Fort Myers to New Smyrna via Lake O

[captddis]

been there done that... no big deal.

Yes you have at least twice. Maybe 200mi? I love your draft numbers too. All the 70 Johnsons are 5'2", yours is 5 1/2 6, 6 1/2 6 1/4 depending on where you post.
I agree that a person should take whatever route they prefer. However saying that ''captains" go outside becaust they can't navigate is assinine.

 

[Pascal]

Yes you have at least twice. Maybe 200mi? I love your draft numbers too. All the 70 Johnsons are 5'2", yours is 5 1/2 6, 6 1/2 6 1/4 depending on where you post.
I agree that a person should take whatever route they prefer. However saying that ''captains" go outside becaust they can't navigate is assinine.

well, it's just like saying that those who choose to stay inside do so because they're afraid to go outside, either because of their skill levels or their boat capabilities...

not that it matters but as to the J70 draft, you may want to redo your homework from the comfort of your desk... someone with your experience should know not to trust yacht world listings! the operation manual states 6' with mid tanks but we have a 15' tender and a PWC plus another 1200 lbs of batteries for the the inverter bank, which is why i usually quote the draft as 6+ and plan on 6 1/2. and yes, i have personally measured it between 6 1/4 and 6 1/2 depending on fuel and water tank load.

200NM? yeah, add at least a zero to that in the past few months... actually, this is why these stupid discussions on inside vs outside are so entertaining coming from people who dont' have the recent experience... on average I log as many days offshore than inshore so i know the difference

and no, just being on a buddy's boat sipping cocktails doesnt' count as sea time in my book...

look this thread was not to be a pissign contest about the macho sport fish jocks that brave foul weather and the MY owners... it was about a member asking about a possible trip... congratulations to the same little gang who took a thread off topic...

 

[captddis]

Pascal,
I never said anything about others skill levels. YOU did.
Your statement was/is ridiculous. Don't know what you are referring to about drinks on a friends boat??? You are the one sucking cappucino on the bridge.

Personally I run outside as much as possible, if it is nasty I run the ICW. You can do whatever you want.

AS far as your smart ass comment about comfort of my desk, AS I have offered in the past I will be glad to compare my experience to yours publically along with references. Anytime. I am done unless you want to continue.

 

[Boatsb]

Pascal,
I never said anything about others skill levels. YOU did.
Your statement was/is ridiculous. Don't know what you are referring to about drinks on a friends boat??? You are the one sucking cappucino on the bridge.

Personally I run outside as much as possible, if it is nasty I run the ICW. You can do whatever you want.

AS far as your smart ass comment about comfort of my desk, AS I have offered in the past I will be glad to compare my experience to yours publically along with references. Anytime. I am done unless you want to continue.

Who's Cappucino? What kind of boat does he have?

Seriously offshore cruising takes more knowledge and skill than the ditch. Especially if you take weather, fuel and tides into account. I spent months on a boat with 9+ foot draft and had a problem in inlets and small harbors that would not allow us to come in so we had to plan a lot more than running the ditch. The ditch may have idiots running around you and bridges to wait for but it is really like yachting with training wheels. Triangle on the right is so simple even a searay owner can do it.

FYI When I was on the big boat we used Loran to check our dead reckoning and celestial navigation and sometimes the Loran was not there anyway. How would running on charts and dead reckoning in the ocean for days be easier?

 

[danshat]

Well for my part I apologize for even asking the question. Didn't mean to start a big debate just wanted a rough time frame to determine if I could take the boat to see my family for christmas. Guess I'll keep my questions to myself.

 

[Boatsb]

Use the boat Dan.

 

[67hat34c]

Dont know how much skill either would take, Heck Randy did open water and river with 1 engine and most of it by himself. Did not hit one thing as far as I know and I was with him for the first 36 hours. No auto pilot either except for the one that makes the boat go in a circle. So if Randy can do it then anyone can.

 

[Boatsb]

Randy skews the curve.

 

[Freeebird]

Yeah, I had to wonder about that too. Exactly what navigational skills does one need to operate in a ditch? Short of holding your position waiting for a bridge or coming into a marina, I'm not sure what's left. Horn signals?

well, randy, you try it with a 6+ draft and you tell us... I guess you're one of these guys who think that just because he is between the green and the red, the USCOE guarantees a 12' controlling depth across the channel.

hey, what i'm trying to say is that there is no right way or wrong way... it basically come down to personal preference, cruising speed, etc... saying that running the ditch is for unseaworthy boats or CINOs makes no sense.

anyone is free to pick the route they prefer.

Seems to me you just made another argument for running outside whenever possible. As for thinking there is a guaranteed 12' depth between the markers, only a nimrod would think that. I have done it in a 6+ draft, but only because it was too rough to run outside.

You're right about it not being a right or wrong issue as to running inside or out. Some people like driving through the middle of downtown while others take four lane by-passes. It comes down to personal preference.

 

[Freeebird]

Dont know how much skill either would take, Heck Randy did open water and river with 1 engine and most of it by himself. Did not hit one thing as far as I know and I was with him for the first 36 hours. No auto pilot either except for the one that makes the boat go in a circle. So if Randy can do it then anyone can.

Now hold on just a minute. I don't even drink coffee, much less Cappucino. Besides, autopilots and charts are for sissies.

 

[Boatsb]

Inshore Vs offshore is like driving I95 Vs the Baja 1000.

Randy did the baja on one wing just to prove it could be done.

Just to remind everyone what is considered more difficult. Captains have licenses based on their abilities and experience. The more offshore the more difficult and harder to qualify for the license.

 

[67hat34c]

Man if the wind picked up or seas were rough we would have had a time trying to steer a course. Was hard enough with calm conditions to keep it from wandering. I guess we could have drug something on port side to keep if from wandering to starboard , possibly an anchor from port rear corner, Not sure how effective it would be though. Sounds like a new thread, " 'Off the cuff resolutions to emergency problems" . Possibly some of you "more experienced" guys could start this thread. Posts such as finding you have a leak that cant not be stopped as there is no access to rudder post and no bildge pumps and you are 30 hours off shore. Then finding a hand bilge pump on board, roll of duct tape and 25' of 1.25" id hose and making a rig to pump out the water by hand every hour.

 

[Pascal]

"Posts such as finding you have a leak that cant not be stopped as there is no access to rudder post and no bildge pumps and you are 30 hours off shore."

lol, sounds like a good hollywood script... who goes offshore without multiple bilge pumps?

and only Sea Ray makes boats where you cant' get to the rudder shafts!

 

[67hat34c]

Someone built cabinets in the aft cabin of a hatteras out of 3/4 ply with no access panels. Multi bilge pumps were on board but due to electrical failure nothing worked.