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Old 02-01-2015, 19:50   #1
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Skipper Rates

Hello,

My wife and I have caught the sailing bug and are looking to purchase. We are trying to decide how much we need to limit the geographic scope of our search. I am trying to find out what reasonable skipper rates are for delivery. Basics would be sailing from east coast to the Seattle area on a 36-38 ft sloop. Wife and I would join as crew. Interested in experienced skipper to captain the trip. Obviously all cost would be paid (including air fare) and there wouldn't be a time constraint on delivery but I'd like to be moving as weather permits. I know it could be shipped, but what's the fun in that!

Appreciate any info.
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Old 02-01-2015, 20:54   #2
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Re: Skipper Rates

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Originally Posted by Legend1673 View Post
Hello,

My wife and I have caught the sailing bug and are looking to purchase. We are trying to decide how much we need to limit the geographic scope of our search. I am trying to find out what reasonable skipper rates are for delivery. Basics would be sailing from east coast to the Seattle area on a 36-38 ft sloop. Wife and I would join as crew. Interested in experienced skipper to captain the trip. Obviously all cost would be paid (including air fare) and there wouldn't be a time constraint on delivery but I'd like to be moving as weather permits. I know it could be shipped, but what's the fun in that!

Appreciate any info.
you should look for a skipper who charges by the day or week you can expect to pay 700 to 1500 a week plus expenses. it would be best is to learn the ropes in a week or two then set your skipper free.also going up the coast of Calaforna you may want to find a skipper who has experience in that area.
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Old 02-01-2015, 22:24   #3
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Re: Skipper Rates

Look for a licensed Captain.
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Old 02-01-2015, 23:49   #4
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Re: Skipper Rates

The OP said:
"I know it could be shipped, but what's the fun in that!"

Maybe you should search for the many threads about the Panama Canal to San Diego and on to Seattle thread. This topic has been beat to death but in summary:

4,000 miles (Panama to Seattle) dead into the wind and prevailing swells. You will motor almost every inch of the way, you'll beat the snot out of the boat, and you will seriously regret the decision to head NW from Panama.

I know a lot of people who have made the trip and it was a motorboat trip from the Canal NW.

I have written several posts here about the economics of Mexico to Seattle. If you can't find those threads (search for TacomaSailor) I will be glad to send you some info. I figure the optimistic cost of the trip from San Diego to Seattle to be over $4,500.

Assuming you can sail 1/3 of the time from Panama to San Diego (I know dozens who've tried and none sailed more than 10% of the time) you need to buy fuel for 2,000 miles minimum. Assume 6 knots and 1 GPH (you are constantly motoring into a 15 knot apparent wind and 5' swells - I've done it twice) you'll buy about 330 gallons of fuel at $4/gallon or $1,400 in fuel costs.

Figure $1,000 to get thru the canal you are now looking at almost $7,000.

If you can make 140 miles a day motoring (up wind upswell my brothers Tartan 42 with a Perkins 50 HP in it averaged only 4.8 knots in the 750 miles from Cabo to San Diego) you can figure 28 days underway from Balboa to Seattle. But, weather delays (15 knots apparent dead on the nose is a good day and it is frequently 25 knots) always add many days to the trip. I've never done Cabo - San Diego in less than 12 days (even in a 53' trawler with dual 120HP Perkins) so you'd better figure at least two days a week of waiting on weather.

In my four trips from Seattle to San Diego - I've not done it in less than 12 days and that was all down wind. Every trip has had a weather delay of at least two days.

Then add in stops for fuel and food - I can not see any way to get from Balboa, Panama to Seattle in less than six-weeks and that would be hard work.

I am sure it sounds romantic but it will not be after you leave the canal and head NW.

IF you really want the adventure and the chance to learn to sail - then head WNW from the canal, pick up the trades and sail to Hawaii. Then do the big loop NNW and then ENE from Hawaii to Seattle. You'll get to sail almost every inch of the way and you will have some real blue water experience.
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Old 03-01-2015, 00:32   #5
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Re: Skipper Rates

Why not just buy a vessel in the Seattle area?
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Old 03-01-2015, 08:06   #6
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Re: Skipper Rates

@tacomasailor- I have read the posts and specifically said that there wasn't a time constraint. I figured the "right" slipper would suggest the Hawaii route. Thanks for your figures.

Just FYI:
I've received a lot of PMs from potential captains.

High price - $500/day
Avg. price - $150-$200/day
Low price - $200/week
(All plus costs)

I also had some heavily experienced sailors who would do the trip for costs only. Most wondered about bringing their significant other aboard and/or taking more time and making a vacation out of the trip.


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Old 03-01-2015, 08:58   #7
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Re: Skipper Rates

Legend1673 said:
"I also had some heavily experienced sailors who would do the trip for costs only. Most wondered about bringing their significant other aboard and/or taking more time and making a vacation out of the trip."

Vacation Time from Cabo Corrientes (SW tip of Bandaras Bay, MX) to Cape Flattery, WA (2,100 nautical miles):

- straight into a constant 5' swell at 10 seconds
- accelerate / decelerate every 10-seconds
- 60 degree water temp from Cabo to San Diego
- 55 degree water from San Diego to San Francisco
- 50 degree water north of SF
- cold and damp on deck every single mile (one of the coldest day's I've spent at sea was Easter Sunday 500 miles SE of San Diego with 65 degree air and big breaking seas over the bow for 12 hours)
- 15 to 25 knots right in your face every day from noon till 10 PM
- fog and limited visibility most nights from San Francisco north
- guaranteed gale force winds at least 2 days a week, every week from San Francisco north. In the June - October time frame those winds will almost always be right in your face
- heavy fishing and freighter traffic from San Francisco north

I have a lot of sea time and would not willingly make the trip - I trucked our boat north from Mexico to Seattle

A good friend with even more sea miles and a bigger, stronger, faster boat has shipped their boat north from Mexico to Seattle twice

I do know a couple who decided to sail from Cabo to Cape Flattery non-stop. They needed 45 (FORTY FIVE) days to make the trip and were really sorry they tried it.

Sounds like a vacation to me!

As others mentioned, and as many folks have done, buy a boat in the Pacific NW and spend the time and money cruising there. I lived in (Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, Bellingham) and cruised the Pacific NW (every inch of the water from Shelton/Allyn north to Cape Scott on Vancouver Island) for over 30 years and never got tired or bored with the sailing or scenery.

IF you decide to take the romantic long way around - please contact some people who have made the trip before you leave.
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Old 03-01-2015, 09:06   #8
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Re: Skipper Rates

Again, thanks for your info but as per your usual posts...you are negative and didn't answer the question. But that's ok, I leaned what I needed.

Personally I think sailing the carribean, through the canal, Hawaii, PNW sound like a pretty good "vacation" especially if all expenses are paid.


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Old 03-01-2015, 10:35   #9
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Re: Skipper Rates

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Originally Posted by Legend1673 View Post
Again, thanks for your info but as per your usual posts...you are negative and didn't answer the question. But that's ok, I leaned what I needed.

Personally I think sailing the carribean, through the canal, Hawaii, PNW sound like a pretty good "vacation" especially if all expenses are paid.


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I do agree about the negative info, but he is right..a skipper wanting to take a vacation with your boat is not a right minded skipper sounds like you need capt Ron.
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Old 03-01-2015, 10:43   #10
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Re: Skipper Rates

Do you know his weekly rate?


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Old 03-01-2015, 10:54   #11
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Re: Skipper Rates

I have really tried to take the learner's side on this, and I can make it all the way to Hawaii. But once you come into our backyard it will be like Nemo's dad who said "Good feelings gone" on finding the dragonfish.
Your going to have to pay a skipper to come up here over the Pacific.
But good luck with your adventure!
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Old 03-01-2015, 10:56   #12
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Re: Skipper Rates

I've heard it's $1/mile per crew member plus expenses.
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Old 03-01-2015, 11:14   #13
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Re: Skipper Rates

Legend1673 said:
“Again, thanks for your info but as per your usual posts...you are negative and didn't answer the question. But that's ok, I leaned what I needed.”

I am not sure that message was intended for me but I will respond based on some experience.

I have three captain friends here in San Diego who have done the Cabo – San Diego – Seattle delivery. They all said they would be reluctant to take on such a trip unless they were guaranteed unlimited time to make the trip.

Their rates varied between $300 and $500 per day.

As far as vacations go on the US/Mexico West Coast the following are the reason for my rather negative assessment:

I have spent over 110 days at Sea between Cape Flattery and Cabo San Lucas. Thirty of them have been going north and the rest heading south. I can count on one hand the number of days that the wind was coming from anywhere except the NorthWest and your course will always be NNW to NW.

I have seen more than 25-knots and more than 8’ seas from the NW on at least 25-days and I would personally consider those conditions far worse than I want to take a boat NW into.

Sorry – but it just does not sound like a vacation!

Are you familiar with the route to Seattle from Hawaii?

Head NNW out of Honolulu for eight to 10-days into 20 or more knots on a close haul then slowly swing NE onto a close reach in 55-degree air coming south out of the Gulf of Alaska. There is a reason most owners pay a crew to bring their Vic-Maui, Pacific Cup, TransPac boats back to the US. It is not so fun and a long slog.

I’ve not made the Hawaii – Seattle trip myself but many of my friends and dock mates have and most thought it rather a slog with little redeeming value.

If you are a serious sailor with a lot of experience I could see you choosing to make those passages. But, as a relative novice I would ask a lot of questions and talk to folks have done the passages. Maybe you will be one of those who enjoy cold damp weather and 50 degree water over the bow so have at it.
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Old 03-01-2015, 11:58   #14
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Re: Skipper Rates

I'm pleased to do the east coast portion down to Panama. 20+ yrs, 150K Nm as a pro trainer and delivery capt. Can certify crew under ASA if desired. Former Sea School instructor. Please see my profile here on CF. Email me if interested.
Captdougcp1@gmail.com.
Thanks



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Old 09-01-2015, 19:50   #15
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Thumbs up Re: Skipper Rates

Good skipper: $250 to $300 a day plus expenses for skipper only. By all means go via Hawaii. It's a blast. Directions in earlier post were OK.
I flew fromVancouver to lBoston, bought a Baba 36' and sailed two weeks later holidaying thru the West Indies, thru Panama, single handed via Hawaii to Vancouver. I followed this by going into the lyacht delivery business out of San Francisco specialising in intercontinental deliveries, and a lot of "uphill" from Mex to San Francisco or Seattle areas. It was sometimes hard work or harem scarem but that is why I was into it. I retired in 2008 as the longest regularly serving and best qualified delivery captain between San Diego and Alaska. I'd still be doing it except...
A tip: Play the weather. Don't get beat up in the bad stuff. It all comes to an end eventually. All you need is a good VHF, listen to the net in the morning. I did one delivery/cruise with a family and offered to go on half play on those days when we hung in port waiting for contrary weather to clear. A real pleasure.
Some people seem to always do the wrong thing when the weather gets up then tell people how bad it was. Other people do the right thing; they don't have a story to tell but who cares.
I would say you'll learn a lot under the right skipper including confidence.
. If you're not getting this , change skippers in Panama. This is a great cross-roads , a place to hang out and network and visit with so many serious sailors. Just remember Colon Cristobal is a dangerous city, an anomaly. Panama Canal is a serious scenic pleasure trip. I've done this route a number of times. Questions: Fire away.
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