So many postings on small boat cruising in the last few days. References to the Mac group that call themselves the Conch Cruisers. With the 100's of trailerable Hunters I'd think we could get several boats to meet in Florida in the winter to do something similar. The 1500 miles one of the Conch Cruisers traveled for the Dry Tortougas trip seems like a long way to go for just a week. Rather than putting our boats under cover or in storage for the winter, some might consider doing a late Nov-Dec trip and leave the boats in RV type storage in Florida and then return around February for another excursion. I joined a Florida trailer sailers club thinking that might be the way, but they are almost inactive during the winter. Are cruising conditions that bad? I've chartered on Charlotte Harbor in winter the last two years and seen little problems. I'm chartering out of Fort Lauderdale next week. What do you think it would take to get a group together?
Why not a Hunter trailerble cruisers group??
- Thread starter Dick1505
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I'm the Hunter 260
in the ConchCruisers group, that is the first year, when I took some of the CC sailors aboard my boat, some saw the light, LOL. As of the last cruise there was another Hunter 26 and I was told, when I get ready to sell I would have a buyer within the group. We have had a blast the last three years. The wife and I are retiring and sailing full time January 2007 so this is my last year. We (CC) plan, as of now, to sail the NC outter banks this summer around June 17 to July 1. A new group of Hunters would be great say 240 to 270's. In my experance if you get 30 boats saying they want to go you end up with a managable 18 to 21 actually going, divided into 2 fleets of around 10 boats to travel together across any big body of water and get back together at some location. John USNret
in the ConchCruisers group, that is the first year, when I took some of the CC sailors aboard my boat, some saw the light, LOL. As of the last cruise there was another Hunter 26 and I was told, when I get ready to sell I would have a buyer within the group. We have had a blast the last three years. The wife and I are retiring and sailing full time January 2007 so this is my last year. We (CC) plan, as of now, to sail the NC outter banks this summer around June 17 to July 1. A new group of Hunters would be great say 240 to 270's. In my experance if you get 30 boats saying they want to go you end up with a managable 18 to 21 actually going, divided into 2 fleets of around 10 boats to travel together across any big body of water and get back together at some location. John USNret
Even Closer
You don't have to go off shore to cruise ...We traded our Catalina 22 a couple of years ago for a Hunter 26 - but we still participate in an annual cruise on Kentucky Lake. It would be great if we could get some more Hunters to join this or similar cruises. Tom Grass
You don't have to go off shore to cruise ...We traded our Catalina 22 a couple of years ago for a Hunter 26 - but we still participate in an annual cruise on Kentucky Lake. It would be great if we could get some more Hunters to join this or similar cruises. Tom Grass
You could be the key
Thanks, Michael and Kelli for your suggestion. It seems for the most part, that the Florida groups do 3 day weekend events. That is a long way to travel for that short of a trip. If the Kerr lake rondezvous was after the northerners pulled their boats, it might be a starting point. I've sailed the Pine Island destination of one of the groups you suggested and it would be a great place. Like you said, you are almost there. Would you be able to check and find out what would be involved if a dozen of us wanted to leave trailers and vehicles for a week in November? Is there a RV storage area in the vicinity that we might economically and safely leave boats for a couple of months and return to sail somewhere in the Keys in February?
Thanks, Michael and Kelli for your suggestion. It seems for the most part, that the Florida groups do 3 day weekend events. That is a long way to travel for that short of a trip. If the Kerr lake rondezvous was after the northerners pulled their boats, it might be a starting point. I've sailed the Pine Island destination of one of the groups you suggested and it would be a great place. Like you said, you are almost there. Would you be able to check and find out what would be involved if a dozen of us wanted to leave trailers and vehicles for a week in November? Is there a RV storage area in the vicinity that we might economically and safely leave boats for a couple of months and return to sail somewhere in the Keys in February?
charlotte harbour
I would like any info you can give me about chartering in the Charlote Harbour area, Thanks , Mike
I would like any info you can give me about chartering in the Charlote Harbour area, Thanks , Mike
Soling 42/Mike
O/T, but, the picture of your 240 posted below shows you've a bimini on it - where did you get it? Does it get in the way? Is it worth doing? Thanks for any insight. (sunburn prone) Drew
O/T, but, the picture of your 240 posted below shows you've a bimini on it - where did you get it? Does it get in the way? Is it worth doing? Thanks for any insight. (sunburn prone) Drew
Briefly....
It's not in the way, it helps but it's really too small. That shot was New years day but if I'm sailing on a really hot day I'm frying. I gotta get a bigger bimini more sunscreen long sleeves and a bigger hat for tropical summer sailing. If you need more detail, e-mail me at soling45(at sign)usa.com Be cool. Other marina options for C.H. Would be Burnt Store Marine. 12mi ENE of Boca Grande Pass. I also read somewhere about a ton of money being spent to rehab and improve the City Marina in Punta Gorda. I'm sure they would be a lead for a Hunter group mtg and possibly storage with all the snowbirds down there. Michael
It's not in the way, it helps but it's really too small. That shot was New years day but if I'm sailing on a really hot day I'm frying. I gotta get a bigger bimini more sunscreen long sleeves and a bigger hat for tropical summer sailing. If you need more detail, e-mail me at soling45(at sign)usa.com Be cool. Other marina options for C.H. Would be Burnt Store Marine. 12mi ENE of Boca Grande Pass. I also read somewhere about a ton of money being spent to rehab and improve the City Marina in Punta Gorda. I'm sure they would be a lead for a Hunter group mtg and possibly storage with all the snowbirds down there. Michael
Charlotte Harbor Charters
I've chartered from both the attached group and Yachting Vacations both out of Burnt Store Marina. Both were good experiences. A lot of protected water to sail in even if the weather is too rough to venture out into the Gulf. If you have more questions, contact me at Chocho41@aol.com.
I've chartered from both the attached group and Yachting Vacations both out of Burnt Store Marina. Both were good experiences. A lot of protected water to sail in even if the weather is too rough to venture out into the Gulf. If you have more questions, contact me at Chocho41@aol.com.
Chartering
Thanks for the link and info , We were in that area last year ( Sanibel , Pine Island , Cayo Casto ) , Looked like an ideal sailing area but saw very few Sail boats , this was in April, Mike
Thanks for the link and info , We were in that area last year ( Sanibel , Pine Island , Cayo Casto ) , Looked like an ideal sailing area but saw very few Sail boats , this was in April, Mike
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