I have a pair of the cleats, and they are sometimes handy, but with a couple of drawbacks. They can be toe catchers when moving around on the cabin roof deck. Also, they don't have a hole for lines in the middle, between the cleat horns, which means you can't thread the eye of a line through. You ca...

I have really simple gybe preventers rigged on my boat, and it's really easy for me to rig a preventer when I'm sailing downwind with the main. I have a pair of snatch blocks attached to both sides of the bow pulpit. They lay down on the deck. I run a 50 foot line through each block, with both ends ...

I haven't been on the forum for quite a while and so haven't commented on this thread till now. I do have a few comments on Gulf Stream crossings, based on my 3 times out to the Bahamas. First of all, ocean swell is vastly different from the chop experienced on inland and protected waters. You can b...

Good comments regarding the San Juans. I strongly second the thoughts regarding anchoring. Being able to confidently anchor will greatly enhance your options for enjoyment. Be sure to have access to accurate tide and current predictions, either electronic or paper. Study your charts carefully, and p...

I carry a 2.5 hp 4 stroke Suzuki kicker on a retractable stern mount. It's a short shaft motor, and when the mount is lowered, the prop is deep enough to power the Mac. I mainly use the kicker on my inflatable dinghy. I also use it to power the Mac when I'm trolling for salmon, using a downrigger. I...

Regarding anchor size, something in the 10 kg size is definitely advisable. The winds can really get strong down in the Bahamas, and the islands are very low lying, so even in a protected cove, you can rarely find any shelter from the effects of wind. Also, many of the anchorages are more line roads...

My thoughts regarding current equipment and possible improvements: Current equipment - Your preparations are impressive, and will serve well on the trip. Full cockpit enclosure, 100 watts of flexible solar, dual axle trailer, new sails, main and kicker outboards, water system, electrical and frig ar...

Hi Starscream, Your Bahamas plans sound exciting, and bring back fond memories of cruising those waters. Just a few preliminary thoughts. First off, with just 6 weeks available for the trip, including trailering from Montreal to Florida and back, I'm thinking that hopes of cruising the Exumas might ...

Hi All, Not to worry, Chinook crew (Mike and Sandy) are alive and well, and our boat is in service. No big trips since the Vancouver Island circumnavigation in 2019, and as you've noticed, I haven't been on this site for some time. My son maintained the blog site, but we opted to let it go a while b...

Been having such a good time looking for cool birds down here in Texas that I completely forgot about checking in. We've been on the road for over a month now. We've driven more than 4000 miles, and nearly half of that has been in Texas. Big place. Birding has been great. We saw condors in Californi...

Several months ago, we signed up for a spring birdwatching tour. This will be a road trip in truck and camper, rather than involving the boat. Our target destination is the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas, to catch the spring migration. Many midwest and eastern songbirds migrate from Mexico and Central Me...

Regarding the trolling motor option, the battery creates several issues. Conventional deep cycle lead acid batteries are heavy, slow to recharge, and the power drops off when at half charge or more. Also, that acid part can be really nasty when operating in the cramped quarters of a small dinghy. Li...

One good place to put in is at Killarney. Outstanding cruising waters in the immediate vicinity, including the very beautiful and not to be missed Baye Finne, a highly scenic fjord. Very famous fish and chips place on the waterfront in Killarney. The mountains to the north are made of pure white qua...

My 2.5hp 4 stroke Suzuki kicker weighs just 28 lbs, and is quite manageable for me to life off its retractable motor mount and onto my inflatable dinghy. This can be a tricky operation, especially when there is a bit of a chop or swell. Basic laws of physics, involving action and reaction come into ...

It's been a few years since I painted. Still looks like new. I can't remember specifics of the paint. An RV store put me onto it, when I wanted to refinish the aluminum siding of my pickup camper. It was oil based, rather thick, and never peeled. I just did a quick search for one part epoxy paint, a...