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From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Thu Sep 02 2004 - 14:07:39 EDT
In a message dated 8/5/2004 1:42:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:
After living aboard the last 5 years and 15,000 miles my advice would be:
- Get yourself a strong set of davits and make it easy to raise and lower
the dinghy with the motor attached. Either 6 part winch or electric winch.
We like boat trailer winches. They are available in stainless from Bosun's
Supplies.
- Make sure the davits are as high as you can get them to keep following
seas away.
Agreed. Ours is too low. We have to tow the dinghy offshore.
-. Buy the biggest dinghy you can afford with the biggest motor. I've got a
Carolina Skiff 12 1/2 and a Yamaha 15 and if I had to do it over again I'd
get a Yamaha 25.
I have a 10' Caribe and a 30HP Johnson. Occasionally I would like more power.
- Hard dinghies cost way less, you can beach them easily and lobsters won't
poke holes in them.
Hard dinghies and inflatables have very different characteristics.
Investigate this carefully to match the dinghy to the use you want from it.
Hard dinghies are certainly more puncture resistant and generally more
rugged. They are also heavier (size for size), but come in more varied shapes and
types.
Inflatables are generally more stable and have huge flotation (our 10' Caribe
is 1800 lbs) even when swamped. They are easy to get in and out of from deck
because you can step right on the tubes with very little listing.
- Doggie friendly places are becoming easier to find, but the best bet is to
train the dog to go on the foredeck. I had dachshunds that loved to pee on
seaweed. Some times you just can't get to shore easily.
I often see folks taking their dogs ashore twice a day or more. We meet
folks who have to run off frequently to take their dogs ashore. I feel sorry for
them especially in nasty weather. Train your dog to "go" aboard.
- Get bikes and put a large milk crate on one of them. Mine holds 2 large
grocery bags or one 20 lb tank of propane. Bikes extend your reach to
markets and supplies significantly. We're comfortable doing long rides to
access best prices.
This is very dependent upon where you are. We had bikes aboard in the early
years but the only place we used them was in Key West. Of course, we have
cars in St Augustine, where we spend most of our winter time.
- Make yourself go ashore and walk or ride each day when possible. Exercise
is essential.
It is very hard for me to imagine a more physically demanding life than
living aboard.
- Get the biggest ground tackle you can fit on your boat and use 100% chain.
I've got 220' of chain in the starboard bow locker connected to a 60 CQR and
150' of chain in the port bow locker connected to a 45 CQR. A 60 HT
Danforth is on the afterdeck and another 75' of chain in the lazarette. A 22
Danforth and a 13 Danforth complete the package. Remember it's your "house"
and keeping it where it belongs is important.
100% agreed. We have a 110 lb Bruce and 150' of 1/2" BBB chain. We still
drag occasionally.
- Cruisers and cruising guides are your best source of information. We all
know where the supermarkets, dinghy docks, and good anchorages are. Don't be
afraid to stop by boats in an anchorage and say hello. You'll learn
something new from each boat you meet.
Agreed.
- Stay "legal". Some areas of the country are picky and you are in their
back yard. Carry all the required stuff in your dinghy like anchor,
lights, whistle, PFDs etc
This is very important. Get a USCG boarding report form and go over each
item on the back side as if you were a chickenshit (AKA "picky") young Boarding
Officer looking for something to show his (or her - the women are the most
"picky") boss how important he is.
Local cops can be worse. Fred Fram was attacked in Georgia at 9pm with
lights and siren because local cops didn't like the anchor light just above the
boom, they wanted it at the masthead. There were about to board him for a
"safety inspection" when the noticed another similar boat and zoomed off to nab the
next victim.
Local cops also sometimes require a "bailing device" in the dinghy.
However, the biggest priority of the local cop is that you display a valid
state sticker that says you have paid some cop somewhere his protection racket
money.
Lastly, remember the most dangerous thing on a boat is a schedule. Rules
for visiting guests are they either get to pick the time or the place, but
not both!
This is very true. I have heard it from many skippers. Whenever you tell
someone where you will be ALWAYS be sure you add "weather permitting".
Norm
S/V Bandersnatch
Lying Gloucester MA
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