1000 mile ocean passage

[newly anonymous]

epirb switch

Other than for stocking up on spam and crackers, the boat's ready for a thousand mile coastal passage. To go the same distance offshore, I'd want to upgrade my 121.5 MHz EPIRB to a 406 MHz. Maybe add an SSB as well, just to be able to get weatherfaxes out there. After hearing Carol's plans for her 410, I would consider switching the aft water tank on mine over to a nice, dry pinot noir. Has anyone computed how far a typical couple can travel on 50 gallons of red wine? Hmmmm. Might have to purchase some charts, also, just to make sure I don't run out of ocean.

 

[Rick Webb]

RORO

Since I have a 23.5 the only way I would consider it is to drag it on a Roll On Roll off Ship and pick it up on the other side. Air shipping I do not think is viable as there are very few aircraft and damn near no civilian models that could handle the height of one of our boats. When I lived in Hawaii I sailed with several folks who made the trip to California almost routinely. I personally hated even the five hour plane trip and swore once I would not do it again until they could beam me there. Hey, maybe that is the best way just BEAM me across Scotty.

 

[Jeff Walker]

What Chris Oldham did

Chris did a great job of describing the commisioning of Eau-de-Vie. His equipment list is staggering and I frequently cross-check his list and ours.Site is www.passagemaking.com and it is very well organized. As far as the fuel vs. water discussion, the Valiant 42 has 77 gallons of fuel and 88 gallons of water with options to increase both. The Hans Christian 41 has 100 gallons of fuel and 150 gallons of water which leads me to believe that serious cruisers in 40+ foot boats do a fair amount of motor-sailing and generator running just like the rest of us. I'd fill a tank with Corona Beer if I didn't think heavy seas would shake it up until the back end of the boat exploded with the pressure :>) and happy ..._)Jeff s/v's Twilight and Suzanne

 

[Jay Hill]

Regarding "Beam Me Up, Scotty"

Does this mean that in the future, a vessel's beam will be measured/indicated in minutes and seconds instead of feet and inches?

 

[Flavio Patuelli]

Manufacturer

This question should be answered really by Hunter itself, eventually subdividing by year built.I own a 1986 legend 40, and I am told that no Hunter, Beneteau, Catalina etc.. are seaworthy for passage making, because of their structural wickness.An example is also the way that accessories are assembled on a boat such as the stantions etc..It would be also interesting to know how many Hunters have been doing passage making and how far did they go.

 

[Phil Herring]

Flavio

Check Bohart's QandA in the Reference section... he lists a number of Hunters that have done offshore passages. It's by no means an extensive list but Jim was working from memory, not hard data.ph.

 

[Mark Johnson]

Nah...not me!

I did a delivery from Wrightsville Beach to Tortola in a friends 72' Windship, 55 tons and built like a "Brick sh...t House" and there were many times I said to myself during that delivery "we need a bigger boat". I'll leave those long offshore passages to the young and adventurous. If I can't get back to shore in one day I'm not going.Mark Johnson

 

[mark schaefer]

need it all

did a passage first day of hurricane season....storm heading into the gulf and supposed to break down...we left out of palm bch..well it made a right and caught us 150 miles off georgia...sure wish i had a single side band and the weather fax...not knowing what is going on leaves you feeling helpless...

 

[Jeff Walker]

Phil, speaking of Jim Bohart...

Carol Donovan and I visited him over at Voyager Marine this weekend. We knew he was in when we saw the Nissan 240 Z with Alachua Fla. plates parked out front (he has a windowed office with his golf clubs leaning up against the wall). He was gracious as always and told us some details about the new operation. I'll let Carol tell the rest but he looks happy and healthy and hopfully we'll get him out for a sail on the 410.Happy ..._) Jeff

 

[Phil Herring]

JB continued

Glad to hear that - I knew he had started this month. Had to be a big change for him; new coast, and leaving a company he'd been with for 15+ years. I'm hoping to get down there to visit him in the next 2-3 weeks.

 

[John Van Wagoner]

Preparation

I would make the following modifications/repairs:1. inner forestay with storm jib2. radar3. repair leaks, especially in cockpit lockers4. More hand holds in cabin5. Lee cloth for a proper (or as best as possible) sea berth5. generator or high output alternator6. asymmetrical spinnaker7. Better tabing at top of bulkheads, especially aft bulkhead in my 4108. Secure floorboards, better holddowns on batteries9. hasps on cockpit locker lids10. Life raft in cannister on deck11. Strengthen cockpit floor and strengthen steering pedestal12. Galerider drogue13. Add Max prop14. Add extra fuel filter to fuel line15. Construct 3/4" plywood shutters for each fixed port or window in case one is blown out.16. Replace all bilge pump type hoses from sink drains to seacocks with proper water hoses,17. Replace plastic raw water strainers with bronze Groco strainers. Buy and carry extra stainless steel baskets for strainers.18. Rig stailsail and spinnaker halyards19. Load up with spares20. Sail the boat constantly in home waters for 2 years to repair all the bugs and problems endemic to any new boat before setting out on a long trip.That's the list off the top of my head. There are probably more thins to do. Listed above not in order of importance.

 

[Canadice Stein]

Hmmmm

Hmmm, Let's See,1000 miles on the open ocean in a recently purchased, first boat, H28... probably not. A few more years, a bit more money, a bit bigger boat, a lot more equipment, and a lot more to learn... Dream, dream, dream and work, work, work... someday.Canadice Stein & Robb Newman

 

[Stu Hamblin]

Jacksonville FL to Pax River MD

My wife and I just sailed up from Jax. In prepreation for the trip I did a survey of NightHawk and repaired all the discrepances. Also I put on an extra GPS and made sure all the survial stuff on the Kapoks was in date. We also had a epir on board. The trip was made without one break down. Boiled down to trimming the sails and settling in for the ride.

 

[Rich]

Ocean Voyage

I have this fantasy of someday sailing my 376 from San Diego to Hawaii. I've discussed it with several surveyors and very experienced licensed captains that I know. They felt the hull itself would be the least of my problems. Heavy weather sailing is not unique to deep ocean passages. I don't regularly hear of hulls on Hunters (or any other boats for that matter) coming apart in heavy weather. Most hull damage occurs when it comes in contact with hard objects while travelling at several knots of speed (not unique to Hunters). The bottom line was all said they'd have no problem making that trip with the right gear added to the boat and proper planning. Many had made the trip several times on various Hunter boats. Hopefully someday I will too.

 

[HOW Editorial]

Final tally

Final quiz results:Before making 1000 mile voyage would you:59% Add gear (334)24% Not go (139)14% Make structural changes (77)03% Do nothing (19)