Quote:
Originally Posted by zboss
Around the end of November getting fuel and water becomes an issue because docks start shutting down their dockside services. |
I’ve never had trouble getting
fuel in
winter. You may have to
work the phones a bit and plan ahead.
Water takes more planning and may require some schedule flexibility. OP’s weekend-preferred transits provide that sort of flexibility.
The biggest issue for the OP is going to be pump-outs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by japarker11
most every vessel, sail or power, is hauled in October. Winter on the hook in New England is a complicated endeavor |
Far from everyone hauls out and all in all not that hard to winter over. A
diesel heater makes a huge difference. If the
boat is comfortable for
living aboard you don’t have to winterize anything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wathey
Hi, our family is thinking about home school and work on a yacht while making our way up the east coast |
The biggest problem with short hops is the amount of time you burn getting out of one inlet and in the next. That is wasted time. Personally, I would take a week off, get out into the
Gulf Stream and just go at least as far as
Chesapeake Bay and maybe Boston.
Note that your post about staying South of the frost line is all well and good but you’ll have cold nights even in
Florida.
Intensely as I dislike
Florida you might be happiest spending some time in the Keys, visit Fort Jefferson, work your way around on weekends and spend some time in Marathon,
Fort Lauderdale, St Augustine, and wait for April or May. Take time off work to get to the Chesapeake and work your way up to
Maine and then back before picking up the places you missed boosting up the
Gulf Stream in the Carolinas and
Georgia.
Adding to the list of others if you can reach Elizabeth City with your
mast that is a nice educational stop. If the USCG air station is still running tours that’s recommended. Hampton VA has a small air and space museum. If you can get into Crisfield (draft) there is much to be said for a visit to Tangier and Smith Islands. Either Cambridge or Easton but I wouldn’t bother with both. St Michaels or Solomons for the maritime museums. Much to see in both
Annapolis (including USNA) and
Baltimore (aquarium). Stop in Atlantic Highlands and take the
ferry into Manhattan.
COVID-19 has very real impacts on cruising. You’ll want to call ahead for hours and availability of fuel, water, and pump-out. You simply can’t count on websites being up to date. Car rentals have gotten more difficult with limits and restrictions. Courtesy cars are often no longer available. Situations strike me as unlikely to improve in your time frame; that is opinion of course. You’re going to have to keep up with changes in
regulations, especially as some states see surges in infections. I expect to see harder lines taken on quarantines especially for interstate travel. “Quarantine” will mean quarantine, not “stay home except for groceries and pharmaceuticals and Starbucks coffee and take-out
food.”
One of my aphorisms (I call them “Davisms”) is never miss an opportunity to eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, charge something, or top up fuel and water. Buy
food in quantities that will fit, not how much you think you need. Stay rested in case you have to move or press on. Take advantage of every pump-out. Keep your
batteries up (ship’s
batteries as well as personal electronics). Keep fuel and water above your risk threshold. Three-quarters seems good to me unless you’re on a
passage. Carry jugs for
diesel, gasoline, and water in case that is your only option for filling.
I think with minor modifications your plan is quite attainable. I wish you well. Holler if I can help. I’ve been up and down the
East Coast many dozens of times on
delivery. I’m not a sightseer on
delivery (or at all for that matter) but I have been in and out of just about everywhere.
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