SetSail » General Cruising

Digital Cameras for Cruising

Steve Dashew — Thu, 30 Dec 2004 05:00:00 +0000

Hello from WA state, can’t tell you how much great info your site brings us, thanks for that! I was wondering if you have ever done research on cruisers’ favorite pick for an all-around good (at least weather-resistant) camera? I would assume most folks are getting into digital now. Any ideas? Thanks…we are selling out and moving on board next spring to play for the summer up here then head on down the coast mid-Aug. CAN HARDLY WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Warmly, Dianna

Hi Dianna: Used to be that the standard was Nikonos–but I suspect that is no longer the case. We have an Olympus digital–and love it. I guess the main thing is to wait as long as possible as the features keep getting better and costs are coming down quickly. Good Luck–Steve

Medical Insurance for Cruising

Steve Dashew — Fri, 30 Nov 2001 05:00:00 +0000

In the Bernhardts’ April 01, 2001 discussion of their cruising budget, they state that they pay $2280 for medical insurance for the year for the whole family. I’d like to know which insurance company they use. Their boat insurance is fairly inexpensive also, since their cruising area includes Europe…Love this site. Thanks. Claire D

Hi Claire: Thank you for the inquiry about the insurance companies. Our major med personal policy is with Specialty Risk International. The policy is called a Prime Worldwide Medical Plan, it is for $5,000 deductible. The boat insurance is through Blue Water Insurance, Inc. and is with Hamburger Versicherungs-AG. Fortunately I do not know how either of these companies respond to claims, we try to avoid using their services, believing in the old ounce of prevention. Good Luck, Roslyn Bernhardt

Camera Gear for Cruising

Steve Dashew — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

You mentioned in a recent article you used a pocket camera on the docks. I am an amateur photographer and interested in which camera you carry as you walk the dock and what camera equipment you use to take the other beautiful pictures as you cruise. What did you use to take the whale and Baja pictures? I would also like to say I enjoy your website and appreciate you maintaining it. Dan

Hi Dan:

The walking around camera is an Olympus SW720: http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1225
It is waterproof to five feet (or so they claim – we’ve tested it to a couple of feet). It is a nice camera, but only has an LCD which is sometimes hard to use.

Our big cameras are Canon SLR digitals. We use both a 20D and 30D, and shoot in RAW format for most images. We are using L series lenses – a 70-200 and 24-70 – both F2.8. We just started using the L series. They are very bulky, heavy and costly. But also very quick to focus and very, very sharp throughout most of their zooming range. We found that with a single body we were always changing lenses and had continual problems keeping the processor clean.

I think shooting in RAW, where there is no processing done in the camera, and then controlling what happens to the image ourselves is the key. We have just started using Adobe Light Room for RAW processing – very powerful and so far not too hard to use. The photos from Mexico were done using Adobe CS3 and its RAW processor (beta release).

Regards- Steve

Cruising on $30,000/year?

Steve Dashew — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

I’m retiring and thinking of sailing. I’m a Alaskan sailor all my life…but im thinking of US- VI or South Florida. I’ve fished all my life off boats that make so much noise you can’t think. A catamarn sounds like my kind of boat. What do you think? Can a guy figure on living free at $30,000 a year? I have no bills and no wife nor kids. At 56 it’s time to get a tan. Any commments? – Jim

Hi Jim: I agree – time to get a tan.

The cost of cruising is very much a function of how you do it. First the variables. If you anchor out (we think this much more pleasant than being in a marina), do the majority of your own maintenance, and keep the consumption of liquor to moderate proportions, the 30K/year will leave you with a big cushion. Depending on the condition of your boat, and how you maintain it, this cushion should still allow for the odd major overhaul of whatever has gone wrong.

You will find Mexico and Central America less costly than the Caribbean. And in the Caribbean, the closer to South America you get, the less it will cost.

As to the boat, we are not big fans of cats. The condo versions offer a lot of space, but are very slow, and not very good at crossing oceans (in our opinion). My preference would be a longer monohull, with better performance, good ocean going characteristics, at the same price. But there is that space issue.

On the other hand, if you are going to be content in the Caribbean, a cat could do just fine (but the South Pacific is awfully nice!).

Good Luck with your plans – Steve

Lathe on Board?

Steve Dashew — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Good afternoon. This may be totally off the wall. But, would there be much of a use for a small metal lathe in a cruising situation? For making spare parts for my boat or better yet, making parts for other boats and getting paid for it? Thanks for any insight you will provide. David

Hi David: We’ve often thought of carrying a lathe and a drill press. However, unless you are building your boat as you go, the lathe will not get enough use to make it worth the space and weight. You might use it once or twice a year to make a part for yourself or a neighboring boat, but then you could probably figure out a way to work around the problem until you found a machine shop ashore. So, I would say do without. – Steve

Cancun

Steve Dashew — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Hi, We would like to sail from Florida to Cancun next February. (We have a 47′ Hunter). We would then like to do approx. four eight-to-ten-day trips, using Cancun as a base. We also need to leave the boat at the beginning of March for 2 weeks. Can you recommend where we might look for reputable marinas? All I have found on the web so far is Scuba centres. Also are there any books on cruising in the area? Rgds, Richard

Hi Richard: I would join Seven Seas Cruising Assoc. (www.ssca.org) and then you’ve got access to their extensive database and very handy monthly bulletin. – Steve

Galapagos Islands

Steve Dashew — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Hello, Great site.

I will be joining some from friends that are cruising in the Galapagos next week. Can you tell me if there will be a problem cruising, hiking or diving without a guide ?

Thanks, Richard

Hi Richard – rules change all the time, but for most areas, and almost always on boats outside of certain designated areas, you will need some form of guide. – Steve

Cruising Japan

Steve Dashew — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

We want to leave from San Fransciso (we are based in Sausalito) and sail to Japan, then spend a year visiting the islands of Japan. Aside from Jimmy C’s Cruising Routes, do you know of any articles/people that might be a good source of info?

Most of what I see on the Net is from Japan to the USA.

No, we don’t have a fast vessel; I have read of your philosophy and I agree with it in principle, but we love our boat – a Shannon 43 ketch, with mizzen staysail rigging – but what advice/ resources might you pass along? Many thanks, David and Kathryn S.

Hi David & Kathryn: I would suggest checking with SSCA – there is bound to be something in the back bulletins. Also, one of the SetSail cruising correspondents, Al and Beth Liggett, might be able to offer some suggestions on information as they have cruised Japan in the past. Good Luck – Steve Dashew

Advice for Novice who Wants to Buy Boat & Go Cruising

Steve Dashew — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Hi – I am looking to set up for some long-term cruising but am a total novice, even at 50! I currently live in Madeira but have worked around the world in the IT industry for IBM, including South Africa, USA and Europe, so am totally comfortable in most places.

The questions: 1. Given the recent weakness of the dollar I would imagine the USA is a good place to buy a used boat (as opposed, say, to Europe). Is this perception correct?

2. If it is, where is the best place/s in the USA to buy, from the point of view of choice in the purchase and the setting up to cruise? (I am also assuming the USA is the best place to set up given access to technology etc.)

3. How long will it take me to do the courses that will take me from novice (all I have is an EU Local Skipper license with no sailboat experience) to ocean-ready?

4. Where is the best place to do these courses, from the point of view of quality, professionalism and enjoyment?

5. The one cost item I have no idea of is insurance for the yacht. Is there a rough guide to this (eg. annual cost per $’000)?

6. What is the best investment I can make now in terms of getting prepared? (Books, Internet research, ???)

Really appreciate if you can help me. I know that some of the questions are probably not directly answerable, but if you could point me in the right direction.

Thanks and Regards, John

Hi John:

Lots of questions–no easy answers. Here’s what I would suggest:

1-Have a careful look at SetSail–both articles from our cruising correspondents and Q and A areas, as these have a lot of information on getting started cruising, what to learn, what you need, etc.

2-The US is a good currency play for used boats, and a very efficient market. There are always excellent deals available on the brokerage market. The key is to be clear about what you want, look at a lot of boats, and take your time.

3-As far as courses go, there are many options. I’d suggest checking the UK, since that is close to where you are. Look at Yachting World and Yachting Monthly–both have ads for companies offering training. Once you have the basics down, it would be really good to sign on with somebody offering real world training in passaging. There are lots of boats doing this–and being offshore in a small boat will do more to solidify your thinking about what works and what doesn’t, and what you want in your own boat, than anything else you can do.

4-At the risk of touting our own products, take a look at our four books–lots of information on them on SetSail. They are designed to get you cruising.

Good Luck – Steve

Cruising with Four Kids and Little Offshore Experience

Steve Dashew — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 05:00:00 +0000

Hi Linda and Steve

Thanks for a great book, we have the second edition which I brought in 1998.

I need your help?

My wife,Tina (40) and I (45) have little offshore sailing experience although we have three boats in the past, a 22, 26 and a 32 footer.

We are now thinking of going cruising for a year or more. This would entail the selling of our business , which we started 15 years ago, and the house. We have had about 25 days leave in 15 years and not more than a week at one time. We are just tried of the grind and need a change desperately.

We have 5 kids, 3, 14, 15, 19 and 21 years old of which 4 want to come with us so any boat under 45 feet is going to be tight.

My plan is to buy a boat in the States, spend three months, or as long as it takes, honing our offshore skills and then sailing the Pacific, through New Zealand then back to South Africa. The boats that we have considered are a Beneteau Oceanis 440 or Cal 46 (although most Cals are old and we have never seen one in the flesh). The budget for the boat is $90,000 with a max of $110,000 and $10,000 for improvements or gear. We cannot buy in SA because of stock and pricing problems. Simply there just aren’t any decent boats locally except overpriced Cats. Also found a strange boat on the Internet, a Macgregor 65 cruising version, long and narrow, but has a beam ratio that you recommend in your book. We have only viewed a Beneteau 440 at a local sailing school which Tina likes, I am not so sure. I spoke to one of the instructors and he stated that he would take her anywhere anytime?!

We also do not want to make trips to the States, as time won’t permit this, and it is costly.

1. What boat would you recommend within our budget? What are your feelings on the ones we have considered?

2. We have planed on a monthly cruising budget of $1,000, is this enough? Currently land based budget is about $5000 per month, $900 an school fees alone!!!

3. We plan to keep $25,000 for emergencies.

4. My wife and kids have duel passports UK and SA and I have SA only, where should we make "home base" from a registration point of view?

5. What about boat insurance?

Wish that we could afford one of your boats, even an old one.

Regards, Barry

Hi Barry:

Lots of good, tough questions. I’ll try some brief answers.

1-I am assuming you are light on offshore experience. The main thing is to be prudent, don’t let schedule dictate when you go, and put a lot of effort into learning how to handle the boat in various conditions under sail and power.

2-Regarding boat types, I am not familiar enough with the current market to give you good advice. Except, if you are planning to head back to South America that probably means the Indian Ocean, and making the trip from Mauritius to Durban–and then down the coast to Cape Town. In spite of what your sailing instructor told you, I would not be happy in a modern light displacement, high volume (charter influenced) design like the Benateau. They are not designed or built for the conditions you will probably encounter at the end of your trip.

I would stay with a late CCA or early IOR design, or a good cruising design by someone who knows heavy weather. Angelo Lavranos, formerly of Cape Town, designed some very seaworthy boats in the 40-foot range.

3-Re: budget, if you live at anchor (which is more pleasant), do your own maintenance, and eat what the locals do (more fun) the $1000/month should do. But stay away from high priced marinas!

4-Re: the flag on your vessel, I don’t really have a feel for this. But consider the EU tax situation if you fly a British or European flag. This may not apply if you don’t end up in Europe or the UK.

5-There are lots of good boats out there in your price range. The main thing is to be patient, and watch for the right deal. This means a boat which has been well outfitted for offshore work, has the good structure, and a reasonable sail inventory. You will not have as nice an interior as the new boats, but I would trade structure, and extra waterline length–which comes with the older boat–for the volume of the modern charter design. You will be more comfortable offshore, and the boat will handle better in a blow.

Good Luck–Steve