New to cruising with R29

D

DaveandEileen

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 29, 2020
Messages
83
Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2909G011
Vessel Name
Miss Betty
Greetings,
My wife and I are new to cruising and I have been struggling with making travel plans, crazy I know!
We live in PA and want to make plans but what do people do when making plans at marinas etc.. for a week or two or three out or more with the weather being so unpredictable?
We had made plans to go somewhere a week out and a few days before we were to leave I checked the weather and it picked up to 15 - 25 knt winds and 2-4 wind waves so we canceled or trip and hung out on our dock for a few days.
I'd appreciate any tips you may have.
Regards,
Dave
 
Here is my tip.

Make sure you always have plenty of wine (or whatever adds to the happiness of you and your partner) and a deck of cards. Nearly every time we've gone out in spite of a bad forecast, we've regretted it. So when you stay put, you've probably made the right decision. I prefer to be stuck on the boat and at the dock then at home, anyway. And when I've pushed to go and it has ended up being the wrong decision, I pay for it mightily...

Bobby
 
Hi Dave and congratulations on your new R29. My opinion is there is no right or wrong way but what works best for you. Some folks make reservations ahead of time while others only do so early on the day of a pending arrival. If we know we’ll being staying a month at a marina then yes we will make that reservation we’ll ahead of time, especially if you’re heading to Florida in the winter time. The problem, as you experienced, is when the weather permits you from traveling and you’ve made reservations for a day or two you’ve got to get a refund, change the days , etc. This is not good or bad it just reality and some folks don’t mind others don’t like to go thru the process. The other thing about making reservations is if, while in route, you find a town, event or anchorage you really want to spend time at a reservation forces you to keep moving on or get on the phone or computer to either cancel or change. Again not good or bad just reality.

Jim F
 
Looks like your boat is up here in WA?

You're right, plans can change on the fly based on weather up here. Much of the cruising I do is intentionally unplanned. We wake up in the morning, look at the weather and currents, and decide where to go that day. Sometimes that means the marina we want to go to is full, so we pick an alternate spot and go there.

Other times we make reservations. We're going through the islands for 2 weeks later this month and I've made several marina and land reservations on the way. There's a risk that we may cancel reservations at the last minute due to factors you mention, that's the way it goes.

However, weather doesn't necessarily have to be one of those factors. These tugs are perfect for cruising comfortably in the rain. And if the wind picks up, we can typically find a route that keeps us in calmer water in the lee of islands.

... of course, if the Canadian border happens to open before or during this trip, we may bag ALL the reservations and boogie north!
 
Reservations can be made and cancelled. Plans can be made and changed. Always trust your "gut" when it comes to weather go/no go. When cruising weather takes priority. We planned a trip to the North Channel and Georgian Bay last summer. We had 25 days to cruise and end at the Ranger Tug rendezvous in Michigan. I had Plan A,B,C routes based on weather days. How far we could go and what routes to take back to end up in Michigan. We ended up using a new plan D because we had engine issues. We never made it to the Rendezvous because we could not travel fast enough. The bottom line is we still had an awesome trip. We were on the water in some beautiful anchorages enjoying life! We are segment Loopers and follow the AGLCA recommendations Never have a schedule when cruising! And follow Bobby's plan! Ours is Beer, Vodka, and wine, Make sure you always have plenty of ice too!
 
If you made reservations for a beach vacation and arrived to rain what would you do?
 
FWTMD":1n9aw5xl said:
If you made reservations for a beach vacation and arrived to rain what would you do?
Click to expand...

Please don't take offense to this but..... Rain at a Vacation house and trying to fulfill a reservation at a marina with bad weather is not apples to apples. Rain in my boating book is not bad weather. Wind and wave heights is what I consider bad weather, hazardous conditions , small craft advisory, wind warnings, Gale warning are example of weather issues. Rain rinses the boat off !
 
most of the time wind and seas are an easy call. few days ago small craft warnings shut down our launch service.
One of my most respected rules is my Thunder rule. If I am out on the water and hear thunder its time to head ashore. I can always go out the next day.

Stuart
 
Dave,
Like you, I tend to plan out our cruising trips. I typically build in an extra “spare” day every week at a nice spot that we can use if bad weather or rough seas require a plan change. If the weather is good then we have an extra day in a nice place!
Even though I typically make my marina reservations several weeks in advance, all the PNW marinas I go to are very understanding when I need to change a day or even cancel because of bad weather or other pressing issues. Usually the weather is bad at the marina too so they get it. I like to change a reservation as soon as I know it’s a problem based on keeping an eye on the forecast but sometimes bad weather happens despite a good forecast!
Since 2/3 to 3/4 of our cruising trips involve mooring buoys or anchoring out we really don’t make that many marina reservations on a 2-3 week cruise. The PNW state/provincial marine park mooring buoys and docks are first come (no reservations) affairs anyway so they fit a flexible weather adjusted schedule.
The more you switch over to being on the hook or on a mooring buoy during your cruises the less of a factor your marina reservations become.
 
No offense taken Brian

I went with brevity on my post.

The point I was inartful in making was boating is an outdoor activity. Like anything outdoors, weather can and does waylay plans. Just the way it goes. Roll with it or find a new hobby.
 
Hi Dave,
First off, congratulations on your new boat. I’ve found this forum extremely helpful to find valuable information.

Being that PA/Sequim is your hailing port, you have an interesting situation compared to many other boaters in Puget Sound. You are so close to Victoria and also the San Juan’s. The advantage is you have a short trip. The disadvantage is on rough days, you don’t have an alternate “leeward” route. I’m on the west side of Whidbey on Admiralty Inlet but have protected moorage so I too have a similar situation as you. I constantly check the marine forecasts and wind forecasts before heading out. It’s also pretty common that the summer winds pick up in the afternoon so I always try to be on the move in the morning if tides are cooperating. I never transit the Strait of Juan de Fuca when small craft advisories are in effect. I try to limit 3’ or lower wind waves when all possible ... but weather/tides can change quickly and next thing you know, you’re in 5’ seas with no place to hide. More often than not, the straits can be flat as glass and that is great as long as its not foggy. If fog rolls in, fire up the radar and cruise slow and you are good to go.

This year it will be critical to make reservations in the SJI’s at least until and if Canada opens. There will be a lot of demand for transient moorage and if you go without reservations, be prepared to spend the night on the hook. I don’t sleep well while anchored so I just make reservations and if I have to cancel, the marinas understand. Some marinas make you prepay with no refunds but do offer future credit.

Be prepared, keep asking questions, be safe and most of all, have fun!
 
Hi Again,

You will also want to pay attention to wind direction when finding anchorages. Being protected by land masses on the correct side can make all the difference on safety and being able to sleep comfortably. My wife just recently made that a priority in trip planning, after we got the snot beat out of us one night. It really makes a tremendous difference.

Bobby
 
lots of good points above. I'd also add that as you get more comfortable with anchoring your options for last minute changes of plans grow. oh. Roche harbor is full. no worries Im going to anchor in the bay.

realistically the best season is July 4th to Sept 10th here in WA.
 
The Admiral and I completed a 3 month cruise from NC to Tarpon Springs via the Key and the Southwest FL Rendevous. Our first extended cruise in the tug. Luckily we escaped the COVID impacts as we arrived back in NC on 31 March.

The key is to be flexible. If you have a schedule, then you are already in the hurt locker. We left NC before Christmas with the only scheduled event being the Rendevous in early February. We arrived in the area of Punta Gorda 4 days early and just hung out.

I made reservations a couple of weeks out and modified them as necessary. Marinas are more than happy to adjust.

Have fun!
 
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