Post: #1

For those of you who don't know, I'm trying to visit every country in the world.

However, the Caribbean is problematic as island-to-island transport doesn't exist in many place along the Leeward and Wayward Islands.

The only solution: The Siege of the Caribbean - renting a boat with me hearty crew and sailing the North-Eastern winds from Trinidad to Puerto, partying on every major island all the way!!!

Here the rough route:


But I don't know where to start in terms of boat rental...

We're thinking of hiring a crew as well...

The problem is the trip is linear and not a circuit.
Perhaps the only option is getting somebody to sail down to Trindad from Puerto Rico.

Anybody have any suggestions?

Hell, is anybody interested in joining us?

Or know any contacts in the lesser Antilles?

Post: #2

Wow, that would be an epic trip, when are you planning on going?

Post: #3

Jan-April has the best weather (no hurricanes)... so probably around then.

Post: #4

How many guys are going? If you charter a boat that's real big its going to cost a fortune. You can buy sailboats dirt cheap in FL right now due to the economy and abundance. The cheapest safest way is to get more than one boat and follow each other for support.

I took a skiff to the Bahamas once that I wouldn't usually but the Sea Ray club was all going so I followed. Easy/safe.

Also I wouldn't worry about the Hurricanes. you know when they're coming. The water is way rougher in the winter. Sometimes glass in the summer.

Another option would be to buy a houseboat and choose your days to move. You can sell it in the keys when your done for good money because people moor/live on them.

Post: #5

@El Mechancio: Thanks for the info! Especially about the rough water.
We don't need a MASSIVE boat... what would you recommend?
So far I have 4-6 people who are in for the trip. 

Perhaps just a motor boat will do the trick. That way we don't need a crew or a licence.
Hell, maybe jetskis would suffice!

Post: #6

(03-11-2012 03:19 PM)naughtynomad Wrote:  @El Mechancio: Thanks for the info! Especially about the rough water.

We don't need a MASSIVE boat... what would you recommend?

Perhaps just a motor boat will do the trick. That way we don't need a crew or a licence.

So far I have 4-6 people who are in for the trip.

Well you really have to know how many first before you choose which.
Like I said on the other thread there's all types of bored pro sailors here who would love to do something like this.

If you want a boat from here I'll find one no problem.
http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/boa/2896565196.html
Browse that site and see if you like anything.

Whatever you do someone on the boat has to have some serious knowledge about this.

Here 800 bucks. You can find these all day here
http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/boa/2896450926.html

Tampa's a pirate city anyway. People here dress like pirates all year round..
http://gasparillapiratefest.com/invasion.shtml

Post: #7

HOLY SHIT you have me excited. That's crazy cheap!
I'll keep you updated.

Post: #8

Ya, I bet a guy could sail for free and make a few bucks just buy buying up boats in Florida and transporting them to countries where the prices are higher.

Anyone want to sail a boat to Indonesia? I'm in the market. Why don't you buy this one and sell it to me in Indonesia? http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/boa/2931107846.html

Post: #9

Dude, don't tempt me.
I'd sail it there AND knock it down to 9k for you!
haha

But really...

Post: #10

Wait if one of us wanted to hop along at some point? Would it be possible?

Post: #11

(04-04-2012 06:09 PM)drymarro Wrote:  Wait if one of us wanted to hop along at some point? Would it be possible?

Unless you guys have A LOT of disposable income don't even think about doing this trip with a motor powered boat. The cost of Marine Diesel Fuel is gonna kill you! Either try to hire a small crew of 2-3 people who know how to sail or better yet look for add's online to see if there are any amateur captains who are sailing to the Caribbean and are willing to share trip expenses with you.
I remember some time ago I was looking at taking a 30 foot boat from VA Beach to Washington, DC (a distance of a mere 200 miles) during the summer to party for the weekend and just fuel costs would have run me close to $1,000!
Gallons of fuel burned per hour (around Mid-Atlantic area of USA cost is a whopping $4/gallon) is a figure you have to keep in mind when picking a boat to take on your trip. You'd be better off just taking a sail boat with an experienced crew and with all the amenities included instead of a Do it yourself solution.

Post: #12

(04-04-2012 09:43 PM)BCZalgyris Wrote:  

(04-04-2012 06:09 PM)drymarro Wrote:  Wait if one of us wanted to hop along at some point? Would it be possible?

Unless you guys have A LOT of disposable income don't even think about doing this trip with a motor powered boat. The cost of Marine Diesel Fuel is gonna kill you! Either try to hire a small crew of 2-3 people who know how to sail or better yet look for add's online to see if there are any amateur captains who are sailing to the Caribbean and are willing to share trip expenses with you.
I remember some time ago I was looking at taking a 30 foot boat from VA Beach to Washington, DC (a distance of a mere 200 miles) during the summer to party for the weekend and just fuel costs would have run me close to $1,000!
Gallons of fuel burned per hour (around Mid-Atlantic area of USA cost is a whopping $4/gallon) is a figure you have to keep in mind when picking a boat to take on your trip. You'd be better off just taking a sail boat with an experienced crew and with all the amenities included instead of a Do it yourself solution.

Wouldn't NN be better off buying a sail boat and have a small engine with some fuel in case of back up. Go with the wind like the pirates of old used to. However NN if you are going on this trip, my advice is to start saving. Jesus H, I'd love to do a trip like that.

Oh yeah, learn how to sail a boat first.

Post: #13

Hmm... They are some serious fuel costs. I'm looking at a sailing course in Howth, Dublin.
Anybody know what level you need to man a small ship?

Post: #14

Well if you are in that neck of the woods , sail fom venezuela and buy gas in Venezuela as it is 12 cents a gallon. Cheapest in the world. If you have the tank space or an extra drum stock it. Otherwise, get a boat with a sail. Get some lessons and best of luck to you.

Post: #15

(04-11-2012 04:38 PM)naughtynomad Wrote:  Hmm... They are some serious fuel costs. I'm looking at a sailing course in Howth, Dublin.
Anybody know what level you need to man a small ship?

You might want to check these sites out.

http://www.sailingindublin.ie/

http://www.sailingireland.ie/

I would reckon that you would need to be fairly competent before you even think of getting into a boat. You are going to be sailing in international waters which given the proximity of where you plan to go are international shipping lanes. Not to mention that at every port that you call at you will need to pay fees. Also it would be advisable to take some caution and a bit of common sense in an area well known for drug trafficking and petty crime.

http://www.safetyandsecuritynet.com/NEWS.html
http://www.noonsite.com/Members/val/R2009-02-28-4

Post: #16

I owned a 30 footer for a few years and sailed it mostly solo all over the waters around Vancouver and Seattle. I had planned to buy a larger boat and do a circumnavigation. I can tell you that I learned a few things. I never want to spend that much time with myself again, it's 90% chill 5% amazing and 5% terrifying. Its during the terrifying times when you realize how close you are to disaster. I would never recommend anyone without some serious experience undertake the voyage you're proposing, but it would have been just like me to do the same before I knew better. Just learning to sail is only the beginning, knowing navigation, safety, mechanics, sewing, the list goes on...is just as vital. Not to mention the work and endless money you'll pour into the boat. It will suck your wallet dry. Im not saying don't do it, just to be realistic and assess your skills carefully. It's unlikely anything will go wrong, but when it does, it does so quickly.

I had an experience once where the wind died, the motor wouldn't start, the radio was dead...all at night in a busy shipping lane. The boat was painted midnight blue. We had a small flashlight as a beacon. We came within 10 meters of getting hit by a freighter. Luckily a crew member saw us and radioed a nearby tug that towed us in. We thought we knew what we were doing. That's why there's a difference between sailing and seamanship.

Have you thought about going to the local fishing marinas and catching a ride on a fishing boat? Probably easier and a lot cheaper.

Anyway, good luck on your journey!

Post: #17

(04-11-2012 04:43 PM)tomtud Wrote:  Well if you are in that neck of the woods , sail fom venezuela and buy gas in Venezuela as it is 12 cents a gallon. Cheapest in the world. If you have the tank space or an extra drum stock it. Otherwise, get a boat with a sail. Get some lessons and best of luck to you.

There must be a massive marine based gasoline smuggling business revolving around that little tidbit of knowledge.

With a big enough boat you could at minimum fund your cross-oceanic journeys just on that cargo alone.

That might affect my decision of what size boat and where to buy it. Buy a nice big cat in the region Venuela, hop over to fill up as many tanks as I can fit on her, then motor-sail it over to Indonesia for charter or resale.

What other cargo might I bring over from that region?

Post: #18

(04-11-2012 05:57 PM)Viralata Wrote:  I owned a 30 footer for a few years and sailed it mostly solo all over the waters around Vancouver and Seattle. I had planned to buy a larger boat and do a circumnavigation. I can tell you that I learned a few things. I never want to spend that much time with myself again, it's 90% chill 5% amazing and 5% terrifying. Its during the terrifying times when you realize how close you are to disaster. I would never recommend anyone without some serious experience undertake the voyage you're proposing, but it would have been just like me to do the same before I knew better. Just learning to sail is only the beginning, knowing navigation, safety, mechanics, sewing, the list goes on...is just as vital. Not to mention the work and endless money you'll pour into the boat. It will suck your wallet dry. Im not saying don't do it, just to be realistic and assess your skills carefully. It's unlikely anything will go wrong, but when it does, it does so quickly.

I had an experience once where the wind died, the motor wouldn't start, the radio was dead...all at night in a busy shipping lane. The boat was painted midnight blue. We had a small flashlight as a beacon. We came within 10 meters of getting hit by a freighter. Luckily a crew member saw us and radioed a nearby tug that towed us in. We thought we knew what we were doing. That's why there's a difference between sailing and seamanship.

Have you thought about going to the local fishing marinas and catching a ride on a fishing boat? Probably easier and a lot cheaper.

Anyway, good luck on your journey!

That's very valuable and very scary information.

Makes it seem to me that the only reasonable solution for a beginner would be to either hire a captain or give a free ride to an experienced sailor to do any long voyage.

Yes, I can see you are absolutely right. A long voyage shouldn't be done alone by the incompetent.

Post: #19

(04-12-2012 01:28 AM)xsplat Wrote:  

(04-11-2012 05:57 PM)Viralata Wrote:  I owned a 30 footer for a few years and sailed it mostly solo all over the waters around Vancouver and Seattle. I had planned to buy a larger boat and do a circumnavigation. I can tell you that I learned a few things. I never want to spend that much time with myself again, it's 90% chill 5% amazing and 5% terrifying. Its during the terrifying times when you realize how close you are to disaster. I would never recommend anyone without some serious experience undertake the voyage you're proposing, but it would have been just like me to do the same before I knew better. Just learning to sail is only the beginning, knowing navigation, safety, mechanics, sewing, the list goes on...is just as vital. Not to mention the work and endless money you'll pour into the boat. It will suck your wallet dry. Im not saying don't do it, just to be realistic and assess your skills carefully. It's unlikely anything will go wrong, but when it does, it does so quickly.

I had an experience once where the wind died, the motor wouldn't start, the radio was dead...all at night in a busy shipping lane. The boat was painted midnight blue. We had a small flashlight as a beacon. We came within 10 meters of getting hit by a freighter. Luckily a crew member saw us and radioed a nearby tug that towed us in. We thought we knew what we were doing. That's why there's a difference between sailing and seamanship.

Have you thought about going to the local fishing marinas and catching a ride on a fishing boat? Probably easier and a lot cheaper.

Anyway, good luck on your journey!

That's very valuable and very scary information.

Makes it seem to me that the only reasonable solution for a beginner would be to either hire a captain or give a free ride to an experienced sailor to do any long voyage.

Yes, I can see you are absolutely right. A long voyage shouldn't be done alone by the incompetent.

Exactly, I said before to start on small sail boats (12 ft) and work up and or get a small motorboat to learn how to navigate.

Shit goes south out there real fast and you have to know what to do. Half my fun on the water is watching the show. When a storm kicks up I find a sandbar to chill on and sit in a tidal pool that's warm. The people on my boat freak and beg me to get into shore as well as all the other boats racing that way. They usually end up in a pile on the rocks.

Post: #20

Great plan, but this is not a joke and you need to do things right to avoid serious problems.
What level of experience do you and your friends have with sailing or motorboating? Do you have any sort of marine boating license? Does anyone know first aid?
Not trying to be a spoilsport, but I grew up on an island and love to boat and have seen some really bad stuff happen when people get unlucky or stupid, as help does not come quickly if at all in the places you are going. Definitely have an EPIRB and other safety equipment.
Also, if you are going to bring blow or herb along for the festivities, keep the bulk of it in a weighted plastic bag over the side with fishing line on it, and if approached by coast guard or anyone, cut it.
A gun and or knife could be a good idea as well.

Post: #21

(04-11-2012 05:57 PM)Viralata Wrote:  I had an experience once where the wind died, the motor wouldn't start, the radio was dead...all at night in a busy shipping lane. The boat was painted midnight blue. We had a small flashlight as a beacon. We came within 10 meters of getting hit by a freighter. Luckily a crew member saw us and radioed a nearby tug that towed us in. We thought we knew what we were doing. That's why there's a difference between sailing and seamanship.

And... I'm hard.

Post: #22

Snorting Viagra will do that