GL: Route request

[Bob Austin]

I hope that Curtis does not mind--but I made some of my recommendations are
based on his lack of experience in open water.  He related many hours on Lake
Michigan, but only 50 hours experience on open ocean waters.  He had planned a
delivary skipper to New York and then friends crewing from there.

I agree with Skipper Bob (and most of the rest) that this is a huge steel sail
boat--77 feet and 8.5 draft, with 18 beam.  The displacement seems a bit light
for that size boat at 50 tons.  Both Dave and I have handled boats about that
size, and they don't handle like the typical club racer or even smaller
cruising boat.  Although sailing is an option--it takes a very experienced
skipper, familiar with this perticular boat to sail in  close quarters.

What really worries me, however is the condition of the boat--we have to
assume that good survey, with guaging of the hull was done, and that oil
analysis was done on all of the machinery.   Despite this, the chance of some
major systems failing are substantial. (this would include fuel problem.  We
don't know the condition of the rig or sails.  I make no judgement on the
condition of the vessel, but just know what happens with boats which have not
been actively cruised immediately before a passage.   I tend to disagree about
taking the masts down as a major problem--this can be done in Pensacola (Great
South Cranes and Pensacola Shipyard Marine Complex have the equiptment to
handle a mast 90  feet in lenght--transporting the rig may be a bit more
difficult--but there are several options, including barges to ship the masts.
I would always advise new cruisers to take their boat out into heavy weather
when they were fresh and help was available near by.  Both to test the boat,
and to test the crew and being able to handle the boat in those conditions.
The worst case scenerio is engine failure, and rig failure in heavy
conditions--or the boat being driven onto a lee shore.   If the boat were to
be taken up thru the Sea Way, I would certainly look very carefully at all
systems, and run the boat in heavy weather for substantial time.  I would hire
professional crew and a delivary skipper familiar with this trip.  One has to
plan for the worse and hope for the best.

At least with the inland rivers, the risks are minimal.  True, there are few
shipyards capable of hauling this boat along the way--but why would a haul out
be necessary?---problem with prop ?--diver.  I cannot address the fuel--but if
it is the boat I think it is, there is a fuel capacity of 1400 gallons.  I
would expect that one could arrange for fuel delivary at Pickwick and perhaps
once more before Lake Michigan.  Yes, anchoring may be somewhat of a
problem--but 9 foot draft barges go up and down these water ways daily.  I am
quite sure that one could find a place to pull off the main channel --- often
these will not be the conventional marinas--but commercial facilities.  We had
to do this often with large boats.   Even tied up to freighter wharfs on
several occasions.

Keep us posted.

Bob Austin