5 college kids sailing Caribbean waters

Ron20324 · Apr 14, 2009

Not a good plan, Kevin- they haven't finished the bridge to the Caribbean, so the trailer will do you no good.

4 on a 27 is a bit crowded, plus stowing supplies. But it would be a good summer adventure. You're young and I say go for it.

Hermit Scott · Apr 14, 2009

Ambitious one, trailering down to Miami and then crusing through the Bahamas is definitely doable. What kind of engine do you have in the Cal27? Is this the first sailboat any of you have owned? However you will be going through during hurricane season.

Patrick S/V Shangra-La · Apr 15, 2009

I think you'll have a great time, but........

Each person needs a safety harness, Have 2 jack lines, take 3 anchors, danforths should be OK with 30 foot of chain, extra heavy line and chafing gear in case of a hurricane, and money for tickets home and back. An EPIRB isn't a bad idea either. Have both paper charts, and a GPS with you, Use both of them but rely on you paper charts.

Make your boat a dry boat when under sail. Too many things can go wrong in a short amount of time to be impaired by alcohol. Enjoy your booze when on the hook.

Be prepared to help your selves, don't count on rescue when you can fix your boat your self. It will be crowded when all of you are on board. I hope you all get along well.

Most of all take some humility with you. Remember you'll be in another country. Have fun, but show respect to your hosts. Don't be Ugly Americans in a foreign country.

This could be a great adventure if you use some common sense.

Ralph18422 · Apr 15, 2009

Kevin as to your trailering question, when I owned a CS27 with a deep keel, I purchased a flatbed car trailer. I bolted the cradle to the trailer had the boat lifted on the cradle and then strapped the boat to the trailer using 6 x 10 000lb capacity ratcheting straps. I then pulled the whole thing using a pickup. The height was 13 ft and the width 9ft, so you need to make sure you have permits to travel. Also I found keeping the speed at about 70km/h or under. Any faster and you run the risk of trailer sway, realizing of course to take corners slowly.
Specs on the trailer: 2 x 5200lb axles with electric drum brakes on all 4 wheels. 1000lb sway bars, length of trailer was 18 ft., weight of trailer alone was 2000lbs
Boat weighed 7-8000 lbs so your truck needs to be rated for 10000lbs. The mast was strapped to the deck of the boat, below the pulpit.

Hope this helps.

PS. 27ft boat is awfully small for 5 guys. We had 3kids and 2 adults in ours and it was barely big enough for day sailing and overnights.

Rick Webb · Apr 15, 2009

Absolutely

This first summer I'd suggest just sailing the Keys

Through the next year take some courses on Navigation and such, crew at some of the local Yacht Clubs, most always are looking for guys to help even if nothing more than rail meat.

Next summer head on over to the islands

sailingdog · Apr 15, 2009

Five people on a Cal 27 is going to be a really tight fit. Whether it is feasible or not really has a lot to do with how much sailing experience you have among the five of you. If you're all novices... no, I wouldn't recommend it. If at least two of you are fairly experienced sailors, I'd say go for it.

An EPIRB and a Spot Messenger would both be good additions to the gear aboard. Tethers, harnesses and jacklines are necessities.

TimCup · Apr 15, 2009

You all just might win the Darwin Award...

I hate to be the downer here, but I will be the voice of reason. Five guys on a 27 ft boat? Misery after a couple of days. Picture 5 guys in a large walk-in closet. It'll be summer which means hot and humid. At night. 5 guys using essentially a port-a-potty on average 3 times (at least!)a day.... oh boy.

And now the bad news... No experience?

Ever crossed the gulfstream before? A 30 degree change in wind will make the trip harrowing to say the least. Are you willing to sit on that boat for a week or more in S. Florida waiting for a good window? (5 guys, 3 times a day...).
There aren't any traffic lights on the water... does anyone know how to get to the destination? You've planned for the $400 fee to get into the Bahamas, right?

Okay, so far, we're assuming NOTHING has gone wrong:
you find yourselves taking on water FAST for no apparent reason- what are the things you check first? And no, life preservers aren't the correct answer..
Your motor quits, and a typical summer storm is bearing down fast- quick, what do you do?
The batteries die in your handheld GPS (I'll assume you have at least that). Any idea how to navigate?
Are you gonna cook on the boat? anyone know how to use the alcohol stove?
Do you have any idea what a seacock is, or a ball valve, or ground tackle or a genoa or, or ,or...

I'm sure you're aware that the Bahamas are only 60-70 miles from S. Fla. Did you know that IF you waited for perfect weather it would still take at least 12 hours? And if you were impatient, weatherwise, it could take twice that? The good news is if you go without knowing what winds are best, the seas will be so confused, you guys will more than likely be puking most of the way, so the toilet won't be used as much as I thought...

You have a few months. Sail it now, learn the boat inside out, read everything you can get you hands on, and if you still want to go, it would best if there were no more than 3 on the boat, and you cross with another boat, hopefully more experienced...

Other than that, have fun. And keep a watertight diary so I can read about it whether you make it or not...

cup

ps- maybe I'm feeling a little negative today...

David in Sandusky · Apr 15, 2009

Thoughts on a Cal 27

The brochures on Cal 27's on this site indicate 4 berths. That really means 4 berths - there is no room for the 5th to sleep below. Yes, I have slept on deck, but not if it rains! And I'm not sure there is a comfortable place to sleep on deck.

We have a '77 Hunter 27 with 5 berths. We have sailed it with four people, and the issue becomes storage for even minimal personal gear, plus food, supplies, etc. We really need one berth for stowage. We could sleep 5 comfortably, but the minute everyone gets up, it would be chaos.

I'd try some weekends this spring to see what the group thinks.

Why a trailer? If this is going to be a summer adventure, why not sail the boat from Maryland to Florida down the Intercoastal Waterway?

I hope you can figure out how to do this, but the advice about navigation, safety gear, and waiting for weather is good.

RECESS · Apr 15, 2009

Spend the next couple of weeks smelling your friends really good. Pick the freshest smelling one to sleep next to you.!

A much better idea would be to sail the Keys for your first summer. There is no shortage of Booze, Parties, and Hotties in the Conch Republic during the summer. Crossing the Gulf Stream with very little experience really is playing Russian Roulette. I would hate to see a summer of fun with your buddies end in a horrible mess.

garylinger · Apr 15, 2009

Re: Thoughts on a Cal 27

A little experience BEFORE going to the islands would be good and what better place than the Chesapeake! There is a lot a good sailing and many places to go within and close to the "Bay" - into the Delaware and to Cape May, NJ or south into Va. and beyond. Try it out and then expand your horizons as you get experience with both sailing and living on/in the floating closet.

Hermit Scott · Apr 15, 2009

If I were a college kid, I would rather be stuck in a 27' boat with 4 other stinky dudes in the Bahamas for the summer than sitting around my apartment waiting for school to start. And you didn't say that there was 4 dudes ,you say friends are some female? That may helpout with the sleeping arrangement. For example, I would sleep in my vberth with a girl but not with my best friend Chris.
Personally I would rather sleep on the floor and be there than sitting in san antonio. Even if it sucks some of the time, some of the time will be fantastic and looking back it would have been worth it. When I was in the military believe me, some times it sucked, but I have a lot of cool memories from that 3 years.
When do you plan on leaving? For me it would be worth the risks involved.
Harness PFD flares epirb,You do not want to fall overboard. And if you do, much of your survival will depend on what you have with you.

Napa Ed · Apr 15, 2009

I know a guy who went to Hawaii with 3 others on a 27 foot boat around 1974. No gps, solar, generators, referigeration and nobody died. They all have great memories. I'm with Hermit. Don't assume the OP is an idiot. Suggest planning and wish them the best.

sailaway78 · Apr 15, 2009

Go For It

The Gods look after the crazy's. I include myself in that group. Just keep these two things in mind. June through November is hurricane season. You cannot outrun a hurricane in a sailboat. Others have made some good points. But I like Hermits attitudes the best.

Prime Time · Apr 15, 2009

Heading in wrong direction!

This sounds like a death wish...
Hurricane season down there!

Head north and cruise in more protected waters.

Hermit Scott · Apr 15, 2009

Can someone explain to me the difference between cruising the Texas coast during hurricane season and cruising the bahamas during hurricane season? From what I see if you are in the bahamas and a hurricane comes, get off the boat. If you are in texas and a hurricane comes, get off the boat. If a hurricane destroys your boat there or here it's still destroyed. As long as you have a plane ticket home your are in the same boat, no boat. These guys would be island hopping, a hurricane isn't going to sneak up on them? aren't there boats in the bahamas that don't leave? They are all there cruising during hurricane season.

Chuckbear · Apr 15, 2009

Hermit Scott said:
Can someone explain to me the difference between cruising the Texas coast during hurricane season and cruising the bahamas during hurricane season? From what I see if you are in the bahamas and a hurricane comes, get off the boat. If you are in texas and a hurricane comes, get off the boat. If a hurricane destroys your boat there or here it's still destroyed. As long as you have a plane ticket home your are in the same boat, no boat. These guys would be island hopping, a hurricane isn't going to sneak up on them? aren't there boats in the bahamas that don't leave? They are all there cruising during hurricane season.

There are lots of places you can run to and hide if a hurricane threatens the Texas coast, not including Galveston, but very few places to go in the Bahamas that are not very exposed. You can find a place in Texas to haul out, but not likely in the Bahamas. You can get in your car and drive far away in Texas, when the airports close in the Bahamas you have no place to go. Insurance companies for the most part are not going to cover storm damage in the Bahamas for hurricane season, but will on the Texas coast. This is just off the top of my head. Chuck

Napa Ed · Apr 15, 2009

Chuckbear said:
There are lots of places you can run to and hide if a hurricane threatens the Texas coast, not including Galveston, but very few places to go in the Bahamas that are not very exposed. You can find a place in Texas to haul out, but not likely in the Bahamas. You can get in your car and drive far away in Texas, when the airports close in the Bahamas you have no place to go. Insurance companies for the most part are not going to cover storm damage in the Bahamas for hurricane season, but will on the Texas coast. This is just off the top of my head. Chuck

what happened to "To Boldly Go!" ?

Chuckbear · Apr 15, 2009

Napa Ed said:
what happened to "To Boldly Go!" ?

That says to Boldly Go, not stupidly go

BTW, we have been through 15 named storms or our sailboat, all but three hurricanes so we do have a respect.

Hermit Scott · Apr 15, 2009

Chuck-the decision to haul out is made before the storm approaches. Most do not haul here. Also the insurance from boat US said they do not cover damage from named storms no matter where you are.
So the big difference seems to be where you weather the storm, texas or nassau.
Do you ever haul for hurricanes? And where are you right now chuck?