Long distance cruising in a Bayliner-gctid344064

[ksanders]

Having our "retirement" boat opens up the possibilities for going almost anywhere the heart desires as long as we watch the weather, and the distance between fuel stops.

The very real possibility exists for example that we could take our 4788 down the coast from Alaska, and cross over to the Caribbean. Yes it is a very long ways, but it is all costal cruising. That would be the trip of a lifetime.

In three months we are going to start on a one way >1500NM trip from Anacortes, Wa to Seward Alaska. This will involve a 320 NM open water crossing of the Gulf Of Alaska. This is almost the exact same trip we made in 2003 on Taz, our 3488 Bayliner. I'm taking the lessons learned on that trip and the last 9 years of boating and incorporating them into this journey.

What is the longest trip you've either done, heard of, or are planning in your boat?

What are your long distance dreams? Where would you like to go? Where do you think you can sefely go in your Bayliner?

[jmcannonball]

Longest trip: Approximately 2500 miles in my 38 Bayliner - Seattle-Juneau-Hoonah-Sitka-Seattle.

Second longest: approximately 2000 miles in friend's Sea Ray 340 Sundancer - Philadelphia-New Orleans via ICW.

Would like to complete the Great Loop in any one's boat!

[Guest]

Longest Trip ive been on 300NM, not very long..

Trip that I want to do would be Vancouver to Alaska. That wont be happening anytime soon though as the 28' or admiral is not ready to go all that way. I will need to wait until i get my dream boat 341 Meridian before attempting Alaska and probably retirement.

[RGrew176]

My longest trip occured in 1997. It was just a tad under 900 statute miles over an 11 day period. From Bolles Habor up and through the inland waterway of Michigan. T

hen up to the Straits of Mackinaw and into Lake Michigan. Then it was back to home port. For me the best boat trip ever. I did this trip in my 96 2855 Ciera.

[mmichellich]

Compared to many BOC members we don't go too far. Since new in 96 we have cruised, at least our longest trip every year, a mininum of 1000 miles every single summer (up and back to NW tip of Vancouver I from Des Moines, Wa plus weeks of cruising while there) and further including Des Moines, Wa to Skagway round trip including lots of time in Alaska. In addition to these distances we have cruised extensively around Puget Sound every summer.

I personally do not believe a 45/47 Bayliner would make a good boat to cruise the open ocean. I have heard too many horror stories about disasters cruising power boats a lot better built and prepared than any Bayliner. Some of these disasters have occured to friends including Two deaths cruising only outside Vancouver I.

[Guest]

St Louis to Ft Lauderdale Florida (about 2000 miles) And back. Third time we made the trip in our 4788 after her purchase in Ft Lauderdale. (about 6000 miles total) Also from Green Bay Wis. to St Louis Mo.

[ksanders]

mmichellich wrote:
I personally do not believe a 45/47 Bayliner would make a good boat to cruise the open ocean. .

I would agree.

The 4788 is a coastal cruiser.

You can make any length journey just so long as its along a coastline that offers reasonalbe places to escape bad weather, and reasonable fuel stops.

Thats the beauty of coastal cruising. If you think about it, you could do quite a bit of exploring and never be far off shore.

A good example is the Caribbean. You could spend a lifetime exploring from Florida to South America and never be far from a safe place in a storm.

[Guest]

3300 miles the first time I did Alaska however I am limited by fuel to 300 miles and empty per leg and not running the genset or furnace which means by my rules 200 miles

[Guest]

I took a 2855 Cierra Sunbridge From Everett to Glacier Bay and back. You can do all kinds of things depending on your skill and tolerance for pain and risk. Since my goal is to do just that, long distance cruising, I made the decision to go with a more suitable boat than My 4788. That said I don't think there is a better all round cruiser than the 4788. It just doesn't offer the comfort off shore that a heavier long range cruiser does. It suits the needs of 90% of boaters better than a specialized LRC. My 4788 was picked up in Everett and delivered to the bay area on it's own bottom. It went up to Newport Oregon and back to the Bay area. I've had it up to Fort Bragg and down to Monterey several times. They were not always comfortable trips but they were safe and the low center of gravity of the 4788 is it's saving grace. The ride can be very harsh. You will know what the answer is after you get her home to Alaska. You will know whether you will want to expose yourself and the 4788 to open ocean long term. The constant working of the hull and modular salon and pilot house will show the signs of constant movement with leaks at their joints. On one trip we jerked a battery post off on another I snapped an antenna mount. You will want to pack your 8D batteries in their box's with packing to keep them from shifting. The standard procedure is to turn the dining table on it's top before it does it on it's own, secure the pilot chair as well. I added overhead grab bars across the bridge overhead to hang onto. Nothing can be left floating on any surface. The boat will do coastal cruising if your willing to put up with the ride.

[Guest]

Fifteen hundred one way, from Atlantic City NJ to Key West FL, became quite routine on alternate years since 1989. Trips included a 3888, a 3988 and a Medidian 408 as we upgraded. The first trip was by Loran with a side trip to the Bahamas, 70 miles of crossing the Gulf Stream. The trip last year burned 4,000 gallons round trip. I have discontinued future plans.

[Guest]

DaveBerg wrote:
St Louis to Ft Lauderdale Florida (about 2000 miles) And back. Third time we made the trip in our 4788 after her purchase in Ft Lauderdale. (about 6000 miles total) Also from Green Bay Wis. to St Louis Mo.

I would like to know about your trip from Green Bay to St Louis...Would like to go from Sioux city Ia on the Missouri to St Louis then to Green Bay.

[ksanders]

Scary wrote:
I took a 2855 Cierra Sunbridge From Everett to Glacier Bay and back. You can do all kinds of things depending on your skill and tolerance for pain and risk. Since my goal is to do just that, long distance cruising, I made the decision to go with a more suitable boat than My 4788. That said I don't think there is a better all round cruiser than the 4788. It just doesn't offer the comfort off shore that a heavier long range cruiser does. It suits the needs of 90% of boaters better than a specialized LRC. My 4788 was picked up in Everett and delivered to the bay area on it's own bottom. It went up to Newport Oregon and back to the Bay area. I've had it up to Fort Bragg and down to Monterey several times. They were not always comfortable trips but they were safe and the low center of gravity of the 4788 is it's saving grace. The ride can be very harsh. You will know what the answer is after you get her home to Alaska. You will know whether you will want to expose yourself and the 4788 to open ocean long term. The constant working of the hull and modular salon and pilot house will show the signs of constant movement with leaks at their joints. On one trip we jerked a battery post off on another I snapped an antenna mount. You will want to pack your 8D batteries in their box's with packing to keep them from shifting. The standard procedure is to turn the dining table on it's top before it does it on it's own, secure the pilot chair as well. I added overhead grab bars across the bridge overhead to hang onto. Nothing can be left floating on any surface. The boat will do coastal cruising if your willing to put up with the ride.

Steve, that is a pretty good endorsement... especially considering that you boat off of the California Coast, an area known for its rough seas.

I'm just happy that the admrial is willing to go do some long term exploring. She's talking about possibly of going further, but to her further really means spending a summer really exploring southeast Alaska, BC and Puget Sound.

[Guest]

Love to make the downhill trip from Puget Sound to Southern California, stopping along the way in Astoria, Coos Bay, SF Bay, and points further south. On the 4087 we've been as far north as the Canadian Gulf Islands, and to Gig Harbor in the south.

On the short list is the trip north to Desolation, the Queen Charlottes, and further to Glacier Bay.

[Guest]

Bills 2855,

You should be able to make that trip by navigating the river through Illinois (can't remember the name) to Chicago. There is an issue near Chicago with the Asian carp but I think it is open to boat traffic. The Illinois river enters the Mississippi. From Chicago it is a run north in Lake Michigan to the Ship Canal at Sturgeon Bay then south to Green Bay. A fair number of ports along the way with nice marinas. The Door County harbors are marvelous.

Somone else will chime in with details that have navigated these waters.

Richard in Wisconsin

[Guest]

Great question. Have done the San Francisco to San Juans in both directions several times. Most trips have been lots of fun and educational. The 45/47's are coastal cruisers without a doubt. Our biggest event in all the trips was surfing down 12 footers off of Oregon. Not fun if you get sideways.

45mike