Provisioning for a passage...

Status
Not open for further replies.
Mar 20, 2008
40
Oday 22 Kokanee Landing
Does anyone know of a usefull guide to provisioning for an offshore passage.. something over 60 days ? All the books I have checked are very vague and full of generalisations.
I have made numerous land expeditions and am aware of the basic food and water intake we require, but in sailing weight would not be such a restriction and fresh food could be taken. And allowances would have to be made for delays - maybe twice as much as expected ?
Any suggestions ? Thanx.....
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
I don't know if it will help, but I describe what we take and how the boat is setup and how we store things in our trip reports. This is for a 26 foot MacGregor, so it is a small boat. If interested check out the Lake Powell 18 day trip.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/MacgregorTrips-3-Powell09/Powell-2009-index.html

.....first and a lot of that stuff is explained in the last 5-6 days, so skip there if the rest is too boring. We took enough food and water for 30 days, but stopped after 18 due to me being injured and us being wore out.

The lake is about 150 miles long and there are only two places to restock along the way, Dangling Rope Marine and Bull Frog/Halls Crossing, so it is kind of like going off shore. We replenished ice once at Dangling Rope and we are adding a frig to the boat, so we don't have to do that anymore.

We use about 1 gallon of water a day for drinking and washing dishes for the both of us and had about 30 gallons on board for the Lake Powell trip. Add a couple quarts to that if it is hot, over 75. We have washing dishes and pots and pans down to a science were we use very little water for that, maybe 2 cups per cooked meal. We plan our meals out ahead to some degree and what we think is 30 days when we start would probably get us to 35-40 in reality.

I also go over some of what works for us on the 24 day trip we took to Idaho's Priest Lake and Canada's Kootenay Lake......

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/Macgregor Trips-2-Priest/Priest-Kootenay-index.html

..........the link at the bottom will take you to an index of all of our trips.

This time next year we hope to be in southern Florida and the Keys for 3 months if everything goes according to plan. The biggie down there will be having fresh water to take a quick shower after swimming for the day. We hope to stay out for 10 days at a time with 30-35 gallons on board.

Good luck and where are you going?

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links
 
Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Let us understand first. You are asking about actually being away from any replenishment opportunities for sixty days? And for a crew of one?
 
Mar 20, 2008
40
Oday 22 Kokanee Landing
Thanks Sum and Ruth....actually I have already read your trip reports . I live beside Kootenay Lake sailing an 0day 22 and remember your boat being here at Kokanee Park this last summer.
I was very impressed by your trip reports..interesting and well arranged...
Thanx....Robin.
 
Mar 20, 2008
40
Oday 22 Kokanee Landing
Yes, I'm looking at an IP31 that I would plan to sail around the Gulf Islands for a few years before going offshore with NZ as a final destination.

I enjoy long term planning and preparation so am now researching provisioning and am looking for resources.
 

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Thanks Sum and Ruth....actually I have already read your trip reports . I live beside Kootenay Lake sailing an 0day 22 and remember your boat being here at Kokanee Park this last summer.
I was very impressed by your trip reports..interesting and well arranged...
Thanx....Robin.
Neat, what mile marker are you on the lake? Was your boat in the water?

We loved it there and want to go back after we get some more experience and go out in the "Big Lake". Northern Idaho and north of there into Canada where you are is unbelievably beautiful. I've lived in the West since the 60's and have seen most of it south of the '49 and where you are is some of the best.

Are you from Canada originally? I was thinking your screen name Tasdevil must be Tasmanian Devil ? The reason we are going to Florida next fall is if we can scrape the money together we want to go to Australia the following spring (2011) and hope to see Tasmania. I have a lot of car buddies in Australia and NZ and they race on their salt flats (Australia) in March and also have a big Street Rod Nationals in that month.

Sounds like you are getting ready for a great trip and so far an Island Packet is Ruth's favorite boat if we ever get a larger one.

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links
 

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
My vote goes to Lin Pardey for her book "The Care and Feeding of the Off shore crew".
 

zeehag

.
Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
exactly what ross said......what i do is count my days i have to provide for and buying what i think i can cook in certain situations--like---20 deg heel-lol--dont forget the coffee and the finger foods and stuff not needing cooking lol.....mre's are goood
for this i understand
 

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Make a very large batch of oatmeal cookies before you leave.
 

Joe

.
Jun 1, 2004
8,173
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
I can suggest checking for articles and publications by Lin and Larry Pardey. http://www.landlpardey.com/

Check out this magazine...... http://www.oceannavigator.com/ME2/Default.asp Lot of cool stuff.

You might try contacting Jessica Watson's support team for some suggestions: http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/the-voyage

There are a number of good books on passagemaking. I have one called "Long distance Cruising" by Bobby Schenk than could be very useful to you. Besides provisioning, you'll find useful info on rigging, safety and weather watching.

Finally, if you're single-handing you might enjoy getting acquainted with this group: http://www.sfbaysss.org/
 
Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
And once you put your provision list and recipes together be sure to practice. Putting a meal together in heavy weather becomes an art. I was amazed on a delivery in really heavy seas to look down and see friend Bob in the galley. One foot on the floor and the other up on the cabinetry he had all three burners going. We never missed a hot evening meal.
 
Apr 22, 2001
497
Hunter 420 Norfolk, VA
Does anyone know of a usefull guide to provisioning for an offshore passage.. something over 60 days ? All the books I have checked are very vague and full of generalisations.
I have made numerous land expeditions and am aware of the basic food and water intake we require, but in sailing weight would not be such a restriction and fresh food could be taken. And allowances would have to be made for delays - maybe twice as much as expected ?
Any suggestions ? Thanx.....
Tas,

Only a handful of people who comment on this forum have ever done any actual extended offshore passages on their own boats such as you are thinking of.... ( [FONT=verdana,helvetica,sans-serif]Henk Meuzelaar, comes to mind, as being one of the few[/FONT].)
Of those who comment here who actually do have any real offshore experience, most have done offshore coastal cruising or crewed on offshore races or rallys, typically with durations of a week to 10 days or less.
While I agree with other's posts, that reading the books suggested is excellent background information, provisioning a 31' boat to do an extended transPacific cruise would better be discussed with those who actually have done this type of cruising (like Henk, for example).

Many of the people who post to forums like this one have had your dream; VERY few ever actually achieve it... life somehow seems to get in the way.

So, ... Get the IP31; cruise the Gulf Islands for a few years to gain experience; keep the dream alive, and along the way, you will probably meet a few long range cruisers whose sun-dryed brains you can pick about provisioning, and a whole lot more.... ( if life doesn't get in your way,.. ie.. a job, a women, kids, your cousin Vinnie's wedding, etc. etc.. ) :)
 
Jan 22, 2008
2
Hunter 380 Willsboro Bay Marina
29 days at sea

The longest passage I made was 29 days (from Canaries islands to Martinique with a 7 days dead calm) along with my wife and three kids). We carried a supply of fresh and canned foods for 30 days, a back up of 15 days of dried food in pouchs and finally 30 days of emergency food ration packs). I always do that and never had to use the back up dried food (except for trying it once in a while out of curiosity) neither the ration packs. For water, we used on average 8 gallons per day for five people, including some minimal showering every 10 days or so. It's worked fine for us and we had good and tasty meal all across with the fresh and canned foods, what is important in such a crossing to maintain morale and motivation of everybody.

But you notice that I suugest to carry 75 days of supply for an intended 30 days ocean passage, for safety reason.

Good luck with you own project!
 
Jan 22, 2008
2
Hunter 46LE Canton OH
So far every time I plan a long trip we return with 75% of the provisions. My learning experience is to determine the actual days you will be away from an form of provisioning add a week(not to exceed 50% of the trip) to that number and plan for two meals per day and take the actual ingredients for the actual meals. When your traveling part of the fun is joining the locals for dining and lounging. About twice a year I go thru the boat and throw away or give to others a couple loads of items that aren't needed and are just taking up space.
 

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I can honestly discuss this from a cooks point of view but my cruising experience is limited to about 10 days away from reprovisioning.
You need to plan 1500 to 2000 calories per person per day. Pasta, plain cereal of all sorts, flours, and lean meat provide about 2000 calories per pound uncooked. Fat from all sources is about 3000 calories per pound. Fresh fruit and veggies don't provide much in calories but are vital for taste and happiness. When in doubt about what to cook saute` an onion and go from there. Onions keep well. Bread of any fresh kind is a treat. Yeast bread , biscuits, muffins, pancakes. Cured meats (Ham, bacon, summer sausage from a good shop). Hard cheese keeps without refrigeration. I am told that fresh eggs that have never been chilled will keep for weeks if turned every day. In rough weather heave-to to do the cooking. Hal Roth writes that his wife asked him to heave-to for an hour while she baked a cake.
 
Dec 8, 2005
3
- - Vancouver, BC Canada
Tas,

We are planning our offshore adventure leaving Vancouver BC in August 2010. There is a local group called BlueWater Cruising Association with bases in Vancouver, Victoria and Calgary that has been helping people to go cruising for years. It consists of a lot of people who have been offshore (Doners) helping people who are planning, like us, and also a lot of dreamers. Check it out as they can help a lot with planning, courses and just finding others to help. The basic milk run is Vancouver to San Francisco, San Diego, Sea of Cortez in Mexico, South Pacific, etc. Each year they do an around Vancouver Island shakedown cruise as well as going out into the Pacific for 3 days then back (6 days total). The nice part about this is you are with a group and learn together from people who have actually done it. This is not a business but a bunch of volunteers.


The website is http://www.bluewatercruising.org/ .

Cheers
Ken
 

larryw

.
Jun 9, 2004
395
Beneteau OC400 Long Beach, CA
Are you doing this in a 22ft boat? That'll take some stones. I did the Ha-Ha in 2000, down, stay awhile, and back, about 60 days aboard, but the longest passage was only three days. I and a friend. Two others had dropped out at a late date. We found that underway, you only eat enough to fill the hole in your gut for right now. We survived mostly on peanut butter and instant hot cereals and instant coffee/tea. it was too much trouble to make up a meal every time, but we had one large, hearty hot meal a day, usually in the afternoon. Cooked in a pressure cooker, but not under pressure, it was a large pot with a locking lid. A can of chicken soup, a can of cooked chicken meat, a can of water, a cup or rice, simmered for twenty minutes, let sit for five, and bon apetit! Add spices and flavors to suit, mix it up with beef and rice soup, any way you like, the result is hot, tasty, and there's plenty of it. Don't even refrigerate leftovers, just leave in the pot, it will get eaten by whover is on watch later that night. Of course, we ate plenty of meals ashore, food is cheap in Mexico. (Don't go to the tourist joints, go inland for two or three blocks, eat where the locals eat) It worked for us, and we both lost about fifteen pounds in the sixty days and felt great.

As far as packing, two pair of long pants, six or seven pairs of shorts, several polo shirts (don't wear shorts and a T-shirt to any Mexican government office) some boat shoes, and pair of comfortable, sturdy walking shoes. Mexico is full of potholes, broken curbs, chunks of cement here and there, etc, with no yellow tape around anything. Keep your eyes and your mind open.
 
Aug 2, 2009
1
2 26S Paint Lake Mb.
I have been planning a trip from Vancouver to Hawia for 2010. I would provision my boat with mostly canned food, potatoes, meat,like canned klik and ham. Canned potatoes works well for me because I found regular potatoes seem to go bad quickly in high humidity. Pasta keeps well if you keep it in dry containers. Pasta and potatoes can be cooked in sea water. Meals should be planned for 60 days, along with water for 90 days.
 

Ross

.
Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I make cloth bags of a size to hold a freezer weight zipper bag with enough extra fabric to tie the top shut. The advantage is that ridgid containers take up the same amount of spce empty or full. but an empty bag folds up and is out of the way. Rice is a good alternative to potatoes. I home can a lot and make soups without the noodles or rice and add those when I heat the soup. Left over rice is very good in canned soup.
The problem with home canning is that the jars are too costly to toss and are heavier than cans. The advantage is the cost of the contents.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.