Well, technically the return trip was April 2nd. I just haven't had the internet available or time really to get on here and post much of anything (sneaking on at work for this, lol). I had one other person to crew with me, a buddy from work. Engines were started ~6am and shut down ~2pm. The first 2 hours were @ 8 knots, then got the boat on plane (15-16 mph thru water, 17-19 mph SOG. . .not sure which is more accurate?) till we neared the James River Bridge. I elected to head south to the small boat channel, which was a bad idea. I went a bit to far south chasing the wrong marker and spend an hour navigating a mine field of crab pots and oyster bed markers all the while the depth alarm is blaring. Eventually figured out where we were at and headed north to the opening span of the bridge. The rest of the trip out to the bay was uneventful. Out in the bay it was rough. There was a small craft advisory and we headed out into it around noonish. Had to follow the channel all the way out and around the Willoughby Bar since it was so rough. I think it was buoy 17 when I cut back southeast and bee-lined for Little Creek. T'was an exercise to keep the boat on course and miss the crab pots and make headway with a quartering sea. Bow first into the slip next to my sailboat, and I managed to not wreck anything
The worst part of the trip was being near frozen the whole time.
That's the longest single trip I've made in any boat, distance or time wise. And I'd say it was one helluva shakedown cruise as well. And Impressive! Nothing broke. . .everything worked like it should. . .the engine never skipped a beat and sang like a Singer sewing machine the entire trip with no fluctuations in temp. Boat rode well, even into a chop (at least to me). Seas abaft were pretty squirrely though. Did make note of some things that need to be fixed (fuel fill hoses leak, some gauges are wonky, Port alt. stopped charging after survey, etc.). Been cleaning out the boat and my sailboat this last week. . .I'm about 1/2 done :whistle:
Anyways, thought I would share. Picture attached is my new boat next to my sailboat. Lived aboard that sailboat for 3 years, 8 months, 30 days, 17 hours. . .I was counting down till I could move out B)
BTW, sailboat is for sale!

Attached files

That's the longest single trip I've made in any boat, distance or time wise. And I'd say it was one helluva shakedown cruise as well. And Impressive! Nothing broke. . .everything worked like it should. . .the engine never skipped a beat and sang like a Singer sewing machine the entire trip with no fluctuations in temp. Boat rode well, even into a chop (at least to me). Seas abaft were pretty squirrely though. Did make note of some things that need to be fixed (fuel fill hoses leak, some gauges are wonky, Port alt. stopped charging after survey, etc.). Been cleaning out the boat and my sailboat this last week. . .I'm about 1/2 done :whistle:
Anyways, thought I would share. Picture attached is my new boat next to my sailboat. Lived aboard that sailboat for 3 years, 8 months, 30 days, 17 hours. . .I was counting down till I could move out B)
BTW, sailboat is for sale!

Attached files
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