sailing or transporting

Midwinter's Dream · Sep 2, 2009

My Opinion

I recommend you find an experienced sailor and the two of you sail to your new destination. You gain experience and learn. Trucking the boat gains nothing. Of course you do have to find someone but this is usually not that difficult.

sailinalone said:
I am ready to buy the boat I've been searching for, my question has to do with my experience, or lack there of, to sail myself from lower Chesapeake Bay to Barnegat Bay NJ. I've done day sails and short coastal cruising (weekends 2 or 3 days) - It would certainly be quite an adventure for me to say the least, but at the same time a bit on the scary side as well, as that would be sailing in unfamiliar waters. Or should I just have it transported?
I'm looking for some opinions and perhaps someone who's been through it already.
Thanks

Scott B · Sep 2, 2009

Depends, depends and depends....

We bought ours in the winter and had it trucked north in the spring. I did not want to do our first sail on an unfamiliar boat in unfamiliar waters, through locks with big freighters, on very cold water and take a week of my holidays.

Lots of others have taken delivery and travelled a distance to relocate their new boat.

So, it all depends on your time available, depends on your skill level to travel that distance with a new to you boat, depends on the current condition of the boat. If you feel comfortable with all the above, go for it. If you don't, have it trucked and take the time saved to get yourself familiar with the boat etc.

Tim R. · Sep 2, 2009

Are you handy? Can you fix most things on the fly? Virtually all new(used) boats have been neglected to some degree. Ask your surveyor first and then get the experienced crew like stated above and take lots of tools.

I moved my boat after purchase from Mattapoisett, MA to Portland, Maine. The weekend before the trip I had to replace all the batteries, install a GPS and Radar and in the middle of the trip I had to replace the Transmission. Still made it in 3 days.

Pops · Sep 2, 2009

Sail it!

When I bought my boat, I had a five day trip home with it. It was great. I learned lots about my new boat quickly and had lots of fun doing it. Do get unlimited tow insurance, it saved me $840 when the unexpected bit me in the hind end. It saved the trip. I would do that first trip again in a heartbeat (with unlimited tow insurance of course).

kloudie1 · Sep 2, 2009

I agree that the captain/Owner should be on the delivery sail !! Unlimited tow insurance is a good buy on a trip like that especially on an unfamiliar boat.. But it is a FINE adventure and a great way to get to know the boat.. As Tim mentions, if you aren't handy, get someone who is to come along.. True sailors are mostly excited about signing onto delivery trips for friends' new boats.. Even Captain Ron was successful in delivering the movie boat! I bought my boat in Houston area and moved her back to Lake Pontchartrain with one buddy who was experienced and two who weren't. Trip went well despite some bad weather.
Your delivery looks like about 300 miles or so and has the option of a lot of ditch travel.. Should be 6 easy days or thereabouts..or a good bit less if going offshore not stopping..Prep well and Go for it !

Benny · Sep 2, 2009

The Chesapeake Bay, the Delaware Bay, the coastal Atlantic Ocean and the ICW are different bodies of water perhaps each requiring different sets of skills. Weather and currents are major factors to take into considerarion. Good planning and preparation are also key. Definitely take an experienced sailor with you. The trip should take 5-6 days at an average of 50 nautical miles a day.

Ed Schenck · Sep 2, 2009

The expense of trucking such a short distance is nearly the same as if you were bringing it from Florida. Very hard to justify. You need to sail her or have someone sail her.

With an experienced crew you can go outside and sail(motor?) up the coast. This would make it a fast delivery. With inexperienced crew you stay in the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Then you can go outside at Cape May. You can stay outside or go in and out. Depending upon your mast height and draft you might be able to stay inside from Cape May. Someone posted recently that they used the NJ ICW from Barnegat Bay to Sandy Hook going north. Not sure about the southern end. When taking my boat south we daysailed from Barnegat to Atlantic City and then to Cape May the next day.

KD3PC · Sep 2, 2009

Sail her on her own bottom, we did just a day bringing ours home, but I did check her out the day before and asked the surveyor what he thought. Second the unlimited tow, just in case - it is too affordable to not get it.

Lower bay to delaware bay, with decent weather, is most enjoyable this time of year. I suspect the whole trip would be decent.

Depending on when and where on the lower bay, I would offer myself as crew at least up the bay or ....

enjoy
dave

Rob Hessenius · Sep 3, 2009

Go for it!!! Even if you have to do it by yourself you will have a blast! Sail, be a powerboat, justt enjoy yourself, Get some charts or a plotter and head North. It only happens once!

MrBee · Sep 4, 2009

Sounds like you and your friends have more experience than I do and I bought our boat in CT. and with 1 experienced friend sailed it from Near Stamford down through Hell Gate, Anchored at Sandyhook,Nj. Sailed/Motored in one shot to Cape May. Stayed over night there then Sailed to Bohiemia river for a night then Home to Perryville, Md. 5 days total. If you feel that unsure about coming up the bay and down Delaware Bay then Pay for an ASA Captain to Teach and help with the delivery, but I don't think you need that. You will have to go outside from capeMay to Atlantic City because of low bridges.

Brian

bob12312 · Sep 5, 2009

just have it shipped and consider it part of the purchase price.

there's many factors in sailing it back that may make it logistically difficult to sail back like co-ordinating vacation times, weather delays etc.

MrBee · Sep 5, 2009

Shipping from Southern Chesapeake bay to NJ ??
Some of you have more money than you should be allowed to have, For god sakes man Sail the darn boat or at least pay someone to sail it for you.
Can't gain any experience if you never do it.

seadaddler · Sep 5, 2009

Sail Her

I had a Captain help me sail my 2007 Hunter-36 from Montauk,NY to NC all off Shore and than from NC to Fort Pierce Florida off shore in 10 days,it was great as it was my first off shore sailing,it was a great first hand experience sailing out on the ocean 24/7 for me,we were a crew of four and good thing because the autopiolet stopped working the third day out in rough seas.
Than I was able to sail her from Fort Pierce around the keys and up to Punta Gorda and my two other crew had no boating experience at all.
You should really sail her with help if possible.
Nick

MoonSailer · Sep 5, 2009

sail...it does not have to be the total distance in one trip. Sail up the bay and then you can leave it at a marina then sail the rest of the way.

BobM · Sep 6, 2009

Go for it. Unfamiliar waters is a reason to go! Invest the money in the boat instead. I redid the shaft, coupling, cutless bearing, etc...then hired a Captain to help me bring my boat from Long Island Sound to Boston. It was a great experience. I had never done anything but day sailing.

sailing or transporting

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Midwinter's Dream

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