Observations about a long cruise

FootballFan

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2012
3,567
Florida
Boat Info
Marquis 59
Engines
MTU Series 60
Like I said in another post, catching up on some topics I wanted to post.

We recently moved our boat from Clearwater, FL to Kent Narrows in the Chesapeake. I will throw out an approximate number - 1,200 NM.

There are several on this forum for which this is not a big deal. Many I have spoken to do this kind of trip regularly and have for a long period of time. (BTW - thank you for your input and assistance in planning).

For us, it was a big deal. Longest single trip previously was about 700 NM (NC to Florida when we bought our previous 47DB). Lots of Florida loop stuff, 300 NM trips. Nothing like this.

Others can share the details about making a trip like this - they have more experience than I do.

I thought I would share some general personal observations.

First off, due to work timing, we decided to do this in one big trip. Float plan was 10 days or so. Would not do that again. Going back south in the fall and future trips will break into segments - with breaks going home.

Individual days on the float plan was pretty accurate. Made every days target, and over achieved a couple. The individual day targets were not the issue - it was day after day after day that wore on us. Up at 5:30 or so. Morning prep. Some mornings waiting for it to get light enough to see day markers before leaving. One morning leaving while dark since was a pretty tame navigational area.

Then running till sometime in the afternoon. Then a couple of days running into weather issues - getting delayed waiting on a storm to pass and getting in late.

By the time we got tied up, boat washed down, had a cocktail time to go to bed and start over the next day.

Learned a lot. Know a lot more about the boat we bought last fall. Both of us grew in boating skills significantly. Admiral now feels good at the helm meeting boats and passing boats in the ICW - running through bridges.

Float plans never include designated time for mechanical issues but we all know they can occur.

Our first was an Air Conditioner issue for the Salon and Galley. Thanks to some help from members here - we found a resource to take a look at our issue at Cape Canaveral - 4 days or so into the trip. Delayed a day to get it checked out. Estimate was it was going to take several days to get parts in and resolve.

Was about to leave the boat and get it fixed. We had AC in sleeping quarters downstairs and on the helm. Talking it over, Admiral looked at me and said "Suck it up buttercup", we have calm seas for the run off the coast going north - we can do this. So we went.

Got to Cape Fear in NC and hit a hard stop on an issue with the port engine. B positive ground was shorted out - killing the ECU on port. Boat sat for 9 days - turned out to be the Key Switch that had shorted out. $30 part. Needless to say - replace all 4 switches.

Somewhere along the way, we asked each other - why did we do this? Should we have just left the boat in FL for the summer?

On a Sunday evening we pulled into Kent Narrows after a long day from Virginia. Went to the fuel dock, pumped out, then pulled into our summer slip at Mears Point.

An hour after getting secured, power hooked up, and settled we were sitting on the back of the bridge (we call it the balcony) having a cocktail. Looking out at the view of the Chester River.

Not sure who said it first - but the observation was "Wow, we are so glad we did this"!

If you got this far - thanks for reading my long rambling email.

Mark
 
It was a great post. Sounds a lot like me and Mrs after 16 hr drive to the Keys. Thanks for posting Mark! GOD bless, JC
 
I’m right there with you Mark.

5 days crossing to the Bahamas and 6 days coming back.

Up at 0530 and usually pulling into a marina close to dark.

Covered 105nm in 13 hours on two separate occasions.

Numb butt the whole time but would do it again in a heart beat. !
 
Good reading!!
 
I’m right there with you Mark.

5 days crossing to the Bahamas and 6 days coming back.

Up at 0530 and usually pulling into a marina close to dark.

Covered 105nm in 13 hours on two separate occasions.

Numb butt the whole time but would do it again in a heart beat. !

K9medic - sounds like your trip was fantastic. Followed all your posts through the ups and downs. Look forward to meeting when we get back to CLW.

This was our 6th crossing over the Lake - and if you ask me right now - our last. Saved a day in good weather.

Everyone should do it once or twice - but the bridges and locks get old.

Mark
 
Thanks for posting! I’m in Baltimore and I’m in the market for a new boat. I’m looking all up and down the East Coast. I have visions of buying a boat in FL and piloting her home in one shot. Although I have pretty much ruled out any Gulf Coast boat and am focusing my search on Miami to New England.

Id love to read about your preparations and planning. Or reach some of threads you used to help you plan. Can you share any of those links? If they aren’t CSR discussions, I’d happily accept PM’s with them!

Oh, and welcome to Maryland!

Thanks,
 
Thanks for posting! I’m in Baltimore and I’m in the market for a new boat. I’m looking all up and down the East Coast. I have visions of buying a boat in FL and piloting her home in one shot. Although I have pretty much ruled out any Gulf Coast boat and am focusing my search on Miami to New England.

Id love to read about your preparations and planning. Or reach some of threads you used to help you plan. Can you share any of those links? If they aren’t CSR discussions, I’d happily accept PM’s with them!

Oh, and welcome to Maryland!

Thanks,

As you move towards buying your next boat - send me a pm. After buying a couple of boats I have some definite opinions about areas to buy a boat - and areas where I have decided I would never buy a boat from.

Boating is a wonderful event in ones life - I would encourage you to pursue your interests.

Mark
 
Mark, we may do a “winter cruise” down to Caladesi in November or December.

We should certainly meet up.


I’m planning on moving the boat to the Bahamas for 3/1-8/1 next year. Already got the marina set up!
 
Mark, we may do a “winter cruise” down to Caladesi in November or December.

We should certainly meet up.


I’m planning on moving the boat to the Bahamas for 3/1-8/1 next year. Already got the marina set up!

Love to - lets see what we can work out.

Not sure yet on when we are bringing the boat back to FL - sometime in the late fall.
 
Mark, great post and thanks for taking us along with you.

Scooper, don't overlook the Great Lakes region in your search for a boat. They have short seasons in fresh water and many are hauled out for the winter. I bought mine from the Lake St. Clair area and have never regretted it.
 
Scooper, don't overlook the Great Lakes region in your search for a boat. They have short seasons in fresh water and many are hauled out for the winter. I bought mine from the Lake St. Clair area and have never regretted it.

My problem with a Great Lakes boat is I can't get it home (to Baltimore). I can't take enough time to ride 1/2 the Loop with her. And I'm not real excited about buying a boat and then immediately beheading it to get it home!
 
scooper321...do not rule out Gulf Coast boats. It is a piece of cake to cross the lake but like Mark says, it gets old. But to bring the right boat home and to ride in fresh water all day, it is not a bad thing for sure.

Capt. R
 
Mark, this is the first time this post popped up, not sure what thats about. Anyway, glad you had a good remainder of the trip. Hopefully we will see you on the way back.
 
scooper321...do not rule out Gulf Coast boats. It is a piece of cake to cross the lake but like Mark says, it gets old. But to bring the right boat home and to ride in fresh water all day, it is not a bad thing for sure.

Capt. R

Nope. I was corrected in that thinking already! Lol. So that keeps the Gulf Coast open. But only to about Tampa. Up on the panhandle and it’s another day or two added on... which would be fun. But on a new, unfamiliar boat in unfamiliar seas, probably not the wisest thing to do.
 
We bought our current boat in Fort Lauderdale last June. After a one day shake down to West Palm, we jumped the 500 nautical miles to Morehead City and up the ICW and Chesapeake from there. Since then, we've gone back to the Keys last Fall and up back to the Chesapeake, by way of the Bahamas, this Spring.

I'm in the camp of loving these long trips. My crew and I always talk about the "ship's business" being the number one priority, and it is something like a "job"; getting up early and running all day. But what a job! Not sure I could do it all day, every day, but for a couple of weeks in the year--- when the outcome is my boat is suddenly in the Florida Keys for the winter--- it's worth every second!
 
Mark
I am based in Cape Canaveral . I was speaking with a couple that had A/C issues seeking
info on a local repair shop ? Were you at Cape Marina ? few months back ?
 

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