Tom.B
Moderator Emeritus
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2009
- Messages
- 5,839
- Location
- USA
- Vessel Name
- Skinny Dippin'
- Vessel Make
- Navigator 4200 Classic
It's been a long and emotional summer for Bess and me. We both lost our fathers and I was stricken with hip/femur injury that seriously restricted our warm-weather boating. Moreover, North Carolina has been dealing with a fair amount of weather in the form of two hurricanes, so even when things were good… the weather always seemed against us. All this had us questioning our continued interest in even remaining in the boating lifestyle. It was just LAST SUMMER when we found ourselves stuck in the marina during the summer months while we dealt with an engine repair. It has been a trying time for us.
But as they say, while some doors close, others open and we find ourselves now with a little bit of savings and an urge to up our boating game. And as you might think… we have questions and could use a hand helping us understand our options. This would be, after all, our first real cruise adventure longer than a week in length.
There are two basic questions, each with two variables. Which way do we go... and when?
List of considerations/restrictions:
So allow me to elaborate on the options.
We are not married to either direction. My preference, however, does lean me toward going south in the Spring. It seems like the coolest and arguably easier route. But it will probably be the more expensive route. Additionally, we would kinda be going against the normal flow of ICW traffic. Everyone will be coming north while we are going south. There is an advantage that, as we meet people, we can learn a ton from the places and experiences they already have at their stern. We would, of course, return before the hurricane season fired back up.
The Chesapeake seems like the more secluded way to go. But unlike Florida, we will be going the same direction as the rest of the tribe next summer. And if my instincts are correct, prices for boating services go up “in season”. Still, there is a lot of big water up there. We’d have to spend more time watching weather and the destinations, to me anyway, seem much further apart. But there is something alluring about the Chesapeake. I don’t know what it is. Perhaps that, to this uneducated cruiser, it seems like a great big Pamlico Sound dotted with cute little tourist towns that are centered around a boating culture.
Finally, waiting until NEXT cruising season does allow time for more “closure” of our current dirt-life situation. We could downsize, possibly sell our house for a townhouse or apartment, and really get set to do something more long-term. Then, just cast off and head south with the rest of you. If we like it… The Bahamas would be in play and we would have more income to possibly do a full season down there.
We look forward to yall’s input. We will do what we can to address questions and concerns you have as they come up. But please be nice and don’t let this turn into an anchor debate
Thanks!
But as they say, while some doors close, others open and we find ourselves now with a little bit of savings and an urge to up our boating game. And as you might think… we have questions and could use a hand helping us understand our options. This would be, after all, our first real cruise adventure longer than a week in length.
There are two basic questions, each with two variables. Which way do we go... and when?
List of considerations/restrictions:
- We are looking at this to be a TEST CRUISE to see if we can even do it at all. Honestly, we don’t know if we can live in the close quarters of a boat (truth is… it’s mostly me… and our boat really isn’t THAT small) for two or so months. So we are looking at just a short-ish cruise leaving from the Neuse River area of NC. So with these time constraints, I think we are crossing The Bahamas off the list this year. We both just need to get used to the cruising lifestyle and see if it is really for us.
- We will probably need to stay in marinas most, if not all, of the time. Bess will need good wi-fi/cell signal and have access to an airport for travel to DC. We also have a dog and are slaves to the Frisbee. ?
- That said, we will probably stay in the same place for a week or two, AT LEAST, while she works and I… well… do boat projects I suppose. We believe she earns enough to keep us going, and I could pick up side work now and then. However, I have not done the math on that yet.
- South this Spring
- North next Summer
- South next Autumn
So allow me to elaborate on the options.
We are not married to either direction. My preference, however, does lean me toward going south in the Spring. It seems like the coolest and arguably easier route. But it will probably be the more expensive route. Additionally, we would kinda be going against the normal flow of ICW traffic. Everyone will be coming north while we are going south. There is an advantage that, as we meet people, we can learn a ton from the places and experiences they already have at their stern. We would, of course, return before the hurricane season fired back up.
The Chesapeake seems like the more secluded way to go. But unlike Florida, we will be going the same direction as the rest of the tribe next summer. And if my instincts are correct, prices for boating services go up “in season”. Still, there is a lot of big water up there. We’d have to spend more time watching weather and the destinations, to me anyway, seem much further apart. But there is something alluring about the Chesapeake. I don’t know what it is. Perhaps that, to this uneducated cruiser, it seems like a great big Pamlico Sound dotted with cute little tourist towns that are centered around a boating culture.
Finally, waiting until NEXT cruising season does allow time for more “closure” of our current dirt-life situation. We could downsize, possibly sell our house for a townhouse or apartment, and really get set to do something more long-term. Then, just cast off and head south with the rest of you. If we like it… The Bahamas would be in play and we would have more income to possibly do a full season down there.
We look forward to yall’s input. We will do what we can to address questions and concerns you have as they come up. But please be nice and don’t let this turn into an anchor debate
Thanks!