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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 21, 2015 - 01:07pm PT
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This year I have done two trips to the tropical oceans. The first was in May on Oahu to visit the place I lived the first 5 years of my life. I had some very good clear memories of the place and even managed to find one of the homes we lived at by landmarks and a neighbor of ours who still lived there. (Nanakuli). 40 years had passed and I knew I was going to love Hawaii.. part of me had missed it ever since we left.
I loved the water and the snorkeling and exploring so much that I made a trip to Puerto Rico in September.. went all over the place , rented a boat in La Parguera, snorkeled across a mile of bay on Culebra..WOW .. yeah the Tropical Oceans are calling..I'm as excited as I was when I first started climbing mountains.
Been studying non-stop learning about a whole new world (to me).
I have some small amount of experience using inflatable boats (zodiac type stuff), Been watching youtubes of various things own a copy of Chapmans piloting..blah blah ..am now a certified n00b ready for "yer gunna die" on the ocean.
Have a new dream.. Pretty serious about taking 3 months off .. buying a small R.I.B. or similar unsinkable small cabinless craft (13 to 17ft) 25hp outboard (plus smaller backup) planable at 20+Knots and heading out across the Caribbean from Miami down the Bahamas. If I catch good weather and have gained enough experience/confidence perhaps continue past the Dominican and Puerto Rico, to the Virgin Islands and onward. Or perhaps just chill out never go past Exuma..lol.
Anyone here with experience cruising the Caribbean? Contacts for purchasing a reliable very inexpensive tender type craft and motors in south Florida?
The basic concept is akin to a car camping roadtrip in small station wagon.. many boaters would consider it foolhardy.. a few old timers.. not at all if patient with weather.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 21, 2015 - 03:31pm PT
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This is where I spent my first day on earth, Mom and Dad took me swimming right here on May 24th 1971. Age 1 day.
Best skinny dipping spot evah!
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GuapoVino
climber
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Nov 21, 2015 - 05:35pm PT
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Very cool plan. Have you thought about using a sailboat instead of an open cockpit motorboat? I'm working towards doing something along those lines and bought a very small sailboat, taught myself to sail and have been taking lessons in bigger boats. Recently I've been going down with my folding kayak.
A good website for cruisers is noonsite.com. You can find info on cruising to different locations.
There's a good Facebook group called Sailing and Cruising. I think it has about 5000 members and it seems like half of them are cruising around the Caribbean. You can ask almost any question, especially about the Caribbean, and somebody will have an answer.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 21, 2015 - 05:49pm PT
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TY for the facebook reference!
I have looked at micro sailboats as an option but I have no experience and no good way to gain sailing experience. Also one main concern I have (perhaps unwarrented) is speed. Crossing the gulf stream can take off 3 to 4 knots. Which on a perfect weather (calm) day knocks out perhaps half or all of your speed. Plus i simply have zero sailing experience. I do have whitewater rafting experience and powered inflatable experience. I have confidence in that type of craft in seas far worse than I plan to ever risk.
I am a big fan of speed=safety. Mountains or ocean this seems applicable especially if using craft not normally considered seaworthy. ie under 25 feet or so. That said no one in the powerboat community would consider 20 to 25 knots particularly fast.. however it is very speedy if looking at sailboats in calm seas.
I have to do this on a very low budget. Time I can have in abundance ..so I can wait for those 1 ft or under days and then zip across any longish crossings..hopefully with a buddy boat but perhaps not... with such a small slow craft that invites ridicule.. (60 miles max from what I am seeing) in say 3 to 4 hours at most. With a 4stroke 25hp tohatsu or mercury that would be under 6 gallons fuel.
I am definately talking out my ass a bit since I have such rediculously limited experience. But the more I research the more this seems very doable
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GuapoVino
climber
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Nov 21, 2015 - 06:26pm PT
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Go on FB and find a guy named Shannon Falcone. He's a professional sailor (Americas Cup crew, etc) and right now is in the middle of a 1000 mile trip through the Caribbean in an open cockpit motor boat. You can find some pictures of it on his FB page. He started in Ft Lauderdale and is going through the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands to his home island of Antigua.
You can find plenty of videos on YouTube of people crossing from FL to the Bahamas on small boats and jet skis. Isn't it about 70 miles? Seems risky but a lot of people do it.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 21, 2015 - 06:31pm PT
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Miami to bimini is about 60 miles... been done on jet skis many many times but always with buddy boats... back in day stories I have read of many folks doing the crossing in 14ft Whalers and a compass. leave early in AM calm... not many doing stuff like that last decade or so apparently. Kinda hard to miss Bimini even if only dead reconning.. just aim a bit south..hit the shelf and turn north if need to. Of course GPS makes this ridiculously easy.
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Sweet.. Falcone is doing pretty much the trip I'm thinking about but with hella (30x to be exact) more power. I do have one advantage though...dirtbag and minimalist camping capability. WOW he is on Day 5 and apparently already crossing to Hispaniola. ..My plan that would be about day 30 to 60 lol.
He is in way too much a rush to enjoy that amazing world he is crossing. How ya gunna meet any pretty girls going that fast?
Wow the sat update page shows he is already in the Virgin Islands. Weather is crappy last few days too...lol... 8ft plus seas..gives me a lot of confidence. Dude shoulda gone with a hydrofoil in the summer and knocked a day or two off that speedrun.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Nov 21, 2015 - 06:56pm PT
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hey there say, ... wow, you guys... this is very interesting...
best wishes to you, on your separate adventures, boat-wise...
:)
also:
thanks for sharing the pics, climbski2...
:)
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 21, 2015 - 06:56pm PT
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Hell ya Guapo! that's what I'm talkin bout!! Slightly different but basically the same.
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GuapoVino
climber
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Nov 21, 2015 - 07:17pm PT
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There's a few people on here that are actually doing it. Base104 has some old posts with pics of his 27' Albin Vega. I've seen a few more people posting some awesome pics and stories.
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Dropline
Mountain climber
Somewhere Up There
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Nov 22, 2015 - 09:01am PT
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Although speed can equal safety, speed doesn't assure safety. Ocean weather is at times poorly forecast. With just a little wind your itty bitty boat will be going nowhere fast. If you're in the gulf stream and there is any wind at all out of the north you will be utterly screwed.
If you do embark on this Gilliganish adventure, bring an EPIRB at least. That way if things go seriously wrong the coasties will be able to find you. And bring a Type I PFD.
The two teen boys who disappeared off Jupiter FL this past summer were in a boat similar to the one you are considering. Although young they had a lot of time on the water under their belts already. Things went wrong for them. They had no EPIRB on board and were never found.
"After nearly two days of searching, the Coast Guard said Sunday that teams had spotted the 19-foot boat in which the teens had been traveling. The capsized vessel was discovered 67 nautical miles off Florida's Ponce de Leon Inlet, the Coast Guard said."
Good luck. A trip report would be great.
PS- Don't put too much faith in what safety an "unsinkable" boat provides. If a wave flips your boat upside down then it will be useless to you. The boat those teens were on was found capsized but still afloat and the two were nowhere to be found. In another Florida accident, http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/improper-anchoring-flipped-nfl-players-boat-in-gulf-accident-that-killed/987524, an unsinkable Everglades 21cc flipped due to operator error in the Gulf of Mexico. Three of the four men aboard ultimately died. Again, these guys had no EPIRB. The lone survivor recounted how they could see search aircraft in the distance and how one search aircraft flew right over without seeing them.
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john hansen
climber
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Nov 22, 2015 - 10:35am PT
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One time a friend and I took a ten ft zodiac with a 15 horse motor, out of wiapio valley on the Big Island.
We were going to putt over to Wiamanu valley about a mile down the coast.
There is a current that runs between Maui and Hawaii island, about 2 knots or so.
We got about 1/2 mile out and the motor died.
After a few minutes we got it started again and immediately headed back the way we came, with our tails between our legs. That was a very sobering few minutes till that engine started up.
We would have had no chance of reaching shore with our two oars. Next stop, Guam..
Every couple months , I read about a lone fishermen in 18 or 20 ft boats being overdue. They always search a few days but rarely find them. Happens all the time over here.
The ocean does not care about you or your little boat. You can respect it but it does not respect you.
Be careful out there.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 22, 2015 - 01:49pm PT
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Ty for the tips and issues to consider. I do have a short list of things that are my main concerns. Flipping or getting separated from the craft at the very top. Loss of propulsion being 3rd. Microburst or other rapidly occurring weather issues are very much a concern. Clearly getting into a life threatening situation would be a real failure... but even requiring assistance is something I do not wish to occur and is simply not something I'm willing to take much chance of. I am glad to be very patient and wait for perfect crossings (preferably with new friends and multiple boats) or just be content to explore the Florida coasts if that becomes the only safe course.
Beacon and waterproof handheld VHF are among things that I will have to be wearing and have secured well to my person on any crossing. Developing a dependable system for righting the craft if flipped is also something I want to master. (although I really really really should not allow any serious risk of that to occur)
One of the reason I want to start from Florida is to be able to take whatever time I need to get things sorted out along the keys and really know If I trust the equipment and conditions.
This is a medium term goal..Within the next 18 months depending on finances.
Really hoping develop some contacts with people in the caribbean and Florida who can help point me in some good directions. Locals are indispensable sources of information.
2 really trustworthy inexpensive used small outboards are going be a key to pulling this off
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Nov 22, 2015 - 02:00pm PT
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climbski, you can't buy sailing experience. Learning to sail isn't that
hard, but learning sea sense doesn't have short cuts. You can read a lot
of stuff that will stand you in good stead IF you can remember it when the
sh1t hits the fan but usually book learning doesn't stick too well or
resurrect itself under duress. The sea is at least as unforgiving as the
mountains. But I gather you already know all that. Good on you for being
sensible. A good stout power boat is not to be looked down upon, either,
especially if it has redundant power systems.
signed,
Cap'n Pissgums
Sailing in Alaska - keepin' one hand on the bottle and the other on the
throttle, so to speak.
And do some research here:
http://www.yachtingworld.com/features/epirbs-plbs-and-man-overboard-aids-62213
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SGropp
Mountain climber
Eastsound, Wa
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Nov 22, 2015 - 09:29pm PT
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It always seemed like taking the lessons you've learned climbing mountains to the ocean is the logical next step.
Starting in 1979 , I started making a series of long voyages in small human powered boats on the east and west coasts of Canada and Alaska. This was in either a traditional rowing dory, a wood framed canvas and rubber folding kayak or a light single fiberglas kayak .
The shortest trip was 5 1/2 weeks , the longest 5 months to Newfoundland and the coast of Labrador.
I either went alone or with my wife. These were all on a very minimal budget, no publicity or sponsorship of any kind, no electronic gadgets and the most basic equipment.
In the course of seven seasons, we covered over 6,000 nautical miles by oar and paddle on some very wild and and rugged coastlines .
The longest open crossing was about 25 miles on the central coast of Labrador. We made it halfway across before an offshore gale came out of the barren interior, sweeping the kayak with endless breaking waves just a few degrees above freezing. The boat was like a living thing, flexing and moving like a wild creature swimming in the frantic sea.
At that point, i realized that a properly designed, built and loaded small craft was capable of enduring far more punishment than it's human crew.
The dory was the same way, with enough sea room the best tactic in a heavy gale was to lie in the bottom and let her drift stern quarter to, rising to every breaking sea .
The trick is to have enough time to allow you to travel when conditions are favorable, lie low on shore when the weather is bad. Even a really small boat can carry enough food and gear for a month in cold conditions, probably more in more temperate climates.
Prepare to be self sufficient, don't count on being rescued or even being seen if you fuk up.
There is a long, long tradition and history of extended travels in small boats all over the world, most of it undocumented and unremarked.
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Bargainhunter
climber
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Nov 22, 2015 - 09:55pm PT
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SGropp, that is an amazing post!
The longest open crossing was about 25 miles on the central coast of Labrador.
Holy Shit! You state that so casually!
While I get Climbtoski2 is into mechanize boat travel, I'd suggest that he look into some small sailboats that, while not as fast, will likely in the long run provide more enjoyment, quiet, sustainability, and adventure.
Check out the West Wight Potter boats in 15 and 19 feet. They are blue water worthy and but with retractable keels and can be trailered and beached easily. I'd love to explore the BC coast in something like that and use it to approach mountaineering objectives. The Voyager 20 is a fixed keel boat that's a bit better for cruising and handles better, but isn't beachable like the Potters.
More than 20 years ago I sailed from San Diego to Hawaii on a 39 footer with two others, kind of a tame trip compared to climbing adventures. I was hoping that we'd hit rough weather and have to bail into the life raft for survival, but that adventure never happened...
For more adventures like SGropp's, read Jill Fredston's book "Rowing to Latitude".
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Nov 22, 2015 - 09:57pm PT
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Went back and forth across the pacific twice with the navy on large ships - both about 600ft, one 10k tons, the other 20k tons - both of which, in typhoons and 80-100 seas, might as well been frigging corks. I've always considered the sea far more unforgiving than the mountains as a result.
It should be noted there are essentially next to no bodies of water which are truly benign, even Lake Michigan where I grew up is an extensive wreck graveyard.
Bottom line is, unless you have a seriously seaworthy craft (even if small) and heavy weather experience, then the name of the game is having a more than necessary stretch of good weather for each leg of the passage and definitely the EPRIB / leash / survival suite (even in warm water) as mentioned by other folks above.
That all said, good luck with your new adventures.
P.S. Have a friend on Maui who, in his sixties, rowed a dory to Lanai from Lahina and back on a fairly regular basis. He seemed to have an innate sense of how to compensate for the current out in the Au'au channel.
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Bargainhunter
climber
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Nov 22, 2015 - 10:13pm PT
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What Healyje said above must be heeded:
definitely the EPRIB / leash / survival suite (even in warm water)
There is quite a bit written on survival at sea.
Chance favors the prepared mind. We had a hand pump reverse osmosis water maker for our life raft as well, fish hooks with long steel wire leaders (bite proof) and hand lines, boxes of Powerbars, sun protection, etc.
It could be weeks before you might be found...
Cue the "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald..."
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Nov 23, 2015 - 08:01am PT
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at night in a storm?
Yer joking, right? Claustrophobia would be the least of yer probs, mate! Yaar!
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Nov 23, 2015 - 08:05am PT
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Fascinating adventures and suggestions.
I love the ocean and hearing about these exploits, both in the past and future are very exciting.
I will be staying tuned!
Susan
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Dropline
Mountain climber
Somewhere Up There
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Nov 23, 2015 - 08:29am PT
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I disagree with those who say you should be prepared for "the long haul" meaning it might be weeks before you are found, if something goes really wrong for you. If it's weeks before you are found you will most likely never be found.
The trips you're considering are all near shore, meaning within 100 miles of shore. If you are within 100 miles of the coastal US or Puerto Rico and you trip a registered (with NOAA/SARSAT) GPS enabled EPIRB, a USCG Helo with rescue swimmers and a paramedic will be hovering over your position, likely within two hours, as they attempt to establish visual and radio contact with you.
Elsewhere in the world various countries act alone or collaborate on ocean rescues and they take GPS signals just as seriously. The further from land you are, of course, the more challenging and delayed the response.
For your small boat trip crossing to the Bahamas, a bunch of snacks and several gallons of water would be sufficient, in my opinion, as you wait for the coasties.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 23, 2015 - 08:31am PT
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Sgrop, Bargain, Healy, Reilly, Dropline..ty much for the input..useful stuff for sure.
Jill Fredston's book "Rowing to Latitude".
Learned so much from her and Doug BITD..Jeez I had forgotten she was doing that stuff...! I could call her..Wonder if she is still mad at me though...heh.
Dropline what you just said is my understanding in the Bahamas and most of the Caribbean as well. However I do not want any interaction the the CG other than them saying.."cool..small boat but you seem to have it all together..have a good day."
But still...yes developing a good survival suit/ensemble is on the list of have to do things. Well aware that tropical water is not warm enough for most to survive long term in shorts and a life vest. General plan is to stay tethered like sailors do (even with engine cutoff safety). Have other critical supplies in a bag attached to tether.
Also plan to have a way to right my boat. Keep things well lashed down so nothing critical will dump if overturned.
So I plan to survive any possible situation and then be ruthless in avoiding said situation. I have zero interest in pushing it...I'm looking to be self suffient and safe.. then mostly to have fun, meet people, relax and explore. Not fight the ocean.
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John M
climber
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Nov 23, 2015 - 08:39am PT
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I don't know enough about this, but a 25 horsepower motor just seems a bit too weak to me for facing open ocean. It gets hairball out their in a matter of moments. I was sailing with friends about 10 miles off shore in Southern California, perfect sunny day, when a squall came through. I would not have wanted to try to ride it out with just 25 horses, but like I say, I'm not experienced. It wasn't my boat, so I don't really know if that is enough. I would love to hear from those with this kind of experience.
All that said, man, I look forward to hearing about what you are doing. Sounds like fun.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Nov 23, 2015 - 08:41am PT
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Wait, y'all haven't read Jon Turk's In The Wake Of The Jomon?
Gnarly to the max.
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John M
climber
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Nov 23, 2015 - 08:47am PT
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I was thinking about Louis Zamperini..
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
that will sober you up..
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Dropline
Mountain climber
Somewhere Up There
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Nov 23, 2015 - 10:44am PT
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Climb2ski recognizes the hairballness of his proposed adventure it seems.
To me taking a 25 hp RIB from FL to the Bahamas is akin to running up and down a non technical 7000M peak in sneakers, shorts, and a t-shirt. If everything goes well and it's a perfect weather day it will be fun. If not it will be much less than fun and he will be roundly ridiculed for tempting fate in such a way.
CS2, someone above mentioned you don't have sea sense yet. That limitation can't be underestimated.
The kinds of things one has to think about, some of which you may not yet be aware of, include variability of wind and waves. Wind driven waves have short periods and so are very steep. When looking at any given wind forecast be aware the wind speed is often 10 knots or so greater than forecast. Same goes for wave forecasts. Individual waves can be 30-50% bigger than forecast, and some of those individual bigger waves will come from 45 degrees off the dominant wave pattern. If you are quartering the dominant wave pattern already to make your ride easier the individual big steep wind driven waves from 45 degrees off the dominant pattern, and so taken abeam, are the ones that will roll your boat. During the day you can see them at the last moment and turn into them. At night you won't see them until you are wondering if you're about to capsize.
If your trip goes according to plan you won't need to worry about the wind or the waves or the dark, but it really is like running up a big peak on a perfect weather day.
A little more. Short period steep wind driven waves will interact with long period ocean swells generated from far away to create a mixed up jumbled up mess of waves. Wind against tide/current creates bigger steeper waves, in some cases standing walls of water. Wind out of the north against the gulf stream current can do that for example.
Stuff to think about goes on and on.
PS- A substantial buddy boat would negate all this. If your motor dies you hop on the buddy boat and they tow your RIB. If the wind kicks up unexpectedly the same. If my boat was in SE FL I'd offer you an escort but it's not.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Nov 23, 2015 - 12:22pm PT
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Climb2ski
Think long term, forget reliance on EPIRB and anything electronic as they have their own inherent problems and remember what Captain Ron said: "If it's going to happen, it's going to happen out there." You would be insane to not carry some sort of EPIRB but then again you would be insane to be 100% dependent on it.
Outboards are inherently problematic and without a "kicker" motor you are screwed and then again even with a kicker you may still be screwed.
Even 10 miles offshore is a long long way and anything can happen.
Proper life rafts have substantial water ballast for good reasons and the concept of flipping a large inflatable full of gear and righting it is not a pretty picture. if indeed you did get it upright again you would most likely be inverted soon thereafter. Energy and mental anguish to the max. A limit to both.
Towing our Zodiac one trip from Papeete Tahiti to Huahine in French Polynesia, a short 140 miles, the Zodiac was attacked by a shark and the main starboard chamber torn to shreads. Ouch! Kind of like flying with one wing.
I remember a Boston Whaler in Santa Barbara Harbor years ago that the inventive surfer George Greenough had converted to a "rolling machine" that could do 360 rolls in big seas and still continue onward. He would journey out to the Channel Islands in conditions most sane people would stay home.
Whatever.
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Dropline
Mountain climber
Somewhere Up There
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Nov 23, 2015 - 12:24pm PT
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You would be insane to not carry some sort of EPIRB but then again you would be insane to be 100% dependent on it.
I carry two.
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labrat
Trad climber
Erik O. Auburn, CA
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Nov 23, 2015 - 12:48pm PT
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"Polish kayaker Aleksander Doba, 67"
Do the Polish just like to suffer? My ass would hurt for the rest of time.
Erik
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SGropp
Mountain climber
Eastsound, Wa
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Nov 23, 2015 - 12:53pm PT
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I think you are better served to develop the self reliant mindset of going to a remote range rather than a roadside crag.
A lot of really cool places out there approachable by water.
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The Alpine
climber
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Nov 23, 2015 - 01:05pm PT
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What Guido said.
I live in FL and cruise to the keys/Bahamas regularly in my sailboat. Your outboard wil give you issues. Your inflatable will leak. You will experience adverse weather. Everything will get wet.
As long as you have foolproof solutions for all of those, why worry?
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Nov 23, 2015 - 01:11pm PT
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Also be aware that it doesn't take much windblown chop to beat you to death in a RIB or similar sized boat. In those conditions you typically want a powerful enough motor to be able to hunt/match the planing speed to the chop frequency to make it at least tolerable, but sometimes you are just going to take a beating so your thought on having everything well-lashed is also a good one.
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Dropline
Mountain climber
Somewhere Up There
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Nov 23, 2015 - 05:31pm PT
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Guido and Alpine, I think CS2 said he doesn't know how to sail and isn't going to learn any time soon. Sailing is, of course, a much more elegant way to travel on the water.
It's not speedy though.
Speed, enough speed to go tuna fishing for example, or to zip over to Freeport in a few hours, requires power. Power creates many additional complexities and vulnerabilities as you've pointed out. That said, well maintained power boats can be exceedingly reliable.
As for the implication that carrying an EPIRB is kinda like roadside cragging, perhaps that is so. I like to be exceedingly self sufficient, but also I like to bring friends tuna fishing. As captain of my smallish boat, I am responsible for their lives. If something goes seriously wrong, like both lower units get ripped off by a submerged tree or a submerged container (think El Faro) I want to get everyone home safely to their families and will accept any help I can get if the sh#t hits the fan. My expression about that is, if I'm 100 miles offshore and in the water, I want the whole f*#king world to know.
From my power boater's perspective I think everyone should carry an EPIRB these days unless no one is expecting you to come home. If there is trouble, and one doesn't return home when expected, your loved ones call the coast guard and a search ensues. An EPIRB makes for a short and inexpensive search. Lack of an EPIRB makes for a massive, labor intensive, and very expensive search, and a public spectacle, and they may not find you any way.
To me, carrying an EPIRB on the open ocean is the responsible thing to do. It's what's most respectful of everyone involved.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Nov 23, 2015 - 06:46pm PT
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Dropline
Well, you would be crazy to not carry an EPIRB but they don't always work, they can be lost in transition to a raft or while floundering in the water and the not all have internal GPS units to shorten the search area. Battery failures are rare but occur and both the Russian and French satellites were originally more successful in picking up signals than our good old USA.
Yes, it is the smart and responsible thing to do but analogous to cell phones on climbing routes, one must have a good sense of how to avoid and at best get out of nasty situations. Far too much reliance on gadgets today and not on the basic concept of self preservation.
As Oscar Wilde said:
"Experience is the hardest kind of teacher. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterward."
Several members of the original film crew from the movie Blue Lagoon returned later with a 20ft Zodiac and successfully cruised the Northern Island groups of Fiji for months. Some long transits between islands but somewhat protected by an extensive reef system and they had spent a season during the filming to get acquainted with the area and its many different moods.
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Nov 23, 2015 - 07:04pm PT
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how do you combat claustrophobia... particularly way out in deep blue water, days from anywhere, at night in a storm? Or 3 weeks into a trip with no end in sight.
I'm not sure I could take that in some dinky cork bobbing on the waves.
Ummm. Interesting question. I do off shore sailing on a pretty large sailboat (47 feet) so I've never felt claustrophic. I do spend as much time on deck (usually in the cockpit) as conditions allow. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean even going north you'd be surprised how mild it can be. Gales at night are quite common especially on the Ca-Hawaii route. It's not my favorite thing, but usually you go below and ride it out hoping your instruments and auto pilot do their job. A few days outside of Alaska we ran into a nasty storm where our colored radar display looked like a 70s light show. There was nothing to do but get the storm sails set up and ride it out. Getting thrown around the boat is a serious situation and we do have kayak helmets to put on if it gets extreme. We've had things "blow up" on deck at night during storms and basically if it needs to be dealt with you tether in and do what needs to be done.
My longest passage has been 22 days at sea. We read, watch videos, talk on the radio to passing ships, send and receive emails, enjoy the peace and solitude. I do cry every time we see landfall. The color of the ocean is incredible and sunrises and sunsets are not of this world. We also have a Sat phone s I can call "home" when I want. Once I hit landfall after a long passage, while glad, I often find it takes awhile to integrate into crowds.
There's just something about the ocean.
Susan
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SGropp
Mountain climber
Eastsound, Wa
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Nov 23, 2015 - 09:15pm PT
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Many years ago I was on a family vacation to Long Beach on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
I was 13 and my brother Mike was 14. We had just finished a comprehensive junior sailing program at a local yacht club and in the brashness of youth felt pretty competent in small sail boats.
Even thought it was late September we convinced our parents to let us rent a Hobie Cat and take a sail on the ocean.
As we took off from the beach, my dad threw our dog onboard to go with us.
Even though it was a cold day with light rain, there was a good breeze and we had a grand time sailing up and over the ocean swells, tacking ever further out to sea until we were maybe a mile off the beach. We were far enough out that people onshore were just little dots against the forest.
Sailing fast over the crest of a swell , a sudden gust of wind caught the sail, flipping the catamaran and flinging us into the water . I grabbed the panic stricken dog and treaded water in my life jacket.
Mike managed to get the main sheet over the upper hull so we would have something to pull on to right the boat. His puny weight was nowhere near enough so I grabbed onto his back, still holding the dog. We struggled hard , but could not even begin to right the boat. After many futile attempts, we climbed up onboard the lower hull to rest and get out of the cold water.
From out at sea it looked like people were moving around and aware that we were in some kind of trouble.
We could also see that we were rapidly drifting even further out into the open ocean and getting colder by the minute. We realized that we had to get the boat righted and get to shore ourselves before it was too late.
We went back into the water and after many attempts we managed to flip the catamaran back upright. Since we were using the main sheet to pull it upright , the sailed was hauled in tight and as soon as it came back up, the wind caught the sail and sent the boat careening off, out of control over the waves.
Mike somehow managed to hold onto the line and after a desperate struggle to get aboard. I was left bobbing in the deep swells holding the dog and just barely able to keep my head above water. The boat sailed out of sight and I was left lost and adrift in a world of gray .
After some time, my brother came sailing at high speed over the crest of a wave. When he saw me , he managed to luff up and came along side, still moving fast. I managed to get the dog aboard but I lost my grip and the boat was gone again.
I drifted alone for what seemed a very long time, getting colder with every passing minute, alternately down in the deep gray troughs and then flung up high on the breaking crests of the waves . Mike was frantically searching for me and every once in a while I could see the top of the mast in the distance.
After one last desperate pass, he came over the crest of wave almost on top of me. He managed to circle back and slow down enough to grab my life jacket. With him pulling desperately with all his strength , I managed to claw my way on deck.
By now , we were even further out to sea ,but we managed to get lined up for the beach and sailed in through the surf . Running the boat up on the sand we jumped over the side and fell flat on our faces in the water.
The point of the story is that even if someone knows where you are and that you are in trouble, the chance of rescue can very easily come too late.
We got the test first and the lesson afterwards.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 23, 2015 - 09:40pm PT
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^^ Yowza..Sh#t happens quick eh?!
I got a sh#t ton to learn and a helluva lot of experience to gain...Just what I've been looking for.
Stoked!
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john hansen
climber
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Nov 23, 2015 - 09:52pm PT
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I think all of these people are not saying don't do it,
Just saying ,you should really know what you could be in for.
the 7000 ft peak on a perfect day is a good analogy.
You never know when a squall can build up.
With only one person on board and the wrong wind , the bow can go over a wave and get blown over backwards, lots of sail area..
Another boat with you would be a good way to go.
Stay safe.
Aloha
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healyje
Trad climber
Portland, Oregon
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Nov 23, 2015 - 10:11pm PT
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SGropp, great story!
I learned to sail cats on Lake Michigan just north of Chicago. The waves there rebound off the bottom end of the lake and opposite shores and often end up in a nasty X pattern. Sometimes those rebounding waves cross at 90 degrees creating square holes in the water and they can be quite deep on big days. Worse, they're really hard to spot from the tramp on a cat until you're pitch-poling down into one. Then it's like the lake has all of a sudden disappeared out from underneath you.
Last time I can remember it happening I'd taken a new girlfriend out for the first time with lunch and a bottle of wine. The wind and waves picked up though and it wasn't very conducive to a floating picnic, but she was still game. The waves picked up to 6-8 feet and we came flying over a wave and into the biggest hole I'd ever seen. In a heartbeat we were getting hurdled over the bow and mast as it dove. It was as if we'd been shot out of a circus cannon and the main reason I remember it other than being so rude, was that when she came up to the surface she still had the bottle of wine which had been locked between her thighs for the whole slingshot and landing. Hell of gal.
And yeah, learning to right a small, upside down craft is a real skill and it helps (somewhat) to work with the timing of the wave crests. If you do learn to sail, cats aren't [classically] recommended for learning, but it's what I learned on and they sure are fun.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 24, 2015 - 06:33pm PT
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I certainly did not wish to insult sailing. When I was talking about speed it was not for excitement or because I think it's "cool" or whatever. I just simply want to reduce my exposure to big unsheltered waters to as short a duration as possible in such a small craft.
Gotta admit those West Wight Potters that were mentioned a while back look like a really good budget way to explore the Bahamas. I would have to buy a truck and lots of gas to transport it to Florida after learning how to use it here. None of the knowledge needed to determine if I would be buying a good used one and what I would need for it if not perfect.. and again..no sailing experience and that is a pretty small sailboat. I suppose most of that is excuse though.. except budget unfortunately.
Sadly for now I'll have to make an Inflatable work. I have a lot of days in whitewater and other freshwater on rafts and inflatables. Owned a few so I know what to look for in used craft of these types. I have very limited experience in the ocean however so I will do a lot of putting around over here on the west coast between Sacramento and then the Bay or Coast. Get myself and it dialed before driving it over to Florida packed on the roof of my car.
-
Here is another fast trimaran you might like. Has managed 50+kt? over shorter distances I think it said.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Here is an example of what could happen if I tried to drive a sailboat. I'm guessing you might have seen something like this a few times in those decades of sailing you've done Guido.. I don't want to be "that guy"
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - May 25, 2017 - 08:56pm PT
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Bit of an update. Major changes in my life.
Ended up just doing several weeks sea kayak camping around Puerto Rico's various islands. Fantastic time.
The Idea of using a Motorized Inflatable was much more expensive to do right than I expected the more I started to put it together. The reality was that it got near the price range of sailboats and a decent Cruising sailboat is a far superior experience than camping off a dinghy. Other issues are a lack of decent downlow camping spots in the Carribean. The place is often crowded.
Still...I did get a fair bit of Caribbean camping in and learned a lot. Had some incredible times in amazing places.
A comfortable camp in the tropics is tricky..bugs are like Alaska. Rats are like marmots and camp squirrels..might chew a hole in your Kayak. Wind is your friend ..
Also got a day of sailing, helping out on a 37' Beneteau. Took a lot of the mystery away and I realized it was something I certainly could do.
Long story short in a couple weeks I move to south Florida to purchase a decent older cruising sailboat and spend some time fixing it up before heading down to the Caribbean ...and then..we will see.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - May 25, 2017 - 09:21pm PT
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An inflatable Innova. It fit as a carryon for the flight over.
Not any fishing..Except I did get to try a shot at spearfishing. Bumped into a cool guy who let me take a shot while I was out snorkeling one day. Wished I had my weightbelt but I still got a little one.. they seem bigger until you get them in hand lol.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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Q- Ball
Mountain climber
but to scared to climb them anymore
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May 26, 2017 - 07:11am PT
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Glad you had a fun time! I have run 18 foot skiffs many times from Fort Lauderdale to the East end of Grand Bahama. You just have to hope the weather holds or it is a wet and bumpy ride. And yes it was for fishing not running drugs!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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May 26, 2017 - 07:29am PT
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Done some ocean kayakin myself. :)
Wish I had pics of us dealing with 16' waves off Vancouver Island.
Woulda been kinda hard takin' pics though. ;-)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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May 26, 2017 - 07:47am PT
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^^^^ NOICE! You look so relaxed! HaHaHa! You been hangin' with Cosmic? :-)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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May 26, 2017 - 08:33am PT
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Swells? I'm talkin' about breaking waves 250 metres off a sheer rock face. As we punched through the breaking crests our boats were airborne! WOOT!
(another-it's-better-to-be-lucky-story)
You should read In The Wake Of The Jomon by Jon Turk. There's a story in there that makes mine look a cake walk!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - May 26, 2017 - 04:52pm PT
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Sounds pretty gnarly Reiley.. BTW way earlier in this thread there is a picture of an Albin Vega 27 you owned. Seem to be pretty popular single handed cruisers. I Have a long list of candidate boat models that albin is on there of course...hoping to find something at a bargain price but in good cruising shape once I get to Florida.. seems like the right place to find what I am looking for. Hurricane season might help.
I don't have any gnarley stories from the Tropics and I'm planning to keep it that way..
Sure is beautiful though and I can't seem to get enough of that underwater world.
I have been told by quite a few folks that there are no truly healthy reefs left in the world. Certainly the stuff my father (whom you have met Tad!) enjoyed 50 years ago is nothing like it was.. But I think I have found some stuff that is still fairly good. It does not seem likely that they will survive much longer.. so now is the time to see them and get as much documentation as possible.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
Found an awesome rocky creek with hundreds of waterfalls in the rainforest.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 12, 2017 - 02:22pm PT
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Well I pulled the trigger today. Purchased a 1978 Morgan Out Island 33. S/V Attitude
She is a tank and fully functional. Has an aftermarket very nice tall rig.
Hoping to have her in Culebra Puerto Rico by New Years.
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JimT
climber
Munich
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Aug 15, 2017 - 10:49am PT
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Brave man, that´ll keep you poor! I cruised and lived aboard a 38 footer in the Med and Black Sea for 7 years before I moved to Germany.
Nowadys it´s a bit of canoeing and the occasional coastal trip, we (my brother, one of my sons and myself) are just back from 2 weeks on the north coast of France coastal trekking with my 16ft boat.
camping up on islands and unsucessfully fishing
Kinda rocky and the tides are a real problem running up to 9 knots and a height of 8m or so.
It´s either like this
or like this depending on the time of day
and plenty of stuff to run into
and some neat looking bouldering
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Aug 15, 2017 - 12:30pm PT
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Dude nice work! Congrats on the first part of the dream coming together. Now go get er wet and report back!
Scott
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Aug 15, 2017 - 01:51pm PT
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Good choice! Morgans are nice and pretty fast for a cruiser IIRC.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 15, 2017 - 08:17pm PT
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Jim..awesome! Looks like some good times. Poor..well that's nothing new.
Reilly..Depends on the Morgan. In this case mine has a reputation for being a bit fat and slow. But tough! roomy comfortable. She is expedition style (guided) vs alpine style. Not my perfect Ideal sailboat..but then again that boat does not and probably cannot exist.
Besides I have 1 whole day of sailing experience and ...holy sh#t.. wtf am I doing... :) fun massive learning curve.. on a side note it's hurricane season. potential tactical calculus .. and I still have not driven her out of the marina.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
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Aug 16, 2017 - 08:32am PT
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Actually a J 120 is just about the perfect boat. But they don't fit in most peoples budgets.
If you need sailing lessons let me know and I'll come down for a week as soon as hurricane season ends. I race a Santa Cruz 37 all the time. I get to be the one up on the pointy end.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 16, 2017 - 07:05pm PT
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G Gnome ty for the offer might take you up on it. Heading out for a sail tomorrow with the former owner. I'm more scared of the marina than I am the open ocean.(assuming good weather anyway) Gotta learn to drive. and need to buy some flares for cg compliance.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
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Aug 17, 2017 - 09:05am PT
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Best advice I can offer is: Once you start to feel confident that you can always get sails up and down and tack and gybe, start going out in bigger and bigger weather. Always avoid being upwind of things and being pushed into them. Also, if you see 25 or 30 knots coming toward you where you could sail downwind home when it hits, get out there before it does and learn to go downhill well. Bring a friend if it gets nasty and never be reluctant to turn the motor on to get out of nasty situations.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 19, 2017 - 02:38pm PT
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Thanks gnome. Right now I think of my boat as a trawler with sails. sacrilege to some and eventually I'll become more pure as I build my sailing skilz.
Last Thursday
Took her out for the first time. Had the previous owner along to give me tips getting out of the Marina. Really good guy. So my first unexpected experience is some idiot lobster hunting in the channel along the houses on the way out.. I'm putting along as slow as i can wondering if he is ever going to notice me. Guy has his diving float/flag too.. I'm thinking to myself.. how the f*#k do I maintain 300 foot distance in a maybe 50 foot wide channel. cant reverse.. prop walk is f-ing nutz.. Does a diving flag really legally shut down a marina? Wishing I had bought that airhorn this morning when I replaced my out of date flares. ..so I whistled as hard as I could.. dude finally noticed and ducked under some boat. ..
Other fun.,. I started the engine before I found the water circulation through hull. Figured I would just see if I had it figured out with the electrical system switches...then shut them off withing a few seconds.. no harm.... uhm...damn engine wouldn't shut of when I turned the key or hit various switches...... I'm starting to freak after a minute... no secondary outside water circulation circuit. finally I found the fuel cutoff pull. gdamn old diesels...!!!! scared the living sh#t out of me like I have rarely been scared..thought I was going to burn up my engine...
fun stuff
other things learned.. propwalk is your friend..it's like having a stern thruster in one direction.
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Hubbard
climber
San Diego
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Aug 19, 2017 - 03:40pm PT
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An inflatable like a Zodiac mark 2 is a fine idea. Two motors is good. Have a rudimentary mast for slow sailing if all else fails.
Keep yourself tied to the boat with rope. Rig the boat so you can escape the sun. Bring lots of fresh water in several containers. Don't put it all in one big container, same for your petrol.
Fishing gear, a compass, binoculars, a mirror, first aid kit, tools and spare parts to work on the motor, an anchor, a wet-suit, a good hat and food and you are good to go for a leg and see what happens.
Loading the boat is an art. Inflatables can be punctured but they won't sink. chafing is a common cause of puncture. Bring a repair kit.
I was lucky to spend a lot of time as a kid on this setup. No cell phone, no GPS. We would motor to offshore Islands ten to fifteen miles out and always managed to survive somehow. There were a few epics of course, like the time...
Just rolled this thread a little slower and see you have a boat choice already made. The inflatable is still a good idea as a backup on board.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 19, 2017 - 04:34pm PT
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Right on Tad! I hope you had a great time on Oahu.. I was born there :)
I once got to tour the Missouri way back when she was mothballed in Bremerton WA about 30 some years ago. I'll never forget that beautiful wood deck at the spot where the treaty was signed.
regarding boats.
Absolutely..I'm still getting a nice smaller inflatable 10 to 11 ft. 10ish HP 4 stroke. Yamaha or Tohatsu. right now my dinghy is my trusty Innova Kayak.. sufficient really, but the motorized inflatable brings so much more to the table. Makes for a much more capable, convenient, comfortable, fun and safer experience. Joyriding, runnabout, mini tug ..better than nothing life-raft.
I do think there are real interesting possibilities in the micro motor cruising concept though. One would really have to design your own craft to do it right. I still daydream about the possibilities.
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JimT
climber
Munich
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Aug 20, 2017 - 10:17am PT
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Pocket cruising is pretty well established in the sailing fraternity and smaller still there´s dinghy cruising, the main proponents are probably the British where there´s a Dinghy Cruising Association. They have the hassle that with a fully fitted out sailing dinghy you´ve got to anchor, camping on the beach doesn´t really work which is why guys like me go Dinghy Trekking on the basis we are going to beach every night. You really need a custom boat for this like I have since you´ve got to be able to move it on land. the French are big into doing it with Hobie Cats and that sort of thing.
For the rubber boat fans the French and Italian are the big deal, "Raid Nautique" is a real big scene there. The hassle with RIB´s is they are real hard to convert to sleep on and the weight makes operating off the beach practically impossible so you can only use sheltered anchorages and camp or go into a harbour and hotel it. Ends up a bit like this
Getting even a small RIB, 25hp engine, the fuel and all the rest up a difficult beach to where it is safe is just unrealistic so you end up in the same crowded anchorages where everyone else is.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Aug 20, 2017 - 11:12am PT
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I see you had some fun time with an Innova kayak in the past. We carry two onboard and sometimes four of the Innova Safaris and perfect for exploration, surfing and back up taxi. Added bonus is they store so well when deflated, self-bailing and don't beat the sh#t out of your knees or boat while stored on deck tied alongside the hull or trailing aft off the stern.
As far as an excellent reference guide and most likely you have a copy, I recc Nigel Calder's books as a must have on the boat. Bit too much sometimes but very very practical in applications and go to ideas when all else fails. Sh#t happens in the worst of times.
Boat Owners Mechanical and Electrical Manual
Diesel Engines
Cruising Handbook
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Aug 20, 2017 - 12:06pm PT
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propwalk is your friend..it's like having a stern thruster in one direction.
Indeed...and each boat seems to have its own unique prop walk!
Enjoy your new "BOAT". Break Out Another Thousand
Susan
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Aug 20, 2017 - 02:31pm PT
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Prop walk is caused by the prop shaft not being parallel to the surface. My Pearson 30 hardly walks, it also has a two bladed prop, which walk less than a 3 blade.
Cool to see you getting experience. My best advice for maneuvering in marinas and harbors is always have your anchor ready to drop, some sort of quick release system you do not have to fiddle with too much. I kept a lightweight anchor and chain with some anchor line handy in a cockpit compartment, would hold me in calm conditions till I get things sorted out.
I put an outboard on mine because my Atomic 4 was well worn. A lot of sailboat owners I talked to said they would never replace their inboard if it died, they would just go to an outboard. I considered upgrading to a diesel, but opted to rebuild the Atomic cuz it is so cheap and very reliable. Will keep the outboard as backup. Singlehanded docking with an outboard in windy conditions can be a challenge.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 27, 2017 - 02:45pm PT
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Thanks Guido Just got one of my Calder books in the mail. It's impressive. I see why so many recommend it.
So today was my first full day living aboard my sailboat permanently. One thing for sure I doubt I will ever utter the words..I cant think of anything to do today ever again. Lots of work to do.
My wall-climbing experience came in handy installing a new masthead anchor light.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Aug 27, 2017 - 03:20pm PT
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I experimented with prusik knots on the backstays and headstays years ago and found it quite easy to prusik up 3/8 to 1/2 inch+, 1x19 stainless stays. You can always increase the wraps on the prusik knot if need be.
You could most likely also prusik up a furler extrusion minus the sail if need be.
Keep us posted on your project, exciting indeed!
Climbing experience is a big plus when venturing out on a boat.
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aspendougy
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Aug 27, 2017 - 08:58pm PT
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Avoid the Bermuda Triangle, it will swallow you up and deposit you in a parallel universe.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Aug 27, 2017 - 09:30pm PT
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Jon Turk found out that the Sea Of Okhotsk is best avoided, also.
Well, at least the entrances during ebb and flow. YMMV
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Aug 28, 2017 - 09:22am PT
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My god man, beware of all of Polynesia if you cherish your life!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 28, 2017 - 02:49pm PT
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I'm a gonner fer shur.
Looks like I am heading out tomorrow morning from Tavernier in Key Largo for a two day motor up the ICW to Miami at Dinner Key Marina. While I do love this Marina and location it's much more chill than Miami and dinner Key I have to be able to make some income while I'm working on getting her completely ready for serious travel.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Aug 28, 2017 - 03:56pm PT
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Geez, Guido, how does a cap'n keep a crew thereabouts?
Them lassies put the 'rrrrr' in 'run'!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 30, 2017 - 05:12pm PT
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3rd and 4th days on a sailboat..singlehanding.. well in this case more like a trawler..although I did try the genoa a couple times.. but not much wind really.. also nailed the mooring ball first try in a crazy crowded field.
Saw dolphins!
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 1, 2017 - 06:28pm PT
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Yay! finally a nice little rain squall came through ..9 at night scrubbing the deck after a scorching hot day.. sublime and beautiful and fun. BTW anyone who wants to stop by and hang out on a sailboat in Miami is welcome.. bring your self sufficient dirtbag credentials. Total idiots will be keelhauled..seriously. Should be fun!
Got one of my solar panels installed..lashed down for now.. will build a much nicer permanent fixture after some more thought.
Hmm..Gangplank...
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SalNichols
Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
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Motorsailing with main=ok. Motorsailing on genoa = not ok, unless you like shoveling cash at a sailmaker.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Some masts are weaker when the main is not set, best to always set the main.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 4, 2017 - 05:17pm PT
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I may be about to become a racing boat...Racing Irma north.
Scraped hull today. Dropping car off at long term parking in the morning and heading north probably... depending on forecast in AM.
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SalNichols
Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
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".....best to always set the main."
Please explain. Just wondering what kind of masts/yachts these are.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 5, 2017 - 10:38am PT
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Should make it at least a Boca Raton tonight. I'm out here east of Miami Beach heading north. Running from Irma
For those who may be curious or would like to track me to my doom the link below will give you my inreach tracking and messaging page.
https://share.delorme.com/DerekRoland
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Derek-lots of learning on this first "cruise." Kind of like jamming several years of boat learning into one adventure. You went out to climb a Grade 4 and now it looks like a Grade 6! Keep us posted.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Trial by fire
The sailboat that the CG ordered abandoned in the movie Perfect Storm was found still floating, not that I am suggesting you try that!
Good luck
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 6, 2017 - 02:15pm PT
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Thanks Guido. Seems like everyday pushes me pretty hard but I seem to have enough experience that I'm building and not overwhelmed but close to my limits. Today's excitement was a couple hours spent troubleshooting diesel engine cut out. Best guess is pickup tube has corrosion and a hole in it part way up I'm losing syphon so the last 15 gallons are unavailable. That was fun engine cut out in the icw dropping anchor. Working hard in the engine compartment with speed boat wake.
Looks like going to get a hit. So I'll have to find a great hole. Spider web tie down the boat. That's some serious rigging 15000 pound boat and I need to account for an unknown tidal surge. If I do it right I think I can save the boat even in pretty crazy conditions..
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Maybe a temporary day tank, ie container above the engine and gravity flow into the engine/pump slash filter-bloody siphon leak are always hard to find!
As in climbing ropes-abrasion and wear are big factors in securing the boat-old hoses can be cut up, sliced length wise and slipped over lines if need be.
You'll be ok man, keep the old bode supplied with food and water. You first then the boat.
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SalNichols
Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
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Find a creek, get the iron down, then tie off to everything you can reach.
Then, strip EVERYTHING off of your topsides, bimini, dodger, mainsail, and EVERY ROLLER FURLING SAIL. Get them down, they'll start to unwrap at around 60 kts, but backwards against the roll, and in 100 kt+, your rig WILL get ripped off.
Be safe, leave yourself an out. Don't try to get off too late, do it early. The boat will survive or it'll be replaced.
Be safe,
Another sailor on the west coast.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Wow great thread.
Best of luck. I hope Irma heads east or west of you.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 7, 2017 - 11:34am PT
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Here Attitude makes her stand. I have chosen the best ground..fortifying the position now ..Then the seige shall begin. There is no winning.. just enduring.
Position 27deg 14.279 North and 80deg 19.333 West
Seriously..lot of stress off me..done what I can. Taking my first break in days.
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hooblie
climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
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standing by ... sort of. feelin' it anyway. what a way to kick off a long love affair with the sea and things that bob around in it! keep that Attitude
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Super Derek, agree with hooblie, keep that great attitude, best asset you have.
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Hope you and your boat are able to safely ride this one out.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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My son and his mom just left Port St. Lucie, by car. Hope you ride it out okay.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 7, 2017 - 04:44pm PT
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I will not be in the boat during the storm. I'll find shelter in St Lucie most likely elsewhere if necessary.
I'm glad they got out Jon.
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SalNichols
Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
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Did you strip the boat of all extraneous windage? Freaking Moorings left all of their stackpacks up in Paraquita Bay on Tortola. What a mess.
Good choice to step off early.
Nick
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 8, 2017 - 05:00am PT
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That continues to be part of the projects over the next 24 hours SalNichols.
Secured now with anchors bow and stern plus six lines in the mangroves.. slack may be added based on final storm surge forecast.
Now begins the stripping.
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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^^ Great location. Thanks for taking the time to post and keep us updated. It's interesting to follow this adventure.
I like your self reliance and smart decisions (e.g. getting off the boat, and being smart about time frames)
Looks like the storm is going right up the center of FL so hopefully storm surge isn't too bad.
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fear
Ice climber
hartford, ct
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Looks like a great protected spot on GPS there....
Good news you'll not be on the boat and hopefully in a concrete structure over 20' above the current sea level.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
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If you have a backstay, make sure and tension it well so that the mast has little chance to gain momentum. You don't want it gyrating at all.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 8, 2017 - 01:21pm PT
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Stripped, genoa is down. She is clean. Standing rigging is in fair condition , Backstay solid couple shroud lines (?) have a fray or two in them ..planned to replace but doubt they will be working to hard on an empty mast. Main is wrapped tight in line.
This was a full on ready or not GO! situation. Owned this boat less than a month. Now have 8 days experience underway on any vessel of this size.
Heading out in the morning for a club med marina pickup spot for my ride to the shelter.
I actually stepped on land today for the first time since Monday morning..was checking out the neighborhood next to me to see if was a gated community that would keep out my ride. (it is gated sadly)
Nice feeling walking around though.. I'm almost looking forward to the hurricane just so I can get a break.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 9, 2017 - 11:41am PT
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All is well. Have hardened shelter, Storm news it good latest track is far west of me.
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High Fructose Corn Spirit
Gym climber
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"Is it worth the effort?
Years ago I read about an old man who enjoyed working his small sailboat up and down a narrow river. His skill in handling the boat impressed the writer, who one day asked him why he sailed. The old man said that he first became a sailor for the pleasure it seemed to promise, but soon found it to be work mixed with small doses of fear. He almost gave it up right at the start. But before long the problems were overcome or in some manner dealt with. From then on, he said, the true rewards of sailing - patience, philosophy, self-respect and the mastery of time - became self-evident. To him these were the pleasures that becoming a sailor promised and eventually fulfilled."
David Seidman
The Complete Sailor: Learning the Art of Sailing
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Sep 10, 2017 - 08:46am PT
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doubt they will be working to hard on an empty mast. Main is wrapped tight in line.
Not quite a correct deduction. I would remove the main. Just saw footage of St Maarten and many boats appear to have survived but ALL were dismasted!
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Sep 10, 2017 - 09:32am PT
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looks like you got a lucky break with the path Derek, I would have pulled the main off to reduce windage as pointed out upthread, but if she ends up in the trees that will be the least of your worries. Stay dry
Fair winds and following seas (hahahaha)
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 11, 2017 - 09:33am PT
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Attitude made it like nothing even happened! I am very very happy!
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hooblie
climber
from out where the anecdotes roam
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Sep 11, 2017 - 10:23am PT
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yahooo!
take some credit for safe harbor recognition, judgement and good fortune pair quite nicely
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Sep 11, 2017 - 11:56am PT
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Ditto!
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Sep 11, 2017 - 12:41pm PT
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Curious, did Port St. Lucie get hit with much wind and water, where did you stay for the storm?
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 11, 2017 - 04:12pm PT
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We barely got hit. Watched band after band on radar go just north of us into Ft. Peirce. I went to a Elementary school shelter set up by the county.
Maybe got 60mph winds for 4 hours or so. However several boats in this area got destroyed. I saw some of them as I came ashore and I expected them to cut loose. They did.
One was an amazing beautiful cutter rigged catch that must be 50+ feet long wood hull. Both roller furling cut loose and shredded and it broke loose from anchor and ended up in some mangroves ..hopefully not to much damage.
My assessment is that I made mostly very good decisions. Implemented good practices in mediocre ways.
And I got massive luck.
It is sometimes better to be lucky than good.
Still much to do getting back to Miami..waterways should be a mess I would think.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Sep 11, 2017 - 04:29pm PT
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Thanks for the info, was curious because my son and his mom are on their way back and hope to find a habitable house!
Those roller furlers are very handy, make single handing so much easier, but when they get f*#ked up they are a nightmare. Imagine a roller furler jamming half furled when you are alone.
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SalNichols
Big Wall climber
Richmond, CA
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Sep 11, 2017 - 06:12pm PT
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Great news!
Keep an eye on Jose, it's going to wander around out there between highs for the next 10 days. It's over 84F water, so unless shear blows it up, weakening isn't likely. Models beyond 5 days show it going virtually everywhere.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
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Sep 12, 2017 - 02:24pm PT
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Congrats on surviving. Take it easy getting home.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Sep 12, 2017 - 06:22pm PT
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And now to the Pacific side where things are heating up.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 13, 2017 - 07:11am PT
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If that were off the coast of Africa right now..I think I would puke.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Sep 18, 2017 - 05:47pm PT
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That fat girl is a cat 5 now
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 18, 2017 - 07:05pm PT
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Jose is Floridas best friend it seems..he killed the Bermuda high and Marie should slice north. I am however almost in tears for my beloved Puerto Rico.
Speaking of Devastation I got back to the marina yesterday and it is shocking how many boats are on land destroyed and sunk. In this area. I saw some even up North but here hits all over the place all over the shoreline. I've been busy but I'll try to post some pictures in the next day or two
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 9, 2017 - 08:14am PT
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Hi all.. Been a while since getting back to normal after Irma. I now have the boat ready to go. Sure there are more things one could do but she is ready enough.
Looks like I will be in the Bahamas by the end of the year and take a couple or more months on my way to Culebra Puerto Rico where I plan to pause for a while. My route currently is planned to Bimini, the Berry Islands, Nassau, Exumas, Great Inaugua, Haiti, windward passage and then go along the south of Hispaniola, Mona passage to the south coast of Puerto Rico.
I will try to post from time to time as I find wifi.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Where are you now
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 9, 2017 - 08:19am PT
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Dinner Key Marina next to Miami City Hall. Making final preparations and waiting for my car to sell.
Oh and I have gotten a lot better at sailing singlehanded.. :)
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 9, 2017 - 08:39am PT
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Yes I will turn on tracking again before I head out. I'll post up a bunch of pics interior and exterior once all set to go.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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I was just down there on the way to Key West, driving. I thought about trying to look you up. Singlehanding is a lot of fun, except when the shlt hits the fan. Trick is to have enough experience under your belt. Sounds fun, keep us posted
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Fossil climber
Trad climber
Atlin, B. C.
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Sounds like a fun plan, Derek! Long crossings probably the risky part, but what’s life without risk?
Did something almost as crazy in ’72. Took wife and kids (7 and 9) from Valdez across Prince William Sound to Whittier and back, in an 18’ square stern canoe with a 7 1/2 on it. Just stayed close to shore and watched the weather very carefully.. Great camping, fishing. KIds treasure the memories. Us too.
I won’t forget the astonished look of commercial fishermen passing us on their seaworthy craft. I think I heard one say something like, "Yer gonna...."
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 10, 2017 - 03:23pm PT
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Thanks for the story Wayne. What a beautiful place. How could those memories not last a lifetime. Respect and work with mother nature. Seems like just the very most basic common sense for most of us I'm sure.
Jon or for that matter anyone else who wants to stop by wherever I may be... Please do! I am out here on my own it's nice to have company.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
The Ocean
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 28, 2017 - 09:42am PT
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Finally .. the voyage begins. In a few minutes I will move from the mooring field I have been in since Hurricane Irma left. I will be moving to the furthest point east in hope of a head start tomorrow morning for the Bimini Islands in the Bahamas and onward to the Berries , Nassau and then the Exumas.. or maybe I'll do something else.. ha!
Track
https://share.garmin.com/DerekRoland
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Dec 29, 2017 - 05:16pm PT
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I have seen a number of boats take a photo of the boats interior in the main cabin, then mount that photo upside down on a bulkhead to give one an idea of all the sh#t that can turn into flying projectiles in the worst case scenario of a knockdown or rollover. Shockcord rules........
PYI in Seattle has some nifty floorboard hardware that is fairly easy to install on most floorboards that can be locked down for those situations where applicable........
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climbski2
Mountain climber
The Ocean
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 1, 2018 - 03:09pm PT
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Thanks guido I take seriously your advice. My boats is much better stowed underway..did not have and items fall during the passage to bahamas.Yet I am sure I can make improvements. Not best window..no one wanred to buddy. Up to 9ft (seemed bigger ) seas..slight follow..didn't even get the deck wet...really felt good. So cool how attitude just rolled up one side topped out and looked down into the next big trough...
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Climbers take heed, Climbski is traveling along in his nautical house with his fav books, toys, music and enough food for an expedition which in reality that it what it is.
Nothing as beautiful as the wind pushing you along hour and hour, day after day with a vague itinerary and options for endless pathways.
There are some Puerto Rican or Tahitian or Thai ladies just dying to meet yah.........
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climbski2
Mountain climber
The Ocean
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 16, 2018 - 09:09am PT
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Hi folks. Been an interesting coupe weeks. Some great, some scary. Not boring!
Just a day or so after my last post a major norther was setting up that had the east coast shut down and look pretty awesome on satellite. I set anchor in the best spot I could find in the Berry islands of the Bahamas between Bird and Whale Cay. God north east and west protection.
Got 30kt continuous wind that evening with 40+ gusts. Noisy and exciting but no issues due to being protected from waves..just a light chop really. Outside of one of my solar panels trying to get loose around 10pm I had no issues.
UNTIL! 430 am I woke up in mid air to a jackhammer of incoming waves. The wind had clocked around to the south as predicted but much stronger than predicted 25+kts. I had exteemely deep water to the south ans onshore wind with 4+ft waves in 10ft of water. Started dragging a little (50ft over 2hrs) even with 130ft of rode out. I'm tired and getting pretty scared. Texted someone who told me I would get a very slight drop in winds but that southish would prevail for next 8hrs.
So I made a break for the nearest marina 7 miles away. onshore and into the winds. to get away from lee I had no sail.. engine dont die on me now. confused with huge holes dropping out below me dive down buck straight up roll sides take wave into cockpit..rinse and repeat. making a whole 2kts if lucky.
Eventually made it to the marina, got a bit of close reach with just a tiny corner of foresail out and was doing 6kts in same nasty buckets in the face crazy rolling bucking conditions. The Marina proceeded to rape me for $140 to tie up for a night.
I was happy.
From then on I have been even more diligent about anchorages and I got out of the Berries due to a lack of good anchorages. Am currently in the exumas. Progress has been a bit slow.. I have mostly had headwind when I do get something like good weather. But have had a couple of amazing beatiful days as well.
Looking forward to getting to Georgetown where i can order a couple things I need that broke. One motor mount bolt, the Shifter/throttle for the helm and my main sheet blocks have sustained significant damage. No biggy, expected and have budgeted for such issues.
Loving the spearfishing and exploring beautiful water and cays. Hope you all are having grand adventures as well.
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Jan 16, 2018 - 09:26am PT
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climbski2
Mountain climber
The Ocean
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 23, 2018 - 04:07am PT
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Hi guys it's been a while since I posted up here. Oh well having a blast haven't had any more serious scares since that big Norther in the Berry Islands Bahamas. My laptop died and it is a pain typing on a tablet so I've been a bit lazy.
This year going south was apparently harder than normal according to the old timers. So I have taken my time only using good anchorages in good weather. I've done plenty of boat repair in exotic places, I have swam with a wild dolphin, caught fish, seen whales, made friends and have seen and explored countless beautiful places.
Currently I'm in Luperon Dominican Republic enjoying being back in a place with mountains for the first time in many many months. They actually have one that goes to 10,000 feet. Hmmmmmm
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zip
Trad climber
pacific beach, ca
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Mar 23, 2018 - 05:14am PT
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cool. thanks. happy for you.
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WBraun
climber
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Mar 23, 2018 - 08:10am PT
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Beautiful .....
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Mar 23, 2018 - 08:27am PT
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Noice! I missed the GQ interior shots first time. You should rename her ‘Sticky’! 😀
Wait til you get to Alaska if you love sketchy anchorages with 20’ tides! 😜
In the immortal words of Capt Cook: “May the natives always be friendly.”
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climbski2
Mountain climber
The Ocean
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 23, 2018 - 08:29am PT
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Zardoz...are you considering getting out here too?
Ha Reilly. .uugh to sketchy anchorages ..stickies on one side are projects needing to be done...other side..done! It's very satisfying to move them to the other side. I got the idea from a YouTube sailing channel called SV Delos. Very popular
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climbski2
Mountain climber
The Ocean
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 22, 2018 - 01:14pm PT
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Going well. I am now situated in Culebra Puerto Rico for they next several months. I have had to transition from a traveling cruiser making a 1200 mile island hopping trip to live-aboard working life. Feels a bit odd.
I've dealt with one Hurricane so far this season..little Beryl that died out before hitting here as a minor rain storm.
I need to make some decent money over the next 12 months to continue fixing up Attitude. I also plan to get my 6-pack captains license. Then I will assess what I can do and what I want to do.
I basically accomplished what I wanted to do better than I really expected back when this thread began. Its a new life.
Pretty sweet adventure and still pinch myself that I am living somewhere I love on my own nice sailboat that I got here on my own.
I need to take some time and really share some of the places I got to see. Almost all of the trip was beautiful and amazing but there were a small handful of above and beyond spectacular places. Look up Conception Island in the Bahamas..special. Some others
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climbski2
Mountain climber
The Ocean
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 3, 2019 - 01:30pm PT
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She's beautiful! What a spectacular boat. I bet she sells...but what a perfect trip for her. If you get the chance DO IT! you will never regret it.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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The MV Brightwork! 😁
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guido
Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
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Hey Zardoz-"Lose Your Dreams and You Will Friggin Lose Your Mind."
She is a Classic from a Classic era.
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ionlyski
Trad climber
Polebridge, Montana
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My god man, beware of all of Polynesia if you cherish your life!
My god man, beware of all of Polynesia if you cherish your wife!
Joe, fixed it for you:)
Arne
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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zardoz, was that site called SuperDopo or SuperLameO?
So, climbski, you still in Puerto Rico? Digging the music scene there?
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climbski2
Mountain climber
The Ocean
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 4, 2019 - 04:18pm PT
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You would likely enjoy sailing anarchy
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Largo
Sport climber
The Big Wide Open Face
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Mar 18, 2019 - 12:44pm PT
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Epic stuff!
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EdBannister
Mountain climber
13,000 feet
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Mar 23, 2019 - 01:00am PT
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Jim Thomsen was going to sail around the Med.. he sailed around the globe... Jim Whittaker was going to sail around the globe, but he and family loved the south pacific so much they stayed 7 years... why not fly to where you want to be and buy a boat there to putt putt between islands???? if a storm blows in then you have somewhere to go, that said after owning three boats all under 24 feet
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D_Meschke
Mountain climber
Pinedale, WY
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Mar 24, 2019 - 08:16pm PT
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Awesome adventure. I'll be living in a 21 ft boat this summer on a lake near the Wind River Range... this thread is giving me a lot of stoke. Always reinvent yourself! cheers
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| Messages 1 - 145 of total 145 in this topic |
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