What to do when you get there

[Hank Kivett]

The count down has begun....120 days and counting till the great trip begins south...The solar is now in place...the windlass is in the process and all the other modification are all but finished. All the planning is in the final stages but one real looming problem still exist. What to do when you get there...The plan is to go to the keys and return in April of next year....but what to do when you get there...I am not one to sit on a mooring ball or the hook for 4 or 5 moths...I want to visit and see thing and explore...so I am appealing to those who have made this journey before ...give me some ideas on things to do and see or places to visit.

[model 10]

If you can make it to the Key's you might make to the Bahamas. Not so much mooring ball living out there.

[the_alpine]

Ya, skip the keys. Or at least don't stay long. Go to Eleuthera or the Exumas.

[scuba0_1]

I like the Keys go there often. Dry Tortugas. Shoot over to Bahamas. East coast. Plenty to do.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[skipmac]

What to do? Plenty.

First, fix the stuff on the boat that broke on the trip down.

Go swimming.

Do some work on the boat.

Go diving.

Do some maintenance on the boat.

Go out to dinner.

Change the oil in the boat.

Go catch a lobster.

Change the fuel filters on the boat.

Plan tomorrows trip.

Put a new coat of varnish on the teak.

Visit the local museum.

Check the list of boat jobs.

Go on a Scuba dive.

Paint something on the boat.

Plan a trip over to the Bahamas.

Get the boat ready for the trip to the Bahamas.

Meet the cruisers on the boat next to you.

Fill the propane tanks on the boat.

Ask the cruisers next door over to dinner.

Fill the water tanks on the boat.

Go to the Bahamas.

See the cruisers you met in the Keys anchored in the Exumas.

etc

etc

etc

[keepondancin]

Make the journey about the trip, not just to get to the destination. There are always festivals, art shows, concerts, cook offs, along the way. You will find places to hang out for awhile. By then, you will be able to spend a little more down time, and just enjoy sunrises and sunsets.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by skipmac

What to do? Plenty.

First, fix the stuff on the boat that broke on the trip down.

Go swimming.

Do some work on the boat.

Go diving.

Do some maintenance on the boat.

Go out to dinner.

Change the oil in the boat.

Go catch a lobster.

Change the fuel filters on the boat.

Plan tomorrows trip.

Put a new coat of varnish on the teak.

Visit the local museum.

Check the list of boat jobs.

Go on a Scuba dive.

Paint something on the boat.

Plan a trip over to the Bahamas.

Get the boat ready for the trip to the Bahamas.

Meet the cruisers on the boat next to you.

Fill the propane tanks on the boat.

Ask the cruisers next door over to dinner.

Fill the water tanks on the boat.

Go to the Bahamas.

See the cruisers you met in the Keys anchored in the Exumas.

etc

etc

etc

Booga all that.. its head to the nearest bar...
and get rat arsed... Hic...

[Adventurebound]

Originally Posted by skipmac

What to do? Plenty.

First, fix the stuff on the boat that broke on the trip down.

Go swimming.

Do some work on the boat.

Go diving.

Do some maintenance on the boat.

Go out to dinner.

Change the oil in the boat.

Go catch a lobster.

Change the fuel filters on the boat.

Plan tomorrows trip.

Put a new coat of varnish on the teak.

Visit the local museum.

Check the list of boat jobs.

Go on a Scuba dive.

Paint something on the boat.

Plan a trip over to the Bahamas.

Get the boat ready for the trip to the Bahamas.

Meet the cruisers on the boat next to you.

Fill the propane tanks on the boat.

Ask the cruisers next door over to dinner.

Fill the water tanks on the boat.

Go to the Bahamas.

See the cruisers you met in the Keys anchored in the Exumas.

etc

etc

etc

If the above was me, I would get into my life raft, sink the boat with the epirb, and not tell anyone where I am [thats what you would do if you finally went crazy]

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Hank Kivett

The count down has begun....120 days and counting till the great trip begins south...The solar is now in place...the windlass is in the process and all the other modification are all but finished. All the planning is in the final stages but one real looming problem still exist. What to do when you get there...The plan is to go to the keys and return in April of next year....but what to do when you get there...I am not one to sit on a mooring ball or the hook for 4 or 5 moths...I want to visit and see thing and explore...so I am appealing to those who have made this journey before ...give me some ideas on things to do and see or places to visit.

Along with all the other great advice...

First step set your watch to Island Time.

Going from fast paced, fix the boat, go to work, pay my bills, react to my iPhone to SkipMac's schedule can be stressful. And you don't want a heart attack after coming this far - LOL...

[skipmac]

Gee you guys really don't get my cruising schedule. The list I posted wasn't to do all at once. Good lord that would give you a heart attack, and ulcers too.

That was at least a 6-8 month schedule, and that only if you were in hurry.

Didn't think I needed to add instructions to find a friendly tavern. Haven't seen a sailor yet that need help in that area.

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Gee you guys really don't get my cruising schedule. The list I posted wasn't to do all at once. Good lord that would give you a heart attack, and ulcers too.

That was at least a 6-8 month schedule, and that only if you were in hurry.

Didn't think I needed to add instructions to find a friendly tavern. Haven't seen a sailor yet that need help in that area.

8-months? See you have been out too long. This is a one day schedule - albeit I had to drop one or two non-essential items and rearrange a bit - I ain't superman...

900:9:01 - First, fix the stuff on the boat that broke on the trip down.

9:01-10:00 - Go swimming.

10:00-10:05 - Do some work on the boat.

10:05 - 11:30 - Go diving.

11:30-11:35 - Do some maintenance on the boat.

11:35-12:30 - Change the oil in the boat.

12:30-13:00 - Go catch buy a lobster.

13:00-13:01 - Change the fuel filters on the boat.

13:01-13:15 - Plan tomorrows trip.

13:15-13:16 - Put a new coat of varnish on the teak.

13:16-13:30 - Visit the local museum. Google local museum and view online - If it's not online probably not worth lowering the dink.

13:30-13:35 - Check the list of boat jobs.

13:35-14:30 - Go on a Scuba dive.

14:30-15:00 - Paint something toenails on the boat.

15:00-1505 - Plan a Get chart from nav desk and place on salon table with full intention to plan trip over to the Bahamas.

15:05-15:06 - Get the boat ready for the trip to the Bahamas.

15:06-16:00 - Meet the cruisers on the boat next to you.

16:00-16:01 - Ask the cruisers next door over to dinner.

16:00-17:30 - (Oh, ****) Fill the propane tanks on the boat.

17:30-1731 - Fill the water tanks on the boat. Buy more rum (and extra lobster) while filling propane.

17:31-18:00 - Go out to dinner. Drink rum with guests

18:00-18:01 - Put lobsters on grill

18:01-18:30 - Drink rum with guests

18:30-18:32 - Give burnt lobsters to dog, open crackers and cheese

18:32-19:30 - Eat crackers and cheese. Finish rum

19:30-19:45 - Lower dink to go buy more rum

19:45-19:46 - Everyone decides to jump in and go "clubbing"

20:00-01:00 - No one remembers

07:00-07:15 - Wife missing, dog puking & crapping lobster on foredeck, your dink tied to neighbors boat, no dink tied to yours

07:15-07:16 - Contemplate calling hospitals and police stations for missing wife.

07:16-07:17 - Remember it's a big day of planning to go to the Bahamas and decide you need your sleep.

07:18 - Go back to bed...

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

8-months? See you have been out too long. This is a one day schedule - albeit I had to drop one or two non-essential items and rearrange a bit - I ain't superman...

If I ever was nuts enough to actually make a list like the above it would probably go like this.


9:01-10:00 - Go swimming.

10:00-10:05 - Do some work on the boat.

10:06 - Throw away list.

[Cheechako]

Go to the Bahamas.

[onestepcsy37]

Just go. Life will happen along the way. Even if this is the only cruise you ever do you will remember it the rest of your life.

And when you return, dont bother telling the dirt dwellers about it. They wont have the slightest idea of what youre talking about. Only other cruisers will know what you mean when you say

"I had nothing to do and it took me all day to do it"

Sent from my GT-P3113 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[IslandHopper]

Originally Posted by skipmac

If I ever was nuts enough to actually make a list like the above it would probably go like this.


9:01-10:00 - Go swimming.

10:00-10:05 - Do some work on the boat.

10:06 - Throw away list.

10:07 - Open first Beer

Thought I would add one more if it was me.....