Thoughts on taking an R23 From SF Bay to SoCal

[ericd]

Hi All,
We are currently in the process of getting our first Ranger Tug which is currently located in SF/Oakland Bay Area, we are in SoCal. I am weighing the options of either having it transported or grabing the guys and doing a coastal run down (we are always up for an adventure! haha). We are experienced at sea as we currently have a boat (80's skipjack) we use very often and we are offshore in the channel islands area quite a bit. We are moving up a R23 from the stellar reputation of these boats, but does anyone have any experience or thoughts on a trip like this? My big concerns are of course point conception this time of year, there seem to be windows with 5-6ft swells, and other windows with 10+ I would not risk 10ft swell but how is 5-6ft pacific swell in these boats.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

 

[venajeff]

I would recommend attempting that only if you had a large weather window. In my experience the winds need to be calm for a minimum of one day (preferably 2) prior to your trip and then calm during the voyage. Heading south is definitely better than north but the following seas can be tricky.
It's not just Pt. Conception to be worried about, Pigion Pt., Cyprus Pt., Pt. Sur and Piedas Blancas can all get pretty treacherous.
Something else to keep in mind is that the 100 mile stretch from Monterey to San Simeon has no safe harbors.
My last thought is: if you have just purchased the boat then you can't be confident in all the systems, and for that trip you need to be very confident.

 

[Rocky Lou]

I wouldn't do it in my C302c with twin 300s, however, I thought about it a number of times. I don't trust weather windows since there are many open ocean phenomenom that are random. We had a boat overturn recently around Pacifica due to sneaker waves. I've run on a FAC day from Pillar Point to SF only to get into 10 swells in 40 FOW off ocean beach. Of course, the currents around the north and south bars entering SF are notoriously challenging and the area is full of ship wrecks. Thankfully for you, an R23 is an easy boat to trailer than mine. I don't trailer, but, the guys who delivered it from Idaho drove a big dually and said their hands were full, and palms sweaty.

 

[ericd]

Thank you for your thoughts. All great points and much appreciated. I’ve not found much info or real world experience from others with these boats in rough seas. Seems most of what I’ve read is 2-3ft chop and wind, but that just seems like a regular day in the channel for us. We take our skipjack out on some bad days here, especially in the convergence zones of the channel where we get gnarly swell and chop coming in around the islands and I’m usually fine. Feel like the R23 is going to handle way better than our 40yr old skip, but then again our 40yr old skip weighs 3000 more lbs! Anyone here on the forum run a tug in the Channel Islands area?

 

[scross]

Beg, borrow, rent or buy a trailer! You can also rent a 3/4 ton truck if needed - we rented a 3/4 ton Ford from Enterprise Truck Rentals when we picked up our C-28.
Towing down I-5 or even 101 would so much safer and faster than doing the trip on the water.
I’ve been in some rough water in our C-28 in the Straight of Georgia and I would never attempt SF to SoCal on water. Just figuring out the refueling issue alone would stop me.

 

[ericd]

Thanks so much for all the input, We have a 250 super duty, an e350 super duty and a trailer our skip jack is on. It’s more of a want for the adventure, and curious what others have done. To be honest if it was summer I would have no hesitation, fuel stops are fairly easy and conditions permitting it could be done in 3 days dock to dock. I have the whole thing plotted even with Kml files for the auto pilot! But winter conditions complicate things as the weather windows are so much shorter. I think the first comment which was, new boat, challenging conditions.. that is the pause I needed as you’re totally right. It should be fine… but. We will look to do Oxnard to Ensenada in spring!

 

[Eddyprice]

We have taken our Cutwater C24 to the Channel Islands and spent a few nights at anchorages on the southern side of Santa Cruz Island. When conditions were calm it was easy going. When heading back to Oxnard there was a small craft advisory with 5 foot seas at 6 seconds, winds approaching 20 knots+ with gusts a little over. We were counting down the miles as we headed back 20, 15, 10, 9.... The boat handled fine as we slowed down to 10 mph & lower, climbed up and rode down waves. I would not seek that out but it was ok even though we didn't have much experience in ocean waves. We have river rafting experience so some of that helped to deal with the conditions.

As Venajeff mentioned, with a new to you boat would be better to get to know if first before challenging yourself.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[ericd]

Yeah those conditions off Santa Cruz is super common. I was out 2 weeks ago in 5+ ft at 10sec with a nice little 10kt wind just off beam in our skip and I was cruising at 15-17kt pretty easy in that boat, it’sa little smaller but a lot heavier then the r23. We’re looking at adding the sea keeper ride to the R23 which should help a lot with the bad days and suck a light weight boat. I’m generally very comfortable in those kinds of conditions or heavy fog running on radar as we see this a lot in our area out of Oxnard. Good to know it was not too horrible. If my buddies in 20ft Radon’s and Parker’s can do it, then I’m sure the R23 can handle it

 

[bmcminn]

I agree that trailering a new-to-you (but popssible used?) single engine R23 is much safer than any long coastal run. Maybe if you're an outboard mechanic and really good with electronics? It would seem that even a small engine problem would really compound in large seas. I wouldn't trust a previous owner ANY, or for that matter the factory. My brand-new C-248 seems to not charge the house off the alternator and I'd hate to deal with that in a storm or at night. Your chart plotter runs off house.

That being said, sounds like you're salty AF. I know some people that routinely push edges and are very competent in that zone. Displacement boats are going to be different than Parkers and v-hulls I think, but not at all less sea-worthy.

If you make the trip let us all know how it goes!

 

[ericd]

@bmcminn thanks! Yeah I have a 1984 Skipjack I fully restored, so I have spent many a day head down in a bilge fixing it while at sea haha! I feel pretty solid at servicing but I fully agree with you all that safest bet is to trailer..
As a side note the 2019 R23 is not displacement actually, its a Deep-V Planning Hull Similar to the Parker Deep-V's (parkers come in deep and modified v). This was a big factor in our choice for the R23 as we wanted a livable (for short weekends and such) but capable ocean boat that could get us around the Channel and Socal to Mexico fairly easily. I originally was frothing over a Parker 2520 or Radon but the wife was not so stoked on the lack of comfort.. And to be fair, I am not really into crawling under the helm in a parker to sleep or taking the bed apart to use the toilet.. Just to spartan for multiple overnights.. We have a Skipjack Sport Cruiser hard top now and I absolutely love that boat, the layout is best of both as we have a huge deck (11ft) but a nice kitchenette and bed area, Problem is its an inboard and its a bit loud, (has a 454 Chevy in it!) so we decided it was time for something more modern with all the creature comforts.. Really looking forward to the Autopilot, Seakeeper and the bow thruster!

 

[bmcminn]

Autopilot is awesome, I'm in the process of learning to use it for trolling solo. Thanks for the hull info.

Also very interested in how Seakeeper works out, that looks like a real game-changer.

 

[ericd]

Autopilot is awesome, I'm in the process of learning to use it for trolling solo. Thanks for the hull info.

Also very interested in how Seakeeper works out, that looks like a real game-changer.

Having recently been on a boat with the Seakeeper Ride installed, its amazing. Especially with Autopilot, as a lot of the concern with auto is keeping trim on the boat, that the Seakeeper does this all autonomously. Time to plane is decreased by about half, economy is increased by a little bit and overall ride is way more stabil. Its $$$ but I think worth it so we are def adding this to our boat right away.

 

[allanrs74@gmail.com]

Adventures can be good and bad! I am unfamiliar with the waters off of Southern CA, but I can provide you with details on my own successful and at times very challenging adventure in June of 2018.

I took a new to me, 2016 R-27 from Anacortes, WA to Seward, AK over water just over a months time. The Inside Passage was fairly uneventful with the exception of loss of propulsion just South of Buttedale, BC requiring a 12 hour tow into Prince Rupert, BC for a weeks worth of repairs. The engine mounts had loosened and the engine dropped out of alignment causing severe vibration of the power train. The real adventure started when crossing the Gulf of Alaska, some 400 miles with a single refueling port in Yakutat and few safe harbors along the way. The leg from Elfin Cove to Yakutat was undertaken in sea conditions that I would not attempt again today. 6-8' swells at 10-12 seconds from the NW with 3-5' wind waves at 4-5 seconds from the S. These conditions were much worse than what was forecasted. A very uncomfortable ride to say the least. The boat handled it fine over the 13 hour journey. It took my son two days to recover from the sea sickness in Yakutat while we waited on a weather window. In Yakutat we had to fill 2 X 40 gal drums of diesel strapped in the rear corners of the back deck to have sufficient for the next leg. We had to transfer the diesel while underway. The sea conditions on the Yakutat to Cordova leg were much, much better, but the 25 hour run required running through the night on a 3 to 4 hour on, 3 to 4 hour off basis. Once inside Prince William Sound we could relax. The key to an adventure such as this is in detail planning and not being in a hurry to allow waiting on weather. Also, do your "What If's". What If I lose power in the middle of no where? What if the weather blows up? What if I have an electrical problem? etc. There is no substitute for knowledge and experience. I am a Maritime Academy grad and have spent much of my life on or around the ocean. I'm often asked if I'd do it again and my answer is: Hell yes, but possibly a little differently with the knowledge I gained on the first attempt.

 

[LMRanger]

From San Francisco to Monterey Bay is 129 miles. You are looking at 12 - 15 hours in a 23 foot boat in some of the toughest waters you can imagine. And there is NO gas station out there.
If that don't kick your butt the next leg to Santa Barbra 233 miles will.

Ralph
Semper Fortis

 

[ericd]

@allanrs74@gmail.com thanks for your insight. This is what I expected, but glad to know your boat was, while very uncomfortable, handled it ok. I am not going looking for these conditions but it happens from time to time where we are located and I feel more comfortable knowing that we can deal.
@LMRanger I take it you have done this journey? We have an incredibly detailed break down of each leg, safe anchors and danger zones already mapped out. Generally on a trip like this we would carry 20-40 gallons of extra gas with an estimated range in the tank or 120mi.. so we would have plenty of margin. However that all being said, we are going to trailer it down, have it totally gone through, a few things done, then we will look to do a trip like this maybe next year when we have longer weather windows as right now with current tides its just too short. Most likely will do Ensenada in early spring.

 

[Hamster]

I don’t know the distance you are talking about, but in semi-chop seas, I’d anticipate that you’d get maybe 1.4 to 1.6 mpg with a 78 gallon tank. If the boat has the original 200 HP, you will find it challenging to run in big swells. Motor works super hard. If you add weight, like extra fuel or a sea keeper in the back, you’re even more challenged with a 200 HP (and getting up on plane in flat waters). I’ve run my R23 off the Washington coast and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. After struggling in heavy chop and swells, I repowered my boat to a 300 HP.

 

[ericd]

@Hamster perfect thank you that is the kind of info I’m looking for. Actual real world experience with these kind of conditions. Again al much appreciated for all the great info

 

[scross]

I’m pretty sure you already know this but before taking your R-23 into Mexico you might want to double check to see if your marine insurance will fully cover you. For example, GEICO requires a specific endorsement or cruising area extension and/or additional Mexico marine liability coverage to be added to your policy.

 

[ericd]

Yep we looked into that, and will have it added thank you! and if all goes well the boat I am buying (I am actually sitting on the boat now with the broker) is documented as well!