Aloha 1st time owner Single Handed … need advice

[SnowSurfer]

Aloha
I just took delivery of my 1st boat. She’s a 1979 37 Cherubini.
I’ll be sailing her from Naples to New York,,,, single handed🥴
1st route of cutting across Florida was not happening as I could not fit under the railroad bridge.
Boat needs work as the electrical system is rubbish.
Booked to be hauled out on Stock Island.
Coming from the gulf side and wondering if I can make it to Stock Island without having to go around KW and approach from the Atlantic side.
Are there any draw bridges or bridges with over 50’ clearance entering from the Gulf side ?
This is entirely all new for me so any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Edit … so my route must be to go around KW . Still learning my Navionics or is there a shorter route??

[MicHughV]

That's a very long trip to take on a boat suffering from various ailments. You could break down anywhere for any reason, and the odds are you will.

I'd consider fixing what need to fixed locally somewhere.

[SnowSurfer]

Hi
That’s not an option here in Naples. Simply do not have a budget to have others working on my boat. Simply not an option unless you know of any cheap DIY yards in Naples.

[MicHughV]

Several DIY yards in Florida.

[MicHughV]

check out this thread

Looking for a boat construction space in Central Florida

[SnowSurfer]

Will do appreciate the link !
From my view heading to Stock Island is a much shorter route then trying to get to say Fort Pierce for a haul out ?

[JPA Cate]

What exactly are the issues that you know about with the boat at this point? "Electrical system is rubbish" is clearly "not good", but what's wrong?

For instance, will you be limited to daylight travel because of the electrical situation? but more, exactly what are the electrical difficulties? as well as any others that may affect the trip?

Electrical problems do not normally require haulouts for repair. You can do the work at anchor or in a slip unless you need shore power, which you may.

Ann

[Hudson Force]

I believe your daft is more than five feet, so you would not be able to take "Yacht Channel" from Bayside through the 65' clearance bridge at Long Key and Lower Matecumbe without a risk of grounding. This still leaves the option of crossing the Keys at Marathon which is far shorter than rounding Key West, but more lines from crab and lobster pots than the Key West presenting a risk at night.

More important than the shortcut would be the risk mentioned in the posts above about not having functional wiring, nav lights, etc.

If you are looking for repairs closer to Naples, you might want to consider the places where you can haul out around LaBelle in the Okeechobee Waterway east from Ft. Myers. Once there, you would have the option of having your mast pulled and continuing to Stuart, Florida. In addition, there is a service that can help you clear the 45' bridge if you are no more than a couple feet too tall.

[SnowSurfer]

Originally Posted by Hudson Force

I believe your daft is more than five feet, so you would not be able to take "Yacht Channel" from Bayside through the 65' clearance bridge at Long Key and Lower Matecumbe without a risk of grounding. This still leaves the option of crossing the Keys at Marathon which is far shorter than rounding Key West, but more lines from crab and lobster pots than the Key West presenting a risk at night.

More important than the shortcut would be the risk mentioned in the posts above about not having functional wiring, nav lights, etc.

If you are looking for repairs closer to Naples, you might want to consider the places where you can haul out around LaBelle in the Okeechobee Waterway east from Ft. Myers. Once there, you would have the option of having your mast pulled and continuing to Stuart, Florida. In addition, there is a service that can help you clear the 45' bridge if you are no more than a couple feet too tall.

I looked into the service , called a few places. Spoke to some old timers. We could not find anyone that would help heel her to fit under the Okee railroad bridge. I’m 50 twl

I’m installing 500w of solar , new batteries as the bank now are old lead acids with zero type of monitoring system.
I’ve been switching from bank to bank and having to run the motor an hr a day to keep charged. I don’t feel safe knowing I could lose all instruments or even motor start.
She needs a bottom and zinx
I’d take a cheap dock with power to do the solar electrical build then worry about the haul out in NY for a bottom

[Snore]

WOW!!! Let's start with the disclaimer, I am retired and not looking to deliver your boat.

For a first time boat owner to single hand an old-school 37' boat is an incredibly bad idea. I am a highly skilled mariner and would not single hand a 37' Hunter that was just purchased, and has issues. There are just too many ways for the trip to go 'utters up'.

Looking at your routing, it is clear your navigation skills are 'rusty' or not fully developed. Trusting Navionics to route you through a shallow area, west of KW when a well marked channel is a mile or so south, is just a foolish risk.

Yes you can get to Stock up a well marked channel. But the Atlantic in that area is almost always quiet.

Going to Stock Island vs Ft. Pierce is a poor decision. Almost anything you need down in Key West/Stock Island will cost more. The haul out may be cheap, but food and everything else will cost more.

A better and fairly bullet-proof plan is to get a competent deck hand. Sail to the Yacht Channel south of Carl Ross Key. Anchor overnight there and go under the 7-mile Bridge. Head north to Ft. Pierce Inlet and get hauled out. Or you can sail to Port Everglades and ride the ICW to Ft. Pierce. Getting north of Haulover eliminates one tricky area, this leaves only the areas by Jupiter and St Lucie Inlets that can be ticklish.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Snore

................a better and fairly bullet-proof plan is to get a competent deck hand. Sail to the Yacht Channel south of Carl Ross Key. Anchor overnight there and go under the 7-mile Bridge. ........................................

'just a caution when following Snore's excellent advice. The "Yacht Channel" that he references is his suggested route to the 7-mile bridge. Don't confuse this with the chart named "Yacht Channel" leading to the Channel Five Bridge at Long Key which is too shoal for your draft.

[LakeSuperior]

Push the easy button and procure a commercial hauler to truck it!

[MicHughV]

If the boat is has been sitting for a while, it would behove you to check and change the diesel fuel filters, not to mention the oil filter and oil.
Would'nt be a bad idea to suck all the old diesel out of the tank and replace with new either.
Make sure you bleed the fuel system properly afterwards.

Check the stuffing box packing, which I'm sure it will have due to it's age, replace with new packing.

Definitely, dive and clean the prop, or have someone do it for you.

All little things which can bring you to your knees at a most inappropriate time.

You may have to anchor in a hurry. Make sure your anchor gear is ready to deploy in an instant.

Having a mate onboard can help immeasurably.

The ICW around Jupiter and St. Lucie, as stated above, can be ticklish to put it mildly. Try to make those crossings with some reserve tide to play with.

Boating is fun, but "experience" is usually gained the hard way if ill prepared.

[Adelie]

Welcome to CruisersForum!

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Hudson Force

I believe your daft .........
..........

I wouldn't normally quote myself, but I noticed that I was missing the "argh" in my earlier post. Some others have suggested that you may be daft. Add the "argh" and the risk of a parrot-head pirate; then, you may wish to head out in a less yar vessel to round the Keys. I always enjoyed the adventure, but seriously avoided unnecessary risk.