Cruising in the heat

jwing · Jun 16, 2015

I think about how friggin' miserably cold and dark winters are, then I smile and embrace the warmth.

SailormanDan · Jun 16, 2015

I guess "stay home" is not the answer you are looking for.

I have a bimini which helps while I'm sailing, but I haven't yet made an awning/sunshade to cover the rest of the boat while I'm on the hook. It's next or so on the Sailrite list. I've got some of those brown & silver plastic tarps from the hardware store that I'm going to cut down and sew up, that will save me from buying anything. Sunbrella makes some mesh stuff that blocks UV yet lets the air blow thru, but I was going to try the tarp first since it will block the rain also. I am also going to try a windscoop for the front hatch.

Other than that lots of water, get acclimated and remind yourself in February that you aren't supposed to complain how hot or cold it gets.
Dan

kito · Jun 16, 2015

We would spend weekends on Lake Norman in the summer when it got into the high 90's. We would find a cove that had at least a small beach area to hang out to get out of the sun and swim, grill, horseshoes etc. Sleeping was the biggest issue. The fans didn't do much help but after multiple beers and a few dirty vodka martini's, I seemed to forget about the heat and sleep just fine

woodster · Jun 16, 2015

wash down the deck with water often and get a boom tent ...also find a cove with shade trees if you can

Sailm8 · Jun 16, 2015

I made a boom tent out of tarps they use for hay bales. It is made of mesh and has grommets that I bungee cord to the lifelines works great and it cheap. I tried a regular blue tarp but when the wind blew it made a lot of noise. The shade lowers the temp at least 10 degree. Scotch works good too.

kloudie1 · Jun 16, 2015

Boom tent and a windscoop..

Joe · Jun 16, 2015

My experience with sun covers is to NOT secure them with bungee cords.... otherwise when the wind blows... they flap. Think what would happen if you used elastic jib sheets???

I've cruised southwest Florida in august and September.... talk about uncomfortable heat... Air circulation is the key.. it wicks away the humidity... but the enemy of air circulation is the no-see-um screens that are mandatory for preserving your sanity.

Anchoring close to shore seems to put you in a wind shadow and also within range of the pesky sand flies... So I choose to get out in deeper water where wind shifts are less dramatic and the bugs have a greater challenge to find you.

Scott T-Bird · Jun 16, 2015

Alcohol ... are you kidding?!?!

I know sailors are supposed to love their rum, but heat and dehydration is a pretty miserable combination. I can't think of anything that makes me feel more uncomfortable in the heat, than swilling alcoholic drinks. OK, maybe A cold beer tastes good and doesn't do too much damage. I might sound like a nun but I consider it a blessing that my body doesn't have much tolerance for alcohol, and I'm becoming less and less tolerant as I age. The thought of becoming an old lush with a beet-red face in the summer heat would be pretty depressing. (I have a picture of the doctor in "The Bounty" in my mind it doesn't go away).

Do yourself a favor and stay away from alcohol in those conditions. And, I suggest that anybody who can actually sleep well in the heat via intoxication, that's a problem. Dehydration, caused by drinking alcoholic and sugar-rich beverages, normally leads to severe head-aches, digestive tract problems and all sorts of misery. I've found that out by experience and it's NOT for me (sermon over).

waternwaves · Jun 16, 2015

not to mention all the strain on the kidneys....

justsomeguy · Jun 16, 2015

Well, if you're really cruising, cruise North (or way, way South).

Canada's nice.

gettinthere · Jun 16, 2015

Fans. We each have caframo fans that do a nice job of putting a breeze on us. Wind scoops help but not as much as I expected. Tent/awnings would help.

Cold showers feel great too!

emergpa1 · Jun 16, 2015

Sun shades, a 5000BTU AC that is 16 inches wide and will fit into the companionway, duct taped in, and honda 2000i gen that will run it 7 hrs on a tank of gas. I mean shade tree awnings.

Stu Jackson · Jun 16, 2015

Scott T-Bird said:
...........and I'm becoming less and less tolerant as I age.

Aw, c'mon, you've ALWAYS BEEN tolerant.

:dance::naughty:

BO - we bought a small umbrella, like for outdoor tables. We use bungee cords and velcro straps to move it around as the sun comes around. Easier than a boom tent in the cockpit. Between that and your bimini could can keep the cockpit shaded, mostly. I suggest a boom tent over your cabintop, from the companionway to the mast. That'll shade the cabintop. You could rig one over your foredeck, too. And just using a bucket to wet down the deck and cabintop would help a lot.

Go swimming more often, many of us don't get to to do that as often as we'd like. :dance:

Glad you got to go out. I'm servicing my winches this week and some of the screws are being quite recalcitrant.

Stu Jackson · Jun 16, 2015

emergpa1 said:
Sun shades, a 5000BTU AC that is 16 inches wide and will fit into the companionway, duct taped in, and honda 2000i gen that will run it 7 hrs on a tank of gas.

Nice idea, but unfeasible on a 23 foot boat!

Benny17441 · Jun 16, 2015

I hear you, we had high pressure sitting over us today with a temperature of 94 F and a humidity near 90%. The best tricks I know is to keep the sun off the deck with the use of an awning. Air flow between the awning and the deck will keep the cabin interior not higher than ambient temperature. Another trick is to spray water on the deck so the evaporation can lower the temperature. The higher the ambient humidity the less cooling evaporation but it does help. You can use a wash down hose or pump and spray sea water. Now for the "piece de resistance" get a Honda EU2000 and a 5K BTU Window A/C unit and you will be able to enjoy your outing. The first two ideas just help the A/C unit work better. Don't know if I have gotten older but laying awake in a bunk and sweating like a pig takes away all the fun of anchoring out. Those who have not experienced the summer season in the Gulf of Mexico or the Chesapeake Bay may not understand.

Benny17441 · Jun 16, 2015

Stu Jackson said:
Nice idea, but unfeasible on a 23 foot boat!

Stu four of us cruised the Cheasapeake Bay in July in a Starwind 22' with a Honda generator and a 5K window unit. Underway they were both stowed in the cabin and at night they sat in the cockpit. After the 4th of July fireworks show in DC we sailed down the Potomac and went to Tangier Island. It was tight but it would have been impossible without the A/c.

All U Get · Jun 16, 2015

Bad Obsession said:
What do you do to help with the heat? If you are staying on the hook do you have any other tricks?

You just need the right latitude.

All U Get

RECESS · Jun 17, 2015

On our Catalina 22, O'day 25 and our Pearson 323 the only answer is anchor away from people and Honda 2000i and AC. At night once we get the boat cooled down for a couple hours we can stop the AC and the fans keep it cool enough to sleep. A hot boat in Florida during July and August is no fun.

Cruising in the heat

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