Can I... Take my Bayliner on a trip?

[kerberos824]

I live on the Hudson, near Albany. I have family near Kingston, Newburgh, and NYC. Is it insane to take my Bayliner 175 on a six or seven day (there and back) camping /overnight trip?

 

[NYBo]

That boat is a little small for that trip. Traffic gets rather busy as you head south, with a fair number of barges. Those wakes are no joke. You will also have to plan your fuel stops carefully.

 

[kerberos824]

I appreciate the response. I think I'll cut it off at Newburgh, and turn around there. I've planned out fuel (21 gallons doesn't get you far, especially at marina prices.. ) I know it's a lakeboat, and for hanging out. But, I'd like to go somewhere with it. And I've done all this work this year on it that I feel like I, and we, deserve it.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I don't know what your mental state is as far as insanity but I wouldn't in a boat that small. It would be like taking one of those electric scooter down the I-90, sort of, it can be done but at what cost. Like Richard Dryfuss said in Jaws "We're gonna need a bigger boat" I like the idea of a wet road trip though. Camping in a boat? How are you with snakes?

 

[kerberos824]

I love snakes! My wife, not so much. We'll see how brave I get sleeping on it The skeeters are the real thing I have to worry about. As far as big water goes, the lake I had it on last year (Sacandaga) gets consistently larger chop than the Hudson ever does.

 

[5150abf]

Try spending the night on it at your lake and see how that goes, if you can't do it there you can't anywhere else.

Good practice run anyhow, maybe find out you need something you would have forgotten.

Also make sure the engine and drive are in top shape, no one is going to tow you that far if you break.

Sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

 

[ahicks]

Boat camping can be a lot of fun for sure, but you have to keep the size of your boat in mind. I don't know a thing about your location, but from what others are saying, a different river or maybe a chain of lakes might work out better. On a trip like that, you'll need to plan on at least one bad day where you won't be able to leave camp.

 

[Lightwin 3]

I've made trips in a 17 to 18 footer. Two people is about the limit though. With all the gear, it gets cramped very quickly.

The key for me was to plan, plan, plan and not be 100% tied to a strict schedule. Plan yes, flexible yes.

I agree with the others, heavy industrial traffic can make a trip no fun.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I basically grew up on the Erie Barge Canal until I was 4. I always wanted to run the canal and eventually did in my American cousins1st boat, a 89' Bayliner 18' Cuddy. When I woke the 1st morning and realized I was basically sharing a sleeping bag with a big fat Snake I tapped out and have never, ever spent another night on a boat, including a pals 32' Owens. I was asked to help bring my new BIL's 50 some odd foot yacht from FLA to Halifax this spring then I remembered that night and declined.