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Journeyman · 25-07-2015, 12:12

What does "cruising" mean?

Doing some planning here and trying to figure out what to expect going forward.

For those who consider themselves cruisers, how many consecutive days at anchor in the same spot before moving somewhere else do you think the average cruiser spends a year?

What would you say is the typical number of days per year a cruiser spends in a marina leaving the boat safely unattended to explore on land, or return home temporarily?

When underway what ratio of sailing to motoring does the typical cruiser see over a year?

Thanks!

Paul L · 25-07-2015, 12:46

There isn't anything that is a typical cruiser. Each person ends up after few years figuring out their own style of cruising. Some want to get the tee-shirt in every country and anchorage possible. Others want to see only a few stops, but stay long to savior them. Others are into chalking up the ocean crossings. Some are full-time cruisers, others are half-year commuter cruisers. Some almost never hit a marina, some stay as often as possible, some drop in when they are cheap and work needs to be done on the boat.
Cruising: fixing your boat in exotic ports.

model 10 · 25-07-2015, 13:02

That is a super broad question. It is different for every cruiser.
For example, the past few years we have spent about 6 months cruising each year. We spend the first and last month of each cruise in a marina either getting ready to go or putting the boat up at the end. So last year we spent 4 months cruising and probably spent 1/2 moving and 1/2 anchored. Some years there are not that many marinas in the areas you go so no marina action at all while you are out and about.
You ask a hundred people and you will get a 100 answers.

kerrydeare · 25-07-2015, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Journeyman

What does "cruising" mean? ... how many consecutive days at anchor in the same spot before moving somewhere else do you think the average cruiser spends a year? ... What would you say is the typical number of days per year a cruiser spends in a marina leaving the boat safely unattended to explore on land ... When underway what ratio of sailing to motoring does the typical cruiser see over a year? ...

Cruising is defined as trying to answer existential questions while getting drunk in the late afternoon in a relatively nice location. To answer you questions in the order posed:

1. Seven.
2. One hundred and thirty four.
3. Seventy one percent.

laika · 25-07-2015, 13:39

^^ You can't argue with those numbers

I've been full-time jobbing it from the boat with a dog the last couple years, so it's made a lot of sense to dock-queen it. Move ever month or two, as paying marinas by the month is vastly cheaper than day to day or even week to week.

Partly it will depend on where you are and the time of year it is too. Shore-power and a heater would certainly be tempting if you're in Michigan in january!

SV THIRD DAY · 25-07-2015, 15:45

I've found that the term matters less and less once you actually get out there, because your entire mindset and view of the world changes in a way you can't understand before you went "cruising". Where the label matters most I see is to the folks in planning (as a name to the dream). You are a Cruiser when you CALL YOURSELF a Cruiser, don't know or care what day it is, and can accept the answer of "manana" which doesn't mean "tomorrow" it just means "not today".

bobnlesley · 25-07-2015, 16:37

Not having to be anywhere specific a week from today.

Journeyman · 25-07-2015, 17:29

Guy, thanks for that response. Sounds valid. We have spent the last 2 years in our commuter cruising grounds of the West Coast of the USA between Santa Barbara and Manzanillo MX and up and down the Sea of Cortez. And our pattern is roughly the same as yours. The question is how does that change with more of an international commitment, that is in the South Pacific, Carribbean, Med, etc. Or is it kind of more-of-the-same pattern.

L Paul, while there is a lot variation I am sure, I am thinking, as in most things, there is a quantifiable average experience out there as regards these 3 questions that could help me with improving the boat. This is in particular regard to electrical power generation.

**JPA Cate** · 25-07-2015, 17:40

Journeyman,

The big deal for us has been weather pattern driven. If you want to be out of the cyclone belt in the Southern Hemisphere, you want to be south of the Tropic of Capricorn before December. This is not to say that cyclones don't come in Oct and Nov, merely that they are rarer. People's insurance companies also have rules about it, like their ins. is void if they're there above 22 deg south when they should be further south.

You'd have to check with your insurance, some people go north for the S. H. cyclone season, but then you may get caught with a typhoon.

You become more aware where you are in weather cycles, and that may prompt moving, or the availability of favorable breeze to go anchor somewhere there is an attraction, this is especially true of outer reef anchorages where you really need settled weather, for comfort in a mono, or places you can only visit in northerly quadrant winds when the prevailing winds are S to SE.

Another example. If you don't like navigating shallow water in the pouring rain, and today's sunny, you might move today rather than tomorrow, when the rain is forecast.

The deal is that you have more time to spend than money, for some of us.

Ann

zboss · 25-07-2015, 17:54

"sail about in an area without a precise destination, especially for pleasure."

or

"To drive in an vehicle aimlessly with no direction for an exended period of time."

or

"trying to pick up someone for anonymous gay male sex"

or

"A term used to describe feelings of joy and excitement. The term refers to Tom Cruises' appearance on the Oprah show in which he could not control his excitement and joy of having his new girlfriend and being in love."

Take your pick

Journeyman · 25-07-2015, 18:07

Ann, thanks the input. So weather patterns can keep you on the move. This is another justification for expecting a more dynamic cruising itinerary. Also, we are big on visiting attractions. And getting out of rolly anchorages when given the option. Under what circumstances, if ever, do you find yourself living at anchorage for more than say 7 days straight? How often and when do you elect to stash the boat in a marina for a break? And would you care to hazard a guess at your sailing to motoring ratio?

model 10 · 25-07-2015, 18:57

I can see why you might be questioning cruising. We cruised through the area you speak of some years ago. It's all good except the part of getting back to California. I would not really call the Baja Bash cruising. We try very hard to not do stuff like that anymore.

Cadence · 26-07-2015, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Journeyman

What does "cruising" mean?

Doing some planning here and trying to figure out what to expect going forward.

For those who consider themselves cruisers, how many consecutive days at anchor in the same spot before moving somewhere else do you think the average cruiser spends a year?

What would you say is the typical number of days per year a cruiser spends in a marina leaving the boat safely unattended to explore on land, or return home temporarily?

When underway what ratio of sailing to motoring does the typical cruiser see over a year?

Thanks!

Am mater of semantics maybe best answered by a linguist.