Planning Phase for the Delivery Run of the New Alaskan Sea-Duction

[AKBASSKING]

OK, we are in the very early stages of planning this run from Oakley CA (Near Stockton) to Longview WA (Columbia River). It will be about a 680 mile run near the middle to end of September. I am told that any run after the fall equinox can be rough due to weather. I plan to run during daylight hours. That being said I need some help determining/gathering equipment and I am on somewhat a budget. Here is what I have so far.

1. Six-man lift raft. I need to beg, borrow or rent one.
2. The boat has Cat 3208s. I plan to take a case of filters. NAPA? Part number?
3. Best place to get paper charts?
4. I will be installing my HDS 7 Chart/fish plotter with an updated chart chip. Any specials on this $200 chip?
5. I will be buying a "Spot", any good deals?
6. Weather? I know about NOAA, weather service. What else?
7. For those who have made this trip, suggestions on how far from shore to run? I hear crab pot are at 300+ feet with steel cables.

All the above is for the trip after I have taken delivery of the boat and all issue with the survey reports are cleared.

What am I missing?

 

[Ididntdoit]

Forget SPOT - its a toy - get an epirb or at least a plb if your running offshore - plb's are pretty cheap now - or you can rent an epirb if $$$ is a factor - remember having 1 of somthing (vhf, plotter, etc) = 0 and 2=1, 3=2, etc...

 

[docofthebay]

I've been out of pocket a week or two. What are you buying and what size 3208s?
I bought an inreach se instead of a spot. Does tracking, emergency notification and also 2way satellite texting http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-info/inreachse.php

Below is a fuel burn table per 100 rpms. Ignore the mph/mpg, that's what mine gets at each rpm step. This will help a lot with trip planning both before and during. When I go long distances, I go at 1000 rpm and get 2.5 times the mpg. Takes three times as long but uses 40% of the fuel. For on plane cruising, cat recommends 2300-2400 rpms.
Fuel burn rate
RPM GPH MPH MPG
2000 6.5/13. 18.8. 1.44
2100 7.8/15.6. 20.5. 1.31
2200 9.0/18. 22.1. 1.22
2300 10.5/21. 23.4. 1.12
2400 12/24. 24.9. 1.04
2500 14/28. 26.2. 0.94
2600 16/32. 27.4. 0.86
2700 18.8/37.6. 28.8. 0.76
2800 21/42 29.8. 0.71
Low speed
1000 1.2/2.4
1100. 1.7/3.4
1200. 1.9/3.8
1300. 2.2/4.4
1400. 2.5/5.0
1500. 3.1/6.2
1600. 3.5/7.0
1700. 4.3/8.6
1800. 5.0/10
1900. 5.6/11.2

Cat fuel filters are 1R-0750 one per engine, oil filters or 1R-0714 two per engine. Also has Racors before the engine ? Number.
Oil is straight weight 40 (maybe 30 in your area) Rotella or Delo. 4 gallons per engine
cooling system use only Cat brand ELC coolant- weirdly enough it was cheaper than other brands at my Cat dealer. 14 gallons per engine. Lasts 6 years.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Well heading done to CA on Thursday and on Friday taking the boat up to Stockton for surveys and haul out on Monday. An interesting development. This boat hold 600gal of fuel in two-250gal and two-50gal tanks. The two small tanks have never had fuel in them according to the owner. This is a great concern to me as I will need that 100gal. So once I get the thumbs up from the surveyors, I have hired Duke from http://www.cssifuelfiltration.com/ to come in and install inspection access in each tank (he has done a preliminary inspection and no inspection access holes), clean each tank and dry them to include the fuel manifold. Then he will be polishing the fuel before putting it back in the tank. This will be a 4 day job, but the risks of not doing it with tanks that have never been inspected or had fuel in two them, makes this a must do project. Too late to think about it when I am out going around Cape Mendocino and I start clogging filters. Money well spent or at least I keep telling myself that.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Good move on hiring Duke, and you'd be kicking yourself if you had fuel problems along the way. Now that's one less thing to worry about when you lay your head on the pillow at night.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Instead of a water maker, do they make a way to suck sea water and make diesel fuel??? :smt089 This is starting to hurt....

 

[rstaub]

I agree, get an epirb. When I was compiling my ditch bag I was a bit reluctant to spend the money - about $500 at the time - on an epirb. Then I decided to look at it this way: when it's dark and stormy and your boat is on fire with your wife and daughter on board, I bet you'd bust out your credit pretty quick then wouldn't you? Money well spent if you ask me. Good luck on your trip.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Tom, if you start cheaping out on this trip we're going to start calling you "ST***T" and that's not a compliment.

 

[HUMPH]

Who is hauling the boat in Stockton, Tony?

 

[l-skynyrd]

Did you know there is a haul out right next to the Antioch bridge. Just curious, where in Oakley is the boat. I am at Lauritzen Yacht Harbor, Oakley,ca Len

 

[AKBASSKING]

Tom, if you start cheaping out on this trip we're going to start calling you "ST***T" and that's not a compliment.

Not cheaping out, just whining a little.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Who is hauling the boat in Stockton, Tony?

Ken,

It is being hauled out at Ladds. Took a nice 2 1/2 hr cruiese up river and byways. This is really a pretty place with lots of cruiesing area and you meet big ships, but they are goung a lot slower than in the Columbia.

I- the boat is in Driftwood??? Right by the bridge. I went and had a beer at Max too. Neat place.