I'm planning to take my 1986 Hunter 23 from Key West to the Dry Tortugas the second week in April. I have owned this boat since Sept 99 and single hand in the Gulf. Though I have a feel for this boat can anyone tell me of any inherent flaws or characteristics I should be aware of before losing sight of land? (the rudder already broke, so aside from that)
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You mean, aside from...
That little tendency to sail sideways when close-hauled? ;o) I used to own a H23, and I can't think of any good reason why you wouldn't be able to make this trip in one. I would, however, recommend staying a little closer that "out of sight of land"- There's always something in sight at least as far as the Marquesas keys, and the weather out here can be a little unpredictable this time of year (squalls, etc). You'll want to be able to hide in the lee of an island pretty quickly if bad weather blows in. You'll also want to pay particular attention to the tides and tidal currents as you progress- There are some pretty nasty currents running between the islands in the keys, and the shallow waters in narrow channels just make them worse. I HIGHLY recommend carrying a GPS and a fixed-mount VHF (w/antenna at the masthead) for this trip; cell phones are useless past Woman Key (if they even reach that far). Also, some quick-fix epoxy or silicone that sets underwater would be a good thing to have in tht toolkit- That cockpit drain or lower rudder pintle may want to get loose again, and there aren't many marine stores out there... Remember that there are, for all intents and purposes, NO facilities west of Key West. Make sure you have PLENTY of fresh water and non-perishable food aboard; plan as though you may get stuck for an extra day or two waiting for a weather window to get home (beating to windward for 75 miles in a H23 is no fun- especially if the winds/waves are up and you're on a schedule). Another item worth mentioning; You may have a tough time finding a ramp in Key West that can accomodate your H23. I know of three- one's expensive, one's on the wrong side of an 18' bridge, and the last one is well hidden and tricky to maneuver. The best ramp is the one on the wrong side of the bridge, but you can only use this ramp if you're comfortable with raising/lowering your mast while the boat's in the water (I have done this several times). Trailer parking (ANY parking, for that matter) is also a problem in KW, but it can be found if you know where to look. My wife and I are planning to take our H25 to the Dry Tortugas during that same time period; I think our dates are 9-14 April. We're trying to arrange a sail-in or raft-up, but it's still in the planning stages at this point (I haven't applied for vacation time from work yet
. If you'd like to join us, or want more local knowledge as it relates to a H23, drop me an e-mail and I'll be glad to pass on what I can! Good luck with your planning... --Jon Bastien ( jonbastien@yahoo.com ) H25 'Adagio'
That little tendency to sail sideways when close-hauled? ;o) I used to own a H23, and I can't think of any good reason why you wouldn't be able to make this trip in one. I would, however, recommend staying a little closer that "out of sight of land"- There's always something in sight at least as far as the Marquesas keys, and the weather out here can be a little unpredictable this time of year (squalls, etc). You'll want to be able to hide in the lee of an island pretty quickly if bad weather blows in. You'll also want to pay particular attention to the tides and tidal currents as you progress- There are some pretty nasty currents running between the islands in the keys, and the shallow waters in narrow channels just make them worse. I HIGHLY recommend carrying a GPS and a fixed-mount VHF (w/antenna at the masthead) for this trip; cell phones are useless past Woman Key (if they even reach that far). Also, some quick-fix epoxy or silicone that sets underwater would be a good thing to have in tht toolkit- That cockpit drain or lower rudder pintle may want to get loose again, and there aren't many marine stores out there... Remember that there are, for all intents and purposes, NO facilities west of Key West. Make sure you have PLENTY of fresh water and non-perishable food aboard; plan as though you may get stuck for an extra day or two waiting for a weather window to get home (beating to windward for 75 miles in a H23 is no fun- especially if the winds/waves are up and you're on a schedule). Another item worth mentioning; You may have a tough time finding a ramp in Key West that can accomodate your H23. I know of three- one's expensive, one's on the wrong side of an 18' bridge, and the last one is well hidden and tricky to maneuver. The best ramp is the one on the wrong side of the bridge, but you can only use this ramp if you're comfortable with raising/lowering your mast while the boat's in the water (I have done this several times). Trailer parking (ANY parking, for that matter) is also a problem in KW, but it can be found if you know where to look. My wife and I are planning to take our H25 to the Dry Tortugas during that same time period; I think our dates are 9-14 April. We're trying to arrange a sail-in or raft-up, but it's still in the planning stages at this point (I haven't applied for vacation time from work yet
. If you'd like to join us, or want more local knowledge as it relates to a H23, drop me an e-mail and I'll be glad to pass on what I can! Good luck with your planning... --Jon Bastien ( jonbastien@yahoo.com ) H25 'Adagio'All The Stuff
Mark, Sounds like an exciting trip! I would prepare for this trip as if it was an offshore sail, which it really is! The wind can really blow, even in good weather, and the swells can be rough. On the other hand, you can sometimes have to do a lot of motorsailing. On my last trip there (sail charter), it blew like stink with 6-8 seas from Ft. Myers to the Tortugas and the 2 nights at Fort Jefferson. Going to Key West was 25 on the nose! Returning to the Tortugas, the wind was light and aft. The point being that you need to anticipate changing conditions and be prepared for rough weather. I'm going back in June and can't wait to make the trip. Aside from the normal preparations for singlehanded offshore sailing, you need to have good ground tackle. The anchorages at the Tortugas, and along the way from Key West are basically open with the only real shelter the anchorage at Fort Jefferson but even that isn't very good if the winds are anywhere from East to Southwest. I saw a big sportfishing boat break loose and just missed crashing into the old steel pilings before getting his engine started!! At least two good anchors and rodes are necessary. There is an anchorage for shallow draft at the Marquesas but the entry is tricky with shallows and coral. If you don't already have it, Frank Papy's Cruising Guide to the Florida Keys is invaluable. The other factor is need for plenty of fuel, water and supplies. Nothing is available once you leave Key West. If possible, carry enough fuel to make the entire round trip under power if the wind goes soft or is on the nose. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
Mark, Sounds like an exciting trip! I would prepare for this trip as if it was an offshore sail, which it really is! The wind can really blow, even in good weather, and the swells can be rough. On the other hand, you can sometimes have to do a lot of motorsailing. On my last trip there (sail charter), it blew like stink with 6-8 seas from Ft. Myers to the Tortugas and the 2 nights at Fort Jefferson. Going to Key West was 25 on the nose! Returning to the Tortugas, the wind was light and aft. The point being that you need to anticipate changing conditions and be prepared for rough weather. I'm going back in June and can't wait to make the trip. Aside from the normal preparations for singlehanded offshore sailing, you need to have good ground tackle. The anchorages at the Tortugas, and along the way from Key West are basically open with the only real shelter the anchorage at Fort Jefferson but even that isn't very good if the winds are anywhere from East to Southwest. I saw a big sportfishing boat break loose and just missed crashing into the old steel pilings before getting his engine started!! At least two good anchors and rodes are necessary. There is an anchorage for shallow draft at the Marquesas but the entry is tricky with shallows and coral. If you don't already have it, Frank Papy's Cruising Guide to the Florida Keys is invaluable. The other factor is need for plenty of fuel, water and supplies. Nothing is available once you leave Key West. If possible, carry enough fuel to make the entire round trip under power if the wind goes soft or is on the nose. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
I read the story about a fellow who did your trip single-handed in a Pearson 23. He was smart enough to carry an offshore SOLAS inflatable in a canister. It was a very smart thing to do. The sea and weather took a change for the worse after he set out. But he made to the same destination as yours with his Pearson 23 intact. Mind you, the SOLAS raft was wedged in the cockpit---and fully inflated. ;-)
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