Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-22-2022, 03:28 PM   #1
TF Site Team
 
FlyWright's Avatar
 
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
How long can you stay out on the hook in 30-42 ft boat?

I enjoy long times at anchor while fishing, cruising or lazing. Over the years, I've modified my boat with systems with the goal of being able to spend two weeks on the hook without touching a dock when singlehanding. Of course, this drops by more than 50% when a crew 'mate' is aboard. My personal best is 16 days with just a trash haul of convenience bc I was bored, but I used a dink for entertainment and stopped a a couple bars and restaurants. I can easily hold 3 weeks of food aboard with two fridges.

How long are you able to stay out until the limits of power, water, fuel, sanitation, food, water, comfort, bait, beer/booze/??? or entertainment are reached?

What's your record solo boat excursion without docking?
__________________
My boat is my ark. It's my mobile treehouse and my floating fishing cabin. It's my retreat and my respite. Everyday I thank God I have a boat! -Al FJB

@DeltaBridges - 25 Delta Bridges in 25 Days
FlyWright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 03:44 PM   #2
Guru
 
SteveK's Avatar
 
City: Gulf Islands, BC Canada
Vessel Name: Sea Sanctuary
Vessel Model: Bayliner 4588
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 5,017
When I was younger two weeks but not in one spot allowed recharging batteries. The sad part is/was that I and the boat could have lasted longer if not for the dreaded must go back to work.

Now headed into semi retirement (as in still working part time) while the boat can go longer, the older body may not. We are looking to go 3 weeks this summer, only time will tell if we will do it.
__________________
SteveK
You only need one working engine. That is why I have two.
Sea Sanctuary-new to me 1992 Bayliner 4588
SteveK is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 03:46 PM   #3
Guru
 
mvweebles's Avatar
 
City: Saint Petersburg
Vessel Name: Weebles
Vessel Model: 1970 Willard 36 Trawler
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 7,179
Interesting question. With ample solar, freezer, decent sized fridge, 500g diesel plus a watermaker and a compost head, limiting factors become food and perhaps beer/booze. Depends on what the underlying circumstances are. When 9/11 hit, my boat was equipped as a bug-out vehicle with 6-mos of very austere accommodations for two. For cruising? Depends on where we are. Gasoline for dinghy is probably our biggest hard limit. That and craving for fresh salad. Without that, we could easily go 3-months between provisioning if needed.

Peter
__________________
_______________________________________
Cruising our 1970 Willard 36 trawler from California to Florida
Join our Instagram page @MVWeebles to follow along
mvweebles is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 04:15 PM   #4
Arc
Guru
 
City: Long island
Vessel Model: Eastern
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 633
I have to ask, What is your budget for deodorant?
Arc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 04:24 PM   #5
Guru
 
backinblue's Avatar
 
City: Stratford, CT
Vessel Name: Blue Moon
Vessel Model: Mainship Pilot 355
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,937
My boat is smaller than most here so the hard limit tends to be fresh water. I can carry plenty of bottled drinking water, but just for cleaning, showering, head operation, 40 gals doesn't last too long. You can always carry enough non-perishable food. Power can be handled by the generator for a very long time. I guess if I knew I had to or wanted to stay on the hook for an extended time, I could stretch the 40 gal of water as far as possible. Never tried more than a few days in one place.
__________________
“In my walks, every man I meet is my superior in some way, and in that I learn from him.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
backinblue is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 04:40 PM   #6
Guru
 
City: Newport, R.I.
Vessel Name: Hippocampus
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 42
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 3,892
On prior 46’sailboat we could and did stay totally off grid for periods >1 month. Limiting factor is food. With solar/wind/watermaker and appropriate spares it’s only food that’s limiting. Eating nothing but hard stores is miserable. Sure carry rice, beans, flour, pasta and canned or cured meats. But a nice roast with a salad or fresh veggies is a joy. In boats in the size range your talking about will have 400-1000g of diesel and several tanks of propane. You’re not doing passages just bopping around a select cruising ground so fuel isn’t as limiting as food. With adequate ventilation you don’t run AC. So it’s food especially fruit that’s limiting. In the tropics you occasionally get lucky and can pick fruit and catch the occasional non ciguatera prone safe fish..
Hippocampus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 04:51 PM   #7
Dwk
Senior Member
 
Dwk's Avatar
 
City: Chesapeake Bay
Vessel Name: Patty Ann
Vessel Model: Mainship 34 MK1 1980
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 410
Quote:
Originally Posted by arc View Post
i have to ask, what is your budget for deodorant?
good one!
__________________
David
Dwk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 05:05 PM   #8
Moderator Emeritus
 
Comodave's Avatar
 
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,187
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arc View Post
I have to ask, What is your budget for deodorant?
If he is alone it isn’t as important…
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
Comodave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 05:06 PM   #9
Guru
 
socalrider's Avatar
 
City: San Diego
Vessel Name: SEA WOLF
Vessel Model: 1979 CHB 41 Trawler
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 999
This couple has circumnavigated AU on a 30' sailboat, living very well but very self-sufficient and minimalist. Their latest video documents 2 months out without reprovisioning. I love their videos - very enjoyable and informative. They have a provisioning guide available as a free .pdf download as well.

socalrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 05:06 PM   #10
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyWright View Post
How long are you able to stay out until the limits of power, water, fuel, sanitation, food, water, comfort, bait, beer/booze/??? or entertainment are reached?

What's your record solo boat excursion without docking?
Well it depends:

Without docking, I'm probably between 3 and 4 weeks in Lake Champlain. Now I did dinghy to shore for a grocery runs. Lake Superior (The Apostle Islands or Isle Royale) it was 2 to 3 weeks without reprovisoning. In these fresh water lakes a daily soap swim can replace a shower. With a 2,400 mile range, 300 gallons of water and an 80 gallon holding tank, the fresh fruit and salad probably becomes the limiting factor. I guess the other question is whether you consider dinghying to shore to walk an island or climb a mountain as not staying off the dock.

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 05:12 PM   #11
Guru
 
Simi 60's Avatar
 
City: Queensland
Vessel Model: Milkraft 60 converted timber prawn trawler
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 5,482
On a previous 33 ft catamaran it was 8 weeks
Lots of fresh fish, rice and rainwater

On our current vessel we can and do stay off grid indefinately
Into our 6th year without touching a dock apart from haulout and a tender run for fresh veg every few weeks.
We have done a 4 month stint with zero reprov on her with full freezers and frozen veg
__________________
Everything on a boat is broken, you just don't know it yet
Full time cruising is repairing boats in exotic locations
Simi 60 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 05:16 PM   #12
Valued Technical Contributor
 
DavidM's Avatar
 
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,785
We spent two months in the Abacos, coming in to a marine every other week for provisions, water and holding tank pumpout (well, if I recall correctly, the Bahamas doesn't know about holding tank pumpouts- don't tell!).

Water and fresh food were the limiting factors. We took quick showers, saving the warm up water for rinsing dishes. Frozen meat and vegetables ran out after two weeks as well.

David
DavidM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 05:33 PM   #13
Guru
 
City: Rochester, NY
Vessel Name: Hour Glass
Vessel Model: Chris Craft 381 Catalina
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 7,553
Once the new 110-ish gallon water tank is done, we'll be able to comfortably go at least a week without needing anything more than taking the dog ashore.

The 70 gallon holding tank is easily good for about 10 days with 2 of us on board, but could probably be stretched a few more days if we're really careful. If we're not moving around much (not burning much fuel) and don't mind carrying water back to the boat on some of the dinghy trips with the dog, waste capacity would be our biggest limiting factor.

We know from experience that provisioning food for 2 - 3 weeks is easy for 2 of us and we could certainly provision for longer if necessary. In general, if provisioning by dinghy is acceptable, we could probably stay away from docks nearly indefinitely, save for fuel and pumpout stops.
rslifkin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 05:36 PM   #14
Guru
 
syjos's Avatar


 
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Sandpiper
Vessel Model: Bluewater 40 Pilothouse Trawler
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,315
With 400 gallons of water, big frig, freezer and huge pantry, we can go approximately 40 days without going to a dock, which we did when we summered in the Broughtons.

Sandpiper is 40'.
__________________
"My worst day working on the boat is still better than my best day at a job"
syjos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 05:38 PM   #15
Guru
 
RCook's Avatar


 
City: Holladay, UT
Vessel Name: Dream Catcher
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37-065
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 841
On the Inside Passage two of us easily go three weeks before running low on fresh veggies and fresh water. If I fire up the watermaker we can go a good bit longer, especially if the fishing is good, relying more on foods that do not need to fit into the fridge. Certain crew members wish the ice cream lasted longer.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Trawler Forum mobile app
__________________
Richard Cook
Dream Catcher (Nordic Tug 37-065) Poulsbo WA
Previously: New Moon (Bounty 257), Cindy Sea (C-Dory 22 Cruiser)
"Cruising in a Big Way"
RCook is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 05:55 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
AZ2Loop's Avatar
 
City: Carefree, AZ and Ft. Myers Beach, FL
Vessel Name: Sea-N-Stars
Vessel Model: 1990 49' Albin
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 304
An interesting addition to this thread would be to not only say how long you can stay on the hook, but what is the limiting factor. In our case, about 15 days. At that point we need to add fresh water. That is with 2 of us on board and both showering every day, so not exactly roughing it. We have no water maker. When we were traveling most of the time, it would not have have mattered because we were usually in areas where one probably would not have used a water maker anyway. So, 15 days.... limiting factor is water.
AZ2Loop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 06:03 PM   #17
Guru
 
socalrider's Avatar
 
City: San Diego
Vessel Name: SEA WOLF
Vessel Model: 1979 CHB 41 Trawler
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 999
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZ2Loop View Post
An interesting addition to this thread would be to not only say how long you can stay on the hook, but what is the limiting factor. In our case, about 15 days. At that point we need to add fresh water. That is with 2 of us on board and both showering every day, so not exactly roughing it. We have no water maker. When we were traveling most of the time, it would not have have mattered because we were usually in areas where one probably would not have used a water maker anyway. So, 15 days.... limiting factor is water.
We're typically my wife & I, 2 dogs, our 3 kids, and 1-2 guests, so a big crew. We got a water maker before last summer's 6 week excursion because without it, even with 400g of tankage, water use was constantly top of mind, and each guest needed to be educated. Adding the water maker made for a massive improvement.

We're now at the point where our limiting factor is not so much provision-related as enjoyment-related. Wife and kids get restless after a week or two totally away from civilization. Not needing water means re-provisioning can be done easily via dinghy, at our convenience when we go to shore.
socalrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 06:05 PM   #18
Guru
 
FoxtrotCharlie's Avatar
 
City: Mississippi
Vessel Name: ADAGIO
Vessel Model: CHB Present 42 Sundeck
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 920
Interesting question Al. We carry 350 gal of water (no watermaker), 600 gal of diesel, and have a good generator. Fairly large fridge/freezer. Our limiting factor is our holding tank at 40 gal - of course if 3 miles offshore no problem. Will have to give it try when the Admiral is away some time, and see how long I can go.
FoxtrotCharlie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 06:11 PM   #19
Guru
 
Daddyo's Avatar
 
City: Cruising East Coast US
Vessel Name: Grace
Vessel Model: DeFever 48
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,420
Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyWright View Post
I enjoy long times at anchor while fishing, cruising or lazing. Over the years, I've modified my boat with systems with the goal of being able to spend two weeks on the hook without touching a dock when singlehanding. Of course, this drops by more than 50% when a crew 'mate' is aboard. My personal best is 14 days with just a trash haul of convenience bc I was bored, but I used a dink for entertainment and stopped a a couple bars and restaurants. I can easily hold 3 weeks of food aboard with two fridges.



How long are you able to stay out until the limits of power, water, fuel, sanitation, food, water, comfort, bait, beer/booze/??? or entertainment are reached?



What's your record solo boat excursion without docking?


How long is a piece of string?
__________________
Cruiser
Esse Quam Videri
Daddyo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2022, 06:34 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
AZ2Loop's Avatar
 
City: Carefree, AZ and Ft. Myers Beach, FL
Vessel Name: Sea-N-Stars
Vessel Model: 1990 49' Albin
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 304
Quote:
Originally Posted by socalrider View Post
....We're now at the point where our limiting factor is not so much provision-related as enjoyment-related...
Great point. I would say more often than not, that was our situation too. I love nights on the hook, but sometimes a marina sounds great to us, too.
AZ2Loop is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012