[PUP] Tendering in remote locations, was Dingy Wheels

[Robby & Dolores]

To respond to Scott's questions:

> a.  do you lock the boat?  Do you leave the main engine keys in the 
> console?
In Alaska & BC, we rarely locked the boat.  In Mexico and Central America we 
did lock it.  On the East Coast up to Newfoundland and in Scotland we 
usually didn't -- it certainly doesn't hurt to lock.  Our current boat has 
an emergency shutdown on the air-intake on the Detroit.  I'd flip it closed 
if I was concerned about someone powering off.

> b.  How far are you willing to stray from your tender on the beach?
We never considered that -- distance was a function of our energy level.

> c.  We all know a tender needs to be locked up at a tender dock, how about
> on a remote beach?
We had a motor lock on the transom and a 15 foot wire cable which we'd lock 
to a tree, post etc., on the beach.  We had a new 8HP Nissan OB which we'd 
painted the motor cover day-glow orange.  It looked like hell, but was 
visible a long way (safety) and hopefully discouraged would-be thieves.  We 
ALWAYS picked up the dingy EVERY night in Mexico & Central America.

> d.  What makes Mexico and C.A. any different than other places that 
> justify
> the large wheels?  I can only assume it's the composition of the sand,
> although it's hard to imagine it's any different than Florida?

The prevailing wind/seas on the pacific coast come from the west or NW which 
means you almost always have a little "bump" coming into the anchorages.  I 
didn't find this to be true on the East Coast.  The goal with the wheels is 
to be able to bring the dingy up or down the beach with the motor down.

> e.  Do you limit yourself to distances traveled from the ship?  I hear
> stories of people taking the tenders 20 miles or more from the boat.  I 
> can
> only assume this is after building a great deal of trust in the tender. 
> At
> what point do you become nervous about being so far away?

We never went 20  miles, but did really enjoy some extensive dingy trips 
particularily in Alaska, BC and Scotland.  I remember one time in Scotland I 
couldn't get the motor re-started about 5 miles from the boat.  I tried 
rowing but that was not realistic and finally got the engine running. 
Dolores was not happy.

The foregoing was based on our travels aboard our sailboat "Rolling Stone". 
I suspect most trawler owners will utilize marinas much more then we did. 
In fact in Mexico to Panama we only stopped twice in a Marina (Cabo & PV).

We intend to follow the same pattern with our trawler (if we ever go 
anywhere :>)).  I guess I'm still a sailor at heart, except now I'm a warm 
and dry sailor.

Robby,
Dolores E., San Francisco