R-25 capabilities question

I’m going to be upgrading to a larger boat. My wife, surprisingly, seems amicable to the idea. I’m a “Holiday Inn kind of guy” and she’s a “Hilton girl”… So this is my opportunity to pitch the idea of purchasing a 2007 R-25 that has a low-hour diesel engine and looks to well taken after.
My question is… the boat is located on Long Island, NY and I live near Annapolis, MD on the Chesapeake Bay. If you have a crew of at least two that have strong boating skills… one of which has transatlantic and Pacfic experience on a huge tall sail ship… would you be comfortable, paying very close attention to the weather forecast, skirting the coast until southern NY/Delaware where you can tuck into the intercostal waterway there if needed?

A Hilton Girl might need at least an R29

My simple answer is yes, I would be very comfortable making that trip with 3 qualifications. Pick your weather window, be willing to wait for the appropriate weather window and complete the necessary planning including equipment and communications capability.
In June of 2018, I sailed my 2016 R-27 from Anacortes, WA to Seward, Alaska which included crossing the Gulf of Alaska with a 375 +/- mile open ocean leg from Elfin Cove to Cordova which has only 3-4 sites where you can get out of the weather if necessary. I had a crew of two and the knowledge and experience to plan and complete such a journey. My trip consisted of @ a 12 hour run from Elfin Cove to Yakutat(refuel) and a 24 hour run from Yakutat to Cordova. I had to wait 3-4 days in Yakutat for the right weather-sea conditions. This was one of my bucket list adventures!

Do your planning and enjoy the journey.
Regards,
Bob

You should consider reading
Crossing the Wake: One Woman’s Great Loop Adventure by Tanya Binford — she completed the Great Loop single-handed in a Ranger Tug 25.

This gives you better understanding of the capabilities of the R25. Her boat was a similar year as yours.

Matt.Mac said:

I’m going to be upgrading to a larger boat. My wife, surprisingly, seems amicable to the idea. I’m a “Holiday Inn kind of guy” and she’s a “Hilton girl”… So this is my opportunity to pitch the idea of purchasing a 2007 R-25 that has a low-hour diesel engine and looks to well taken after.
My question is… the boat is located on Long Island, NY and I live near Annapolis, MD on the Chesapeake Bay. If you have a crew of at least two that have strong boating skills… one of which has transatlantic and Pacfic experience on a huge tall sail ship… would you be comfortable, paying very close attention to the weather forecast, skirting the coast until southern NY/Delaware where you can tuck into the intercostal waterway there if needed?

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I have sailed those waters many times and I agree that being very selective as to your weather window is important.

It is doable and could be a really memorable trip with proper preparation and planning. The new-to-you boat should be properly checked out and sea-trialed with the new crew for a proper shake down and familiarization. Towing insurance (Seatow or TowBoatUS) is advisable, along with paper charts to cover your route (for planning and backup). You will want to understand navigating past NYC, picking the right tide for Hells Gate. The NJ ICW is available, but that would be slower than the outside route by New Jersey. You do want to be inside before the weather gets nasty as inlets can be dangerous. You don't want to be on a schedule, even if you think you have picked an ideal weather window, so allow extra days for waiting out turns of the weather.

Assuming you would take the Cape May Canal and up the Delaware River to the C&D Canal and on into the Chesapeake, you are looking at a distance of about 300 miles. Atlantic City might be a possible overnight stop. The Delaware River stretch is susceptible to choppy conditions given a typical 15+kt SW wind when opposing the ebb tide. The Eldridge Tide and Pilot book (2026 edition) is recommended for planning and executing this trip.