How to Slow it Down?

[Bill Lee]

Hello CF,
I am a new boater just completing my 3rd season. My wife and I are in our early 40's (well - she is, I'm just past the mid point of 40-50) with 2 kids (8 and 10). We have a 42' Silverton convertible and cruise at about 22-26 knots throughout the PNW (slowing down around other craft as we know we have a wake). We use the boat year round although mostly in the spring/summer spending 2 months out on the H2O in summer. We love our boat and currently need the speed. Our long term goal (once kids are tired of us) is to slow things down, get a trawler and maybe even live aboard and do some coastal cruising. Our dream boat is a Nordhavn although even a used 47' maybe too much
LOVE this forum (I've been a lurker for a while). I enjoy reading other people's postings and getting ideas to fuel the dream. Cheers,
B

[James S]

Welcome to the forum B.
Nordhavn is very nice if you can swing it.
How about some pictures of your current boat?

[Bill Lee]

Hi James,
I tried to upload a pic directly to my profile, (without an URL) and it wouldn't work. Grrrr. I'll keep trying. As to swinging a Nordhavn - I'd have to sell everything including my 2 kids - I could be tempted
Cheers,
B

[scook1]

Good to meet you B,
Would love to hear about some of your current travels in and around the Pac north. Selling the kids could be a great idea! Welcome,
Spencer

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Bill Lee

How to Slow it Down?

Have you considered a drogue? Just kidding of course. And welcome to the CF.

After paying the fuel cost for a while you'll automatically slow down. And having to pound the headwinds will get weary. Powerboats are great for nice smooth waters but that's about a 30% chance from my experience in the PNW.

Trawlers on the other hand are generally heavier in the water and have a deep keel, which create a smoother ride through the swells. They have more room inside too! The props are better protected but do take more skill to dock.

Hope to hear of some of your adventures here in the PNW................_/)

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...pnw-34255.html

[Bill Lee]

Drogue -great idea! As to the sea state - we've been in pretty wicked stuff - and our boat is meant to be used as an offshore fisher/cruiser so she handles the rough stuff quite well. However, we have learned that when crossing the Georgia Straight to the Gulf Islands (from Vancouver-home base) to leave after 5:00 p.m. - the seas are usually much calmer. The boat handles it all well and it takes about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes to cross. Heading South to the SanJuans is pretty simple and heading north to Desolation or the Broughtons can be challenging but the boat handles it all well. She's a breeze to dock and I can put her anywhere I please relatively easily - I try not to use our underpowered bow thruster. But she is pretty thirsty....

[Bill Lee]

Hi Spencer,
I think our travels are petty typical. We tend to anchor out rather than dock up. Our season starts with a 5 day stay at Montague Harbour which we use a home base. Our dinghy has a 25 hp Yamaha and was built to go exploring (12.5 feet long, 2 forward facing unihelm bench seats, extra large fuel tank) and we head off to Ganges on Salt Spring for lunch - or to Mayne Island and explore and kayak. Each season we go to Bedwell Harbour and take the dinghy to Saturna Island. We love Sydney Spit and we typically anchor out for for about 5 days before the need to dock up for a day or two kicks in. We've explored the main Gulf Islands, San Juan Islands and will continue to do so. Each season we do a 3 weeks north and 3 week trip south. Last season we spent 3 weeks in the Broughtons and it was amazing. We shot through the roaring hole rapids in the dinghy (OMG - that was fun and it was roaring and yes we had about 6" of water inside the dinghy and wrecked our camcorder), atyed at Pierre's for the Pig Roast (a must do). Its all about good quality family time...
Cheers,
B

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and Welcome aboard!
I like hearing about your cruises.
regards,