How Often and How Far ?

Ross · Oct 10, 2011

Some years several times a month but in the last two years hardly at all. Nancy says a week is her limit. I could keep going but I still must earn a living. We live 17 miles and 25 minutes from the boat. There is no limit to where we could go with the boat should we so choose.

higgs · Oct 10, 2011

I am literally 5 minutes from my boat and get out on either on my boat or someone elses boat a minimum of 4 times a week. I take an average of 4 3-4 day trips and usually one 2 week cruise. The Western end of Lake Ontario is well suited for short cruises as destinations are numerous and spaced reasonably close. I have almost 25 destinations within 45 miles of my home port.

MrUnix · Oct 10, 2011

Squidd said:
I ask cause I'm not near a lake suitable for my boat and need to travel, wondering if an in water slip is justified for the 4-5 times a year I'm thinking of going out, or if I'd be better off with a "dry slip" (boat on trailer) and just launch when I do get to go..?

In your situation (needing to modify the keel stepped mast, towing problems due to oversize width, etc...), dry storage may be an ideal situation for you. It will save you the hassle of lugging the boat back and forth and it will keep you out of the water when not in use so you don't need to worry about marine growth on the hull and associated painting/cleaning. It is also considerably cheaper than a wet slip, and you can leave your boat rigged and ready to go. You won't have to modify your keel stepped mast either, and normal maintenance will be easier since it would already be out of the water and ready to work on.

Cheers,
Brad

Deadhead · Oct 10, 2011

As Often As I Can

I live 2 hours from my boat. I spend virtually every weekend on her between mid-April and late October. This year I have spent 83 nights aboard.

We anchor overnight at least once and mostly twice monthly during the season. Day sail on the others. We spend a couple of 3 night long weekends at anchor (usually Memorial, 4th & Labor Day weekends) and then take a 2 week cruise in August. There is usually 1 weekend a month when I don't leave the dock and that is because my girl friend has parental responsibilities (like driving to the paint ball course) and I use the time to clean & polish, clean & scrub or just clean.

Regards.
DH

SycloneDriver · Oct 10, 2011

3 x month

We sail about three time a month, but sometimes I just go to the boat and tinker/relax. We live about 40 miles from the boat. I love having my boat in a slip. When I bought my SJ23 it was already in a slip. I planned to purchase a trailer and trailer/sail it, but after a few months I forgot all about that.

If you're only going to sail 4 or 5 times a year store the boat on the trailer at the lake and leave the mast up.

seadaddler · Oct 10, 2011

Every Week

We now live in Florida and retired so we at the boat most days and sailing 2 or 3 times a week and some times at least 1 or 2 a month over nighters for 2,3 or 4 nights and 2 times 3 or 4 week trips and than a week with just the guys so you can see pretty much mix it up with a lot of sailing for sure since living in Florida and retired.
But some times we don't use the boat for whole week or 2 out on vacation some place else and usually take july and august up north with the motor home.
I know we have a great life and making up for all those years of hard long hours of working both me and my wife,we just need to stay healthy and keep enjoying life boating and long vacations far off new and exciting in the USA and otheer countries.
Nick

31seahorse · Oct 10, 2011

Hello Squid, If you plan to use the boat only 4 or 5 times per summer I agree with those calling for dry storage at the marina where you plan to sail. You can also go there to work on the boat as you choose and not worry about the bad things that can happen to unused/unattended boats in slips. Get to know the other boat owners who have slips there. It will be a great source of information on what can and does happen on the docks.

Our previous boat was an O'day 34 that we used nearly every weekend from May to Mid October during the previous 4 years. The marina we used was a 2 1/4 hour drive from home. Each summer included a cruise on the Chesapeake. The duration and the destinations changed from 8 days up to 2 weeks. What fun! Those trips were shared with friends who had their own boats, and they are times we all treasure.

Currently, we have a 20 foot day sailer that weighs 800 pounds. We plan to pull her to places on the Chesapeake, PA lakes, the Finger Lakes, Lake George and any other locations that catch our attention.

Best Wishes for great sailing, great memories, and building your sailing skills.

Phil

Nodak7 · Oct 10, 2011

During the season we are up at the boat every weekend. Take off on friday and come back on Sunday. We live about 83 miles from the Marina. We both work so (I am semi retired) if it were not for that we would be there more often. Our average weekend is about 60-80nms and once per summer we go out for a full 10 day outing (usually about 200nms. Only wish our season were longer....:-(

lnikl · Oct 10, 2011

During the main season, I try to get out for at least 2-3 trips that are one or more nights long with one being around 10d to 2 weeks. I also will get out for an afternoon/evening sail midweek and any time I can on weekends for a day sail. This depends on the weather - this summer was not so great.
I will go out for even an hour's sail when my work takes me close to the marina around lunch time. I would prefer to sail than to eat, even if the sailing is within the inner harbour, with all its commercial traffic.
I also use my boat as an office away from the office when I need to get some report writing done. I find it to be an inspirational place to work and I don't have all the interuptions of the office. This I can do year round.
The boat is exactly 36km from my home which takes about 45 minutes to get there.
I would be out more often but like you, I have to work to support my habit.

David in Sandusky · Oct 10, 2011

Most weekends in season

Probably 3 out of 4 weekends from May through October, plus a cruise of one to 8 weeks. We live 2 1/4 hours from our marina.

We often charter somewhere for a week or more. In March, we are off to New Zealand & Bora Bora, thevlast destinations on our original bucket list.

s sauer · Oct 10, 2011

GO with Syclone Driver's response: for a 26' boat, avoid the towing & re-rigging; keep it mast up on a trailer and launch it when you can. We have a 28.5 kept in a slip 75 miles from home and only get a chance to day sail it at most every 2nd week. Being in a slip certainly isn't a safety or damage issue for us, but it does get slime and barnacles if left too long. Makes it easiest to use for short day trips or to work on. Worst method for us was to have it on a mooring; rocked and socked by power boat wakes and unable to work on it at the marina gas dock because of the same damaging wakes.

shipwreck66 · Oct 10, 2011

I'm 30 minutes from my boat and go out just about every weekend.

Ray Bowles · Oct 10, 2011

I sail off the trailer 3 to 5 times a week. I am 15 minutes from the boat. The boat is fully rigged on the trailer. I hook up to the trailer, mount my head sail and remove the sail cover off the main. I load the snacks and small cooler. Then I drive 150 yards to the ramp and launch. It takes 15 minutes and I do it alone. When done it takes 15 minutes to load the boat back on the trailer and park it back in the yard.
Ray

Indysailor · Oct 11, 2011

When the kids are out of school we sail a couple times a week, mostly for 3-5 hours at a time. Kids like to swim more than sail, so we have to keep that in mind. This summer, we seemed to be out on the water after dinner and into dark a lot more, which for some reason is something the kids are really into. Best trips were probably the couple of full moon sails we took.
We are about 20 minutes from the boat and for us keeping the boat in a slip is ideal. If I could only get to my boat infrequently, I'd leave it on the hard, rigged and ready to launch.

kappykaplan · Oct 11, 2011

I live 5 miles from my boat. I try to get out once a weekend, sometimes twice. My day sails are on the order of 5-6 hours, sometimes longer. I've gotten to do one four-day cruise with Boy Scouts each of the last two years.

Benjamin Disralei · Oct 11, 2011

How Often and How Far ?
How often do you go out sailing (in season) ...every weekend...? Once or twice a month...? Couple times a year...? everyday cause your in the Navy...?

And related to that...How far do you live from the water/your boat...?
Is the lake in the back yard...? You live in town nearby...? You travel 1-2 hrs to get there...? Further...?

I ask cause I'm not near a lake suitable for my boat and need to travel, wondering if an in water slip is justified for the 4-5 times a year I'm thinking of going out, or if I'd be better off with a "dry slip" (boat on trailer) and just launch when I do get to go..?

And related to that...How far do you live from the water/your boat...?
Is the lake in the back yard...? You live in town nearby...? You travel 1-2 hrs to get there...? Further...?

I ask cause I'm not near a lake suitable for my boat and need to travel, wondering if an in water slip is justified for the 4-5 times a year I'm thinking of going out, or if I'd be better off with a "dry slip" (boat on trailer) and just launch when I do get t

My scenario

I live 25 minutes from my yacht berth, she is not on a mooring but on a berth, this make mid week sails around 3pm easy. I also work long hour so my yacht is my escape, (mind and soul)

No offense but if I were to sail as often as you I would commit suicide, I need to be on the water at least twice a week. My investment is $150 K and my monthly cost is $600 AU, this is based on berth and minor expenses.
If my wife does not want to sail on the weekends, tough, I'm going. I could play golf but don't, I like to sail single handed anyway.

In you situation I would either have a trailer sailor or would buy in to a syndicate where I could really get value for money rather than have a boat on a berth/mooring. A yacht that I could step on/step off would have to be considered and not have to worry about the maintenance based on the small amount of time I would get to sail. Also there is the overseas options depending on the timeshare you were to go with...?
I am also talking about a syndicate that has a yacht around 36 foot plus, of course this is depending on your yearly budget that at the time of my input have no idea as to your upper limit.

Before all you sailors shoot me down, this is just my slant on the situation and not yours, all may not agree.

arf145 · Oct 11, 2011

We live just over an hour from our marina. My wife and I day sail maybe 3 times a month, pretty much using up the entire day with prep, sailing, maybe anchoring nearby. Since, unlike my wife, I want to sail *all* the time, I supplement that with a few multi-day trips each year with friends, and daysail with friends whenever I can rope one of them into it. Overall, I'd guess our boat goes out 25 days a year.

sailaway78 · Oct 11, 2011

One of the fortunate ones

I'm one of the fortunate ones who live in an area where sailing is pretty much a year round thing. Unlike those in the more northern latitudes, I don't do a lot of sailing in mid summer months. Just too hot, and generally not much breeze. My sailing time starts in the early fall, and lasts till early summer. Usually do at least one longer trip a year, and stay out for a month or more. Won't even tell you how close the boat is.

gpd955 · Oct 11, 2011

How often do you go out sailing (in season) ...every weekend...? Once or twice a month...? Couple times a year...? everyday cause your in the Navy...?

In season average 3x/week, but we rotate boats. Everyone takes a turn using theirs.

And related to that...How far do you live from the water/your boat...?
Is the lake in the back yard...? You live in town nearby...? You travel 1-2 hrs to get there...? Further...?

50min during the day and I've done it in 35min after work at midnight. That's not even speeding!