Have been pondering sailing the coastline from Delaware around the tip of Florida and north along the gulf coast.Any and all input appreciated.Oh,she is a 76 Venture 25.
Coasting??????
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Just sail down the Delaware and around to Ocean City pick around 20 knots of wind for the trip...then see if that is your idea of fun. You will quickly understand why sailing offshore in an outboard powered bay boat is not a good idea.
Just sail down the Delaware and around to Ocean City pick around 20 knots of wind for the trip...then see if that is your idea of fun. You will quickly understand why sailing offshore in an outboard powered bay boat is not a good idea.
When my dad was sailing the bahama's and the Cay's
with his 45 Columbia, there was a Catalina 22 cruising with them. They sailed into a destination and an hour later the Catalina 22 showed up. The Catalina people knew how to use their boat. If you know your boat and you can manage it in harsh conditions, you will be able to sail in conditions that "press-on no matter what sailors" beat themselves to death. Sailing with the wisdom of what you and your boat can withstand will make a sailor find the tender areas. More often than not, it is the sailor that gives up due to conditions than it is boats falling apart. If you are driving your car on a rocky road, are you going to slam it into every rock, or are you going to drive with skill around the problems. The problem with steering that is that intense is the drivers ability. What can you take and stake your life on? People like the Pardy's have learned that at some point, you fold things up and ride it out. How you do that is anothr question which has been discussed here recently. Small boats, read about some of the Atlantic crossings in boat's 8' long. Yes, kind of like challenging the Falls but doable. What are you comfortable with? There is always the ICW if weather is bad. 45 footers chose this when the weather is in the wrong direction, but, they keep going! r.w.landau
with his 45 Columbia, there was a Catalina 22 cruising with them. They sailed into a destination and an hour later the Catalina 22 showed up. The Catalina people knew how to use their boat. If you know your boat and you can manage it in harsh conditions, you will be able to sail in conditions that "press-on no matter what sailors" beat themselves to death. Sailing with the wisdom of what you and your boat can withstand will make a sailor find the tender areas. More often than not, it is the sailor that gives up due to conditions than it is boats falling apart. If you are driving your car on a rocky road, are you going to slam it into every rock, or are you going to drive with skill around the problems. The problem with steering that is that intense is the drivers ability. What can you take and stake your life on? People like the Pardy's have learned that at some point, you fold things up and ride it out. How you do that is anothr question which has been discussed here recently. Small boats, read about some of the Atlantic crossings in boat's 8' long. Yes, kind of like challenging the Falls but doable. What are you comfortable with? There is always the ICW if weather is bad. 45 footers chose this when the weather is in the wrong direction, but, they keep going! r.w.landau
Huh? Popeye if you can get to the ICW
you got the trip made. All it would take is time and money.
you got the trip made. All it would take is time and money.
Popeye, the shallow draft will be a benefit
when you turn the corner north to the inside. Things get shallow on the inside. Average depth on the inside in the Keys is about 5' unless you are in a channel. r.w.landau
when you turn the corner north to the inside. Things get shallow on the inside. Average depth on the inside in the Keys is about 5' unless you are in a channel. r.w.landau
Ross, on my dad's 32 Allied seawind, with a full
keel, it drew 5' of water and we were constantly dusting the bottom when on the inside and the channels were not that great in the Keys. Look at the charts. We did get to experience the claw of a Stone crab! One claw, ( you only take a claw because they are scarse and it is the Law. You return the crab to the water.) divided into 6 bits (one for each aboard). It was grilled and that small bite was enough to flavor our mouths until dinner 45 minutes later! ok, FOOD GETS ME OFF TRACK! r.w.landau
keel, it drew 5' of water and we were constantly dusting the bottom when on the inside and the channels were not that great in the Keys. Look at the charts. We did get to experience the claw of a Stone crab! One claw, ( you only take a claw because they are scarse and it is the Law. You return the crab to the water.) divided into 6 bits (one for each aboard). It was grilled and that small bite was enough to flavor our mouths until dinner 45 minutes later! ok, FOOD GETS ME OFF TRACK! r.w.landau
Popeye, been there done that
but not on a 76 Venture 25. We were on a Hans Chrisian 43. It kind of scary on the outside. I am sure you can do it on a 76 Venture 25 but why would you want to? Ross, with the right motor and sails combo you should be able to make at least 60 to 80 miles per day traveling day light hours. If you push the boat day and night you can double that.
but not on a 76 Venture 25. We were on a Hans Chrisian 43. It kind of scary on the outside. I am sure you can do it on a 76 Venture 25 but why would you want to? Ross, with the right motor and sails combo you should be able to make at least 60 to 80 miles per day traveling day light hours. If you push the boat day and night you can double that.
Popeye, You have been here for a few months .
You have read many articles/ threads here. You know the Mac is not the strongest boat. I have sailed the Keys on five seperate trips. Most from Ft Lauderdale south. I have never had weather that we could not go inside if the weather was nasty on the outside and the worst trip through Biscayne bay was 25 knots and 3 foot seas. Outside it was 8+ but short fetch. The worst was outside with 4 to 6 from two directions. Pitch and roll is rough going when you can't beat it by steering. It is not only hard to sail, it is taxing on your body with the pitch and roll of the boat. It is doable but uncomfortable. I have to say that I have never been in weather that would stop me from sailing in my 25 O'Day, Even on our way out to to Ft. Jefferson (my avatar) Ask Boat Babe, she has sailed with brian to Ft. Jefferson on their 25.5 Hunter. That is 13 + hours from secure land at 5+ knots. What are your skills? Do you know your boat? Most people here would not concider going out in 20 knot winds. What are you comfortable with? Don't sit on the couch but be wise! My family planned 40 miles max/ day. God Willing. r.w.landau
You have read many articles/ threads here. You know the Mac is not the strongest boat. I have sailed the Keys on five seperate trips. Most from Ft Lauderdale south. I have never had weather that we could not go inside if the weather was nasty on the outside and the worst trip through Biscayne bay was 25 knots and 3 foot seas. Outside it was 8+ but short fetch. The worst was outside with 4 to 6 from two directions. Pitch and roll is rough going when you can't beat it by steering. It is not only hard to sail, it is taxing on your body with the pitch and roll of the boat. It is doable but uncomfortable. I have to say that I have never been in weather that would stop me from sailing in my 25 O'Day, Even on our way out to to Ft. Jefferson (my avatar) Ask Boat Babe, she has sailed with brian to Ft. Jefferson on their 25.5 Hunter. That is 13 + hours from secure land at 5+ knots. What are your skills? Do you know your boat? Most people here would not concider going out in 20 knot winds. What are you comfortable with? Don't sit on the couch but be wise! My family planned 40 miles max/ day. God Willing. r.w.landau
Great Boat for the Trip
Load your boat onto a trailer and pull it down the coast!!!!! That is actually what I was thinking when I bought my Mac 26. A great Keys boat!!!! A trailerable boat is perfect for going around the coast and sailing any bay or other protected water that you want to explore. My present boat is more seaworthy than my mac was but it is a heck of a lot harder(time>>) to get from place to place. I towed my Mac on several trips of over 400 miles one way. Charleston harbor, panama city ,kentucky lake and many shorter trips that would have been impossible to take by water.
Load your boat onto a trailer and pull it down the coast!!!!! That is actually what I was thinking when I bought my Mac 26. A great Keys boat!!!! A trailerable boat is perfect for going around the coast and sailing any bay or other protected water that you want to explore. My present boat is more seaworthy than my mac was but it is a heck of a lot harder(time>>) to get from place to place. I towed my Mac on several trips of over 400 miles one way. Charleston harbor, panama city ,kentucky lake and many shorter trips that would have been impossible to take by water.
ICW
Lived in Cape May, NJ. Lived close to Miami FL (Perrine). Lived near Albermarle Sound and boated in those places. Please, before you consider doing anything like this, get used to sailing outside. I had an Islands 17' for a couple of years and would never consider outside. I now have a Mac25 and am just learning not to be scared to go outside. I do believe the boat can probable take it, but do you have the skills and can you take what the boat can?
Lived in Cape May, NJ. Lived close to Miami FL (Perrine). Lived near Albermarle Sound and boated in those places. Please, before you consider doing anything like this, get used to sailing outside. I had an Islands 17' for a couple of years and would never consider outside. I now have a Mac25 and am just learning not to be scared to go outside. I do believe the boat can probable take it, but do you have the skills and can you take what the boat can?
Don't let them
Popeye, Don't let the don't do it types on this board discourage you. Some on here wouldn't venture into an open bay on anything less than a 110footer. I have done the east coast from New York to the Mexican border, more than once. The only place you are forced to run offshore is the little corner of the Fla. Panhandle. From about Clearwater up to Appalachicola. This is approx. a 100 mile run, or roughly 24 hours. All the rest of this trip can be done inside, and your boat won't have to worry with low bridges and not too much with shallow waters. You can go around the Keys, or through the Okeechobee waterway. My only other advice for you is don't hurry. Lots and lots to see and do along the way. I did a NY to New Orleans last fall, and took 2 1/2 months. Not long enough to see all I wanted to see. GO FOR IT
Popeye, Don't let the don't do it types on this board discourage you. Some on here wouldn't venture into an open bay on anything less than a 110footer. I have done the east coast from New York to the Mexican border, more than once. The only place you are forced to run offshore is the little corner of the Fla. Panhandle. From about Clearwater up to Appalachicola. This is approx. a 100 mile run, or roughly 24 hours. All the rest of this trip can be done inside, and your boat won't have to worry with low bridges and not too much with shallow waters. You can go around the Keys, or through the Okeechobee waterway. My only other advice for you is don't hurry. Lots and lots to see and do along the way. I did a NY to New Orleans last fall, and took 2 1/2 months. Not long enough to see all I wanted to see. GO FOR IT
Learn the boat limits and your limits.
Popeye, We sailed most of the same waters in a 38 IP with 5 foot draft a few years ago. With charts there's no problem. I currently sail a Catalina 22 and regularly sail in 20+ winds. The difference is that I'm on an inland water and even with those winds the waves limit out at 5 feet max. When this happens against the current it is rough and tiring but doable for no more that 4 to 5 hours in my case. My boat is set up for this and in better than excellent condition. If your up to it physically and mentally and your boat and you are a tight pair then do it. I found that just learning how to sail at this level was a journey in itself. Do whatever you want rather that wish too late that you should have tried. It's not a practice run, this is the only one you get. Ray
Popeye, We sailed most of the same waters in a 38 IP with 5 foot draft a few years ago. With charts there's no problem. I currently sail a Catalina 22 and regularly sail in 20+ winds. The difference is that I'm on an inland water and even with those winds the waves limit out at 5 feet max. When this happens against the current it is rough and tiring but doable for no more that 4 to 5 hours in my case. My boat is set up for this and in better than excellent condition. If your up to it physically and mentally and your boat and you are a tight pair then do it. I found that just learning how to sail at this level was a journey in itself. Do whatever you want rather that wish too late that you should have tried. It's not a practice run, this is the only one you get. Ray
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