Florida in June
Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 5:58 pm
We have just returned from cruising the Florida Keys - we hauled at Fort Pierce to dry store through hurricane season [and two family weddings this summer].
This cruise was very different for us - very hot. We had been wondering about our genset decision but happy now. We never expected to want a/c swinging to an anchor but when the alternative is $3/foot for marina [as in Key West] the diesel fuel is a bargain. The MV/34 is a superb design but aft cabin ventiilation is not a highlight!
Other lessons from this cruise:
Wait until sun is over the bimini to go up to flybridge helm.
Get rolling screens for both bow window and sliding door.
Cook on the flybridge - either propane or 110 V double sided grill.
We put a small electric trolling motor and two minimum gell batteries from West Marine on our 60 lb tender and get and hour of puttering around between charges [which are simple with jumpers right from house bank to tender on davits].
We now will add a cover for aft of flybridge to keep sun and rain away from stern door/glass.
Our Verizon 'always on' cellular data link [via Digital Antenna amp] is a very cost effective way to keep up with all the WWW offers - like NOAA doppler radar!
Thats it for now. Hope you are having a great cruise of your own!
Brian and Nancy Strong, MV Dana Louise
This cruise was very different for us - very hot. We had been wondering about our genset decision but happy now. We never expected to want a/c swinging to an anchor but when the alternative is $3/foot for marina [as in Key West] the diesel fuel is a bargain. The MV/34 is a superb design but aft cabin ventiilation is not a highlight!
Other lessons from this cruise:
Wait until sun is over the bimini to go up to flybridge helm.
Get rolling screens for both bow window and sliding door.
Cook on the flybridge - either propane or 110 V double sided grill.
We put a small electric trolling motor and two minimum gell batteries from West Marine on our 60 lb tender and get and hour of puttering around between charges [which are simple with jumpers right from house bank to tender on davits].
We now will add a cover for aft of flybridge to keep sun and rain away from stern door/glass.
Our Verizon 'always on' cellular data link [via Digital Antenna amp] is a very cost effective way to keep up with all the WWW offers - like NOAA doppler radar!
Thats it for now. Hope you are having a great cruise of your own!
Brian and Nancy Strong, MV Dana Louise