Perchance to dream... Caribbean

CharlesM

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Hello all

Now that I own my first boat, I need to plan /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have touched on this subject in earlier posts, but would like to get more advice.

Imagine yourself...

2 months in the Caribbean with limited experiance and 1 crewmate SWWNO (She who will not obey) also known as My Love. A newly purchased boat without any electronics, radios or safety gear and loads of excitement. You arrive to the boat which is in the lagoon in St. Martin.

Question. What do you do for the two months?

Parameters.
1) Diving kit will be purchased for those that dont have it (although not sure of the compressor).
2) My Love may not be scared off by crazy scary stunts.
3) About £5k to spend on gear (although keeping this down for the initial 2 months may be advisable)


go wild

Charles /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

mainshiptom

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From my experience and friends tales the best thing is to get on with it ! ie not to plan too much ! Also make sure that Swmbo is very very very clear on the plan?

Ie what is in a day schedule?

Mistakes that friends and myself have done:

Plan long paasages !
Try to do too much on thier own !



Etc etc , The most important thing is that you are going to do it !

Make sure it is a sucess by having money ready when needed ! and also keep managing expections !

One of my mates has bought his dream boat in Greece in his first week he tried to fix the loo and did his back in ! The boat was sold within a week !

Do not over strecth yourself and dont try and do every thing in the first time, learn the area , learn the boat and dfind out what you both like to do on a and off the boat !

A good holiday on a boat is getting places and acutually spending time away from the boat as well !

Hope this helps?

Tom
 

CharlesM

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yup - thanks Tom.

Every bit helps. This is a very ambitious move by me - taking bit of a flyer here, but it is a dream that I need to try rather than be to cautious and never actually get on with it.

Good to keep focus of part of the time should be away from the boat as well...

charles
 

Trevethan

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What boat did you end up with?
Advise you try and pick up the toys in teh States if stopping over. You'll find you prices are nearly the same number of dollars in the US as pounds in the UK allowing you pocket the exchange rate difference.

First few trips go with experienced folk -- makes SWMBO experience much more pleasant as others are around who know what they are doing and she can learn more slowly.

Take your time sorting the boat out. Don't rush it and basically enjoy yourslef!
 

AndrewB

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Plenty of good cruising around St Martin's/Maarten's, you could spend a while exploring without going further afield. Numerous anchorages and several marinas. The west side is sheltered, very easy stuff; the east somewhat more challenging such as Baie Oriental and Ile Pinel, though more scenic.

A little further afield is Ile Tintamarre, a pleasant day's outing to the anchorage though there is nothing on the island itself. Then Anguilla, which I've not been to, as other than Road Bay a rather pricey cruising permit is required. Renown diving there.

Beyond that might be getting a bit ambitious for SWMBO by the sound of it. Saba would be worth considering in settled weather for an overnight stay, also good diving I believe. St Barts means quite a long windward passage, but hopefully she'll be up for it by the second month - excellent shopping in Gustavia might be an inducement. BVI is much further with a tiresome passage back against the wind.

Sounds like the yacht is a bit basic but you will need a decent depth sounder, good anchor and a dinghy to make the most of it, as well as the usual basic navigational and safety gear.
 

CharlesM

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Hi there

I ended up with a Ferrocement Hartley Fijian 43' Ketch. Wooden masts.
No electronics or radios or safety equipment, so I need to put that in.

I will be kitting out in St. Martin which is a Duty free island, and has an additional 10% if paying in cash. - not sure how I am going to swing that one as I dont think I want to fly over with +5k US$ cash in my pocket.

see http://www.budgetmarine.com/catalogue.html

The boat has 8 Gell batteries (24volt config) and a diesel generator. Also a solar panel wired directly to the 12v starter battery for the generator. Seems the engine is linked to the house batteries...
There is a tender (inflatable) with an outboard.

I dont think I will buy a liferaft just yet, but will use the tender as a life raft for the moment. (just effectively costal cruising). Will certainly buy flares, lifejackets, harneses, new jackstays and such.

Will be putting in a DSC fixed radio (need to determine model still) and will also get a handheld.

Will put in depth (possibly fish finder as long as it can talk to whatever it needs to), wind and log. Also a repeater.

Should I place the seperate instrument panels at the nav station with the repeater on deck, or the other way around?

Will get fixed GPS and probably hand-held as a backup.

Once I have a better idea will probably put in heavy duty solar panels with smart regulators...

Then of course pots, pans, bedding, etc.

Any reccomendations for good yet reasonable priced electronics I should consider would be appreciated.

Sooo excited.

Oh - will not go via US as I am SA citizen, and visa applications for USA are a nightmare... Need to get visa's for Netharlands Antilles and Guadeloup (french part of St. Martin) in any case. All other areas around there are happy with the fact that I am a Commonwealth Citizen.

later
Charles
 

Trevethan

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fitting the depthsounder might be tricky -- Check to see if it has a transducer already fitted.

Transom mounts don't tend to work well with indoard engines. The prop wash buggers them up.

On my boat the transducer is fitted to a small grp panel in the hull that it can shoot through.

You can try shooting through the ferro (put the transducer in a bag of water and see if you can get a signal back) then epoxy an inhull fitting in the place you get the most accurate reading.

Failing that it might take a lift to wither fit a GRP panel like I have, or by fitting a thru hull, but that will mean a lift.
 

TigaWave

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Save a ilttle bit of cash for a decent (strong and able to handle 25knots of wind) sun awning, either fixed or one that covers the whole cockpit when at anchor. You really will need one, and you dont want to worry about it flapping itself to pieces when the wind gets up. Otherwise enjoy, the trip and if your in St Barts, visit the Pizza place run by a great French guy on the waterfront, right hand side as you go in, park your dinghy at his dock. He makes his own flavoured rum.
 

snowleopard

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don't take cash, open a nationwide flexaccount with a debit card. you can use it anywhere (except statia - no cash machines). no commission and a good exchange rate. in st maarten you'll get N A guilders but they are pegged to the dollar.
 
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