We are considering taking our boat south to Florida - Bahama's.
Does anyone have any comments regarding the size and seaworthiness of the 34 for extended cruising south ?
Andrew
Andrew : You have a nice boat in a C34 for going "South". We have at least 5 boats in Fleet 12 that have made the trip down, back over to the Bahamas.
I can attest to the adequate living conditions onboard as we left Virginia in September and returned the next May.
Sturdy boat and you can be assured that the 1st Mate will never be more than 34 ft away - unless she climbs the mast.
Good Planning!
Andrew and all
look up turftosurf.com
a blog on a young couple who have done just that on their C34 Hideaway.
cheers
Tony
I have taken a C34 South down the other coast. Current flows in the right direction on the left coast, but still gave it a fair test. It will hold up at least as well as you do. I did a pretty extensive refit and somewhere on this site posted about what worked and what didn't. You might want to think about a new engine for a trip like that...
We have sailed both coasts, out to about 50 nm, and have been caught a few times in heavy weather. The C34 handles these conditions very well. Would suggest a few things to check based on our own experiences: If your front hatch is crazed, get it replaced; make sure the batteries are strapped down; make sure the fuel tank is clean; secure everything; install from the cockpit reefing if not already done. Have a great trip!
Hi Andrew,
While I have never done it, many of the 34s in our area (SE Florida) make the hop to the Bahamas every year. Joe Turner, who recently sold Lovepat, his 34, spent extensive time there. Race week in the Abacos is popular with our sailing club, the Hillsboro Inlet Sailing Club. I will pass this thread on to Paul Chasse who has cruised extensively aboard his 34, Cheerios. I am sure he will post tips to make your cruise much more enjoyable.
If you do get down to the south east coast of Florida, be sure and let me know. We have formed Fleet 14 here. I can introduce you to other 34 owners in Merritt Island, Port St. Lucie, Lighthouse Point (where we keep Esprit du Vent), and the Key Biscayne area. If nothing else we can have drinks, a meal, and chew the fat for a bit.
Fair Winds and a Comfortable Sea,
Bob
Quote from: waterdog on July 19, 2013, 06:49:18 PMI did a pretty extensive refit and somewhere on this site posted about what worked and what didn't.
Andrew, here's Steve's 1500 Mile trip report and followup:
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5270.0.html
Quote from: Stu Jackson on July 21, 2013, 10:35:26 AM
Andrew, here's Steve's 1500 Mile trip report and followup:
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5270.0.html
Wow Stu, I just read that report. I want to do it again. Can we borrow your minivan and laundry facilities when we hit the Bay area?
Thank's for the replies.
Very encouraging.
Maybe a year or two off.
The re power has taken a toll on the boat unit ($)resources
Quote from: waterdog on July 22, 2013, 12:41:32 AM
Wow Stu, I just read that report. I want to do it again. Can we borrow your minivan and laundry facilities when we hit the Bay area?
Sure, Steve, anytime. I should remind you, or advise you that is, that we have moved since you last visited, still in the Bay Area, still have the boat (OEM engine, too :D). No pool in this place, apologies to Scupper and Foster. :thumb: I should be somewhat more cogent this time, unless the plate in the leg breaks yet again. :?
Hi,
There is also a couple who sailed there C34 from Quebec, Canada, down to Florida through the ICW. Went to the bahamas and are now in Grenade.
took Voyager to the Bahamas, 8 to 10 weeks every summer 2001-05. Abacos mostly, with one trip down t the Exumas. The wing keel was very helpful getting in to a few places. For the Exumas we carried six gallons of extra fuel, although we could have gotten by OK. Boat handled it very well, even some rough water between Chub Cays and Nassau.
We are recently back from a year cruise from San Francisco to Mexico for 6 months and back to San Diego. The boat can handle it, plenty of space for two a paddle board, kayak, dinghy, spares etc... (remember to raise the waterline!) Like Steve we spent a fair amount of $$ prior to leaving, but it was all worth it. I think about the trip every day. Be careful it may ruin your ability to go back to work and not day dream all day.
http://pksadventures.blogspot.com/
Friends have cruised down the ICW and to the Bahamas in a Beneteau 332. Smaller and lighter than a C34. They did it the past 2 winters. I think regardless of the boat, you want to pick the right weather window. From what I hear, you wait in Miami (with others doing the same thing), and go when the time is right.
Andrew,
We've done the Bahamas 3 times. The c34 is a good boat for this. Size and seaworthiness are fine. As already stated, make sure your engine is running good and wait for weather windows.
It is funny standing ashore looking out at a crowed anchorage in the Bahamas, our boat is always one of the smallest.
Ken
What modifications die you make for storage and for power.
Extra solar panels are a given. What about and generator, water maker AC ?
400W of solar. 90A alternator. Throw in a generator and you might have enough power. That's if you want ice cubes and unlimited showers which is nice.
Storage refits: canvas and mesh storage pockets in both cabins (living out of duffels gets old), netting on upper shelves in main salon, drawers under salon table, microwave shelf with wine storage & laptop storage on shelf above nav, entertainment center with room for hard drives, lap tops and game console (had an 11 year old), bookshelves on forward bulkhead in main cabin and berth, netting across space under nav, refit of aft locker eliminating propane and segregating into 3 canvas storage bags with room for anchor & rode underneath, spice rack in the galley, wine glass storage over microwave, halyard bags in cockpit, and a nice big bag hanging under the lazyjacks to drop the main into.
Steve, did you carry extra water, diesel, and gasoline? If so, how did you store it? We have gone the usual route of boards between lifeline stations and jerry cans strapped to these, but really do not like either the look or access. If memory serves, didn't you have a water maker? Thanks for your experience.
Sure. We had 25 gallons of extra diesel and gasoline. Kept it all in the port lazerette.
No wait. Actually we had 4 diesel jugs giving us over 700 mile range under power. 2 were lashed on the foredeck ahead of the mast. 2 were deep in the aft locker. Though sometimes I think we kept all four on deck The dingy was tied down over top of the jugs so they weren't visible. Tested well in a knockdown. Never had green water over the bow. We kept a couple of gallons of gas loose in the anchor locker.
We had a spectra 150 gpd water maker. Very efficient and would not go for lower capacity as the duty cycle would be too high running for hours and hours. . We ran it for several hours every 3 days or so for nearly a year and sold it for seventy five cents on the dollar. We wouldn't do Mexico again without getting another. I dont know what the Bahamas are like for water availability.
Quote from: waterdog on August 12, 2013, 11:40:46 PM
Sure. We had 25 gallons of extra diesel and gasoline. Kept it all in the port lazerette.
No wait. Actually We kept a couple of gallons of gas loose in the anchor locker.
:nail Not sure it's very safe to have those kind of liquids loose in the lockers....
How did you pump it back to the engine tanks ? :lol: :abd:
Steve, where did you install the Spectra watermaker? Thanks
From a search on Spectra by waterdog
http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5257.0.html