Well, decision day came, and ended with us having to wait another day to find out for sure, then another day. But we do now know whats happening. It could all work, as long as every thing goes according to plan (how often does that happen!) We can afford to buy the boat, fixing her up will be a bit of a stretch, but it is do-able.
The problem we had been trying to sort out over the past couple of days was shipping. The last ship that was scheduled to go to Newport, RI was canceled. If that were to happen to the next ship, we would have the boat stuck in Newport with not enough time to get it to another ship.
So, in the end, the ship is not going to be going to Newport. Its not all bad though, because there is a ship that will be in Fort Lauderdale, a ten day sail away. It will be a little difficult to get out there and get the boat ready and to Fort Lauderdale, but it will be good to be able to get to know the boat even before we get her over here.
Its going to take a lot for everything to fall into place... but it very well could all work out. Its so exciting getting closer and closer to the dead line! If we end up doing this, my dad and I will be flying to RI in a day or two. I'll let everyone know whats happening as soon as I find out myself!
Abby
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Oh my! A lot to figure out and wait for... Keep us updated and all my best wishes going your way for it to work out! Peace, Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher
ReplyDeleteLogistics!
ReplyDeleteIs the idea to stick the boat in an open 40' container? Ship it to the East Coast USA then can a feeder vessel and ship it all around via Panama to the West Coast.
Wow.
What about:
1. ship it to an East Coast USA port then stick it on a train and send it across land to the West Coast?
2. If no coast to coast rail East Coast USA to West Coast USA. Ship the boat to East Coast Canada and send it by train to East Coast Canada and sail it down to California. Believe Canada has coast to coast rail.
3. Trucking. Surely a truck from East Coast USA to West Coast would be the easiest and quickest?
Unless the main idea is incorrect - shipping it around via Panama to the West Coast of course.
Can we get some clarification on what's actually trying to be done.
Thanks !
:-)
Let me add. If it is containerised, in a 40' open top, simply ship it to USA East Coast port asap, stick it on a truck and move it to next available port/vessel East Coast USA port with a vessel going to the West Coast.
ReplyDeleteContainerised is the key. No difference to shipping any cargo in a box.
My guess is that an open 40 is wider than normal road regulations. A "open top 40' container" would probably fit lenghth wise but not width wise. That would make it a special road trip not to mention the hight with the keel. I think the same applies to rail. So going through Panama is probably the cheepest way to go. Just my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that things look promissing :-)
That is exciting indeed. Wishing you that it all works out best in the end.
ReplyDeleteRK
Can you drop the keel or is it a lifting keel? You can stack the boat sideways in a 40' container.
ReplyDeleteAxel had it right. Any over-ground transport has size limitations because of roads, bridges, tunnels, curves, etc. The train tracks and roads are built to accommodate a certain maximum size, and an open 40 simply exceeds those dimensions. Unless, of course, one were to cut it into pieces and reassemble it later. Obviously, that would do bad things to the boat's structural integrity, and the process would likely end up costing more than any other shipping method.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if this is the ship type that they're using, but in sailing magazines you can see ads for yacht transport that show a special ship that has a hold that, instead of holding cargo containers, holds seawater with yachts floating in it and moored to inside of the ship. They flood the ballast tanks until the seawater inside the ship is level with the seawater outside the ship. Then they open the doors and simply float the yachts out into open water. The process is actually pretty similar to going through the Panama Canal, except that the lock then steams to a new harbor.
I remember something I said to your father the first time that I met him. "If it was easy, then it wouldn't be worth doing."
Still praying Numbers 6:24-26
Mouse in Whittier
www.myspace.com/mouseonamotorcycle
Buy "Death and Coffee" here!
Those dock ships usually sail between the Carabean and the Mediteranean and carry big yachts. I don't know of any dock ship going from the East to the West coast. I know the spelling LOL
ReplyDeleteWhy not just leave from the Eastcoast? It is tecnically an easier sail, and more the norm. You are inccuring a huge expense for nothing. Sailing down the entire Westcoast is fine for the first half but then you hit the windless central portion and your going contrary to the winds and current once you get across the equator making for tough ride. The open 40's are not ment to point so you will have a real slog and the potenial pounding from the flat hull could even damage the boat before you make it too the Cape.
ReplyDeleteI expect Laurence knows his boats and how to move them ;-)
ReplyDeleteLet's hope he's noting down all the early hurdles and solutions like he did with the repairs on Zac's boat in Cape Town and Greneda.
Interestingly there is that floating Panama Canal yacht carrier. Looked it up, would never have thought such a boat exists. Big boat with a swimming pool filled with yachts and boats of all sizes. It does Do East and West Coast USA, but you can see from the schdule, these things have to be booked well in advance. As it collects boats in Europe goes to a few islands in the Caribbean collects some more, hits East Coast USA collects some there and goes around to Mexico or West Coast USA or Canada. Quite interesting but obviously very limited. Next available is November East Coast USA to Mexico drop off in December then up to Canada end December, no stop California.
Roughly looking at an old example for sale of an open 40, height with keel some 11 feet, width some 13 or 14 feet, length 39 feet.
According some boat transport sights max height US roads is 13.5 feet. As for width, they haul 65 footer boats. One of those "wide load" trucks you see once in a while. Problem there is it would be crawling to its destination.
For the open 40, even if the keel cannot be removed, it looks pretty "flat", you could transport it upside down as it can lay pretty flat with the right supports.
Trucking is probably too expensice either 3 or 5 dollars per mile. Then again that custom yacht transporting ship looks pretty elaborate and expensive as well.
Be interested if we find a solution and what it is.
You'd think it be easier and cheaper for Laurence to pack up his tool box and bring it all to a ship yard in the Bahamas or East Coast USA and get to work there.
:-)
Use Zac's boat.
ReplyDeleteHi, Abby!
ReplyDeleteFun to meet you at LAX - I hope all works out for you! It'll be interesting to read your thoughts as this adventure goes forward.
Something that has always been in my thoughts through challenging times is a quote from Hamlet - of Polonius to Laertes (who,by the way, was himself getting on a boat!) - "This above all: to thine own self be true and it must follow, as night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man..."
Be strong, be safe, and know we'll be thinking of you!
Allison (and Topper!)
You need a race boat to grab an open window to fly around Cape Horn. Zac's boat while solid as a rock plods along like a tortoise. By the time you get it going, the weather will have changed. Open 40's the way to go to get the intended job done. If you're going to do the job, do it properly :-))
ReplyDeleteI'll keep good thoughts for you!
ReplyDeleteKaryn in Simi
Abby:
ReplyDeleteNorm here. Good to have met you and your dad today. A fine boat. Elizabeth and I will be following your adventures. The question at dinner was, can we do that on our little boat, Averisera? Best, N & E in Boston
What's the action ?
ReplyDeleteUltimate bday gift or not ?
Any news, Abby? Hoping all is going well with the boat purchase & transport, and that you're so busy with all that you haven't been able to update here :-)
ReplyDeletePeace, Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher
Looking forward to the next update and hoping that the news is good.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see you on the water, with Jessica on the move, we have a competition and the world loves a competition
ReplyDeleteAlbert from Australia
Aloha Abby,
ReplyDeleteWill you be resuming making comments on your blog soon? I have a number of readers who are looking forward to learning more about your upcoming adventure.
Thanks,
Ray
Hawaii Boating Writer
I hope you get to sail soon!
ReplyDelete