Quote:
Originally Posted by alfamike
I have not crossed an ocean, but I have taken my old Diesel trawler that was 48 feet long to Hawaii @ 2,400 Miles each way & back on her own bottom with a single diesel engine a couple times & would do it again with proper preparation on that boat or on my Kadey-Krogen 42.
Keys are: 1. - proper preparation 2, - proper weather window at 3. - right time of year & 4. - properly equipped boat with 5. - proper staffed crew with proper training & experience & spare parts.
It is not something for every body as couple weeks straight on a boat under 50 feet is not something every one is comfortable with.
I find that I enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
Alfa Mike
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So. You guys know that AlfaMike is my brother, right.
We were separated at birth and my real idiot brother replaced him.
Now you know why i like K-dramas so much; many have a birth secret.
Evidently Koreans can't tell themselves apart.
But i digress.
Kevin Sanders is right, it's about piece of mind. No more no less.
I only do engine room checks underway about 2x per day. Why? 2 reasons:
1. It's easier to recognize a significant difference after a length of time.
2. It's about managing stress. If I'm worried all the time. That doesn't help.
Think about it, you may not have crossed am ocean, but I'm sure you had occasion to do an overnight drive.
How many times was your heart in your throat because you heard an unexpected noise in the middle of the night?
In the middle of the Atlantic, that's amplified 10x, 100x.
How i dealt with it, is to manage my time "looking" for problems.
And the simple fact is that in two ocean crossings, ALL the problems have ALL been obvious.
Just like the fuel issue I the first 5 days. In hindsight, I'd have been better off if I'd never noticed it, because it went away the day after i noticed it. But not after 24 hours of worry.
Also, I've only spent 10 days of 50 days alone on the open ocean.
Having another person is extremely helpful, but IF and ONLY IF, they are the right person.
There are stories of boats sunk because of crew that was not helpful or trying to be too helpful (re the Fitzgerald)
So far, there has been no crisis I could not have overcome alone.
The problem with the bent paravane pole would have been solved on 15 minutes instead of 30, but everything else, same time.
But both my nephew Micah, and new friend Cliff, gave me peace of mind and moral support when I needed it.
Lastly, for all of you who say you want 2, 3 or 4 people onboard.
I'm sure the commercial mariners will understand, but the more you have, the greater the responsibility.
And trust me, it's something that's tangible.
If i had 4 others, I'd do no watches and sleep not at all.
Oh, if my brother ever read this forum, would he be my idiot brother!