Corpus Christie to the Bahamas!

sailingandsuch · Feb 22, 2013

Anchor that sucker in front of CLub Lavela In Panama City Beach on a calm day and you will surely have a good time during spring break. I did it a few years ago and we are pretty sure we had a GREAT time.

The City Marina is nice and is straight ahead once you enter the pass. Close to a couple little bar/restaurants and grocery shopping with transient slips and clean showers. Good people running that marina too, you are sure to run into the friendly worker "Vulkar" there, great guy. They have block ice too if you need some. Free pump out when you buy some fuel too.

A popular hangout for boats is Shell Island just inside the pass on the weekends. It's gorgeous and draws a crowd. A good anchorage at night is to the east once you enter the pass behind Shell Island a few miles. Lots of sailboats and powerboats anchoring out there for the weekends.

sailingandsuch · Feb 23, 2013

Also, if you haven't found the ultimate sailing destination resource yet you absolutely need to check out Active Captain. It's like Google maps but on a chart where cruisers mark anchorages, marinas, restaurants, hazards and the like and they leave reviews for the places. It's really really cool and you can get really good idea of where you are heading.

I like it better than a cruising guide because you see the stuff on a chart and ordinary people like you and me, well you, have given honest reviews about the places.

It's a must.
https://activecaptain.com/

jonlittle · Feb 23, 2013

Hey guys I also have a 340. I made that trip your on back in 87 and 88 on a Bombay clipper which was my then boat. I have had this 340 for 2 and half years and have become fairly familiar withit so if y'all have any questions about the boat. Let me

know .

kloudie1 · Feb 25, 2013

Kinda worried about these guys!.. They got run over last night by some really heavy weather and now the Spot is stationary in a kinda tricky area.. off the south tip of the Chandeleur Islands.. no one pushed the "Help" button on the spot so ya have to hope that they are anchored.. ??
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0YjFchX7KN6gPKTUJthF0UznG40G1mBmC
water in the area shown to be 1-4 feet deep..

EDIT Looks like they are moving slowly north now so they are doing OK, I guess

robertsapp · Feb 27, 2013

It would (or will) be interesting to hear what others think of the boat's suitability for this trip. We own a 336, which is the same boat as the 340 before Hunter added the arch and starting lying about the length. Personally, I consider it a fine boat for coastal cruising in good weather or sailing in protected waters in a bit of a blow, but I can't see myself trying the Thorny Path to the Virgin Islands in it. What do you other 340 owners think?

robertsapp · Feb 27, 2013

Miss Informed said:
Hey Robert!

Yeah, we are also interested in the trek through the coral reefs in the Keys. Any knowledge people have on cruising through the bahamas and Virgin Islands would be awesome. Those reefs sound scary. Luckily, our draft is 4.5, so at least we have that going for us.

Cheers,

Bri

Do you have a copy of Bruce Van Sant's book "A Gentleman's Guide To Passages South?" It details how to take much (but not all) of the pain out of the Thorny Path.

kloudie1 · Feb 27, 2013

Brian.. Have yall found these guys?? http://www.schurrsails.com/default.asp
They are in Pensacola .. they did a great job for me a couple of years back, repairing some sails that got involved in a similar situation as you guys encountered.. Good folks to work with.

kloudie1 · Feb 27, 2013

Sails are pretty specific for the boat mast/boom configuration.. If you have the major pieces they can probably patch em to get you where you're going .. then you can decide if you want new ones or used.. and you'll have more time to work with.. Some other places to look;
http://www.minneysyachtsurplus.com/
http://www.boatersresaleshopoftexas.com/

robertsapp · Feb 28, 2013

Used mainsail

I have a used full-batten mainsail for my 336 that I'd sell you. You might have to have the foot cut to a different angle, because I'm thinking since they added an arch to the 336 to make it the 340, that changed the angle of the boom a little bit. According to the boat info database, here's how they compare:

H336 H340
J 11'6" 11'6"
P 43'7" 44'
E 15' 16'

The good news is that I live in Pensacola, and you could get Shurr Sails to make any modifications it might need. The bad news is that it is a very used sail. No rips or tears that I'm aware of, but it's as soft as an old bedsheet.

Of course, none of this matters if you have a roller furling main.

seadaddler · Feb 28, 2013

Sails

If you are looking for a roller furling main than look back on gear for sale here maybe 6 months back sooner but any way this gal on east coast around miami was selling her 06 main roller inmast,she got a new sail with verticals for racing or some thing and pretty sure she was selling on this forum awhile back but it should still be available and like new.
Nick

robertsapp · Feb 28, 2013

Miss Informed said:
Hey Robert!

Ohhhh Man! That would be huge! I need to talk to the other Brian, and get his opinion on buying a well used sail, but if you can vouch for it's strength, then I'm very very interested!

My e-mail is briguyfried@gmail.com

Hit me up!

Much much much appreciated!

Brian

I sent you an email. Let me know if you don't receive it.