Hunter 386- how many miles per day?

[BroncoJohn]

In a few weeks I will be taking ownership of a 2002 Hunter 386. The boat is located a bit north of NYC and my wife and I will be transporting it south to Yorktown VA. I am hiring a delivery captain to help us get past Manhattan then we will be on our own. My plan is to take the boat down the New Jersey coast then up the Delaware Bay crossing over to the top of the Chesapeake Bay then sailing south to Yorktown VA. This is a transportation trip so I may motor most of the way to cover as much mileage as we can. We are planning on sailing during daylight hours only and staying at marinas except for one night on a mooring buoy in Annapolis MD.
My plan is to spend 2 days going over the boat fixing a few things found in the survey before we set sail. This will be a vacation/transportation trip so our plan is to try and relax at the end of each day for a few hours and eat at some nice restaurants where we stop for the night.
I am looking for feedback regarding the number of miles we can reasonably expect to cover in 8 to 10 hours per day. I realize there are other factors to consider but I could use some guidance to help us plan for overnight stops and fueling.

 

[kappykaplan]

When I do a DELMARVA (circumnavigation of the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia peninsula), I plan for speed over the ground of 4 knots - no planned stops. So, that comes to 32-40 nautical miles/day given your 8 to 10 hrs per day. Yes, conservative, but it works out fine. Good luck with your voyage planning and voyage.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Plan on about an average of 6kt or 50-60nm/day.

 

[Davidasailor26]

I’d figure on 40 miles per day if you’d like to have a little time to relax in the evenings. That’s probably about 6-7 hours of motoring/motor sailing per day. When you add the time it takes to get settled at a marina I think that’s a decent length. It also gives a little cushion so if you decide the wind is nice and you’d rather sail than motor for a little while you can. I’d also build in some weather days so you’re not too pressed into a schedule.

 

[jssailem]

Hello Hal
Congrats on your new to you boat. It is a great feeling to board your boat and untie the lines.

You ask a good question - How far can I get each day?

Obviously it depends on you and your crew. Some folk revel in being on the water. 8-10 hours of moving on the water day in and day out is like a dream. Others find being contained on a boat, even one as nice as your Hunter confining and long to get off the boat to at least walk around on shore. I have found a loose correlation between the length of time a person can sit in a car driving the interstate, is about the same amount of time the person on a boat will need to "stretch their legs" on shore. For my wife it is 4-5 hours. I believe it is a "get there" vs "enjoy the journey" difference.

For me a 10 hour day on the water is about 7 hours of actual movement towards our destination. At an average speed over ground of say 5.5 to 6 knots that means a distance of 35-43nm per day.

Looking at your trip distance of 386 miles and assuming they are Nautical Miles not Highway miles, the low daily number will take you 11 days, the higher number will be about 9 days.

If you are inclined to push it, the weather is perfect for the 10 day window, and you do not have any issues transiting the NYC harbor, the 8-10 day delivery is possible but it might not be a vacation.

Next up you would need a chart and a compass to see if there are harbors along the way with marinas that can accommodate your boat and at your daily travel day window.

This is a great project to engage the crew in planning.
I look forward to reading about this cruise.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Be aware if you go upriver under the York River Bridge, on the left or south side of the river is Yorktown Naval Weapons. Stay clear of that

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Be aware if you go upriver under the York River Bridge, on the left or south side of the river is Yorktown Naval Weapons. Stay clear of that

Or go really fast. The title says 386 miles per day.

 

[BroncoJohn]

Thanks for the feedback. I edited the thread title not to confuse the model number with the miles we are covering.
The total distance is around 450 miles. I was hoping to make 60 miles a day but am planning a few extra days for weather.

 

[BroncoJohn]

Be aware if you go upriver under the York River Bridge, on the left or south side of the river is Yorktown Naval Weapons. Stay clear of that

Yep. Our slip is at Yacht Haven just before the bridge and before the Naval station.
We almost got a slip near the Seal Team 6 base but it was further from our home.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

As a kid, I use to fish off the pier and Coast Guard Station

 

[Stu Jackson]

the number of miles we can reasonably expect to cover in 8 to 10 hours per day

How fast does your boat go = the answer. I am not being snarky, I am simply pointing out the obvious, after having read so many of these "how far can I go?" questions.
Your larger question should be, unless you already know the answer, is the danger of the entrances on the Jersey shore, as well as timing of currents in the Delaware.
Should you need more details on those I'm sure many here could help, although I've seen a lot more informed input on www.cruisersforum.com on this subject over the last two decades than here, simply because of the type of traffic.
Safe journey, enjoy your new boat.

 

[shemandr]

When I delivered my new to me H356 from Liberty Island Marina to Mattituck , which is about 70 mies it took 7 + hours. I had ideal current conditions and would consider that the approximate limit of a 35' boat's daylight range. The chances of you being able to duplicate that speed on the different waterways along the way are nil. I'd plan on around 40 nm a day and build in extra time. For instance on one waterway you may be able to leave in the early AM but the tide will not turn favorable until a couple of hours later. You are better off waiting until at least to close to the slack. But by all means be ready at that time to maximize your progress. "Ready" means not lingering over a cup of coffee and donut. It means off the dock, out to the channel and go!
It's a good plan to hire a professional for the trip down through NYC. It is not difficult with good planning but there is a lot going on and you'll want to be able to enjoy the sights and the experience. It happens pretty fast. You'll enjoy the trip with the help. With the current there isn't room for indecision.

 

[jssailem]

My plan is to spend 2 days going over the boat fixing a few things found in the survey before we set sail

The total distance is around 450 miles. I was hoping to make 60 miles a day but am planning a few extra days for weather.

My first thought... AMBITIOUS.

2 DAYS to fix up a few things means you have all of the parts/supplies laid out for the fix. You have several helpers waiting to jump in and take care of tasks that emerge as you resolve the issues. And there are no hickups.

You have all of the pre departure provisioning, fuel, lines handling experience and boat handling experience for anchoring/docking/mooring on your new to you boat.

You'll have completed a couple of trial sails to see how the boat handles in varying conditions. Your delivery captain has teaching experience to further familiarize you with the boat and handling skills for when he/she jumps off the boat.
That is getting you started.

Once on your own are you allowing enough time to do all of this work... When I get going and the schedule provides the wind/currents to aid my passage, I can do 60 miles in about 9 hours. But that is a long day and everything goes as planned. It will take usually an hour on both ends of the trip to get ready to untie the lines and to land the boat. This time is not steaming at cruising speed. It dealing with no wake zones, crowded passages, entering confusing marinas.

Granted you are likely more efficient at all of these tasks and you are planning a departure during idela weather with no late spring storms to affect your passage, and no needs by crew to go shopping in one of those really cute seaside communities.

Looking at the run down the NJ Coast, a boat your size may want to consider Atlantic City as a marina stop.

While I have not transited the Delaware Canal into the Chesapeak, I understand caution is warranted. Be alert to the water currents and maintain a positive speed that enables your steerage, control your boat even if being pushed by the current.

Have a safe trip.

 

[BroncoJohn]

I am bringing enough tools parts and spare parts to rebuild the engine (and I have rebuilt a few but not on a voyage). I ordered and received everything including spare coolant hoses, belts, oils, fluids and impellers.
There is definitely some risk and I am trying to get ahead as much as I can.
We intend to start based on weather and tides.
There is a bad hose clamp on a seawater feed hose to the generator after the seacock and the generator may need a new impeller so I will be replacing it and have 10 to 15 diffrent hose clamps ready.
I have owned several power boats and worked at a marina for over a year when I was younger. My wife and I both have a few ASA certs and have operated similar sailboats.
We have scoped out multiple slip or anchor options depending on our progress.
The boat has new updated electronics, plotter and radar systems.
It's a low hour boat that was used last season and went through sea trials a couple weeks ago but I do plan on taking it out before starting the trip

 

[Davidasailor26]

Sounds like a fun trip. What’s your starting point after the part with the captain? I’d probably plan something like: Manasquan Inlet, Atlantic City, Cape May, Chesapeake City, Annapolis, Solomons Island, Deltaville, York River.

 

[BroncoJohn]

Sounds like a fun trip. What’s your starting point after the part with the captain? I’d probably plan something like: Manasquan Inlet, Atlantic City, Cape May, Chesapeake City, Annapolis, Solomons Island, Deltaville, York River.

You nailed our plan. I may separate with the captain near the Statue of Liberty.
I was going to pay him to take the boat to Cape May but with my wife loosing a close family member recently, we need a break from the world.

 

[jssailem]

Sounds like a great plan. Not all the posters with new to them boats are as prepared as it appears you are.

Looking forward to hearing about your adventure. The list of stopping points identified by @Davidasailor26 look like optimal marina stops for the cruise you are planning. They have depth, reasonable access and services to support a traveler.

 

[markv340]

That's a lot of motoring in a big boat with a small motor. Often overlooked is having clean fuel (polished w/a clean tank), new fuel & oil filters, and fresh engine and trans oil. Sailing unfamiliar waters may warrant good tow insurance.

 

[flightlead404]

Thanks for the feedback. I edited the thread title not to confuse the model number with the miles we are covering.
The total distance is around 450 miles. I was hoping to make 60 miles a day but am planning a few extra days for weather.

That's what I flight plan for my '07 38, doubt there's material difference between the two boats.

Depending on the amount of daylight, but coastal sailing this past winter that was my number.

 

[smokey73]

I made a trip from New Rochelle NY to Beaufort SC back in 1012 in my new to me Hunter 40.5. Like you it was a "vacation/delivery." I would caution you to make sure your fuel tank has no potential "crud" in the bottom of your tank. I was lucky, although I did not check for that I apparently did not have any, or at least not enough to clog my Racor and/or engine fuel filter. We hit some nasty unexpected seas off the NJ coast (bad planning on my part) and were pounded with short, steep waves on the nose. I imagine if I had crud on the fuel tank bottom it would have been stirred up enough to clog everything. We were lucky. We planned a full non-stop transit down the coast to Cape May but bailed at Atlantic City for some needed repairs to the wheel autopilot and to rest from the pounding before we continued on the next day.

You could draw a sample from the bottom of the tank from the fuel sender connection. Just be sure you check it and clean it out if required. It is something that I should have done but made it through by the Grace of God. By the way, it is a wonderful trip if you take your time.