Florida here I come

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daysailer

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Aug 30, 2009
8
Oday Oday 25 Great Bay
After having a "tuff" time at Great Bay in Newington NH, with the horrible current, I have decided to head South. We will haul our 25' O'Day on our newly rebuilt trailer ($2,135.00 worth of rebuilding, brakes, tires, lights ect). We have a home in Cross City Fl and in hopes to sail the Northern and Southern waters of the Gulf. The Trip from New Hampshire to Cross City Fl is about 1,400 miles.

Were expecting to take three days for the trip, if all goes well, Leaving Tuesday December 27. Were using a F350 Super Duty to do the towing. If any one has any experiences they want to share please do so. Thank you, Daysailer

PS, I do want to add that over all we had a great time at Great Bay Marina, up the river from Portsmouth harbor.
 
bria46

bria46

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Jan 15, 2011
286
Oday 272 Waukegan, IL, Sarasota, FL
I'll be heading down to Sarasota next week! Unfortuntly without my 272!
 
Tom J

Tom J

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Sep 30, 2008
2,325
Catalina 310 Quincy, MA
Stay away from I-95! We prefer to take I-81 south through western Penn. to Virginia, and then cross the Blue Ridge to North Carolina. From there you have several options heading into Florida. We found this route to be more scenic, faster, and less congested than I-95. Best of all, you avoid the hassles of all the big cities on 95. Your F-350 should be fine over the Blue Ridge. My son recentlly towed a big semi out of a ditch with his F-350 (one with the big diesel). Wish I had a video of that.
 
Fly_H23

Fly_H23

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Mar 2, 2011
489
Compac 14 Charleston, SC
Tom J said:
Stay away from I-95! We prefer to take I-81 south through western Penn. to Virginia, and then cross the Blue Ridge to North Carolina. From there you have several options heading into Florida. We found this route to be more scenic, faster, and less congested than I-95. Best of all, you avoid the hassles of all the big cities on 95. Your F-350 should be fine over the Blue Ridge. My son recentlly towed a big semi out of a ditch with his F-350 (one with the big diesel). Wish I had a video of that.
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Taking I-81 would add a lot of hilly driving although it's less crowded than I-95. I'd stick to the less hilly route and take I-95 during non rush hour times.

Be sure to carry more than one NEW spare tire and a spare jack. I prefer using a small floor jack. Or just renew your AAA or boat US policy and let them handle any flat tires.

Plan to stop more often than you would without the boat. 3 days should be enough time this time of year.
 
Shoaldrafter

Shoaldrafter

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Dec 8, 2006
1,085
Oday 26 Starr, SC
route south

Fly_H23 said:
Taking I-81 would add a lot of hilly driving although it's less crowded than I-95. I'd stick to the less hilly route and take I-95 during non rush hour times.

Be sure to carry more than one NEW spare tire and a spare jack. I prefer using a small floor jack. Or just renew your AAA or boat US policy and let them handle any flat tires.

Plan to stop more often than you would without the boat. 3 days should be enough time this time of year.
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I have been traveling both aforementioned routes for years. I recommend I-81 to I- 77 and avoid going from Baltimore to Richmond via Washington D.C., at all times. There is no longer a off hour. They use the night hours for road repair!!! And thru trucks try to use the wee hours. It is still too busy.

While I understand the hilly part of going 81/77, with a 350 truck it will be o.k.

Make sure you have good brakes and test your brakes before going down Fancy Gap on I 77. Just take it slow and if you have auto trany put into second gear.

There is one problem area - - - Lake Norman going to Charlotte, NC. This should be done during non rush hour times and take it slow. The cowboys will zoom.

If you have any detailed question like where to get gas or motels, just ask. Been doing these routes for 40 years.

Ed K




 

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MGoBoat

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Jun 4, 2011
32
Oday 192 Bald Eagle State Park, PA
We prefer to take I-81 south through western Penn.
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It's not that far out of the way, I-81 runs through eastern PA. It's about 5 miles from my home.
 
Shoaldrafter

Shoaldrafter

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Dec 8, 2006
1,085
Oday 26 Starr, SC
Going south

MGoBoat said:
It's not that far out of the way, I-81 runs through eastern PA. It's about 5 miles from my home.
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Using I-81 south to I-77 from New Hampshire.

I recommend using I- 90 to New York Thurway
then south to I- 287 then I-78 to I-81 south to
I-77 south to I-26 to I-95.

Alternative would be at Albany, New York on I-88 to I-81 then south. This route has some serious hills near Clark's Summit, Scranton and Hazelton. Those are serious hills and can be avoided by route I recommended above.

Also, another by pass of mountains near Blacksburg, VA would be to take I -81 to I -66 toward Washington, D.C. then us old U. S. 17 off I- 66 to avoid Washington, D.C. While this route has some red lights, they are minor delay and road is relativly level.

None of the routes discussed vary greatly in milage. Maybe maximum of 50 miles. If you average 50 mph and get stuck in traffic around Washington, D.C. you can loose more than one hour and more often several hours. Sometimes I have to use this route and have come to understand if possible avoid it. And 495 around Washington may have 6 or more lanes but it also had traffic to fit on 10 or more lanes. And they will cut you off notwithstanding your pulling a trailer.

If you do go on I-95 south of Washington, remember to take by pass, that is I 295, around Richmond.

You will find occasional construction on all routes.

Let us know if you make it.

Ed K






 

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