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Great question! The hours are higher than I anticipated as well. But in retrospect it makes more sense now. The ICW is very much a motor sailing section, which is a large part or the trip. Also, from Lake Ontario through the Erie canal and Hudson River to NY City it is pretty much all motoring. Outside on the ocean to Cape May NJ we motor sailed because the safe weather window was more important to us than waiting for a good sailing couple of days. We could sail up most of the Delaware. Chesapeake Bay was good although we motor sailed a lot because we had destinations to get to, and were running away from the cold weather. Coming back north we were constantly outrunning large thunderstorms and had the motor on more than we wanted to. Our best sailing was from Biscayne Bay south to Marathon. The other part of running the engine was that we did not have solar or wind generation capabilities and so ran the engine very often for power and hot water. We had a small Honda 1000 generator on board and used that to supplement, but when we were anchored we actually put on quite a few engine hours that way. So for much of the winter we didn't travel too far but still added up the engine hours. And then of course there was the loss in speed and efficiency coming north until I had the bottom cleaned in North Carolina which gave us a whole knot back!

After 309 days, 952 engine hours and 4,240 miles Tiffany Rose has completed her voyage from Lake Ontario to the Florida Keys and back. We had a truly magnificant time and highly recommend the experience. This '91 Catalina 34 with the Universal M35 performed incredibly well. It wasn't until 41 miles from home that she sprung a leak in the heat exchanger and we had to be towed into a marina in Wilson NY! Our Rocna anchor never dragged once and we watched many boats drag by us in some hefty blows.  We are on the boat for another week until we get our house back on Aug 1.
Now we are busy cleaning off the saltwater corrosion and wondering what the next adventure will be...

Dave
blog  http://shirleydavechristopher.blogspot.com/

Over the past months I have received some great help from this forum as we purchased and prepared our boat for our big year off. We actually departed Lake Ontario on Sept 16 and are now in Eau Gallie Florida. I thought I should share our blog with anyone who is interested. And for anyone considering doing the same, I say do it! It has been a marvelous adventure so far. And we knew almost nothing about sailboats two years ago. Many struggles along the way but the people we have met on our travels have made the trip a great success so far. We are at   http://shirleydavechristopher.blogspot.com/

Thanks!
Dave, Shirley and Christopher

Thanks all for the rapid response. Now I know where to look to track down the problem as opposed to looking for another switch.

Dave

Hi Dave
I ended up taking the advice above and leaving it alone. I have been travelling for 3 months from lake Ontario to Florida and no problems.

Dave

This may seem like a simple question - and I have owned my boat for 8 months now - but I have never had the need to look for it before. I can't figure out how to turn on the hot water heater while plugged in at the dock. I have a Seaward S600 and on the AC panel there is a water heater breaker, but it doesn't seem like the breaker itself will turn it on. Looking through the manual I can't find any reference to it. I must be missing something obvious. Tracing the wires is a bit of a dog's breakfast behind the panel. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Dave

I have been away form this site and email for a bit - thanks for the additional info and the picture - great!
Tony - I would like to be in touch with the Ottawa group going down. If you can send me a contact that would be great.
I am at davedawe@netscape.net

Dave

Thanks folks = good ideas. I'll also do a bit of experimenting before hand.

Hi all
We are heading out in Sept to the canal system from Lake Ontario to the Hudson river and then heading down the ICW to Florida and the Bahamas. I am looking for a good design for a mast cradle for the canal portion of the trip. Any thoughts or pictures would be great.

Thanks,
Dave

Thanks Stu
I just bought the Rocna 15 and it seems to fit fine on my original bow roller. Just had to change the bail. I have tied a small line through the hole on the top bend of the shank and it goes through the holes at the bottom of my roller furling. So far it is holding well but I haven't given it a good test yet.

Dave

Thanks everyone - great insights and thoughts - once again proving the value of this forum!! I have so much to think about and prepare, I'll take this one off my list!

Dave

I am preparing to depart lake Ontario and head south on the ICW this September. It has been recommended that I install a DRIVESAVER. Does anyone have experience with these? I have an M-35 in my 1991 #1159. Here is a copied description...

Absorbs vibration, reducing noise.
THE DRIVESAVER provides a flexible, non-metallic barrier between your transmission and shaft. This barrier reduces not only drive train vibration, but the transmission of vibration and noise to you, your crew and the water. Both you and your vessel are more efficient in this quieter environment

Absorbs shock.
THE DRIVESAVER effectively absorbs thrust and torque from the propeller shaft, as well as excessive shock from changing gears and high speed planing. It also helps control damage and misalignment from torsional engine movement. And THE DRIVESAVER keeps on working, under normal conditions, for the life of the drive train, with no lubrication or maintenance.

Prevents electrolysis.
THE DRIVESAVER provides an impervious barrier that blocks electrical currents from the water. Your engine and transmission are protected from damaging corrosion.

Acts as a circuit breaker.
Repeat users of THE DRIVESAVER install new ones not because an old one wore out, but because of a hidden log, line, or rock that destroyed the coupling. That's right, THE DRIVESAVER was destroyed, not the costly transmission and engine. By acting like a circuit breaker, THE DRIVESAVER absorbs the extreme shock and torque of collision, breaks apart, and leaves your transmission and engine intact. You're back in operation faster, at a minimum cost. That's the kind of total protection you can't afford to be without!

Installs easily.
THE DRIVESAVER installs simply and quickly. Without cutting or machining the shaft. And without hauling your boat out of the water. Just separate the drive flanges, insert the coupling, align and bolt.

Thanks Craig - what size manson do you have?

Thanks for the info and the pics!
Craig - did you put on the longer bow roller because you had to for the Manson to fit or was it an upgrade you were doing anyway? Did the holes match the other one like they say at Catalina Direct?

I am looking at a new anchor to replace my Bruce 22 and the roll bar anchors - Manson Supreme and Rocna are looking good. Does anyone know how well these fit on a C34 1991 stock bow roller?