Relocation Trip - Progress Report

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Just to set the seen. My Bride and I purchased a 2001 Catalina 310 in December, stepping up from a C&C 24. We purchased the boat in Warwick, RI but plan to keep it in Hingham, MA. A relocation of approximately 160 nm.
We spent the winter and early prep'ing her for the launch, did a couple of shakedown sails and off we went.

We took a week off of work and planned to make a couple of stops along the way. Nothing overly ambitious, no days over 45 nm (at least as laid out on a chart).

First day was to go from Warwick, RI to Jamestown, RI; approximately 14 miles down Narragansett Bay. We needed to travel south with the winds out of the south. The weather was nice and we spent the day tacking back and forth across the Ganny. Cover 40 miles to go 14. Winds were 13-16 kts with some gusts to 20 kts. We put in the first reef, just to test it.

Second day was to go from Jamestown, RI to Fairhaven, MA, approximately 38 nm. Storms were predicted for the afternoon so we headed out early and had our first experience with Buzzards Bay. Not bad, winds around 18 kts with some gusts. Made it to the home of Capt. Slocum by 4:30 PM. Came through a couple of squals but that was cool because I figured out how to track them on the radar.

Today, day three, was a little different. We were only trying to go 30 miles to the Cape Cod Canal and through to Sandwich. But Buzzards Bay decided to throw us a challenge. The forecast was for some rain showers with winds at 10 kts gusting to 18 kts and 2 foot seats. What we got was 5 to 7 (or 8) foot seas with steady winds at 26 kts with gusts to 35 kts. To make things more fun, the wind and seas were out of the northeast and we were trying to go northeast. Made for a good test of the new boat. I was trying to use the autohelm and stay under the dodger for the first couple of miles but the seas overwhelmed the autohelm about 4 miles into the leg. We had the anchor break free and had to haul in 250 feet of rhode in 5-7 foot seas. Then figure out how to secure it for the rest of the trip. We made it to the Canal, almost dead on the time I had planned for timing the currents. Had a nice passage to through the Canal in fog and hard rain. We now sit in the Sandwich Town Marina, covered in salt, having just ate a big meal and ready to see what else this relocation has to offer.

So far, I am very impressed with the C310. Smitty has handled everything he had to. I never once felt like we were in danger because of the quality of the boat. So far we have had her at over 8 kts twice on this trip. Once under sail, 8.5 kts SOG, and once under power, 8.3 kts under power in the canal (I know cheating).

Can't wait to see what is next...Hopefully some normal sailing in lighter wind.

 

[Tom J]

Interesting trip. Once again, Buzzard's Bay lives up to it's reputation. When we bought our C310, she was fairly new, and I was surprised to see that there where no provisiions for securing the anchor on the bow. I installed a snap-over-center chain lock in the anchor locker, but we also routinely tie a length of 1/2" line from the anchor to the forestay fitting on the stem. Can't be too careful, you know.
Happy sailing!

 

[Witzend]

Well sounds like you got your feet wet alright!!! I have noticed that if we get into steep 3-4' chop on a hard beat, she not very happy. That's typically what we get here in the upper Chessy in a blow. Not had her offshore, so you're ahead of me there, although I have my concerns about the bulk head movement issue with this design in prolonged heavy weather.
Lost your hook while under sail or power? What a PIA that must have been!
Anyway glad you're safe and took the time to post your adventure.

 

[Silvio]

Wow! Sounds like you are having quite the adventure. I hope it all settles down for the remainder of your trip and you get some good weather to enjoy your new boat.
Cheers!

 

[Witzend]

BTW, when I'm out and about or on the mooring the Danforth goes in the locker, just fits.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

We were under power when we lost the hook. We were still powering out of the channel to Fairhaven/New Bedford when it happened. This part of the ordeal bothers me because it was something our surveyor called out as a safety issue and I thought I had dealt with it. Apparently not. Back to the drawing board on that fix. My dad suggested a crimped steel cable that I replace every year. I want to find an easier way to get the Delta anchor into the locker.

We spent today in Sandwich. Needed a rest after yesterday plus the fog has been dense here all day. That's ok. Sandwich is a good harbor, a couple of restaurants and my Dad lives here. Went to breakfast with him and took our dog for a walk. She needed to run after a couple of days on the boat.

I going to check the weather for tomorrow now. Hopefully it is a little better. Thursday looked good this morning.

Gotta love the weather in New England!! (why don't I move to someplace warmer??)

 

[Tom J]

Good luck on your trip up the coast to Boston Harbor. I know what you mean about the New England weather. We made that trip last summer, and the wind was dead on the nose from the canal all the way to Plymouth. A little bit uncomfortable. From Plymouth to Boston, the wind was from the east, so we had a nice beam reach all the way, making hull speed with the occasional wave slapping the hull broadside. By the way, that was the last leg of our trip from the Gulf Coast of Florida to Quincy, MA. Now Andante is on the hard, covered in shrink-wrap, after being in the water year-round for 8 years. I must need my head examined!
BTW, we've never removed our anchor from the rode to store it. Our Delta rides fine on the bow roller, as long as it is secured. Just make sure the hoop is in place over the shank of the Delta. We've been in some rough stuff in the last 6 years, and the anchor has never given us a problem.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

We made it all the way back

The last two days of our relocation trip were marked by dense fog.

On Thursday we did a short hop from Sandwich to Plymouth, 22 nm. We left Sandwich with the sun coming out at 8:30 AM and winds less the 5 kts. My Father called from the other end of the canal and said it looked like some rain was coming in (and that he caught 4 stripers by 7 AM). We got out into Mass Bay and the fog started to roll in. Aft first we had about a mile of visibility but that quickly diminished. Most of the trip was motoring with no wind and less then 100 foot visibility. Just as we hit the can at the start of the Plymouth Harbor channel, right next to the shoal that comes out from the beach, my GPS crapped out (I loaded too many charts on my Garmin handheld and it started dumping charts to make room for the new ones). So we had to go all the way into the harbor with less then 100 foot visibility using dead reckoning and radar. That was interesting and exciting. It was good to know that our use (probably over use) of GPS didn't erode those skills. We made it in and tied up at the Brewer's by noon.

On Friday, we woke to heavy fog and a dense fog warning for all of the south shore. We had breakfast, readied the boat and made alternative plans to going the 44 nm to Hingham. By 10 AM the fog had lifted slightly and we had about 1/2 nm visibility. We decided to go and see how far we could make it, thinking we may have to duck in to Scituate. After about 2 hrs the fog lifted some more and we had mostly clear skies but little wind (less then 8 kts). So we kept motoring to make time and see how far we could get. We hit areas of patchy fog the whole way up the coast. This was a little nerve wracking because I could see lobster boats on the radar but could not make them out by sight. My course was to go along the 3 nm line most of the way but I ended up going 4-5 nm out to stay further away from the lobster boats. By the time we were passing Minot's Ledge the wind had kicked up to 10 kts. I wanted to try to sail the rest of the way but there were some thunderstorms predicted for the early evening and my Bride just wanted to make it in to port. I still feel a little guilty. We passed a couple of smaller sailboats heading into the Hull Gut and I could feel them complaining like I do that here is someone with a nice sailboat motoring when there is good wind. We made it in and tied up by 5:30 PM. No rain, no thunderstorms. We had a couple of Dark and Stormies and then headed to our favorite Mexican place for a celebratory meal.

Saturday I did some maintenance stuff: changed the diesel engine oil and transmission fluid; re-inflated the dink; cleaned the boat; looked for a raw water leak that had developed, etc.

Sunday we took some friends out for a sail around the harbor. Their boat goes in this week. I can't wait until we can do some multi-boat cruising this summer to places like Salem, Gloucester, P-Town and maybe Isle of Shoals. We couldn't be happier with our new boat. :dance:

 

[gpd955]

Glad to hear that you made it in ok! Enjoy the season in your 310! If you ever decide to come to NJ look us up and we'll go out!

Go Bruins!

 

[Witzend]

Packing gland, heat exchanger/hose, port rear engine mount interferes with one of the hoses and causes damage. Heat exchanger mounting tabs, (if you have the older version) crack their welds and it leaks.

Saturday I did some maintenance stuff: changed the diesel engine oil and transmission fluid; re-inflated the dink; cleaned the boat; looked for a raw water leak that had developed, etc.

:dance:

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

Packing gland, heat exchanger/hose, port rear engine mount interferes with one of the hoses and causes damage. Heat exchanger mounting tabs, (if you have the older version) crack their welds and it leaks.

Thanks Witzend.

I think it is the hose from the heat exchanger to the exhaust elbow. The hose clamp was loose and the insulation(?) around the elbow was wet. I tightened the hose clamp and it seemed to be ok when we went out on Sunday. We will see this weekend.

 

[Witzend]

Check that interference out, it's hard to see, but the hose loops tightly right on top of the port aft motor mount stud, as the mount settles over time it starts to cut into the hose. At least that is what I found with my replaced heat exchanger. If you still have the original, maybe not, but then check the mounting welds to see if the vibration is starting to crack them. Hope you have good weather.
Cheers