a charity event that has been a fixture of the shows for years. Power or sail, I enjoy both shows.</p>
<p>This is also the time when cruisers from Canada, and those who spent the summer in New England, are on the move south, a migration that is as much a part of this season as pumpkins and falling leaves. I live on Ridout Creek off Whitehall Bay, and it is great fun to see boats from all over the world come anchor for a day or two in my backyard, taking a break from long days moving south.</p>
<p>Many plan their travels through Chesapeake Bay to coincide with the Annapolis boat shows. Some come to replace the boat hook that is always on sale at West Marine or buy new boat shoes at Fawcetts. If you want to upgrade your electronics, get a new anchor, self-steering gear, windlass, or arrange a charter, this is the place, especially at the sailboat show, which is the largest show of its kind. Company reps are on hand to answer questions, sell systems, so subject matter expertise is easy to find. Just about anything even remotely related to boating is here. And there are always deals and boat show specials.</p>
<p>Some south-bound cruisers work the shows. They help move boats into place on the floating docks, put on wristbands as people hand over their tickets, and assist show management in all sorts of activities. The town really buzzes during these shows, as the Naval Academy moves into its football season. Crowds are everywhere, and the energy is wonderful.</p>
<p>At the conclusion of each show, especially the powerboat show, delivery crews hustle their yachts away from the floating docks and make a beeline for <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Fort-Lauderdale-Florida" target="_blank">Ft. Lauderdale</a>. With little time to spare, they must get to Florida as soon as possible to make the huge international show. Having been on several of these deliveries, these are long days and the weather be damned.</p>
<p><img title="annapolis power boat show" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/annapolis-power-boat-show.jpg?cb=5004B39E-CC58-63DD-147D6162514430A9" alt="annapolis power boat show" width="800" height="463" /> </p>
<p>(<em>Seen above: The Annapolis Power Boat Show in 2019, but unfortunately the 2020 show has been cancelled. The Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show is still moving forward!</em>)</p>
<p>One year I asked to crew on a large, full displacement trawler that had been recently unloaded off a ship from Taiwan. Our crew consisted of a local licensed yacht captain, his friend, who is a merchant marine academy grad who drives an <a href="../../../../used-tug-boats-for-sale/" target="_blank">offshore tug </a>for a living (and who had just towed an aircraft carrier from Hawaii to California and was on holiday), a fellow whose new boat was under construction and he wanted the experience, and the fire chief of a local fire department.</p>
<p>As it was a new boat with no equipment, not a roll of paper towels, knives and forks, or even toilet paper. So, we loaded aboard a liferaft, safety gear, plotter, radio, radar, and bags of stuff. We provisioned with only the essentials. In literally a few minutes, we took off right after the show ended, as workers broke apart the sections of floating docks holding us captive, motoring off as the sun set, while we jury-rigged the electronics to get them working before total darkness came.</p>
<p>Out in the Atlantic Ocean, passing Cape Hatteras, the Coast Guard called us and instructed us to stay offshore and to not even think about coming in, as the inlet was closed from the stormy seas now building from an approaching nor’easter. We somehow stayed just ahead of the worst of the storm, but the untested new trawler gave us a punch list of things that needed attention from the rocking and rolling. Anchor chain slapping against the hull every few seconds made it difficult to sleep in the forward stateroom. And the engine-heated hot water made the shower plumbing fixtures close to 200 degrees, dangerously hot, and it was hard to avoid making contact in the rolling seas.</p>
<p>When it was time to go inside to the ICW in Florida, the skilled delivery captain pushed the throttle to WOT as the <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/" target="_blank">58-foot trawler</a> surfed down large waves into the narrow inlet, corkscrewing our way in, way above hull speed. I had white knuckles from that dramatic entrance, but we made it to Bahia Mar in Ft. Lauderdale just in time. The boat cleaning crew was there on the dock, ready to step aboard and get her ready for the upcoming boat show. We hurriedly gathered our stuff and got off the boat, which was now covered in the salt and sea slime from days offshore in rough weather. And people call this fun!?!</p>
<p><img title="nordic tug boat cruising" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/nordic-tug-boat-cruising.jpg?cb=502F5D08-EBD0-5C9A-A41FD046A472862B" alt="nordic tug boat cruising" width="800" height="442" /></p>
<p>(Seen above: <a href="../../../../New-Nordic-Tugs-For-Sale/" target="_blank">Nordic Tugs</a> make excellent long-range cruising boats whether heading south or to the islands.)</p>
<p>Which brings up a good question.</p>
<p>Will we head south this year for the winter? My current boat is a Hunt Harrier 25, a simple day cruiser. It is no cruising boat, so she stays on her lift at home. But I do get the cruising itch about this time of year. Thoughts of spending a winter in Stuart, <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Saint-Augustine-Florida" target="_blank">St. Augustine</a>, Fort Meyers, or Marathon come strong with the first hint of autumn.</p>
<p>It will not be long before we wake up to sea smoke on the creek, and temperatures will soon get nippy. Recent winters have been mild around here, but the luscious smell of tropical plants and flowers, Cuban sandwiches from Publix, crystal clear water, and the camaraderie of the wintertime liveaboard community are strong attractions.</p>
<p>I have traveled between Annapolis and Florida on the ICW numerous times, and each has been different…and wonderful. Every journey up or down the ICW is an adventure. I have done it in company with other boats, I have done it with crew, as crew, and solo. So, I speak from experience.</p>
<p>Let me get a read from some friends and put together thoughts and comments about doing this ICW trip south in 2020, during these cautious times. And how best to make it just as memorable, and safe.</p> |
A Fall Like No Other |
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<p>It is a common life theme. The kids are grown, parents no longer require care, and the house is too big and full of a lifetime of stuff. And we wind down our careers or retire.</p>
<p>It is time to make plans for a life change.</p>
<p>I bet this resonates with a lot of people, especially those who live where cold winter weather no longer appeals. Whatever path a couple chooses, it is surprisingly unique to each couple yet about as universal as it gets. At some point the light goes on.</p>
<p>“Why don’t we buy a boat to live on and go somewhere warm for the winter months.” Sound familiar? Find the right place to liveaboard full time for three or more months. It may take a year or two to pull this together, but it is a fun journey filled with anticipation and opportunity.</p>
<p>The Plan has two agendas. First, being settled in one place for the winter is a fine way to spread out, furniture and flowers no longer stored for long days under way. Travel is done, and now it is time to get one of the family cars down to wherever the boat is, likely a liveaboard marina with reasonable monthly rates for slip, electric, and other services.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: Stock Island Marina Village allows living aboard your boat in the majestic Florida Keys.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="living on a yacht in florida keys" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/liveaboard-marina.jpg?cb=9F1D8845-ADA2-B4B4-6E2D4EDEA5AEF05C" alt="living on a yacht in florida keys" width="800" height="408" /> </p>
<p>The second agenda for The Plan is that living in one place for several months allows each person to decide if this zip code is possibly a place they might like to live permanently when it is time to settle down in the golden years.</p>
<p>The Plan has worked for dozens and dozens of people I know, using their <a href="../../../../used-trawler-yachts-for-sale/">trawler</a> or motoryacht to live comfortably while scouting out a different destination each winter. And somewhere during those years, decisions are made.</p>
<p>The checklist goes like this. Find potential winter havens through the Internet, social media, friends with winter residences, and other resources. The place does not have to be a tropical paradise, just warm enough to enjoy outdoor living. This is not the same concept as finding a fun place to spend the winter and return year after year. For as long as I remember a group of trawler people reconnect with each other every winter in the Florida Keys. It is their ritual. That is fine but not what we are talking about here.</p>
<p>Another important item on the checklist is to find a place where there are things to do, not just hang around the boat and enjoy evening sundowners with others in the marina. This is an important distinction from cruising. You are not on vacation but experiencing living full time in a new place. There must be museums, beaches, shops, restaurants, classes, golf courses, walking and bike trails, whatever fulfills personal interests besides doing boat projects in the marina. For East Coast boat people, this might be Charleston, or Stuart, or Hilton Head. Or Jacksonville, Ft. Myers, or Savannah.</p>
<p>If you live in the Pacific Northwest, one of the best places to retire is in the <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-San-Juan">San Juan Islands</a>. Winters are mild and the summers are to die for. Cruise the area and in time you will find your own sweet spot.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Cruising the San Juan Islands is one of the most visually rewarding boating destinations in the world.)</p>
<p><img title="cruising the san juan islands on a yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/cruising-san-juan-islands-on-a-yacht.jpg?cb=9F441A96-DD7C-8D9A-03287A2EA215AE09" alt="cruising the san juan islands on a yacht" width="800" height="451" /></p>
<p>One way some couples search out possible winter destinations is to take an exploratory road trip. They visit chambers of commerce, visitor’s centers, take tours, and talk with marina managers, other boaters, even yacht brokers. A week or more on the road may be just the trick to scout out several potential places to consider.</p>
<p>The Plan may also include buying a more appropriate boat if the one they own isn’t fit for the mission. A summer cruiser may be fine for that two-week vacation, but not well suited for three months or more. It will be your home, after all, not a camping experience.</p>
<p>While this kind of cruising is quite different from traditional <a href="../../../../Buying-And-Owning-Trawler-Yachts">trawler cruising</a>, moving from one paradise spot to another, it can be every bit as satisfying. Shopping for the right boat is exciting. And hopefully The Plan results in an answer to that universal question everyone asks at some point:<strong> “Where do you want to live?”</strong> These days the answer does not always center around grandchildren, who may be scattered around the country.</p>
<p>In the past couple of years, I have seen many people from my yacht club in Annapolis make such changes, although only a few were consciously working The Plan. The others just decided to run their trawler down the ICW in the fall to escape the cold, and slow down once they reach warmer weather. At some point in their travels, they simply fall in love with a place or are attracted by their friends in Annapolis who are already down there, essentially bringing the community south. Community is important.</p>
<p>For many, the wintering experience eventually leads to the purchase of a townhouse or condo, setting the stage for a long-term winter home base.</p>
<p>The big boat, no longer serving as a winter residence, is eventually replaced by something more suited to the kind of cruising they do in the summer. Just yesterday I spoke with a woman who told me she and her husband traveled down to Florida for several years on their roomy 45-foot trawler, and they became enchanted with the Stuart area. She said there are now about 50 yacht club families who own or rent condos for the winter in nearby <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Jupiter-Florida">Jupiter</a>. So, they bought a condo last winter in Jupiter and replaced their big boat with a Downeast-style <a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Legacy-32">Legacy 32</a> for cruising the Chesapeake Bay during the season. They are thrilled at how it worked out.</p>
<p>(<em>Seen below: <a href="../../../../New-Legacy-Yachts-For-Sale/">Legacy Yachts </a>offers traditional downeast-style cruising in a comfortable and manageable size.</em>)</p>
<p><img title="legacy yachts downeast" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/legacy-yachts-32-downeast.jpg?cb=9FCE1B71-E70C-E350-CF0B6B211476390C" alt="legacy yachts downeast" width="800" height="402" /></p>
<p>If you are at a certain age, chances are you have been thinking of The Plan as it relates to your situation. I have lived in Annapolis on and off for decades, yet I think the time is coming for me to develop one. If you love cruising, you embrace change. And, of course, life is at its best when that change is made by you, not for you.</p>
<p>A mindful approach to where you end up may be the sweetest place of all to be.</p> |
A Boater's Three-To-Five Year Plan |
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<p>I am now in my 8th week of self-isolation and quarantine, and rather than climbing the walls at home, we have settled into new routines. While authorities still urge us to stay home where I live, they are beginning to ease restrictions in other parts of the country and people and businesses are slowly coming back to life. This is great news. We need the country back online as soon as safely possible.</p>
<p>I have no doubt we will continue certain personal protection practices with physical distancing for some time to come, until we have the necessary vaccine and treatment programs. It will be a new normal for sure.</p>
<p>In many ways, though, have you noticed how much simpler life has become? I now live in what we call “The Living Module,” the central living space in our home where we spend most of our time. The other rooms—kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, office—are places we briefly visit from time to time. It is clear we could just as easily live on a boat, with well-designed and efficient spaces and systems to support The Living Module.</p>
<p>People able to work remotely have found it possible and perhaps even desirable, depending on their job responsibilities. Video conferencing is now a mainstay of our social and business connection, and I doubt that will go away when this crisis winds down. I never really took advantage of Facetime before but now find it indispensable to keep in touch with family and friends. There is something to be said for seeing a face along with a voice.</p>
<p>To be honest, I am kind of happy to be living a simpler life, out of the “normal” routine of lunch and dinner dates, meetings, and shopping as a distraction or a sport depending on your persuasion.</p>
<p><strong>The Silver Lining of Quarantine - A Chance to Return to Self</strong></p>
<p>Another result of these lifestyle changes is that we have become more focused and self-reliant. We get by with what we have in our pantry and freezer. (Contests to see how many creative ways to serve Spam have become legend.) And when it is time to replenish our provisions, we are not aimlessly wandering store aisles. Dressed in masks, gloves, and eye protection, I come prepared with a list. I see others doing the same thing every time I go to the store, and I concentrate on the essentials that we need and have room for, along with a few special treats for the weekend.</p>
<p>We also spend more time together, even if that means we are doing our own thing. I may be reading a book or tinkering in the garage, while Laurene is busy in the garden or on her laptop in The Living Module. Our dog, Annie, splits her time between us. We are never out of touch and reconnect frequently during the day. I do the cooking, and meals are something to look forward to, rather than throwing something together because it is that time. I am also way more careful with the food I bring home and work hard to use it all and make it last. I am even aware of how much toilet paper and paper towels we use.</p>
<p>Does all of this sound familiar to you cruisers out there? We are refining our awareness and learning to live with what we have, and not wasting resources and our time without purpose.</p>
<p>When something stops working or makes a funny sound, these days it gets my attention and I try to figure it out. My isolation brings out my problem solving, handyman, MacGyver. Mindful of the risks of going out and the hassle of donning hazmat gear to go to the hardware store, do I have anything to fix it with what I have on hand? I usually do. Every cruiser can relate.</p>
<p>I was into the tiny home concept way a long time ago. I loved living on boats, a fabulous experience. And at every boat show, what a joy to listen to the stories from couples living on their boats. They would tell me that their Monk 36 or Grand Banks or Valiant 40 was the perfect size to live aboard and spend months together in the tropics or New England or the Pacific Northwest. Within their Living Module they have all they need: water, provisions, galley, head, berths, and storage. Everything within reach and the satisfaction of doing more with less. There is always space to store a sewing machine or grinding wheel if those are important.</p>
<p>Spending less time socializing has been a bit of a cleanse as well. By not going out as often, we avoid the same trap that awaits many new cruisers when they first take off, and later discover that not every evening should be considered Saturday Night and time for a party on the beach.</p>
<p>I live in Annapolis, but I could easily replicate my situation anywhere in this country. Or even better, on a boat, which offers the splendid option of casting off lines and moving simply for a change in scenery, even if only a few miles away. Much like the turtle symbol of the original MTOA (Marine Trader Owners Association), wherever you stop, you are home.</p>
<p>Sounds about right to me.</p>
<p>My other conclusion from this period has nothing to do with quarantine, only the timing and how it surfaced. It is the subject for my next article, where I make a case for buying a new boat.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Other Articles By Bill Parlatore</span>:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/clearing-up-the-confusion-of-prop-nuts">Clearing Up The Confusion About Prop Nuts</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/reinvention-during-the-big-pause">Reinvention During The Big Pause</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/weathering-the-storm">Weathering The Storm</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/lockdown-in-paradise">Lockdown in Paradise</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-healthy-distraction-and-get-your-boat-ready-for-spring">A Healthy Distraction</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-cruising-boat-for-you">What's The Best Cruising Boat For You?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-kind-of-cruiser-are-you">What Kind Of Cruiser Are You?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/notes-about-cruising-the-south-pacific">Notes About Cruising The South Pacific</a></li>
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<p>By now, most of the world is closed for the duration of this pandemic. As restrictions tighten, the general guidelines are to stay home, off the roads, out of stores, and away from other people. Those of us hunkered down at home must find projects and other distractions to keep busy and stay positive.</p>
<p>Governors of both Maryland and Virginia have made it illegal to be out on Chesapeake Bay for recreation. We are to stay off the water. Period.</p>
<p>How long will these restrictions last? It is anyone’s guess, although current projections are that Maryland will peak, in terms of new coronavirus cases, around April 17th. (See http://covid19.healthdata.org/ for the latest data available for each country and states within the U.S.)</p>
<p>For cruisers out there, it is a changing landscape of uncertainty. Several yachting organizations, such as the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC), now collect the latest government announcements, including mandatory quarantines, as a resource for the cruising community. For the most part, if cruisers are already in paradise, they may stay put, although many countries don’t allow them off the boat, except during very limited times to buy food and other essentials. This is to protect both cruisers and residents.</p>
<p>In other countries, especially in tropical island chains with minimal infrastructure, local officials want cruisers gone asap, by any means necessary, without regard to where these cruisers might go. It is a troubling situation.</p>
<p>Borders are closed around the world. Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand are closed for foreign vessels. So is Tonga, Fiji, and much of the other Pacific island groups. In Thailand and Malaysia, cruisers must endure a quarantine period, then leave the country at once. Across the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and South Pacific, it is the same. You are not welcome, so please leave and stay away.</p>
<p>Within the U.S., restrictions vary by state and local government. Many marinas and boat services are closed, and when vessels enter the country, mandatory quarantines may be imposed based on where you are. Town mayors have their own rules. In Oriental, NC, for example, the mayor recently instituted a 14-day quarantine. In other state counties, transient cruisers are not even allowed to anchor.</p>
<p>On the East Coast, cruisers wanting to travel the protected Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) will find it risky business, as services, fuel, and marinas are not guaranteed to be available. A helpful resource is the Waterway Guide (http://waterwayguide.com), and its COVID-19 Marina/Service Reports, which lists the status of marina and services on the ICW.</p>
<p>(Seen below: You can narrow down the open and closed marinas by state on hte Waterway Guide website.)</p>
<p><img title="waterway guide website marina" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/waterway-guide-marine-closure.jpg?cb=EAD9ADFD-9684-572C-CFD16D39A8102CF0" alt="waterway guide website marina" width="800" height="564" /></p>
<p><strong>How are cruisers handling this time of uncertainly?</strong></p>
<p>I contacted Emily Whebbe (with whom I shared the OCC booth in Annapolis) about her thoughts on at-anchor living while this is going on. She and her family live aboard their 42-foot sailboat, often secluded in an anchorage. I asked how she and her family were doing and what recommendations she has.</p>
<p>She told me they spent the winter months in South Carolina, just north of Charleston. They look forward to heading up to Maine as soon as the weather warms up. But they will keep their distance from others.</p>
<p>As for suggestions for at-anchorage living, she offers:</p>
<p>“Have a good grasp on your boat’s energy usage and its ability to recharge your battery bank without shore power. Lots of marina boats never get the chance to know their usage during a 24-hour period, nor do they know how fast or efficiently they can recharge their batteries.</p>
<p>“A large battery bank isn’t very helpful if you have limited or inefficient ways of charging it. Solar is helpful (we have 840 watts). Victron Energy has an easy-to-use battery monitor and software that provides data on how much energy is being used and generated from various sources.”</p>
<p>Emily said that having a watermaker is a big plus for isolated living at anchor, although they can still go ashore in the dinghy and refill their water tank if they can’t get into a dock or marina.</p>
<p>A good dinghy is a requirement. Being able to explore and get to shore easily and without getting wet is a good thing. Traveling long distances by dinghy is valuable if one is unable to anchor close to shore or needs to stay out of a harbor due to anchoring restrictions.</p>
<p>Food storage is also important, more so now during this crisis. Having enough food onboard, stored properly, allows them to stay in areas without a grocery store while practicing social distancing. She uses a vacuum sealer to extend food shelf life significantly. And the boat has a dedicated freezer, which is key for keeping meat and fruits/veggies much longer.</p>
<p>As I read the daily social media during this lockdown, I find that food and cooking are hot topics among cruisers right now. There are even groups dedicated to sharing meal ideas. List what food you have on hand and others will suggest interesting and tasty meals that can be made with them. This is very helpful when one doesn’t find inspiration by what’s in the pantry and grocery shopping or going to a restaurant are no longer options.</p>
<p>A lot of recipe sharing involves baking bread. Seems cruisers really miss their English Muffins and Naan bread as those recipes are particularly popular. And cooking while conserving precious propane is on everyone’s priority list.</p>
<p>(Seen below: The interior galley and salon of the Hanse Yachts 388 offers plenty of living space. A 2020 model is on its way to Seattle Yachts!)</p>
<p><img title="salon of hanse yachts 388" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/hanse-yachts-388.jpg?cb=EB4B5A95-9E7E-53D1-DB3B1F0DE0C360E6" alt="salon of hanse yachts 388" width="800" height="517" /></p>
<p><strong>Bye Bye Bahamas</strong></p>
<p><em>Veteran cruiser and friend, Will Heyer, got back to me right away. I wanted his take on life in the Bahamas. Will’s comments:</em></p>
<p>Hey Bill,</p>
<p>We have been on a mooring in Abaco (Hope Town) since November 25th. We have enough solar to run everything on the boat.</p>
<p>Food here is plentiful, however, water can be an issue. We catch rainwater easily and buy bottled drinking water at the grocery. We have been able to get bulk water from the local marina as well on occasion. We keep our tank topped up, given the current situation, by filling jerry jugs every few days. This is only possible when the marina runs its generator and watermaker. We are eight months post Hurricane Dorian and there is still no power here in Elbow Cay.</p>
<p>Internet is pretty good in most of the Bahamas but is getting overwhelmed with this lockdown. It is much like Spring break but there is no one here. Best to use it off hours.</p>
<p>While we are a fixture here in Hope Town and most locals know us, residents here and on other Cays have voiced concern and are not welcoming cruisers with their normal enthusiasm. On some of the islands to the south, foreign boaters are not allowed on shore. They have been served written notice by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and provided local phone numbers for food delivery to the dock.</p>
<p>I don’t know any marinas in the Abacos allowing transient boats to dock except to buy fuel, and even that is on a limited schedule.</p>
<p>If we make a grocery run only one of us goes ashore. Stores only allow a limited amount of people to shop at any given time so there can be lines of people. All liquor stores are closed.</p>
<p>While there has not been a single case of COVID-19 here in Abaco there have been some in Nassau and two cases in Freeport. The concern is that there are no medical facilities here or on any of the out islands to handle this.</p>
<p>The U.S. Embassy in Nassau issued an advisory for all US-flagged vessels to return to the States. Given the recent Bahamian restrictions on inter-island travel we will take the next weather window back to the U.S.</p>
<p>We will then battle our way up the ICW or hop offshore to Annapolis.</p>
<p>Will & Muffin<br />S/V Antares<br />Hope Town</p>
<p>(Seen below: A recent update on Facebook shows the Treasure Cay Marina is still able to sell fuel.)</p>
<p><iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftreasurecayresort%2Fposts%2F10158633059554245&width=500" width="500" height="560" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
<p>I checked in with Hugh Scarth, the Canadian cruiser with whom we discussed provisioning for extended cruising back in January. I wondered how Hugh and Maria were doing aboard White Pearl, their <a href="../../../../New-Hampton-Yachts-For-Sale/">Hampton Yachts</a> 55 PHMY. The couple’s plans for the season were no doubt affected by this pandemic and I wanted to hear how they were.</p>
<p>Hugh said they just got back to Canada a few days ago. Their plans to cruise to Grenada at the end of the season simply fell apart as this crisis developed. When things began to sour in the Bahamas their options really dwindled. Going south from the Bahamas was out of the question, and even heading back to the U.S. became more challenging as the days went on and Florida began closing marinas and services. The couple spent “a few long days” traveling from Long Island in the Bahamas to the Lake Worth Inlet in Florida.</p>
<p>Hugh feels they made the right decision. “As we moved along it felt like the doors were closing behind us. Currently the Bahamas are making it difficult for cruisers to get supplies or even move from island to island, let alone get off their boat. The marinas along the East Coast are closing. And fuel and grocery supplies will become less available as time goes on.”</p>
<p>Adding to the stress of the pandemic, with hurricane season approaching, there was no way they could simply tie up the boat in some marina and walk away. Thankfully, they were able to haul White Pearl near Stuart, Florida, and safely return to Canada.</p>
<p>The essential qualities of seasoned cruisers include being prepared with the proper equipment, having enough supplies and food to weather the storm, and remaining flexible in a world they cannot control. I think Emily’s thoughts of at-anchor living, and the shared experiences of both Will and Hugh, should give us a more mindful view on cruising. We must assume responsibility for ourselves and our crew: in preparation, provisioning, and day-to-day living. It is folly to assume there will always be a safety net out there.</p>
<p>From that point of view, I think this pandemic ordeal, however difficult it may be to get through, will make us stronger and more capable cruisers. In addition to other qualities, the ability to live in the moment, with enough situational awareness to anticipate and adapt one’s plans, is the foundation of sensible cruising.</p>
<p>It is also the difference between an experience and a nightmare.</p>
<p><br />If you have a story about your own cruising or related experiences during this difficult time, we would love to hear from you. Sharing your experience with the rest of the cruising community helps us all.</p>
<p>We are in this together!</p>
<p>Please contact me at <a href="mailto:billp@seattleyachts.com">billp@seattleyachts.com</a> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Here are other recent, popular articles written by Bill Parlatore</span>:</p>
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<li><a href="../../../../news/weathering-the-storm">Weathering The Storm</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-healthy-distraction-and-get-your-boat-ready-for-spring">A Healthy Distraction</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-cruising-boat-for-you">What's The Best Cruising Boat For You?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-kind-of-cruiser-are-you">What Kind Of Cruiser Are You?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/notes-about-cruising-the-south-pacific">Notes About Cruising The South Pacific</a></li>
</ul> |
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<p>There are many reasons people decide to go cruising. It is a wonderful lifestyle for those who like to travel, meet like-minded people, and experience the world on a different level. We’ve talked before about one’s style of cruising, but no matter what your approach to the cruising life, the one common requirement is that you need a boat.</p>
<p>A cruising boat is one large enough to live on while traveling from place to place. It may or may not involve crossing an ocean or other large bodies of water, it may be for a couple of weeks each year or it may be full time spanning years.</p>
<p>Walk the docks of any boat show and the diverse number of cruising boats is overwhelming, in terms of design ideas and how best to get everything into such a small space. For young couples aiming for the “experience,” they may be willing to accept the compromise of small living spaces and minimal creature comforts. Many successful cruises have been made in pocket cruisers.</p>
<p>But for today’s experienced and mature cruisers, there are certain necessary requirements in terms of living space, storage, and comfort in a hull shape and size that is safe, stable, and more than simply livable.</p>
<p>Since the beginning of recreational cruising, the boat of choice has been a sailboat, as big or as small as one could manage and make work. Sailboats are seaworthy and well proven. Properly outfitted, they can be comfortable to live on at anchor, at the dock, and safe under way while exploring the world. A look around any coastal anchorage is proof they are also a popular choice for full-time liveaboards as well.</p>
<p>I love sailing. It is a fabulous sport, but I admit it is not the most efficient way to get somewhere, and only really works if one has lots of time. Yes, a trade wind route around the world with steady winds blowing from astern is the perfect scenario for a sailboat, but let’s be honest. The number of people who pursue that level of cruising—world cruising—is relatively small.</p>
<p>No, most cruising people are more interested in coastal cruising. Two people and a cat or dog, intent on living aboard for weeks or even months at a time. They may be headed up north during the summer, or to tropical islands and warmer seaports during the winter season. For East Coast cruisers in the U.S. and Canada, at some point it includes the annual, 1,200-mile trip down the ICW to reach <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Fort-Lauderdale-Florida">South Florida</a> in the fall as either the destination or as a jumping off point over to the islands. With a return trip up the ICW in the spring to head north. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve done this ICW marathon. In my experience, it is the rare couple who leisurely “cruise” up or down the ICW. For most of us we go into delivery mode to get away from the approaching cold weather, or the motivating smells of spring pulling us north. Either way, it involves many long days of travel. But that is another subject for another time.</p>
<p>(Seen below: For coastal cruising, downeast-style boats make an excellent option for a couple. <a href="../../../../New-Legacy-Yachts-For-Sale/">Legacy Yachts</a> are among the best in the industry.)</p>
<p><img title="legacy yachts downeast boats" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/legacy-yachts-cruising-boat.jpg?cb=E0912A13-E4A3-D828-5E81783F35BFA242" alt="legacy yachts downeast boats" width="800" height="428" /> </p>
<p><strong>Camping or Comfort?</strong></p>
<p>When one is young, the ability to put up with compromise is amazing, especially looking back with older eyes. In the 1970s, I lived aboard a Tahiti Ketch in <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Seattle-Washington">Seattle</a>. I was single and working my way up the corporate ladder. In the winter, my leather dress shoes lived in my car trunk, and putting them on each morning is a chilly memory.</p>
<p>Ten years later, I bought a brand-new Baba 30, a sweet sailing gem designed by Robert Perry. It was less money than real estate prices in the Annapolis area at the time, and as I was still single, the boat allowed me to combine my love of living on the water with a romantic studio apartment. It was before the rage of the tiny home movement, and I loved it.</p>
<p>When I now look back at those days, the forward V-berth was impossible to properly make the bed, a far cry from the island queen berths on my later boats. And she had a wet head rather than a dry head with a separate shower. The all-in-one head concept isn’t a compromise my wife would tolerate today beyond a weekend. There was no dishwasher, washer/dryer, or air conditioning. At the time, it didn’t matter to me. Today, it would.</p>
<p>And then there is the issue of being exposed in a sailboat under way. Long days in an open cockpit are tiring and can really wear you down if you are on the move day after day. Can you imagine driving a convertible cross country, the top down the entire way, night and day, rain or shine? So, it is no surprise to see so many full cockpit enclosures these days, great structures of Sunbrella and eisenglass, surrounding the aft or center cockpit on cruising sailboats.</p>
<p>These enclosures offer great protection from the elements, but also make it difficult to go sailing. Guess what? At this point in their evolution as cruisers, these people no longer sail their boat. It is common knowledge that coastal cruisers routinely motor 85 percent of the time. I’ve heard this time and again for years from guys in the industry and fellow cruisers. Living aboard full time, it is just easier to start the engine when getting under way. Things don’t have to be put away or secured down below, and what about the solar panels, wind generators, bikes, SUPs, and other cruising stuff?</p>
<p>As one builder of performance sailboats says when comparing its line of light air performance models, if you motor most of the time in the conditions you cruise in, buy a motorboat.</p>
<p>There is another thing you’ll see on the decks of your typical cruising sailboat, the collection of diesel jerry cans tied on the side decks to the lifeline stanchions. Portable containers of diesel fuel are a standard addition to every cruising sailboat. There are two reasons for this. First, in many anchorages we buy fuel on land and transport it back to the boat in the dinghy. It allows us to refill our fuel tank at anchor.</p>
<p>The second reason, and one of particular significance to this article, is that the cruising sailboats we’re talking about, in the 35 to 45-foot range, are built with limited fuel capacity. This means the boat doesn’t carry enough fuel to provide much range. A Catalina 42 carries 38 gallons of diesel and has a range of 200+ nm if one slows down. Even a proven bluewater sailboat, such as a Hallberg-Rassy 43, carries just over 100 gallons of fuel. One of my favorite cruising sailboats is the Valiant 42, which comes standard with 77-gallon tankage, with additional optional tanks.</p>
<p>Refilling the main fuel tank becomes a frequent routine, not to mention feeding the genset to power the watermaker and other appliances and charge the batteries.</p>
<p>(Seen below: The <a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Moody-54-Decksaloon">Moody 54</a> Enclosed Deck is a cruising option for those wanting protection from the elements. Seattle is a <a href="../../../../New-Moody-Yachts-For-Sale/">Moody</a>, <a href="../../../../New-Hanse-Yachts-For-Sale/">Hanse</a>, and <a href="../../../../New-Dehler-Yachts-For-Sale/">Dehler</a> dealer.)</p>
<p><img title="Moody Sailboat Enclosed Deck Cruiser" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/moody-yachts-enclosed-deck.jpg?cb=E0C5034C-D1A1-F54E-A21D7EC2AC465028" alt="Moody Sailboat Enclosed Deck Cruiser" width="800" height="451" /></p>
<p><strong>What Is The Ideal Speed For A Cruising Boat?</strong></p>
<p>So where am I going with this? <a href="../../../../New-Hanse-Yachts-For-Sale/">Cruising sailboats</a> have a small diesel engine to push the slippery hull shape at displacement speeds. It is common for a 40-50hp diesel engine to drive the boat, turning a two or three-blade fixed or folding propeller.</p>
<p>While the kind of cruising we’re discussing is not leading up to a circumnavigation, some experts insist that having sufficient range is important regardless. One sailing and cruising authority recommends enough fuel to go 600-800 miles while able to maintain 6 knots. Even if one is not doing those miles all at once, it maintains a degree of self-sufficiency away from a fuel dock.</p>
<p>Now for some quick math. The Catalina 42’s engine, running at 80% load, burns 1.4gph at 7.1 knots. With a 10 % fuel reserve, at that speed the boat has a range of just over 170nm. The Hallberg-Rassy 43 burns 1.2gph at 6.5 knots, for a range of under 500 nm, again with a 10% fuel reserve.</p>
<p>Of course, those ranges can be extended by slowing down but at what point is slowing down to less than 6 knots a reasonable proposition?</p>
<p>Let me introduce an alternative in this range and fuel tank discussion, after which we can expand to other elements of an ideal cruising boat. Let’s take a look at the American Tug 435, a solid choice for a trawler-type cruiser with a single, electronically controlled Cummins diesel engine. The 43-footer carries 640 gallons of fuel. Using the same fuel reserve as before, the calculations for the American Tug show its range is 2,456nm running the boat at 6.5 knots, burning 1.6 gph. Speed up to 7.7 knots and the range decreases to a still respectable 1,777nm, burning 2.6gph.</p>
<p>The popular <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/Fleming-Yachts">Fleming 55</a> now comes with twin Cummins QSC engines. According to its website, running at 7.5 knots, the boat burns 2.4gph for a range of 2,788nm. Speed up to 10 knots (which is a sweet spot for this boat) and the range drops to 1,470nm.</p>
<p>Look at the fuel burn for various versions of the venerable <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/Grand-Banks-Yachts">Grand Banks 42 Classic</a>, not a slippery hull shape by any description. These wide and roomy trawlers were built with twin 120 Lehmans, twin Cat 3208s, twin Cummins 210s, even twin John Deere 135s. However, the numbers are similar. At 8.5-8.8 knots, these boats burn about 4gph. Slow down to 6.5-7 knots and the gallons per hour is halved.</p>
<p>By staying close to a cruising speed of 6.5-7.5 knots, even larger cruising motor yachts and trawlers can offer great range without burning hundreds of gallons of fuel each day (costing $$$). They are all capable of running in the mid-teens or faster, but with electronic engines, keeping the speed down is economical and provides serious range for the kind of cruising most couples realistically plan. One can count on consistent distances each day without having to buy fuel as often. While engine companies recommend running an engine at 75 percent load most of the time, the marvels of electronic engines open this up to a wider performance envelope.</p>
<p>This speed will get you where you are going with the least amount of fuss and anxiety. Things happen quickly when you are running along at 25 knots, and it is tiring. There is a sweet spot for every boat, where speed and fuel burn are most efficient.</p>
<p>This brings me back to the value of a <a href="../../../../news/the-case-for-the-semi-displacement-hull-shape">semi-displacement cruising powerboat</a> which offers this kind of economical operation and hull form stability while also being able to get up to speed to cross an exposed body of water within a favorable weather window. Having large fuel tankage, yet consuming small amounts of fuel each day, is the secret weapon of the trawler concept. It represents an ideal cruising boat that can cruise without worry about fuel and water as it has enough of both.</p>
<p>If you are in a hurry, buy an airline ticket.</p>
<p>(Seen below: <a href="../../../../New-Tartan-Yachts-For-Sale/">Tartan Yachts</a> builds one of the most durable sailboats available and are known to be extremely seaworthy for cruising.)</p>
<p><img title="tartan yachts cruising sailboats" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/tartan-yachts-cruising-sailboat.jpg?cb=E151179C-C03E-2ACE-2971E48DD009443A" alt="tartan yachts cruising sailboats" width="800" height="447" /></p>
<p><strong>A Case for The Best Cruising Boat</strong></p>
<p>Let’s expand on other elements that make a convincing argument for this kind of boat, whether you call it a trawler or not. In fact, let’s deal with that issue right now, as it is a recurring question. Just what is a trawler? (Also Read:<strong> <a href="../../../../Buying-And-Owning-Trawler-Yachts">Buying & Owning A Trawler Yacht</a></strong>.)<br /> <br />The word trawler means different things to different people. When the growth of the cruising world introduced the oxymoron of “fast trawlers” to the cruising community, many people asked me how to define a trawler as the choices blurred any semblance to tradition. Then there were power catamarans coming into the trawler market, and all sorts of Downeast-inspired cruising boats.</p>
<p>My answer is that at some point, the word trawler no longer accurately described a particular boat shape or speed, but rather is best considered a metaphor for the lifestyle. Go to any trawler gathering, and you will see a wide range of boats that may or may not fit your definition of a trawler, but on which its owners absolutely enjoy the trawler lifestyle. Safe, comfortable travel and adventure with all the comforts of home.</p>
<p>Modern cruising boats demand lots of energy, as we prefer the convenience of refrigeration, dedicated freezers, lots of electronics, air conditioning, laundry and other appliances. Even on sailboats these are now standard. Supplying constant energy to cruising boats is often beyond the ability of a solar panel or two. A trip to the BVIs from Charleston on a large sailing cat was an eye-opener. The electrical demands of its systems, computers, and beefy autopilot meant the generator ran 24/7. Who dreams of the silence and beauty of sailing that includes the constant hum of a genset?</p>
<p>Decades ago, the very idea and perceived dangers of electricity on a boat were avoided at all costs. But with today’s cruising lifestyle, the necessity for electricity and all that it brings aboard is significant. Navigation electronics, radar, watermaker, windlass, computer, freezer, refrigeration, autopilot...the cruising sailboat that does not rely heavily on electrical systems is rare to the point of extinction in 2020. Today’s cruising sailboats and powerboats are full of equipment and systems that require constant source of electricity.</p>
<p>(Seen below: The <a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Northern-Marine-57-Raised-Pilothouse">Northern Marine 57</a> offfers the advantages of a trawler yacht for long distance cruising. Seattle Yachts has a <a href="../../../../New-Northern-Marine-Yachts-For-Sale/">Northern Marine</a> 57 currently in production.)</p>
<p><img title="northern marine trawler yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/northern-marine-57-trawler.jpg?cb=E128AE1E-DBC9-9B0E-307F8E7BF38F569F" alt="northern marine trawler yacht" width="800" height="463" /></p>
<p><strong>What Does the Best Cruising Boat Look Like?</strong></p>
<p>So, my conclusion is that if one is looking for the ideal cruising boat, it would include the following:</p>
<p>Economical operation at 6.5-7.5 knots, with enough tankage to provide long range. (I don’t mention a specific mile range, as we’re not talking about crossing oceans. We’re simply talking about not needing to be on the lookout for fuel stops or carrying full jerry cans on deck. That 600-800nm range is enough. But for those still thinking about voyaging across oceans, I would argue that it is much easier, cheaper, and less stressful to simply ship your cruising boat over to the Mediterranean or some Pacific island group than to buy a boat that is capable of doing it on its own bottom, with all the necessary and expensive safety and other equipment that you otherwise don’t need.)</p>
<p>Accessibility to all systems and mechanical components. If it can be reached easily, it can be inspected, serviced, and repaired. I would not buy another boat that did not allow me to reach all major systems, batteries, and system components. It is just too important for a cruising boat. You may not be out in the middle of the ocean, but stranded in a remote cruising area you are still on your own.</p>
<p>A boat that is safe, comfortable, and a good shelter for its crew. In places like the Pacific Northwest where cold, wet weather is a fact of life, it is much more relaxing being inside a heated pilothouse than sitting in the cockpit at the helm in foul weather gear, exposed to wind and rain, everyone else huddled under the dodger.</p>
<p>The same protection for the crew is desirable in the tropics where the sun is hot and dangerous from constant exposure. Some like a flybridge for running in fine weather. That is not quite a desired feature where cold and wet conditions are prevalent. Given the choice of an inside helm, a flybridge, and/or a pilothouse, if I had to choose of one, I’d pick the pilothouse every time.</p>
<p>The cruising parameters of the best cruising boat avoids the draft of a large sailboat while also reducing the air draft restrictions of a tall rig. And a trawler will offer larger living spaces and storage for provisions and gear.</p>
<p>Some hull shapes provide stability, and there are active stabilizing systems, which work as well as the mainsail on a sailboat to keep things from rolling from side to side.</p>
<p>Dinghies may be easier to carry, launch, and retrieve from a cruising motorboat.</p>
<p>Unless the boat is going to be one’s permanent home, I suggest finding a boat that is just big enough to fit your needs in terms of living space and storage, but not much more. Avoid extra staterooms if you don’t need them, although there is value to having separate living spaces to get some private time, which is hard to find in a small boat. But a smaller boat will generally be simpler to operate, and less expensive to own and maintain.</p>
<p>(Seen below: The <a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Regency-P65">Regency P65 </a>interior is intended for luxury cruisers who also want to entertain.)</p>
<p><img title="regency cruising boats" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/regency-cruising-boats.jpg?cb=E175B1F4-A08C-A779-CA5AD34A81EEC1E6" alt="regency cruising boats" width="800" height="421" /></p>
<p><strong>But Wait…There’s More</strong></p>
<p>There is one final point worth making on this subject. To be the best cruising boat, a trawler of any kind requires a better than average installation of systems that include redundancy in critical areas and systems, which will be the subject of future articles. Trust me, my “blessing” as being the “Trawler Guy” meant I was invited/expected to be on every new launch and every delivery of a new boat model, no matter where or what time of year.</p>
<p>In case you haven’t guessed what that means, well it’s simple. Stuff<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> breaks</strong> </span>on a new boat, sometimes important stuff. It happens on every new boat. It is the nature of boat building, essentially putting together a lot of unrelated equipment and systems that are sourced from around the world. The chance of everything working and integrating properly right out of the box, especially on its first sea voyage, is zero.</p>
<p>Not every trip or delivery became an article because of this. (I always thought a book of those misadventures would be a top seller.)</p>
<p>Sailing is wonderful, but it is not always the best way to get somewhere. It highlights the classic balance between the journey and the destination. When I go sailing, it is all about the journey. Finding the groove by tweaking natural forces is a thrill second to none.</p>
<p>Conversely, running a powerboat becomes boring rather quickly if you are just out there and there is no destination in mind. Everyone I know who bought a jet ski got bored after about two weeks.</p>
<p>No place to go is the opposite of cruising.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Read more cruising-related articles written by <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>, Founder of Passagemaker Magazine</span>:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-kind-of-cruiser-are-you">What kind of cruiser are you?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/notes-about-cruising-the-south-pacific">What to know about cruising the South Pacific</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-wish-list-a-couple-reveal-their-requirements-for-buying-a-yacht">The Wish List: A Couple's Requirements For Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">How To Provision Your Yacht For Alaska Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">How To Provision Your Yacht For Cruising In The Bahamas</a></li>
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<p>According to the dictionary, cruising is the lifestyle of living on a boat while traveling from place to place. Beyond that simple definition it is as varied as one’s imagination.</p>
<p>Some folks like to stay in their home waters as they develop the skills and confidence of boat handling while enjoying the pleasure of living aboard. A woman on a semi-custom trawler once asked me why anyone would want to go somewhere new? She liked that they knew the local anchorages and she preferred being close to home. For her, living in her tiny home at anchor was joyful enough. Nothing more complicated than that.</p>
<p>Others like to go far over the horizon, seeking new destinations or returning to familiar places they’ve been to before. It might be a tropical island or wilderness area where they have fond memories, and they hope to remain for an extended period while immersing themselves in the local life. It can be very satisfying to be in one place for a while, becoming a temporary member of a community, learning when the farmer’s market has the freshest produce, and even giving back by helping rebuild buildings and infrastructure damaged in tropical storms, which is currently happening this winter in the Bahamas. Helping rebuild paradise also makes for lasting friendships within the cruising community.</p>
<p>Cruising can be a yearly event. Snowbirds go south in the fall and head to a favorite island or other destination for the winter, especially if they have past friends who will meet them there. It becomes a seasonal community with group activities and social events of like-minded boaters. Some owners’ groups follow this model very well and it becomes an attraction to the brand. One might say this is less about cruising than it is a seasonal migration of liveaboards. But there is nothing wrong with that as a form of the cruising lifestyle.</p>
<p>(Seen below: A<a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/Grand-Banks-Yachts"> Grand Banks </a>cruising boat heads to its next destination.)</p>
<p><img title="grand banks yacht cruising" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/grand-banks-boat-cruising.jpg?cb=834AC0AE-BDD9-6815-CDB616470F95946E" alt="grand banks yacht cruising" width="800" height="395" /></p>
<p>Other cruisers have itchy feet and can’t seem to stay put very long. They are always on the go, never staying in one place except to reprovision and head out again. I know quite a few couples who feel accomplishment in checking off their list of stops along a planned cruise and yet never stop long enough to smell the roses. They might circumnavigate on a sailboat in record time or complete the Great Loop in a short number of months. (I’m not sure why that kind of cruising bothers me so much. But when I had lunch with three Midwest couples in Annapolis doing the Loop on their boats last summer, and who only stopped to have lunch with me and refill their propane tanks, they told me they expected to “do” the Chesapeake in three days, on their way up the East Coast. What is the point of that?)</p>
<p>I will argue that the ideal form of cruising for most people is somewhere in between. Once we reach a new destination, we want to discover what it has to share. An interesting waterfall, a local hot springs, or local museum or historical landmark...so much history awaits those who take the time. Guidebooks are very helpful to identify local attractions. It might take a couple of days to see it all at a leisurely pace, or a week. But after some number of days, it just feels right to move on, lest one falls into a routine that rots ships and men.</p>
<p>I find this phenomenon fascinating, whatever little voice inside us that hints that it is time to move on. I often ask cruisers how they know when it is time for them to leave, but have yet to hear a single, definitive answer.</p>
<p>An unhurried exploration of the Pacific, Southern Caribbean, or the world might be best done with no schedule. <a href="../../../../New-Northern-Marine-Yachts-For-Sale/">Northern Marine expedition trawlers</a> define the breed of heavy, full displacement expedition yachts. Starr, Zeehaen, and Meander are outstanding examples of having all the comforts of an exquisite home which is completely self-sufficient. There is no need to rush the adventure and some prefer to spend months to experience the local scenery and culture. For world cruising, this type of yacht is ideal.</p>
<p>(Seen below: The new<a href="../../../../new-yachts-for-sale/Northern-Marine-57-Raised-Pilothouse"> Northern Marine 57</a> is currently in production at the Anacortes, WA shipyard.)</p>
<p><img title="northern marine 57" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/northern-marine-57.jpg?cb=85C1700F-D272-DBCB-BBD628FEEBACD96C" alt="northern marine 57" width="800" height="430" /></p>
<p>On the flipside, there are those too busy in life to slow down, and their need for speed means they are constantly on the move. They choose a sleek, fast boat, as they don’t need the living space and storage. They fuel up every day. They are not living aboard in the same sense as a couple on a traditional trawler. They sleep on the boat, but generally eat out most evenings and stay at marinas to take care of business and be ready for a quick getaway the next morning. They blend cruising with other life demands, such as a dentist and his wife I know who like to cruise for 10 days, then fly home to continue working for three weeks before returning to the boat. The balance of work and life works for them as they hopscotch up and down the coast.</p>
<p><strong>(Read:<a href="../../../../Buying-And-Owning-Trawler-Yachts"> A Guide To Buying & Owning A Trawler Yacht</a>.)</strong></p>
<p>Of course, most of us are somewhere in the middle of the cruising spectrum. Which is why I feel the semi-displacement trawler is the best choice for most people. It allows owners to do both and everything in between. There are exceptions, of course. When we traveled north on the ICW and stopped in Daytona Beach, we were put in a slip next to a nice couple on their 48-foot Sea Ray Sunseeker from Chicago. That is certainly not a “proper” cruising boat on anyone’s short list, but it was simply the boat they owned when they retired and decided to cruise the U.S. East Coast, at trawler speed, mind you. It burned way too much fuel to go fast!</p>
<p>How one cruises can also influence the size of the cruising boat. When we enjoyed a winter in the Florida Keys, we spent a couple of months in Marathon, about halfway down the island chain. Our 36-foot Downeast cruiser was just too small for living full time in a marina, especially with a golden retriever as crew. We would have much preferred a larger trawler.</p>
<p>(Seen below: An example of a downeast cruising boat, our <a href="../../../../New-Legacy-Yachts-For-Sale/">Legacy Yachts</a> 36.)</p>
<p><img title="legacy yachts 36" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/legacy-yachts-36.jpg?cb=83843274-C8EC-938E-853EBE89D499534F" alt="legacy yachts 36" width="800" height="475" /> </p>
<p>And while I’m talking about the diversity in the power-cruising community, I must mention one Miami show when a diminutive couple approached our show booth. I asked what kind of boat they owned. The husband took out pictures of their boat and explained how they like to cruise the Florida Keys for a week or so at a time. They lived in Florida and trailer their boat down to the Keys. Their boat was a Boston Whaler 17-foot Montauk, a classic open boat they modified to fit their idea of a cruising boat. The Whaler had a full enclosure for rainy weather, a cassette toilet, and a sturdy cooler that also served as the galley counter. They had a small stove on the boat, and the couple came up with a bed configuration for sleeping. It was all they needed to go cruising.</p>
<p><strong>(Read: <a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-cruising-boat-for-you">What's The Best Cruising Boat For You</a>.)</strong></p>
<p>Another example of a pocket cruiser is the story of Dave Pike. I first met Dave and his wife in Seattle years ago. At the time they owned a <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/Kadey-Krogen-Yachts">Krogen</a> 42, which they cruised to Alaska. Years later they moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and when Dave approached a milestone birthday, he decided it was time for a solo adventure to celebrate. He bought a 15-foot Walker Bay RIB, and set it up to do the Great Loop, the 6,000-mile trip around the eastern portion of the U.S. and Canada. He planned to stay in motels each night, sleeping aboard the small boat only when necessary. As Dave is an avid pickleball player, he also arranged through its national association to play the game almost every afternoon with local players.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Dave's RIB appropriately named "Journey".)</p>
<p><img title="dave pike rib journey" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/walker-bay-journey.jpg?cb=834AC0B3-FE20-31C5-AAD7EB1589692C32" alt="dave pike rib journey" width="784" height="836" /></p>
<p>When I caught up with Dave near Annapolis, he was enjoying his adventure. He was in great shape from playing the game, and successful in finding a place to stop for the day where he could connect with fellow pickleball players, who picked him up. Dave completed his Great Loop over two summers and now has a lifetime of memories and many new friends. He said he rarely drove the RIB at speed as it was too tiring, so he mostly ran at near trawler speed. He chose the Walker Bay instead of a bigger boat so his grandchildren could later use it on the waters around Grand Rapids.</p>
<p>One day three men stopped into our offices. They wanted to tell me they were in town on their Hatteras motoryacht, heading south from Connecticut. Their wives had bid them farewell, and they planned to play every golf course they could find along the ICW down to Jacksonville. If this trip was successful, one man shared, he planned to do the same for the entire Great Loop and write a guidebook about playing golf on this popular cruising adventure.</p>
<p>And there is a new kind of cruising—some call it “resort cruising.” People buy a boat that is faster than a trawler, an efficient, get-there-safe-and-sound cruiser with complete if not elaborate accommodations, and head off to a resort, such as the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo. The couple then relax at the resort, spa treatments and all, couples massage, fine dining…a day turns into three. Then it is off to the next exotic destination with a couple of nights at anchor to round out the cruising experience. Happy wife…happy life, you bet!</p>
<p>It takes all kinds.</p>
<p>I have lived as both a mover and a stayer, but I think I am more a stayer. I like to reach a new destination, settle in, and explore and enjoy my surroundings. The urge to move on comes naturally, often when I wake up and realize we’ve done what there is to experience. Obviously if I am on a specific trip, it might seem more like a delivery, with schedules to follow to keep moving. But when I am in cruise mode, schedules are less important than favorable weather windows.</p>
<p>One’s cruising style will likely change with age. My current boat, a Hunt Harrier 25, could be set up as a cruising boat, I suppose, but now that seems more like camping than cruising to me. And the age factor explains the change in our yacht club’s cruising fleet, where the number of sailboats once so popular has given way to trawlers and faster powerboats that don’t require the strength and agility required for sailing a big boat.</p>
<p>Most of the experienced sailors I know will not cross another ocean unless the sailboat is capable of 200-mile days.</p>
<p>In our youth, it was all about the journey. But as we get older, there seems to be a shift in focus from the journey to the destination, and the next one after that.</p>
<p>At whatever speed fits our style.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Several cruising boats wait for the lock to open at Great Bridge to continue their journey.)</p>
<p><img title="cruising boats waiting for the lock to open" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/cruising-boats-wait-for-the-lock-to-open.jpg?cb=834AC0B8-C15F-4F41-3576D7393063C0EC" alt="cruising boats waiting for the lock to open" width="800" height="399" /></p>
<p>Read some of <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Bill-Parlatore">Bill Parlatore</a>'s other articles about boating:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/notes-about-cruising-the-south-pacific">What to know about cruising the South Pacific</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-wish-list-a-couple-reveal-their-requirements-for-buying-a-yacht">The Wish List: A couple reveal their requirements for buying a yacht</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising: Alaska Edition</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising: Caribbean Edition</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-trawlermans-new-years-resolution">A Trawlerman's New Year Resolution</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-case-for-the-semi-displacement-hull-shape">The case for the semi-displacement hull-shape</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-is-back">Northern Marine Is Back!</a></li>
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<p>I enjoyed researching the recent articles on provisioning for extended cruising. It brought me up to date with the realities of 2020, in many ways different from 25 years ago. So much has changed. Even the past advice to carry enormous amounts of spare parts is not what it used to be. FedEx, DHL, and other carriers routinely deliver around the world. Dealing with customs is still a pain in some countries, but at least one can now get a new heat exchanger shipped to the airport or marina. You might just have to hang around in paradise for its delivery.</p>
<p>I made up a list of provisioning questions, which helped focus our discussion. Out of curiosity I also sent them to <a href="../../../../yacht-broker/Brian-Calvert">Brian Calvert</a>, a Seattle Yachts broker at large, based in <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Philippines">Subic Bay in the Philippines</a>. I’ve known Brian for years, as he was the Selene dealer in the Pacific Northwest. After years of helping couples find the right boat and head into the sunset, when he was ready to go himself, Brian moved aboard his own <a href="../../../../Used-Yachts-For-Sale/Selene-Yachts">Selene Yachts</a> 48, and steered Furthur’s bow out of Friday Harbor towards the Pacific Ocean. After spending years among island groups across the Pacific, he eventually landed in the Philippines, where he met and later married his wife, and began a new adventure with Donna and her son Priam.</p>
<p>Brian’s comments reflect almost ten years of cruising.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Brian's boat is named "Further." and seen here in Bali.)</p>
<p><img title="Brian's boat for cruising south pacific" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/furthur-in-bali-hai.jpg?cb=10C62EAF-AACF-A096-520CB7661D85A65A" alt="Brian's boat for cruising south pacific" width="800" height="532" /></p>
<p><strong>What is your basic philosophy when preparing for extended cruising?</strong></p>
<p>We have a great deal of storage places for food, with a big freezer and 2 refrigerators. We have found we need to stock up on the things we can only find on the larger islands, mostly my American food, such as pickles and cereal, as we have been in areas where shopkeepers tell us mustard is a gourmet item. So, our philosophy is to buy big on American items when we can. But we keep in mind access to the boat. The most daunting task is often simply getting bulk supplies from the store to the boat, so we stock up when that task is easy.</p>
<p>But finding food is not hard. As I was told early on, “Wherever you go, there will be people eating.”</p>
<p>(Seen below: Further in hte background as Brian and crew take the tender to the beach.)</p>
<p><img title="tender on the beach" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/further91-dinghy-on-beach.jpg?cb=10C62EA1-E79C-70A2-95404C3E88825ACE" alt="tender on the beach" width="800" height="446" /></p>
<p><strong>Did you follow your shoreside eating habits when developing your provisioning lists?</strong></p>
<p>When I did my first long passage, I was a newbie and made colossal mistakes. My crew, who I later found out could not cook at all, bought lots of basic ingredients, such as flour, oil and such, all of which I traded for actual food in the Marquesas. Be realistic as to what you or your cook is going to do in the galley underway. We lived off frozen pizzas most of that crossing.</p>
<p>Recently we have been in a cruising cycle of six months on the boat, six months at the dock. Before we leave, we make a couple of huge shopping trips, again mostly non-perishable items we know we cannot easily get while cruising, again mostly American products.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Sometimes transporting supplies from land to your boat can be a challenge. Have fun with it!)</p>
<p><img title="transporting supplies to the boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/taking-supplies-to-the-boat-can-be-a-challenge.jpg?cb=10C62EAC-FAED-4E67-DFC845D5136D216D" alt="transporting supplies to the boat" width="800" height="600" /></p>
<p><strong>Were there items you didn’t expect to find commonly available during your travels?</strong></p>
<p>I was surprised that Costco/Kirkland products are available in remarkable places. When we were in Tonga, for example, folks kept telling me about the “American” store. When I discovered a mini Costco in a cement block building in the middle of the island, I was so happy, I bought marinated artichoke hearts!</p>
<p>One thing that most new cruisers don’t realize when cruising the Pacific, and certainly exploring Southeast Asia, one will find fantastic places to eat out cheaply, and good friends to share meals with. We eat dinner out at least half the time, some cruisers even more. Dining out can actually save you money and is way more fun.</p>
<p>(Seen below: The captain and crew share a meal at a local restaurant.)</p>
<p><img title="sharing a meal" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/captain-and-crew-dinner.jpg?cb=10C62EA9-F577-8E3A-F844627D1446EBBA" alt="sharing a meal" width="600" height="366" /></p>
<p><strong>How closely did your provisioning plans match your experience?</strong></p>
<p>In the beginning, not even close. Now, it is far better.</p>
<p>The main thing to keep in mind in Southeast Asia are the cultural and religious restrictions on what you can buy and when. Getting pork or alcohol in Muslim countries is a trick, it is doable but expensive. Another thing to consider is that Muslim countries all practice Ramadan, an amazing month-long event where the locals do not eat or drink during daylight hours. This puts a big limitation on where you can eat, and more so, when you can eat. To be a good cruiser, and leave a clean wake, one must respect such things. To be an enlightened cruiser, immerse yourself in all the local events and practices. That is why we go cruising!</p>
<p>Beef is either like shoe leather or is imported in the tropics. For whatever reason, cattle just don’t do well in the tropics. The trick is to find some Aussies as they will lead you to a good steak. Which brings up another point from my experience. There are so many Western expatriates in areas like Southeast Asia. Where one finds expats, Western food is available. If there are no expats in the area, don’t expect to find Western food.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><em>Also read Bill's articles: <a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Cruising In Alaska</a> and <a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">Provisioning For Extended Cruising In The Bahamas & Caribbean</a>.</em></strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Did you find restrictions/limitations that apply to meats, eggs, dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables, pet food, and liquor?</strong></p>
<p>As to “cleansing” our stored provisions when entering a new country, our stop in Australia reduced my provisions by six full garbage bags. The quarantine folks confiscated bizarre things, in my opinion, including a box of microwave popcorn bags. They said I might plant the corn, which was absurd.</p>
<p>Meat is available by type, region, and religion. It is possible to be in countries where locals do not eat pork one day and beef the next. All beef is imported to Southeast Asia and expensive, but I splurge sometimes. Eggs and chickens are everywhere. (Those who believe the great American myth that you must refrigerate eggs will be blown away. Absolutely no one refrigerates eggs and they last a long time if kept in a cool place. We store them in the oven. Milk is always found in a box, as there is no fresh milk without cows. Cheese is a Western thing, so stock up when you can. Ice cream can be found in most places.</p>
<p>Most of the produce and meat shopping will be in public markets. It is a wonderful experience, albeit shocking at first. You want a pork chop? In no time a chunk of meat is dropped from the ceiling, a huge clever comes out and BANG, you have a pork chop...all while someone waves a feather-type gizmo to ward off the flies. The adventurous buy the entire pig’s head.</p>
<p>Produce is generally smaller in selection and less dazzling than what you see at Whole Foods, mostly because it is truly organic and not filled with chemicals. That carrot came out of someone's backyard this morning, and that pork chop was grunting about the village yesterday.</p>
<p>All and all, I think the food is healthier here. As to the ethics of food production, well, that pig lived a free-range life, not cramped in a dark pig factory and filled with hormones. So, I believe both the pig and I are better off here.<br /> <br />I covered some alcoholic liquor issues but missed one thing. In Tonga and Niue the rules are strictly Christian, so many places are closed on Sunday. In Tonga you can be fined for drinking on Sunday. Keep a clean wake, respect the local customs, and you will enjoy your travels much more.</p>
<p>Each country I’ve visited has one or two local beers, for my beer-drinking friends. Again, find an Aussie, who seem to adapt well to these customs. Wine can be found where expatriates shop, so one must stock up. Liquor is generally very cheap as well. In most of the Philippines, a beer is a dollar, and a hard drink about the same.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Brian and Priam "face-off" at lunchtime!)</p>
<p><img title="brian and priam" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/brian-and-priam.jpg?cb=119D1D5C-B9FB-9A01-FC90DE43C62C2AEA" alt="brian and priam" width="800" height="559" /></p>
<p><strong>Any recommendations you suggest for those considering their first extended cruise?</strong></p>
<p>First and foremost, remember that wherever you go, there will be people eating. You won’t starve. Once you accept that, you must decide what you personally need to have. If you love Skippy chunky peanut butter, like I do, stock up when it is available. Don’t wander down the grocery aisles thinking “Gee, I might like this or that.” Read up on where you are going, decide what local foods you will or won’t eat. In six years in the Philippines, my wife has yet to shame me into trying Balut (duck in the egg) but I do love pork adobo.</p>
<p>If you are like me and can’t eat chili spicy foods, learn to say “NO SPICY” in the language of every country you visit!</p>
<p><strong>(Read: <a href="../../../../news/what-is-the-best-cruising-boat-for-you">What's The Best Cruising Boat For You?</a>)</strong></p>
<p><strong>What other related subjects do you feel we should explore for others looking to cast off? Spare parts, tools, communication solutions, even donations for locals?</strong></p>
<p>My crew bought several gallons of cheap Tequila in Mexico without my knowledge. I forbid it to be given to locals. Do bring a supply of school supplies and candy. Something from home is a great gift to give to local officials, or T-shirts with your boat’s name and graphic. In Tonga one must visit the chief of the village before you and your crew can swim or use local beaches. The ritual involves presenting a designated amount of Kava root and other small gifts to the chief. One must sit without the bottom of one’s feet pointed to the throne. The chief will then invite you to use their beach, and you are now essentially a member of the clan. We got invited to a feast they spent two days cooking underground. These are the things that make all that boat maintenance worthwhile. Enjoy them.</p>
<p>Regarding spares, the rule on Furthur is that if something breaks, buy two, one as a spare. If it is small and it breaks, your day or trip is ruined, so carry a spare. Each year I go to the “screw store” and buy four of each sized bolt, nut, and washer. I carry at least a spare or more of each bulb and fuse on the boat. I carry a year’s supply of filters as well. I renew my tool collection often, as we are in the tropics, where even plastic rusts. If you are coming from the U.S. you will need to get used to using metric tools, which is not a real problem.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, get a ton of WD40 products and Rust Converter, too.</p>
<p>The number of spare parts you should have varies with the size of your boat but the variety of spares required also diminishes with the size of your boat. We need nine different kinds of oil on Furthur.</p>
<p>Ok, the ninth oil is massage oil, but that is essential.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Exploring the South Pacific can lead to amazing scenery like this lagoon.)</p>
<p><img title="lagoon in south pacific by boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/further6-lagoon.jpg?cb=10C62EA5-AAC5-ECDA-2A4D90E92FA27D68" alt="lagoon in south pacific by boat" width="800" height="533" /></p> |
Notes About Cruising The South Pacific |
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A veteran cruiser talks about boating, provisions, and what to expect when exploring the South Pacific. |
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<p>Being on a self-sufficient cruise, sail or power, takes on different dimensions depending on the cruising ground. As I just wrote about <a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-bahamas-caribbean-edition">provisioning in the islands</a>, I thought it would be most enlightening to compare provisioning for a long cruise in an area quite different from the traditional winter playgrounds of Mexico, the Bahamas, and Caribbean.</p>
<p>I recently spoke with David Allen, a veteran Alaskan cruiser from La Conner, Washington. David and his wife, Marilyn, have cruised to Alaska numerous times, and they fully understand what to bring and what to expect along the typical summer-long travel through the beautiful Pacific Northwest up through British Columbia and into Alaskan waters.</p>
<p>David told me he begins his cruise planning by careful setting up a high-level route from his home in La Conner to their chosen end destination, often Sitka, Alaska. He knows how wonderful it is to veer off a straight course, out of the main channels, and explore remote islands and bays. But he also knows how easy it can be to get lost from these detours and side trips, as the tremendous number of enchanting islands and waterways create a landscape which pretty much blends together.</p>
<p>To avoid any confusion, he finds it very helpful to have that high-level route saved on the plotter. No matter where the boat is, he only has to zoom out from his current position to find the closest point along the main route to reconnect to the high-level route on the chart. This has worked well for them.</p>
<p>For years, the couple cruised aboard Sunday, their Nordic Tug 37. The boat had three freezers for the provisions they stored in preparation of the trip. They count out the number of days they expect to be gone, and provision accordingly. They then store steaks, chicken, pork chops, ground beef, and all the other perishables they plan to eat. They vacuum bag all meats on a meal level, rather than simply freezing bulk packaging.</p>
<p>Today the couple cruise on a Grand Banks, appropriately named Sunday II. She is one of the last 32-footers the builder made. “The more freezer space you have the better,” David told me. “Fill them with staples and then supplement the space that becomes available with the salmon and crabs you will no doubt catch along the way.”</p>
<p>(Seen below: Marilyn holding us an 8" Dungeness Crab!)</p>
<p><img title="dungeness crab on cruise to alaska" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/alaska-crab-on-boat-cruise.jpg?cb=086136F9-B386-D864-72CD05F441F01D91" alt="dungeness crab on cruise to alaska" width="800" height="544" /></p>
<p>(Seen below: Marilyn working on cleaning the mussels that were just harvested.)</p>
<p><img title="cleaning mussels provisioning your yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/cleaning-mussels-just-harvested.jpg?cb=086136F5-9BEC-8505-77C05294FB1C6C4E" alt="cleaning mussels provisioning your yacht" width="800" height="508" /></p>
<p>(Seen below: The meal is complete! What a satisfying experience to eat fresh seafood on your own boat, cruising Alaskan waters.)</p>
<p><img title="dinner on board your boat" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/dinner.jpg?cb=086136F0-D318-5EE8-0516D1674FFD7400" alt="dinner on board your boat" width="800" height="542" /></p>
<p>Restocking salad and fresh vegetables is easy while cruising to Alaska, as there are many wonderful places to stop for fresh water, fuel, and all kinds of provisions. David shared his list of major stops on his high-level route from La Conner to Sitka:</p>
<p><br />• Nanaimo BC<br />• Campbell River BC<br />• Alert Bay BC<br />• Port Hardy BC<br />• Bella Bella BC<br />• Prince Rupert BC<br />• Ketchikan AK<br />• Wrangell AK<br />• Petersburg AK<br />• And finally, Juneau or Sitka (they prefer Sitka).</p>
<p>This list works for anyone leaving from around the Pacific Northwest, whether it is <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Seattle-Washington">Seattle</a>, <a href="../../../../Yacht-Sales-And-Brokerage-In-Anacortes-Washington">Anacortes</a>, Bellingham, or any number of other home or charter bases. Make sure your boat is in excellent condition and bring the proper spares with you. When you look over the charts along the from these major stops, you can see you will travel through very remote areas, with no towboat services easily hailed on the VHF radio.</p>
<p>When provisioning, David suggests that you be aware of crew preferences for a particular brand of item, whether it is peanut butter, cheese, cut of meat, or whatever. Buy enough for the trip. You may still be able to restock it during the cruise, but it may not be the same brand or flavor.</p>
<p>We’ve all heard and expect that food and other consumables are more expensive in the remote areas of Alaska and British Columbia. But how much more expensive is it today? Ah, the beauty of the Internet! I spent a little researching this very subject, exploring the shelves of grocery stores located in some of the towns mentioned on David’s list. It was fun.</p>
<p>I compared local groceries I routinely buy in Annapolis with the same (or similar) products from different grocery stores in Canada and Alaska. (Currently $1.00 CAD equals $0.76 USD.) Highlights include:</p>
<p>• Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 8-oz, is $3.29 at my local grocery, and is $5.19 at the Safeway in Ketchikan. Quality Foods in Campbell River, B.C. sells the same product for $3.99.</p>
<p>• Fresh bananas can be found at the Wrangell IGA for $0.89 a pound. My local market sells them for $0.57 a pound.</p>
<p>• Fresh XL eggs are $1.69/dozen in Annapolis, $5.69/dozen in Ketchikan, and $3.99/dozen in Campbell River.</p>
<p>• Fairlife Ultra-Filtered Whole Milk (52oz) is $4.49 in Annapolis, same product in Wrangell and Ketchikan sells for $5.69.</p>
<p>• Bounty Select-A-Size six-pack paper towels in Annapolis is $10.99, same product in Wrangell and Ketchikan is $17.69.</p>
<p>• Scott Bathroom Tissue, Unscented, 1-Ply, 12-roll pack for $12.79 in Annapolis, same product in Wrangell and Ketchikan is $12.49.</p>
<p>Another consideration besides food pricing and availability relates to the regulations and restrictions when crossing into Canada from the U.S. on the way to Alaska. The latest information on the official website (https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/pb-pp-eng.html) also has a specific warning that cruisers bringing in any form of CBD oil, for any purpose, is illegal. This is odd, as cannabis (marijuana) is legal in Canada. Be warned.</p>
<p>The Canada Border Services Agency lists limits about how much one can bring across the border in terms of baked goods, dairy products, meats, fish and seafood, fruits and vegetables, even cut flowers. The limits are quite reasonable, in my opinion, for cruising on a boat. Twenty kilograms (44 lbs.) of meat, poultry, and dairy each per person in not very limiting. Coming from the U.S. through Canadian Customs is pretty straightforward, generally handled by phone at the border.</p>
<p>Wine, beer, and liquor, on the other hand, are quite restricted and one is limited to two bottles of wine, or 24 cans of beer, or one large bottle of liquor free of duty and taxes. Better to limit the amount of alcohol while passing through Canada and purchase your evening libations when you arrive in Alaska. I also hear there are some great Canadian wines from the Okanagan region that are worth seeking out while in British Columbia.</p>
<p>David said they usually wait until Ketchikan where there are fully stocked liquor stores and supermarkets with all the groceries one could ask for. I was surprised at the tremendous selection I found online. I was able to many of the same labels of most kinds of wine, beer, and liquor as well.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Fishing while cruising can also be a great way to re-stock your supply with fresh salmon!)</p>
<p><img title="cruising boat salmon" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/salmon-caught.jpg?cb=086136EC-A67D-AB72-5F56E36F1574DF8F" alt="cruising boat salmon" width="681" height="941" /></p>
<p>The Allens were once boarded and searched by a Canadian Border Patrol officer. She spent a half-hour looking through their Nordic Tug (with David and Marilyn off the boat). Her comment after getting off their boat was “Well Stocked!” She made no mention of the quantity of meat or cheese.</p>
<p>The couple does not stock the boat for guests, and they are not shy about asking visitors to bring their own liquor and snacks. That is fair enough.</p>
<p>One interesting comment mentioned was that they eat on the boat much the same as they eat at home. Marilyn stocks the boat with the ingredients she will need to make an apple or blackberry pie if the mood strikes. Eating aboard is no different than being at home.</p>
<p>While they like to get out of the main channels to explore, they still have all they need, except for fresh food that is consumed, such as milk and eggs. But even the small village stores along the way have these basic, as the shopkeepers support the local neighborhood. Just expect to pay more.</p>
<p>One reason they enjoy Sitka so much is the weekly farm truck barged up from Wenatchee, Washington, loaded with fresh fruit, vegetables, and other products. Have farmer’s market will travel.</p>
<p>The Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska cruising season runs from May to September. It is generally nice weather, but be prepared for rain, with rubber boots, hats, and foul weather gear.</p>
<p>The run from La Conner to Sitka is about 1,000nm. Cruising at 8.5 knots for 8 hours a day, it takes about 13 days to make the trip north. The Allens only stop at marinas if they need fuel, water, or supplies, or to see local attractions. The rest of the time they drop the anchor and put out a crab pot.</p>
<p>Speaking of local attractions, they have on occasion made a point of spending July 4th in the Alaskan town of Tenakee Springs. The town is known for its traditional and funky celebration with kids, games, a big party and parade, complete with the town’s one vehicle, a firetruck. It is a day of celebration that includes a slimy “slug slinging” contest as a fundraiser. After this fun holiday, they begin their cruise south again, and the rest of July through September is spent enjoying the picturesque San Juan Islands.</p>
<p>(Seen below: The July 4th Tenakee Celebration. Photo cred: Alaskan Channel.)</p>
<p><img title="tenakee celebration" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/tenakee-jusy-4-celebration.jpg?cb=08A1F1A0-0143-D688-0B33153D0227A422" alt="tenakee celebration" width="800" height="510" /></p>
<p>I remember visiting the bear and eagle observatory in Anan Bay, outside Wrangell. The park rangers carried shotguns, as bear outnumber humans during the season. I asked David about this and he does not recommend bringing firearms of any kind. While it is okay to have a hunting rifle or shotgun on the boat for possible use in remote portions of Alaska, these “non-restricted” firearms must still be declared crossing into Canada and the proper paperwork filed and signed in the presence of a Canadian customs officer. David has done it, but as he has never needed a firearm, he no longer feels it necessary to have a shotgun aboard. He did say that one can avoid the hassle of crossing through Canada with a firearm by shipping it ahead to the harbor master at a major destination in Alaska.</p>
<p>Despite the rugged remoteness of this wilderness part of the world, the camaraderie is strong, and boaters are always willing and eager to help other cruisers and fishermen. The locals are also ready to help with any emergency. It is the way of life up here, people supporting and depending on each other.</p>
<p>Life is good when you go cruising in the Pacific Northwest and Southeast Alaska. I never tire of its charm and rugged wilderness. One can spend a lifetime here, and the natural beauty and majestic wildlife are just good for the soul. David and Marilyn know this well, and I thank them for sharing their experience and local knowledge.</p>
<p>I did note that one can readily find Marmite Yeast Extract in British Columbia if you have a taste for it. A 125-gram jar is only $5.99 in Campbell River. Yum…or not.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/extend-your-sailing-life">Extend Your Sailing Life</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/catching-up-with-white-pearl">Catching Up With White Pearl</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/coming-to-the-dark-side-moving-from-a-sailboat-to-a-trawler">Moving From A Sailboat To A Trawler</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/yearly-engine-service-and-beyond">Yearly Engine Service And Beyond</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/sometimes-its-all-about-simplicity">Sometimes It's All About Simplicity</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-bucket-a-true-story">The Bucket: A True Story</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/essential-supplies-for-extended-cruising">Essential Supplies For Extended Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">The Exhausting Need To Keep Up With New Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/have-a-backup-plan">Have A Backup Plan!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-exhaust-systems-are-better-by-design">Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/cruising-boats-come-of-age">Cruising Boats Come Of Age</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/going-world-cruising-not-so-fast">Going World Cruising? Not So Fast</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-engines-are-in-your-boat">What Engines Are In Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/getting-ready-for-the-great-loop">Getting Ready For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-winning-great-loop-strategy">A Winning Great Loop Strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Tips For Cruising South</a></li>
</ul> |
Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Alaskan Edition |
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Bill Parlatore discusses the need for properly provisioning your yacht when travelling to Alaska by boat. |
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<p>One of the most important activities getting your boat ready to spend a winter in the Islands is provisioning. Unlike cruising in home or coastal waters, once you cross the Gulf Stream and begin exploring the many fabulous islands and anchorages that await you, it is vital to be self-sufficient. There is not Door Dash or Uber Eats, at least not yet, and a couple expecting to enjoy the winter months down island must bring much of their provisions with them.</p>
<p>Many of the more-populated islands have well-stocked supermarkets, liquor stores, and marine chandleries, especially if there is a sizable charter fleet operating out of the area. But that is simply not the case for many of the other places you will be drawn to. And if you do come across stores with items to restock your pantry, you will be shocked at the cost of these supplies. Everything is flown in or shipped from somewhere else, and the costs ramp up accordingly.</p>
<p>To check on the latest helpful suggestions for the rest of us, I contacted Hugh Scarth and Maria Boudreau, a Canadian couple who are the new owners of White Pearl, a <a href="../../../../New-Hampton-Yachts-For-Sale/">Hampton 55</a> PHMY, safely anchored in Boot Key Harbor in Marathon, in the Florida Keys. The couple waits patiently, along with dozens of other sail and power boats, for a favorable weather window to cross the Gulf Stream over to the Bahamas. There is no need to get beat up from contrary winds and waves. Waiting it out is what prudent cruisers do.</p>
<p>Long time sailors, Hugh told me they prefer to anchor out most of the time, rather than hop from marina to marina, which is more typical of the motoryacht lifestyle. Even though the Hampton 55 is well suited for their needs in terms of space and livability, they felt it necessary to make some changes to better fit the boat for life on the hook.</p>
<p>(Seen below: Hugh and Maria on White Pearl.)</p>
<p><img title="yacht owners" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/yacht-owners.jpg?cb=060A1CFD-D8F3-9FBF-1D46DD280D8F1A20" alt="yacht owners" width="400" height="472" /></p>
<p>They ditched the original 40-lb anchor and replaced it with an 88-lb Rocna, a much better choice for anchoring security. Hugh said they also recently installed a 1280-watt solar array to charge the house batteries while at anchor. Most motoryachts are power hungry beasts that come equipped with full-size domestic appliances and systems that require a constant supply of electrical power, far more than the typical cruising sailboat or trawler set up for self-sufficiency away from marinas.</p>
<p>“The boat came with a spare alternator, props, starter motor, a cruising kit for the generator, water pump, complete set of tools, and filters,” Hugh told me. “All this is extremely expensive, but you’ve got to have it. I am not a mechanic, but I can do some of it myself.”</p>
<p>Maria found checklists on Pinterest that served as templates to remind her of provisions she would need. She already knows what lasts in the climate of the Bahamas and Caribbean. Meat is always frozen, so the boat has a freezer stocked with all the meat they might need on the trip. (In their experience, meat is generally not of the highest quality if you can even find it, so it is best to bring your own.)</p>
<p>Pets are not a problem for cruising the Bahamas, according to Hugh, if the paperwork is in order. Stock up on all your pet food, however, as you will not likely find it on grocery shelves.</p>
<p>They purchase their canned goods, such as tomatoes and vegetables, while in the U.S., as well as all baking and cooking supplies that Maria anticipates needing, including flour and sugar. Same with toothpaste, paper towels, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies. Once in the Bahamas, some of these products will be few and far between outside of major towns and chartering centers. And expensive.</p>
<p>Maria found it difficult in the past to replenish galley spices and recommends packing all the spices one might need for the duration. She loves curry, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, coriander, and makes sure she has plenty on the boat. “Better looking at it than looking for it!” She also stocked 16 pounds of butter in the freezer. She never ran out.</p>
<p>The ultra-filtered, lactose-free milk we find in stores today has a long shelf life, and is a better bet than regular milk. Box milk is also a great backup, especially if you put it in the fridge the night before.</p>
<p>Fresh produce and bread are easily replenished in most towns in the islands, so there is less of a worry about running out. But other food you take for granted, such as peanut butter, are best bought ahead of time, as it is less likely to be found on the shelves of smaller grocery stores. And if you do find it, it will be very expensive.</p>
<p>One should stock up with all sizes of Ziploc bags, as anything that can go stale once opened needs to be in a Ziploc bag.</p>
<p>Buy lots of beer and wine. They are considered a luxury and are taxed heavily. The social aspects of cruising in paradise leads to frequent sundowners, cruisers coming together for drinks and snacks while discussing the problems of the world and waiting for the Green Flash. It is common for cruisers to bring appetizers to these gatherings, especially if the hosts provide the beer and wine.</p>
<p>To emphasize the social elements of cruising, Hugh and Maria agree that one should bring more food and liquor than you might otherwise carry. Potato chips are very expensive in the Bahamas, so stock up. Same with Granola bars and other snacks.</p>
<p>Any family or friends asked to join for a portion of the cruise are expected to contribute. “We’re not a hotel,” Hugh joked. But the idea of guests aboard really doesn’t happen frequently, as most friends you’ll encounter are found in the anchorage, on their own boats. Hugh recommends making boat cards, as they come in very handy when you meet other cruisers. Complete with a picture of the owners and the boat but leave the back of the card blank for comments.</p>
<p>Hugh and Maria make a list of where everything is in the boat. Remembering where things are is important and sometimes it’s hard to remember. Make a diagram of where things are as well as an inventory.</p>
<p>(Seen Below: How much is too much? This fridge is fully stocked to feed a crew.)</p>
<p><img title="provisions in fridge on yacht" src="../../../../photos/articles/correct/provisions-for-yacht-cruising.jpg?cb=060A1D01-EA31-5204-E9E0F8B5F47AB269" alt="provisions in fridge on yacht" width="400" height="511" /></p>
<p>Besides food and drink provisioning, Hugh, a retired surgeon, suggests bringing along extra eyeglasses, antibiotics and all medicines, prescription and generic, as well as sunscreen and Tylenol. A boat’s first-aid kit can be easily supplemented with additional medicines and lotions, bandages, and items specific to your situation. Talk to your family doctor for suggestions. Hugh recommends having a supply of Steri-Strips and Dermabond or other liquid bandage products in the first-aid kit.</p>
<p>With respect to the concept of a motoryacht as a self-sufficient cruising boat, Hugh tries to find a happy medium for generator use, balancing use of the electric stove and oven with other activities that require the generator. The couple uses a small butane camping stove in the morning to make coffee instead of firing up the ship’s generator. Good idea.</p>
<p>(I plan a future article on how to set up a motoryacht as a cruising boat, one that can live away from marina umbilical cords. It should be an interesting exercise.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>Also read Bill's articles: <a href="../../../../news/provisioning-your-yacht-for-extended-cruising-alaskan-edition">Provisioning Your Yacht For Alaska Cruising</a> and <a href="../../../../news/notes-about-cruising-the-south-pacific">Notes About Cruising & Provisioning In The South Pacific</a></strong></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>As to the mechanical side of provisioning, one suggestion offered is to hire a professional mechanic to come aboard and go over all systems. Hugh found the exercise hugely helpful, as the mechanic found 12 separate sacrificial anodes in the boat, including two in the fin stabilizers. Hugh was then able to purchase the correct supply of zincs, impellers, and other spares before he left. This is a great idea.</p>
<p>One requirement that Hugh and Maria insist on is installing a watermaker on the boat. “You just have to have a watermaker if you are going to the Bahamas,” Hugh said. Otherwise it becomes an unnecessary focus to ration water, which is just so not necessary these days. This is cruising, not camping.</p>
<p>And Hugh says it is a good idea to bring cash, especially in the Bahamas. “Not all vendors take credit cards,” he said, “and ATMs are almost non-existent.” Bring backup credit cards from another bank or account in case your normal cards are somehow compromised.</p>
<p>When their long cruise on White Pearl comes to an end, the couple plan to haul their Hampton 55 in Grenada for the off season.</p>
<p>I offer a few additional suggestions, learned from experience.</p>
<p>If you drink plenty of water, as you should when cruising, you may be a fan of sparkling water like I am. I find it more interesting than drinking plain water all day long. But I do not recommend stocking up with cases and cases of liter bottles of seltzer, for the obvious reasons of storage and creating significant single-use plastic waste.</p>
<p>Instead I recommend you purchase a SodaStream machine (https://sodastream.com/), which creates sparkling water using carbonating cylinders. One cylinder is enough for about 60 liters of seltzer. SodaStream also sells numerous flavored drops and mixes that can be added to the seltzer, although I often mix it with pineapple or other fruit juices.</p>
<p>I also suggest you consider a bread machine for your galley. The smell of freshly baked bread is one of life’s simple pleasures, and it is so easy these days using those countertop machines from Sunbeam, Cuisinart, and others. A three month’s supply of yeast comes in a jar and stores easily. Your crew will be all smiles whenever the cook bakes interesting breads, buns, and pastry.</p>
<p>By now, White Pearl is over the horizon, her crew living the dream. Fair winds and following seas, Hugh and Maria. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience with us.</p>
<p>We’ll enjoy hearing all about your adventures when you get back from paradise!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="https://www.boatbvi.com/" target="_blank">Boat BVI </a>provides top line crewed sailing and power vessels in the British Virgin Islands and the Caribbean.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Our follow-up with the White Pearl can be read here: <a href="../../../../news/catching-up-with-white-pearl">Catching Up With White Pearl</a></strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Enjoy these other boating and cruising articles:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="../../../../news/extend-your-sailing-life">Extend Your Sailing Life</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/coming-to-the-dark-side-moving-from-a-sailboat-to-a-trawler">Moving From A Sailboat To A Trawler</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/yearly-engine-service-and-beyond">Yearly Engine Service And Beyond</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/sometimes-its-all-about-simplicity">Sometimes It's All About Simplicity</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-bucket-a-true-story">The Bucket: A True Story</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/essential-supplies-for-extended-cruising">Essential Supplies For Extended Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-exhausting-need-to-keep-up">The Exhausting Need To Keep Up With New Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/have-a-backup-plan">Have A Backup Plan!</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/northern-marine-exhaust-systems-are-better-by-design">Northern Marine Exhaust Systems Are Better</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/cruising-boats-come-of-age">Cruising Boats Come Of Age</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/changing-rituals">Changing Rituals</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/did-wisdom-come-to-the-ancient-mariner">Did Wisdom Come To The Ancient Mariner?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/going-world-cruising-not-so-fast">Going World Cruising? Not So Fast</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/what-engines-are-in-your-boat">What Engines Are In Your Boat?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/letting-go-but-still-in-control">Letting Go But Still In Control</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/learning-to-handle-a-new-boat">Learning To Handle A New Boat</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/improving-the-user-experience">Improving The User Experience</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-paradigm-shift-in-cruising" target="_blank">A Paradigm Shift In Cruising</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/consider-buddy-boating">Consider Buddy Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-matter-of-staying-safe-while-boating">A Matter Of Staying Safe While Boating</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/i-am-going-cruising-should-i-carry-a-gun">Should I Carry A Gun While Cruising?</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-boaters-three-to-five-year-plan">A Boater's 3-to-5 Year Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/the-evolution-of-the-trawler-yacht">The Evolution Of The Trawler Yacht</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/getting-ready-for-the-great-loop">Getting Ready For The Great Loop</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/a-winning-great-loop-strategy">A Winning Great Loop Strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="../../../../news/tips-for-cruising-south-or-preparing-for-the-great-loop">Tips For Cruising South</a></li>
</ul> |
Provisioning Your Yacht For Extended Cruising - Bahamas & Caribbean Edition |
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Getting your boat ready to spend the winter in the Bahamas or Caribbean means making sure its adequately stocked. |
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