Hypothetical Cruise--Day Dreaming

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Potter

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Hi, I'm a new member, and am considering a purchase of a C-22 in Naples FL. I have no idea if I can strike a deal on this boat, but if I can, I will need to cruise to Galveston Texas. How long do you think it would take? I'm sure I'll have lots of other questions if this happens. Thanks!

Bryon
 
Welcome Byron. Everything starts with a dream. How long have you got for the trip? If you have a week you best get a trailer. A lot of us move from 20 to 50 miles a day. Depends on what fuel burn you want to do. At planing speeds we get 3 to 3 1/2 mpg. At displacement speeds we can see 7-9 mpg. There is a lot of country to see on that part of the world. Maybe take 3 months and do it up right! Some folks run flat out for 10 hours a day to position the boat for a leisurely cruise back. I hope you get the boat. It's a great life. George
 
Do you think I could do it in 3 or 4 weeks and enjoy the trip? I'm guessing that its about 1200 miles (just per Mapquest) So at 50/day, it seems "do-able". Please, be a devil's advocate all you want, you won't burst my bubble... I need to be realistic. I really don't want a trailer, because then I'd also need a vehicle... and it would be only for this first trip, because I plan to keep the boat in the marina. I will have the boat shipped if I just couldn't possibly accomplish this.

I don't want to miss out on any "highly recommended" things to do or visit (like what for example?) but I would really like to take this adventure if my month of vacation would allow it. Unfortunately this would be in July, unless I just keep it in Florida until the early fall... which would be so much more pleasant. However, for the difference in dollars between shipping and cruising, I figure I could buy a generator and airconditioning.

Thanks for all advice!

Bryon
 
Byron,

Using the path tool on Google maps and just staying close to the coast, it's a little under 1100 miles so by the time you make little detours to marinas, your estimate of 1200 miles is about right. At 60 miles/day that's 20 days or 15 days at 80 miles/day. When I fish, I 60 miles at day fairly often and sometimes much longer. If the water is reasonable and you're willing to burn some fuel, 60 miles is 3 hours and is easily doable. The bigger issues in my mind are:

1) The weather patterns at the time you plan to make the trip. If there's 2' of chop, 60 miles is a long way to go in a day in a 22 CD. If it's flat and you're willing to burn fuel, 100 miles a day is a nice half day run.

2) The spacing between available marinas and fuel stops. I haven't looked closely but I'm guessing the stretch between Fla and LA may have limited marinas and fuel stops.

3) If a bad piece of weather comes along, you'll have to be prepared to stay a few days to a week in one spot and maybe arrive much later than planned.
 
The only issue is the trip across the Gulf from Cedar Key or Tarpon Springs to Apalachicola or Carabelle. No problem from Fl to LA. There are some limits on fuel going on the ICW from Morgan City on to Galveston. When you get ready to do the trip--I have done it, and I believe that Roger has also done it. (both in segments, although I have done a couple of trips from Clear Lake to Pensacola.

In the summer you will mostly have Southerlies, and this is a good time of the year. Watch the gulf crossing, and the rest is protected water. Stay in the ICW from New Orleans on--do not do the outside trip.

There is a good guide: Distances between US Ports on line. That will help the planing.
 
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