Messages

Tom,
I have a friend who sailed the route you are describing all the way to the Bahamas a couple of years ago.  He just returned home to our marina in Lion's Head on Georgian Bay earlier this summer.  He departed from Hamilton Ontario, out the St Lawrence Seaway, around New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and then down the American east coast.  He did it in a Hughes 40 ketch. Before the trip, he had his boat trucked from Lion's Head to Hamilton which is closer to his home where he was able to more easily complete some mods to the boat before the trip.
He is not on this discussion group but I'll see if he is interested in getting in touch with you.  I'm imagine he will be keen to chat.  Send me a note at spencerdd <at> gmail <dot> com with your contact info and hopefully I can put you in touch.

Hi Dave, that would be great if you can get some details on how he felt the conditions were. It would also be nice to get his opinion on trying to do this with  a C34. His boat souinds very sturdy and more of a long distance cruiser than our coastal cruising C34's.
Thanks for your help,
Tom

I have not.  Every one that I know of that went south from the Great Lakes used the Erie Canal to the Hudson then NY city.  All enjoyed the trip.

Thanks, yes this is the route most of my freinds have taken from the Great Lakes so I am trying to gather information on the other route to see if it is too aggressive for a C34.
Tom

I have searched our site but could not come up with any of our members detailing a trip from Lake Ontario out the St Lawrence Sea Way and then down the East Coast of the US. I am considering this route the spring and summer of 2015.

Stu,
Thanks for the suggestions. I think we are always over canvased here the Great Lakes because the standard is either a 135 or 150 Genoa. I will talk to my sailmaker about the idea of a 110.
Tom Lindrup

Ken,
Thanks, I will check the tech tips.
Will you be at the Catalina Rendevous on Holland in July? If so, look forward to meeting  you.
Tom Lindrup

Steve, thanks for all of the good tips especially the rum inventory.
I have taken some coastal and off shore sessions for the 1500 Caribbean Rally and with John and  Amanda Neal and I guess because they are doing more off shore sailing the all praise the idea of having a stay sail to support a reefed main.
My C34 has in boom furling on the makin so reefing it is easy. I have a 150 Genoa and have reefed it but the effectiveness is pretty marginal. I know the right idea is to be in at the marina when all of the crap weather hits. I will take your suggestions and put my money on the things you list.
Thanks, hope to see your boat on 4/20.
Tom Lindrup

I have looked through all C34 archives to see if anyone has installed a staysail stay,halyard etc to be prepared for stormy weather while doing coastal cruising. Has anyone done this & I have just missed it?
I sail mainly in the Great Lakes now but want to cruise the St Lawarence,East Coast, Bahamas, Florida and eventually the Caribbean.
Do you think I can do this with a C34 after I do all of the recommeded upgraes from the C34 site?
Thanks for your advice.
Tom Lindrup
C34  Hull #39  1986   Chog In

Just an fyi if  the group did not know but one of our C34 members is registered in this year's Caribbean 1500 Rally which will leave Hampton Virginia on Friday headed for Tortolla BVI. Hurricane Tomas has delayed the start this year which should have started on Monday 11/1.
Rick and Nancy Menzel, Hull# 1097, "Nancy Ellen" are listed in this year's cruising class 7.
Here is the link to the boat positions and it will become active once all boats start on Friday 11/5/2010. http://www.carib1500.com/Trackerclass7.htm
I  met Rick and Nancy at our  1500 Rally training session we took back in March at Annapolis and they were hard at work preparing thier boat for this event. I wish them a safe fun sail to Tortolla and hope we can hear from them on this forum.
Tom Lindrup
Hull #39 1986
"Chog In"
Whitehall, Michigan

I do the same method as Bill Hatter and it works well. Just a little bit of acrobatics to get in there but it does work.

Yes, when I am at the boat this weekend but I followed the instructions on the site
Compass: Cockpit Port Locker back in the aft corner bulkhead.
Computer: Hanging locker in aft cabin, back wall.
Controller: Starboard side of cockpit opposite the wheel, low on the bulkhead.

All works great.

I just want to say how much I appreciate the information on this site. I recently installed a new Ray Marine X5 Auto Pilot on my 1986 C34 (Hull #39) and used the tips from Tech Notes area on where to locate the compass, computer and control box. Installation went great and the calibration last weekend went like a charm. What a pleasure it is to have this up to date autop pilot as we leave shortly to cruise northern Lake Michigan.
Thanks for all of you who have contributed to this great site.
Tom Lindrup
Chog In
#39
Whitehall, Michigan.

I think the C34 could easily do the kind of sailing you're talking about.  However before venturing offshore consider doing the following:
-Replace all standing rigging.
-Recast or replace rudder.
-Thoroughly clean (or better yet replace) fuel tank.
-Acquire storm sails and other offshore safety gear.
-Hire a GOOD surveyor to do a THOROUGH survey.
I'm sure other folks can add a few other items to this list.

A good place to check out for offshore safety requirements is: http://isaf.com/offshore/2006/OSR2006_Mo3Liferaft_250106.pdf


The C34 has sailed to Hawaii and I'm sure done many other significant offshore passages.  Good luck.  I'm sure a lot of us here will envy you.
     

Thanks for all the good advice. Tom Lindrup

I am looking for advice on good live aboard ports as I near my retirement years. I would like to consider S.Carolina, Georgia or N. Florida. I own a 1986 C34 Hull #39, located in the Great Lakes now. I also have read about other C34 owners doing more than just coastal crusing as my second question is can you really ocean cruise in a  C34 to Bermuda, Bahamas, Carribean etc because that is what I would like to do by basing the boat in the S.E. US. I am thinking that eventually I will need to sell my C34 for a more ocean stable model,Island Packet or some full keep version.  Advice please.
Tom Lindrup
Chog In, Hull #39
Whitehall, Michigan
Sailing Waters: Lake Michigan

Thanks to all for your information. I like the idea of keeping this simple. The 4 to 1 sounds perfect.

I have seen the info listed on back stay adjusters for the older boat in the message board and projects page, mine is a  1986 but unless I am missing it I don't see a particular brand name or model# like Ron Hill shows in his project photos. Ron, can you give some details? Is this a procedure you can do yourself or do you need some help from a rigger to install this?
Thanks,
Tom Lindrup