First Major Boating Trip
 

Ok,

So my wife and I are finally through all of the paperwork and we will finally have our boat. (40' Tiara Express).

The issue is that it is in Tampa/St.Pete and we are docking it in Daytona.

We got estimates trucking it over, and that was almost as much as the fuel for driving it around the state. (There is a "ditch" that goes thru Lake Okeechobee, but we have a 42" draw and the lake is too shallow for that right now).

Our most likely journey will be from Tampa to Marco Island. Marco-the keys, The Keys to Miami. Miami to Daytona. (about 600NM).

I have a 444 gallon tank, and following the rule of thirds, etc. I figure about 150miles a day.

Here is the rub.....

I have never Captained a large boat before. I have practically memorized the operator guides for the electronics. I don't plan on being far off the coast, and will only go during VFR (for planes) conditions. Basically, clear and sunny.

Now:

I don't have map coordinates for all of the locations i need to plot. (Not sure where to find them, unless I know the specific places). I am hoping someone already has this plotted out and I can get the info from them.....where to find that I don't know.


More importantly, my wife wants to hire a captain. While that sounds great, it means that we can stop somewhere, and just decide to spend another day on a whim, or change plans, etc. We are responsible for food, lodging and return travel. (Which would be ludicrous if we dropped him off in the Keys and he had to fly to tampa).

Plus, I don't know this person. It will be my wife, me and someone I don't know.

I think, by being ridiculously cautious we can make the journey safely, but the wife isn't so sure.

Any thoughts, words of wisdom, etc?

Does any one have this route already planned or know where I could find one?
Is it smarter just to truck it back and skip the adventure?

Thanks!

t.

If you're in no hurry it sure sounds like a great way to get to know your boat. And something you'll never forget.

I think you can do that trip.

You would not be getting off the shelf and even if you got into trouble you are on a very populated route.

Take the inter coastal up on the atlantic side.

Sounds like it would be a blast.

t
great trip have made it many times ,how long has the boat been sitting?
half the battle is weather pick the right days or wife will be hard to make go the next time!
great boat!!

The only question in my mind is if your wife is comfortable helping you dock the boat, run lines, take the helm, drop anchor should the need arise, etc.

A two man crew on a 40ft boat can be busy at times.

I think it would be a great trip.

Sounds like fun, all I can add is it's very shallow around the lower keys/key west....

I wonder if you can get a virtual captain. These days with satellite Net....

That leaves you your privacy when you want it and assistance when you need it.

Another suggestion - Do you have any friends with some boating experience you might invite along? Maybe make it a "couples trip"? That might allay fears from the wife.

Sounds like a fun trip. I suggest you do some shake down runs in the Tampa area. go over for a couple weekend, run the boat in that area, practice anchoring, docking, plotting on the chart. Do you have a GPS chartploter? that would greatly ease the navigational duties. Good ground tackle and a windlass make anchoring out a pleasure. And changes the nature of a boating trip greatly. Also an autopilot is a big plus for shorthanded passagemaking.

This would give you a chance to checkout the boat and systems. And get a feel for handling the boat. get an idea of fuel consumption, how does the boat do away from the dock over night, etc.
Also an opportunity to do some cruising in an interesting area that will be distant from your home waters.

Maybe invite some boating friends for a weekend there, this could lead to developing some interest in crewing with you for the trip.

Done with a captain will result in a delivery trip, a totally different experience than a cruise. Set yourself up to be comfortable doing it on your own, think road trip on the water.

Where are the pics?

Cheers Richard

I've got to add that the autopilot really frees up the person on the helm, but attention must stay focused in nearshore waters. There is stuff to run into. Look for a good cruising guide book for the area you will be traveling thru. They can be a big help.
Our boating here in hawaii is mostly very open waters, and little traffic.

be careful, have lots of fun!!!

Cheers Richard

If you pull up Google Maps, you can zoom in, do a right mouse click "what's here" and get GPS coordinates you can enter as waypoints into your chartplotter.

Sounds like a fun trip. Common sense goes a long way on the water!

I'm in Tampa if you need me for something. Who knows what for.....

Wow!

Great responses!

Quick replies, as I am out the door....

It has GPS, radar, sonar, autopilot, chartplotter, etc. (All 2008 Furuno).

I got the Dozier Waterways guide book, very good reference.

I (we), like the idea of doing the Tampa area for a couple of weekends.....great idea!

We are also getting a dinghy (for shallow waters, and emergencies. I think we are getting the Torqeedo motor on it. The reviews are excellent.....)

The only part that makes me nervous is docking our boat....lots of VERY expensive things to bump into...mainly other peoples boats!

1979 930 do you have any plotted courses you can share?

Oh, and we got an epirb.

URY914, hey we can always talk about Porsche if nothing else.....

Thanks again everyone!

t.

Sounds like a fun trip. Great point on crew, make she she's 100% into it. If not it can be a deal breaker.

I did a similar type of trip last summer, NJ to Annapolis, but at much slower pace, sailboat. Think about and plan for potential issues. What happens if you lose an engine? Electrical issue? Bad fuel? Need to ditch for a safe harbor? Need medical assistance? ...

Docking is only fun when you are watching some one else do it. :) Practice.

I dont mean to rain on the parade, just have a plan for the potential issues. With that done and clear to all on board have fun.

I would still stick with old fashioned charts too. Back to the power/electrical issue. Keep tabs on your location every ~30min, just in case.

Atlantic NOAA Nautical Charts

Make sure you can fix seacock, water pump, fuel filter issues while under way.

One last thing, dont fight the weather. Good wind on your nose increases fuel consumption. Big sea make for a long day over the rail. Be flexible in your schedule. If the weather isnt right, dont press your luck.

The Boat sounds well equipped, those shake down trips will give you a chance to get up to speed with all the equipment.

I totally understand your concerns about docking, and share them. My 45' tri is a real challenge to dock, especially in any wind. Probably a part of why I so prefer anchoring out. That and the lack of slips that fit a boat that is 27' wide :-)
One drill that might help is to find a clear area of water, then set your lunch hook with a fender or float on it. Then practice approaching from all wind angles. First come to it with your bow, then try to bring it alongside as you come to a stop.
Other than prop wrapping the line this is a low stress way to gain some comfort and confidence with your close quarters maneuvering. The twin props give you a bonus in maneuvering at low speeds. When you are practicing at your buoy approaches you can make adjustments to the boats position using one engine ahead and the other in reverse. Just play with it and you will get the feel for this boat.
Let your wife give it a try also. That way she will be less likely to laugh too much at your efforts :-)

Have fun!
Richard

It's a gret trip. There is a cut below everglade city to Long Key I believe...saves having to go to Key West...you can make it with the 42" draft. Once to Miama, tuck into the ICW and it's a fun ride up. Lot's of restaurants and bars on the way up to stop at to take the edge off for the wife.
Ahh, I really miss the water...might be time to start planning the next sabatical...

Ben this sounds like a perfect opportunity for you to get back on the water and to help out a fellow pelican in the process. Its not too far from you from Ga. And possibly meet up with Paul and other pelicans in the tampa area. A good hand on the first few legs would be a nice start for T951 and wife.
Just sayn.

Cheers Richard

Watch a few episodes of " Shouldn't Be Alive" on Animal Planet then decide.
Good luck on your journey.

I think that you could do the trip, but I strongly believe that hiring a captain will be money well spent that will pay dividends for years of boating into the future.

All boaters learn by running into things and ruining parts of their boats and then coming back and never making the same mistake twice. The issue isn't whether you make mistakes that will require some repair; it's how expensive the repairs will be. If you're lucky, you'll learn by having close calls rather than actual incidents.

The experience of having a real captain piloting your boat and tutoring you on how to operate it is so invaluable I can't over stress it. As an added extra value you get a much more relaxed trip that can be a vacation, not a minute by minute stressed survival course. And you have a happier and more relaxed wife.

The benefit of having a pro really teach you how to do things the right way the first time will be worth whatever you pay him and will be paid back in spades by saving the cost of replacing important parts of your boat that you dont destroy by learning on your own.

Maybe get a Captain for a 12 hour trip with 6 hours spent on docking?

Clue the Gilligan jokes.....