Jeff F
Guru
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2015
- Messages
- 2,518
- Location
- Canada
- Vessel Name
- Escapade
- Vessel Make
- 50` US Navy Utility trawler conversion
I am near the end of my first trip in my new-to-me boat, a 1978 Mainship 34. Have traveled 560 NM over the past five days. The experience of spending time on a larger powerboat is new to me, and I'm very pleased so far, both with the boat and the experience.
I bought the boat ashore in southwestern Michigan last fall, and wanted to spend the summer on the boat in eastern Ontario, so my first trip was to be a delivery from the south end of Lake Michigan to the south end of Georgian Bay in Lake Huron. I wasn't looking forward to this trip. Northern Lake Michigan is not always a kind and gentle place early in the season, and I get seasick. I'm not a big fan of open water to begin with.
It didn't start out well. My son bailed on me at the last minute, so I was traveling solo. And I installed a new set of davits that I was planning to hang my RIB from, but they didn't quite work out as planned so I left the dinghy there and set out. I didn't want to tow it, but had planned to take it with me in case of sinking or mechanical failure. On the plus side the weather forecast was pretty much perfect, with a big high pressure system parked over the western great lakes.
As it turned out the weather was perfect. Didn't see seas higher than 2 feet the entire trip. Boat performed flawlessly. I travelled at 6-8.5 knots on all but one day, and anchored out all but one night. On the second day out I figured I needed to cover some distance and had a bit more confidence in the boat, so spent the day at my top cruising speed of 13 knots.
The last couple of days I was in cruise mode rather than delivery mode. Once I got into the North Channel I felt like I was in good shape, and took the meandering small boat passage south from there, which was spectacular.
It has been a great introduction to trawlering. Think I'm going to really like this style of boating!
I bought the boat ashore in southwestern Michigan last fall, and wanted to spend the summer on the boat in eastern Ontario, so my first trip was to be a delivery from the south end of Lake Michigan to the south end of Georgian Bay in Lake Huron. I wasn't looking forward to this trip. Northern Lake Michigan is not always a kind and gentle place early in the season, and I get seasick. I'm not a big fan of open water to begin with.
It didn't start out well. My son bailed on me at the last minute, so I was traveling solo. And I installed a new set of davits that I was planning to hang my RIB from, but they didn't quite work out as planned so I left the dinghy there and set out. I didn't want to tow it, but had planned to take it with me in case of sinking or mechanical failure. On the plus side the weather forecast was pretty much perfect, with a big high pressure system parked over the western great lakes.
As it turned out the weather was perfect. Didn't see seas higher than 2 feet the entire trip. Boat performed flawlessly. I travelled at 6-8.5 knots on all but one day, and anchored out all but one night. On the second day out I figured I needed to cover some distance and had a bit more confidence in the boat, so spent the day at my top cruising speed of 13 knots.
The last couple of days I was in cruise mode rather than delivery mode. Once I got into the North Channel I felt like I was in good shape, and took the meandering small boat passage south from there, which was spectacular.
It has been a great introduction to trawlering. Think I'm going to really like this style of boating!