340 Sundancer Delivery from Washington DC to Annapolis - o/a April 18 2008

Odayssea

Odayssea

New Member
Apr 10, 2008
102
Annapolis, MD
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2000
Engines
Mercruiser 7.4L
I have just purchased a 2000 340 purchased in Washington that I need to take to Annapolis. The boat is new to me and my skills are not yet what they should be, so I am looking for someone with enough experience to help me cruise her to Annapolis as early as Friday, April 18. I imagine there are folks in the area who would enjoy the cruise for its own sake, though I don't mind paying something reasonable for the help, either, and may opt for a pro. Any suggestions?
 
Larry,
I'd like to help, but have to work on Friday. This is not a bad run at all provided the weather doesn't turn foul around Point Lookout. You can run from DC to Coles Point, or futher south at Port Kinsale on the Potomac, get fuel, and finish the run to Annapolis. In my 420 cruising at 24 knots it is about 3.0-3.5 hours to Point Lookout, then another hour north to Solomons Island-and another hour and a half to Annapolis. Figure a six hour cruise if the weather is favorable.

Dbl check your safety gear, carry a handheld VHF and spare batteries, and backup GPS-you will be fine. I am sure someobody will want to go for a boat ride.

good luck
regards
Skip
 
Did or have you considered trailering the boat? Might be a lot less expensive then a 6 hour cruise. Just a thought if you are anxious/nervous about the trip.

Figure 6 hours x 25-30 gallons an hour, or 150+ gallons of fuel at $4+ a gallon or $600+. You can probably trailer it from DC to Annapolis for less than that.
 
Yeah, I'll second the idea of trailering it. The trip isn't short. And it does present a number of challenges that someone with a developing skillset might not find simple. You learn by doing, of course, but with it being 'new to you' it might not be the greatest way to start your season.

If you were doing this after the 28th I could lend a hand. But I've got inlaws coming for the wife's baby shower and I'm up to my ass in alligators doing work on the house.

If you do it you might want to plan on spending the night somewhere just to break up the trip. Being that it's early in the season there may not be as many things open. Stuff like water taxis won't be running yet. I'd check first by calling.

You can do the trip in a single day, just get an early start. You probably don't want to be pulling that 'new' boat into an unfamiliar marina after dark for your first shot at docking it.

It's about a 125 mile trip so you should be able to do it without refueling if you're sticking to cruise speed. If you're going faster then you'll need to know which fuel docks are open, and their hours. I made the mistake of being in a hurry to take the boat from the dealer once and didn't check the fuel. Seems their 'testing' burned through quite a lot of what I thought was in there. It was nerve wracking trying to find a place open after 5pm on a weekday. I ended up tied up to the fuel dock at place waiting for them to open the next morning. Fortunately I had beer and food!

When you're coming up the Bay be sure to track a wide route away from the LNG depot. That's about the only issue I've encountered on that part of the bay. Otherwise you'll get to meet the nice USCG folks with their 50 cal equipped inflatables. But they're just going to ask you to route around, at least that's all I got.

What marina will you call home?
 
I disagree on trailering... sure you may save a few bucks, but if you're going to keep the boat in Annapolis you will probably not make it back to DC by boat anytime soon. Abide by Skip's advice on safety gear and backups... and enjoy the ride. It's only 125 miles. My brother and I brought his 320 from Sandy Hook, NJ to Rock Hall, Maryland in a day. This trip can easily be done in a day (weather permitting).

C'mon... somebody must want to help out here!

I'd be happy to go, but I'm already involved in moving two other boats that day!
 
Last edited:
"I disagree on trailering... sure you may save a few bucks,"

I was thinking more anxiety/fear/nerves, which are a big deal to a first time "big" boater. I remember bringing our 330DA home, which was our first trip with her, 3 hour cruise, I was nervous as heck steering a boat 12 feet longer and 3 feet wider than our last one. I never used twins before either. Fortunately we had friends waiting for us at the marina back home who helped us put her in the slip.

I am all for the trip and if you have the confidence I say do it too.
 
Why buy a boat if you are not going to use it? Get the boat to Annapolis the way it was meant to get there....via water. f you use common sense, pay attention to safety, and have the boat prepared properly it will be an outstanding learning experience. We all go somewhere for the first time...this is no different. If all you boated in was familiar waters, you would never leave the dock.


Prepare the boat, study and know your charts, and go for a boat ride!!

trailer----phooey

PS. I would love to help but I am afraid of the Chesapeake........Gary scared me!!!!
 
Sure, what a fun way to start the season. Burn $600 in fuel, deal with river issues. the tide at the mouth of the Potomac, cold water spray, docking after dark, oh yeah, lots of fun, not. Or maybe it's a challenge the guy's motivated to take.
 
Know what, If you are afraid of a little boating adventure, maybe you should sell whatever boat you have and buy an RV.

I love boaters like you, afraid of weather, Oh honey, look its a bit cloudy and only 75 today, maybe we should stay home and knit!
 
jeez oh petes! A guy logs onto CSR and wants to move his 34 foot Sundancer 125 miles and people are telling him to trailer it? You've got to be kidding! You would think he is crossing the North Atlantic on the Mayflower. It's only 6 hours! Look for a nice day and enjoy the ride... That's an easy trip and it'll be fun.
 
Hmmm, a couple of people offer friendly advice. Then a couple of jackasses chime in without anything but criticism. Yeah, welcome aboard.
 
You really need to stop with the "ass" word.... It makes you look like... well... an ass.
 
You know Billy Boy, I may get kicked off the forum for this but you are truly a moron. You add virtually nothing to any conversation except to agree with what has already been stated by someone else "Yes I concur that green doodad is far better than a red one". You are a jerk.
 
You can put a shoe on a horse but you can't put a shoe on an ass..... can you? They call those "ass shoes"?
 
All right now boys, someone needs to be the bigger man here and walk away....it's all good fun here, just busting on each other.
 
It does not look like a hard trip, and the 340 that he bought is an easy boat to run. My 330DA is the exact same hull as his 2000 340. The dealer sent a captain to do my half-day orientation. We spent something like 30 minutes on systems, and another 30 on handling characteristics. After that he said, "You seem to have no problems with handling her. What else do you want to do?" So we went for a boat ride. Therefore, Larry, get an hour or two of orientation and... go for a boat ride.

Frank, Skip, and Gary have the right idea. Just do it. Prepare, get your charts, update your chartplotter's chip, if equipped, and go! If I was closer, I'd go with him. I love OPF!

Best regards,
Frank
 
DC is a 4 hour drive. Then there's getting back to DC to recover the car and another 4 hour drive home. Oh well.
 
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