VicTrawler
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2015
- Messages
- 234
- Location
- Canada
- Vessel Name
- Halcyon I
- Vessel Make
- 1984 36' Universal Europa Sedan
This weekend we will be departing on quite the adventure in our 1984, 36' Universal Europa Sedan. Picked up the boat in April and have been learning the ins and outs since.
Our intended destination is Mexico and beyond, but we're in no rush to get there. The goal is San Diego by mid-October.
We just came back from three weeks of cruising the Gulf Islands to "shakeout" the boat and figure out what else was needed before we depart. Mechanically the boat performed extremely well though I'm still hunting the source of an oil leak on the 120HP Lehman which is requiring me to add about a quart every 5 running hours. The valve cover bolts were quite loose so they've all been tightened up; hopefully that's the problem. Looks like it's all ending up in the oil pan (and being absorbed by soak-up pads). My next guess is the fuel lift pump, for which I have a spare. The "extended cruising kit" from American Diesel is also on order.
Besides the departure date, we're not on any sort of schedule and I'm going to limit the overnight cruising as much as possible, fully appreciating that it is not completely avoidable, especially once we hit Oregon.
My main "concern" is keeping apprised of weather. I'm not equipped with HF SSB, so I'll be relying on VHF for weather reports. Is it realistic to expect that I could call up another nearby and better equipped boat (commercial or otherwise) to get an update on the weather, if need be? Will I pick up VHF NOAA broadcasts out to 25nm, as they seem to advertise?
I'm also not entirely sure what this boat can tolerate in terms of swell/wind waves or the combination. We saw 4'-6' wind waves up passed Nanaimo for a brief period of time and though we were tossed around quite a bit, there was barely any water on the deck, if any. I intend to keep fuel and water tanks pressed full for maximum stability and wait for optimal weather windows. I spent more than a decade in the Navy, most of it sailing the west coast, so I have a lot of respect for the Pacific.
We just acquired a new 4-person liferaft and EPIRB, so I'm covered there.
Anyone else ever do this trip in such a "small" trawler? Though I'm 36' at the water line, I'm displacing 22 tonnes fully loaded, so I hope that helps keep the ride as smooth as possible. I've read Ken's blog (genesisincalmh2o) and they've done the same trip in a similar boat.
Appreciate your advice and comments.
Our intended destination is Mexico and beyond, but we're in no rush to get there. The goal is San Diego by mid-October.
We just came back from three weeks of cruising the Gulf Islands to "shakeout" the boat and figure out what else was needed before we depart. Mechanically the boat performed extremely well though I'm still hunting the source of an oil leak on the 120HP Lehman which is requiring me to add about a quart every 5 running hours. The valve cover bolts were quite loose so they've all been tightened up; hopefully that's the problem. Looks like it's all ending up in the oil pan (and being absorbed by soak-up pads). My next guess is the fuel lift pump, for which I have a spare. The "extended cruising kit" from American Diesel is also on order.
Besides the departure date, we're not on any sort of schedule and I'm going to limit the overnight cruising as much as possible, fully appreciating that it is not completely avoidable, especially once we hit Oregon.
My main "concern" is keeping apprised of weather. I'm not equipped with HF SSB, so I'll be relying on VHF for weather reports. Is it realistic to expect that I could call up another nearby and better equipped boat (commercial or otherwise) to get an update on the weather, if need be? Will I pick up VHF NOAA broadcasts out to 25nm, as they seem to advertise?
I'm also not entirely sure what this boat can tolerate in terms of swell/wind waves or the combination. We saw 4'-6' wind waves up passed Nanaimo for a brief period of time and though we were tossed around quite a bit, there was barely any water on the deck, if any. I intend to keep fuel and water tanks pressed full for maximum stability and wait for optimal weather windows. I spent more than a decade in the Navy, most of it sailing the west coast, so I have a lot of respect for the Pacific.
We just acquired a new 4-person liferaft and EPIRB, so I'm covered there.
Anyone else ever do this trip in such a "small" trawler? Though I'm 36' at the water line, I'm displacing 22 tonnes fully loaded, so I hope that helps keep the ride as smooth as possible. I've read Ken's blog (genesisincalmh2o) and they've done the same trip in a similar boat.
Appreciate your advice and comments.