Crew or capt to accompany owner East coast Fl to Panhandle

lottobemine · #1 (**permalink**) 08-06-2011

Looking for one person to accompany my husband from Cocoa, FL to Destin/Ft Walton Beach, FL area in Panhandle on our new-to-us 29' Columbia. Immediate trip, weather permitting, as we are having survey done next week and hopefully closing deal right away. We are complete novices although he has strong boating skills but no sailing experience.

Male or female, doesn't matter, as long as you have experience in these waters and are available on short notice. I can't take the time off work to join him.

rockDAWG · #2 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011

Welcome to Sailnet and congrats to your new purchase. Giving the rush, new boat, and no sailing experience, are you planing to motor all the way? it may be safer to hire a delivery captain to help the move, just sayin'.

If our schedules permit, I am willing to help out to sail from Key West to Walton Beach, FL, or anything in between. Time is precious for me, I can only help out sailing in open water.

It will be helpful if you can list the ship inventories, particular for the safety items.

Good luck.

lottobemine · #3 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011

To explain: when we began looking at this boat as a serious option, we ultimately determined that the logistics in getting the boat to us from the PO were too problematic/expensive, and the PO (liveaboards) subsequently offered to sail it around to the west coast of FL, where we would take over. (We had someone to accompany us from St Pete to Ft Walton.) That offer has since been rescinded, for various reasons, but now we have had much more time to shop around and feel like this is the boat for us, logistics notwithstanding (read: be damned). We are still moving ahead and feel great about the choice, but just trying to be safe about it. If we don't get the boat now, it will have to wait another 5 weeks at least due to schedule issues, and we don't want to wait to purchase, or leave our newly purchased boat 100s of miles away unsupervised for weeks until we can make other arrangements.

We have considered delivery, and I have several requests for estimates at various delivery services as well as a posting on some local sites (Destin has a plethora of captains). I am trying to put out as many "lines" as possible, given the time factor. Perhaps it wasn't clear in my initial post that we are willing to pay someone for this service, but don't necessarily require someone who does deliveries for a living (and charges accordingly). Surely there are sailors looking to make some money while getting some hours on the water under their belt as well?

As for safety equipment...not sure exactly what is relevant or even considered standard... equipped with life jackets, flares, radar reflector, depth finder, I don't think there is an ERPIB but can't be certain. Anyone interested in more info can email me at same name on yahoo.

lottobemine · #4 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011

Sorry: as far as motor vs sail, hubby plans a combination of the two, sailing as much as he is able and comfortable doing.

ughmo2000 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011

If your still looking for someone to accompany your husband I'm available and willing to help. I can be contacted at my e-mail ughmo2000"at"yahoo.com

gregdettmer · #6 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011

Are your going around the keys? or just through Lake O? It would save you 10 to 14 days

Frogwatch · #7 (**permalink**) 08-07-2011

Dang, wish I had time to do it as I have done the reverse several times and the panhandle area is my home waters.
So, here's how you go. Thru the O waterway, kinda a cool thing to do and you emerge near Bradenton, up the ditch all the way to Tarpon springs or maybe just to Clearwater. From Clearwater, you can jump across to Carabelle (about 24 hours) or from Tarpon you can go to Cedar Key (a really cool place but you WILL go aground, no big deal). Cedar Key to Steinhatchee, then to St Marks and then to Carabelle and on to the west via the ditch.
You might make better time by going on the outside instead of the ditch (ICW) but ONLY if you sail at night too.
Have fun and be prepared for T'storms cuz you'll hit at least one.
If you cannot find anybody else, maybe I could.

lottobemine · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

Thanks frogwatch, that's GREAT help. How long does the trip usually take, given no unforeseen complications?

He did plan on going through Lake O.

We are trying to work it out for me to join, things seem to be constantly shifting, and it's been surprisingly challenging getting things arranged long distance.

Thanks to those who have replied, and I will be in touch as soon as I actually know something more concrete.

rockDAWG · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by lottobemine

As for safety equipment...not sure exactly what is relevant or even considered standard... equipped with life jackets, flares, radar reflector, depth finder, I don't think there is an ERPIB but can't be certain. Anyone interested in more info can email me at same name on yahoo.

If I can come on board to help, these are the items I thing essential to have, some of them is a must and some are nice to have.

1. Liferaft
2. Epirb. it is cheap, get one for the boat. I have a SPOT
3. Jackline
4. Autopilot or windvane
5. Furling jib and storm jib
6. Reefing main and ease to deploy
7. reliable engine
8 . Battery good
9. VHF with DSC
10 Chart plotter and paper charts

Not sure you if like to hop between ports to avoid sailing at nite. I would hop between Keys and Tampa, and sail overnite across the gulf. There are many options here. Some of more fun than others.

Good luck.

Frogwatch · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2011

Lemme try to remember.
1 day, Stuart to Clewiston (west side of the lake) via the lake.
1 day Clewiston to Bradenton
1 day Bradenton to Sarasota
1 day Sarasota to Clearwater
24 hours to jump across to Carrrabelle
1 day Carabelle to Apalachicola
1 day Apalachicola to Panama City

If you go by way of Cedar key add 3 more days.