Long term travel

[jmholley]

Hello All:
I am new to this forum and would like some information/literature on long term coastal travel, 6 months to a year. I want to buy a used boat, twin screw diesel. There will be myself and my girlfriend ( and at least one dog!).

Initially I have a few Questions.

How large a boat would I need to travel comfortably and be safe with normal weather conditions, 50', 60', 70'?

Would a school be recommended for piloting/etc.?

What documents do you need for coastal travel in Canada and Mexico?

Is piracy a problem and if so what steps do you need to take?

I did not find anything in the forum search...but maybe I wasn't looking in the right place.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thx, Jim

 

[tommays]

Re: Long term travel

Not and expert BUT boats like Krogen are the type that have the range for long trips at sea

The Engines have become so good that singles are pretty common with smaller boats (40') and some have and electric motor that can spin the prop from the Gen Set

You can not really say a 60' would be X amount safer than a 40'


Tommays

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Long term travel

boater's safety course, is basic, then navigation, instrument navagation for night, and poor visibility. seaman ship, use of radar, radio, flares, etc. simple engine and other repairs. you have to be self suffient out there.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Long term travel

Get a subscription to Passage Maker magazine, you are precisely their target audience. You will probably find all you need to get started by reading a few issues and attending one of their trawlerfests.

 

[amynbill]

Re: Long term travel

Get a subscription to Passage Maker magazine, you are precisely their target audience. You will probably find all you need to get started by reading a few issues and attending one of their trawlerfests.

Hey MM...is your screen name an HP reference to the Marauder's Map? Just curious...

 

[oops!]

Re: Long term travel

welcome aboard !

lots of good people here.

please read CAN I DIE!!!!...

i think its on page 9 of this forum heading, (just scroll down to bottom and hit pg 9)

it has great discussion. (some heated) and very intellegent pionts bolth sides.

good luck
oops

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Long term travel

here it is: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=226276

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Long term travel

Of course it depends on what you plan to do. If you're going to be mostly port hopping, I'd say a 30 to 35 footer minimum. If you're going to be living mostly aboard and/or doing any open water crossings say to a distant island, I'd start looking at 40' and up.

As mentioned, a piloting course should be your first step, followed by courses in seamanship, engineering, first aid, etc, etc, etc...

I'm not sure about what papers you'd need to land in another country. As long as you don't go within 3 miles of shore, you don't need anything as long as you're flying the U.S. flag.

Good luck, I hope I have the means to do that one day.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Long term travel

I think one of the principal tools you will need for such a trip is experience... That one you cant buy it or neither can be obtain by reading. I have no idea where is your skill level, but judging by your questions I will risk it and say you migth need to get some experience in the open sea before trying this. Read that thread "Can I Die". Good luck, I hope you can do it. I would love to be able do so something like that in the future. For now is work, work, work until I get there!!!

 

[jmholley]

Re: Long term travel

Thanks to all for the help.
I am still a couple of years away...but that is a good thing. I have quite a bit of experience with smaller craft, but none with a larger boat.
Experience is definately the key and I will take that advice seriously.
I ordered the magazine, you can never have enough knowledge.

See you on the water.
jim

 

[Nandy]

Re: Long term travel

Great, that time will give you the necesary skills to acomplish what you want. Back when I lived in PR my friends will go Island hopping in a nice group of vessels (6 or more). It will be nice if you can find a group that does that. Even if you have to rent a vessel and get a few of the experience members go along with you. Nothing like boating with an experienced skipper to shorten that learning curve.