Some of you know that I have a Nacra 5.2, and I am planning a small cruise on it in the middle of march.

The plan is to sail from Corpus Christie in the direction of Galveston. I have a list of important stuff that I know I need. The trip will involve sailing along the coast in the internal waterway between the mainland and the coastal island. At night I will be camping out and cooking some basic food over a small gas stove.

The storage of the gear isn't to much of an issue, I have a truck bed cover that I have folded into a triangle and have hung up front acting like a forward tramp. It won't hold a person comfortable but will hold gear.

What I am looking for is some input on a few things. First off I want you all to give me so ideas on equipment. I already have a nice list going but I think that outside input will help. I have all the camping gear and it is very light because I have used it for elk hunting in New Mexico.

So get started what do I need?

Also I plan to be self sufficient on this trip because I want to be able to turn around at anytime without having to worry about reaching a destination to restock.

I forgot to add above that a close friend will be sailing his Hobie 17 with me and will need the same information, but we don't want to have to rely on each other.

Okay, and in my defence I understand that these boats are not made for distance sailing, but if the guys can sail stuff like the worrel and other distance races surely we can take it easy and have some fun!

Seems to me that if people are able to go hiking in the wilderness for a week or more with everything they need in their backpack, you should be able to do the same thing on a boat. Only difference that you don't have to actually carry the backpack yourself -- just tie it down on the tramp. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Sounds like a fun trip, since you are doing it on the "inside."

Don't forget to take a paddle. And watch out for tidal current at inlets, because it can sweep you right out to sea, if the current is anything like it is at inlets in Florida.

Not made for distance sailing? Pahshaah.

First; test your forward trampoline before you rely on it. It would be a bad third or fourth day to have all your gear disappear when you get some bad weather. Second, weight forward on a catamaran (a 5.2 doesn't have a ton of reserve buoyancy up front either) can be a problem if the weather gets strong. The solid toneau cover might also pool water leading to an additional weight problem. If you are single handing, you should easily be able to store the things you need on the main trampoline. Use dry bags, you can get large ones from walmart for about $12 to $15. You can move the drybags from the front beam to the rear beam depending on where you think you'll need the weight.

Safety gear: VHF radio, Cell phone (stored somewhere VERY nice and dry), waterproof flares, whistle, paddle, righting system to solo right the boat...EPIRB might be nice but since you are staying inside, it is probably not a requisite item.

Gary Friesen is the person to get information and instruction from on this subject. He has done several camping/cruises from southern California to the Catalina Islands, sometimes is some pretty hostile conditions. He also has some pretty well written accounts of these trips in the ezine "On the Wire". I was unable to find it though. It's out there somewhere.

-Rob V.
Panama City

On The Wire archives.

http://www.west.net/~lpm/hobie/archives/

I have tested it, I loaded it up with almost 200lbs of gear and went for a cruise on my local lake. Granted I won't have that much gear on it when I got down there but I wanted to check and make sure it was solid. Also it isn't solid, it is netting. So it won't hold any water.

I have all the safety gear mentioned and some other stuff. I even added a small inflatable raft. I figured that if something was to happen and i needed to abandon the boat it would be nice to have something floating.

When i loaded up the front with 200 pounds i did have to take it easier in chop but the boat does pretty good even with all that weight up front. I figure that the heaviest stuff I will store on the tramp but other than water I think I can get on the water under 50 pounds.

How much water should I take. Lets just say it should be a five day trip, and I want to take double the water I should need. Would 6 gallons be sufficient plus some gatorade to drink?

200 pounds of gear for a five-day trip?? I figure you must be taking a woman with you. For me alone I would bring 5 gallons of water, some dehydrated food, trail mix, and a backpack tent. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I over did it when I loaded up the boat for the test. I figured if I was going to test it I might as well over do it.
Like I said above, I am looking to get on the water with less than 50 pounds of stuff on my boat not including water. Then if I take 5 gallons of water that is 40 pounds so I am looking at 90 pounds total. I think I could shave another 10 pounds off the gear so I could be on the water with less then 80 pounds on the boat. The old Nacra will hardly notice 80 pounds.

I was thinking Ramen noodles and trail mix. My tent only weighs 4 pounds and sleeps two. The camp stove is less than a pound and I won't need many cloths. So this should be a pretty light packing job.

take a hiking size water purifier. The good ones will desalinate/purify about 1 liter/10 minutes. Handheld & small, it's a great emergency tool to extend your water rations

That sounds like SO much fun. I wish we could get more catamaran sailors interested in doing group cruising trips like that.

So the water filter I have will desalinate the water? I didn't think it would since the salt is dissolved into the water. I have one of those that I use in the mountains, I will take it for sure if it will make the water drinkable.

Also Mary, I am really excited about this cruise. It won't be hard and should be a blast.

I am also a pretty avid bass fisherman, I am going to take a heavy bass rig with a small tacklebox. I know there are some redfish on those barrier islands so I should have some fun fishing also.

A simple filter isn't going to desalinate the water.

I didn't think so. I will just make sure to take plenty of water.

Gree2056:

You need to get one of these and cut down on water to carry:
http://shop.sailnet.com/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/171/products_id/29655

Doug

Yeah, that would be really cool....but it costs more than what I paid for my boat.

Actually, yeah...that does sound like a lot of fun.

Have you ever tried one of those? You'll sweat 1 gallon worth of water for every cup produced.

The specs say you get about 1oz every 2 minutes and it requires 40 (not easy) strokes a minute.

Your forward trampoline sounds like it could be a bad idea. based upon experiance. try a trianlged shaped net with one edge along the forward beam and the point of the net on the center about 3-4 ft forward. the heavy plastic chicken mesh/wire works well also. put your gear in water tight gear bags, REI has them fairly inexpensive. attach the bags on teathers and quick release knots so if you go over you can get rid of the wieght that will be pull the boat over. a hobie bob whould be an nice peice of x-tra saftey. carry all the local "land" AAA maps of the route (did this in mexico saved our butt when we emergancy beached in the middle of no where). as well as the marine maps. Paddle is a good idea. the best that i carry is a outrigger canoe paddle. wood with t-handle. very efficiant if you need to accully paddle and if you break the sterring you can steer the boat with this type of paddle up to about 10kts. carry a peice if "amsteel" 5/16 .or 1/4 or equvalant about 50 ft long. with that you can repair just everything to get you home including standing rigging. basic shackles, pins, etc. and a bicycle inner tube, a flat peice of 1/8 in rubber about 1ft sq. and duct tape. Think all worst case senarios thru. And have a blast sounds like a great trip.

In my younger days in 1982 while stationed in Puerto Rico I had this wild idea of sailing my cat around the island of PR. It is about 100 miles long and fifty miles across. So Hector (he spoke the language) and I loaded up the cat and had a blast. When we landed at the beach in the evening the local kids would come out to see us. usually one or two would stay with the boat while the others would take us to their local town/village and show us off. Many times in the morning we would be woke up by one of the fathers that had his wife make us breakfast and PR coffee. The best time I ever had. Anyway I would loose the tent take a tarp and sleep on the tramp. Lots of water and fruit is what we took. Sorry for the low quality of the photos, they are old and the camara was a throw away in case it got wet.




Carl

Saylor Specialties
www.saylorspecialties.com

If you read a little closer about the forward tramp it is a triangle. It is a net truck bed cover. I folded it in half making it a triangle. The back side is attached along the front crossbar. The front or the corner of the netting attachs where the bridle wires meet. So it is basically what you are talking about.

I am taking a paddle, it is a plastic paddle with an aluminum handle and a plastic grip. I think somewhat close to what you describe. I also have an extra shroud, I think between it and some other stainless cable that I have and am taking I should be able to repair anything. I hadn't thought of the innertube. I will have to add that to the list.

I love the pictures of the boat taking the distance sail. I might go with a tarp over the tramp but in a big rain storm it might be nice to get inside a very dry ten rather then a leaky tarp over an already wet boat. My tent that i have is a very extreme tent, made for winds up to 80mph, and completely water proof. I would have a hard time justifying not taking it when it only weighs four pounds and can set up in just a matter of minutes.

Keep up the great suggestions!