I live on Kauai and am looking at a clean very original Catalina 36 in Honolulu about 95nm from home. I have about 5 years experience sailing but only lakes and Bays in Northern California, no blue water sailing at all! After i get this boat surveyed including the standing rigging i am going to try and hire a captain to help me sail her home. My QUESTION is, like i said this boat is original in that it has no equipment on it except a 30 year old VHF radio. The running rigging and sails are in good shape. What do you think i should do to the boat and what will a perspective captain require for the 95nm trip? Thanks!!!
Might be buying a Catalina 36
- Thread starter vetes123
- Start date
I wouldn't get anything without talking to your hired captain. I'd ask the captain you hire what that captain wants, they may even have their own navigation equipment.
You need to make sure the boat is in functional shape to make the trip. Make sure the water system is in shape, get it sanitized. Make sure your propane, or whatever cooking appliance that on the boat is fully functional - hatches, ports, companionway, etc. Essentially make sure the boat is structurally/functionally prepared for a trip like that.
dj
You need to make sure the boat is in functional shape to make the trip. Make sure the water system is in shape, get it sanitized. Make sure your propane, or whatever cooking appliance that on the boat is fully functional - hatches, ports, companionway, etc. Essentially make sure the boat is structurally/functionally prepared for a trip like that.
dj
Three items : Clean fuel, clean fuel, clean fuel. I would go so far as to make sure fuel is polished - in the process the contractor cleans the tanks. Have extra filters.
Instruments needed can be portable and Capt. prolly wouldn't set foot on board without his own. It would be nice to have masthead VHF and maybe AIS.
Assume everything leaks.
Make sure batteries hold a charge and Nav lights work.
Engine is a question. And will be until the trip is complete. Do normal checks and hope for the best. At least you have sails.
Instruments needed can be portable and Capt. prolly wouldn't set foot on board without his own. It would be nice to have masthead VHF and maybe AIS.
Assume everything leaks.
Make sure batteries hold a charge and Nav lights work.
Engine is a question. And will be until the trip is complete. Do normal checks and hope for the best. At least you have sails.
Hiring a captain and getting a survey are the best things you can do to ensure a safe trip. The captain might want to bring extra crew, since the channels between the islands can be very rough, especially at this time of year. Definitely get the fuel tanks cleaned and the fuel polished, as mentioned, and check the standing rigging closely.
You will be in for an exciting voyage, and you will be a blue water sailor when you get your new boat home. Where will you keep her?
I'm jealous. i wish I had some kind of sailboat here on Maui.
Good luck, and take care.
You will be in for an exciting voyage, and you will be a blue water sailor when you get your new boat home. Where will you keep her?
I'm jealous. i wish I had some kind of sailboat here on Maui.
Good luck, and take care.
The good news is you will be sailing down wind and won't have to deal with either the Molokai or Alenuihaha channels. And in a few weeks the trades will begin to die down a bit.
Updating the VHF would be a worth while investment, you will want to do that eventually. VHFs with DSC, AIS, and GPS are available and reasonably priced. Since you will be out of VHF contact for at least half of the trip a satellite based locating beacon would also be good to have on board, either a PLB or EPIRB.
A survey will tell you a lot. Have the sails inspected by a loft and any repairs completed. You don't want to be half way there and have a sail blow out. Safety equipment, harnesses, tethers, jackllines, all equipment you'll want eventually.
As others have said talk to your captain who presumably has experience sailing between the islands.
Enjoy the trip, it should be relatively short, certainly less than 24 hours.
Updating the VHF would be a worth while investment, you will want to do that eventually. VHFs with DSC, AIS, and GPS are available and reasonably priced. Since you will be out of VHF contact for at least half of the trip a satellite based locating beacon would also be good to have on board, either a PLB or EPIRB.
A survey will tell you a lot. Have the sails inspected by a loft and any repairs completed. You don't want to be half way there and have a sail blow out. Safety equipment, harnesses, tethers, jackllines, all equipment you'll want eventually.
As others have said talk to your captain who presumably has experience sailing between the islands.
Enjoy the trip, it should be relatively short, certainly less than 24 hours.
Have engine and fuel serviced - you’ll want new raw water impeller, both fuel filters, new oil and filter, dump and refill water tanks, bring several gal of bottled water. Make sure you have PFD’s for all on board.
As for electronics, hand held stuff is fine. Don’t jump into wholesale upgrades until you’ve sailed her for a few months.
I love my Mk1 C36. One of the best things you can do is join the Catalina 36/375 International Association (Catalina36.org) - review the “Must Do” modifications and how others have updated/modified their boats.
As for electronics, hand held stuff is fine. Don’t jump into wholesale upgrades until you’ve sailed her for a few months.
I love my Mk1 C36. One of the best things you can do is join the Catalina 36/375 International Association (Catalina36.org) - review the “Must Do” modifications and how others have updated/modified their boats.
Agree with dLj
Since you plan to sail offshore make sure your vhf radio has DSC that you can program an MMSI into in. If not, replace it with a GPS radio that has DSC, GPS, AIS receiver and NMEA2000 like a Standard Horizon GX2400 Matrix. Suggest buying back-up vhf radio with DSC, safety equipment including epirb, PLB, MOB, tether(s), jack lines, etc. You might the article in the link below helpful.
Safety Gear for Coastal Cruising
For all the supposed terrors of sailing off soundings, any veteran sailor will tell you it’s just as easy to get in big trouble close to shore. The simple
www.sailmagazine.com
Amazon.com: STANDARD HORIZON VHF w/Hailer, GPS, AIS Rcvr, N2K, Black (GX2400B)
Buy STANDARD HORIZON VHF w/Hailer, GPS, AIS Rcvr, N2K, Black (GX2400B): Marine Two-Way Radios - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
Last edited:
Good advice here, but I'll throw in some others. Mostly around your assumptions that certain things are "in good shape".
- Stainless wire corrodes from the inside out (low O2 levels), so standing rigging or lifelines that look good may break without warning, typically at the swage fittings. If you do not know that the rigging and lifelines have been replaced within the past 10 years, do not trust your life to it. You can start your 100 mile trip, but have a good backup plan if the mast only completes the first 50 miles! Don't lean on a lifeline. Typical surveys do not include rigging or engine inspections (both specialty skills), and state that clearly.
- Fresh water tanks can be cleaned yourself with a gallon of bleach and a little time. Here's a recommended process developed for RVs: Keeping Your Water Fresh, Clean, and Safe: How To Sanitize an RV Tank
- Sails are probably trashed, unless replaced in past 10 years, so you may not get much out of them or they fall apart. Fuel consumption should be estimated at 0.75 gallon / hour at cruising speed of approx. 6 kts., so 17 hours motoring, or about 13 gallons. Add a few gallons for safety, and you might want to carry a 5 gallon jerry jug for diesel on-deck for safety. For my sails, I would not hesitate to depend on them for such a trip and provide for 100% motoring, but I don't know about those old sails you're buying.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,924
Welcome @vetes123 to the SBO forum. Congrats on your choice of boat to possibly own. I have sailed on Les's Mk1 Catalina 36 and it is a well designed boat. Enjoyable to sail and cruise in.
Good advise here regarding Equipment for the cruise home. As with all boats new to the owner, there is an urge to rush out and buy gadgets too make it "Better". Follow Les's suggestion and get to know the boat a bit before you start making changes. You may find that some of the "improvements" will not work. Giving yourself a bit of time can save you from changes that need to later be reversed.
Hope you survey goes well. Keep us informed of your progress.
Good advise here regarding Equipment for the cruise home. As with all boats new to the owner, there is an urge to rush out and buy gadgets too make it "Better". Follow Les's suggestion and get to know the boat a bit before you start making changes. You may find that some of the "improvements" will not work. Giving yourself a bit of time can save you from changes that need to later be reversed.
Hope you survey goes well. Keep us informed of your progress.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,924
He don’t need no stinking Auto Pilot.
He's buying the services of a captain to sail the boat home.
Now once he’s home that might be a new question. Me, I like my AP. It does the work of crew members when none are available.
He's buying the services of a captain to sail the boat home.
Now once he’s home that might be a new question. Me, I like my AP. It does the work of crew members when none are available.
True, not needed, and I've traveled hundreds of miles without one, but If I was the captain and saw no autopilot the price would increase more than the autopilot.
95 miles to travel... If that is NM's with a boat that should motor at least at 6kts, you should be able to reposition her in 15 1/2 hrs. Either one long day or two short ones. What you do need to do is to make a plan for what you want in your electronics suite, and then find an installer. It might where the boats is now.. Certainly better to reposition with all your navs aboard and running.
I didn't bother to consult a chart... However Miss Siri says the distance is a mere 109 miles and google say 63..hmmmThere ain't no place to stop between Oahu and Kauai.
I have a home team advantage, I grew up on Oahu.
The distance variations depend on the points you're measuring from.
The shortest distance is from Kaena Pt, Oahu to just south of Lihue, Kauai is about 63 nm. However, Kaena point is a nature preserve and there is nothing there but birds, dirt roads and lava cliffs and beautiful blue sea.
The most likely place he will leave from is Ala Wai Yacht Basin in Honolulu, from there to Lihue is a little over 95 nm depending on how far west he sails before heading NW.
Kaena Pt is in the distance.
really? unbelievable!
i've driven 100,000's miles without one. if the captain can't drive a sailboat, DO NOT HIRE THAT CAPTAIN
jon
anyone tell you that, walk away. fast
What are marine facilities like on Kauai? I live on Maui, and there are no marinas here, only two small man made harbors with limited berthing for recreational boats. I hope Kauai is more boat friendly.