Preparation before travel

Just some information on preparing for this trip. While this blog is for the trip out to California and our cruise with the C-Dory group, afterwards, I'll be towing the boat north to the Seattle area, where I'll relaunch and spend the next two months cruising with two buddies along the British Columbia coast. So I'm really preparing for three months of living on C-Traveler. Packing for this time frame on a 25' cabin cruiser makes use of just about every inch of space. I can go a full month before needing to do laundry, and packed to wear in layers. In California, we'll experience temperature lows down to low 40's, and highs between 60's and 70's. In the Pacific North, those temps will be from lows in the 30's to highs in the 80's, as I go into July. Packing food I had to be aware of restrictions entering Canada, but was able to pack quite a bit of food. Still, I will need to replenish at least once if not twice. And perhaps more often with regards to such things as bread and other items that don't last as long. I do have both a refrigerator and portable freezer on the boat, but they are small. I can keep some things cool packed along the cabinet floors or in the bilge, as the outside sea temperature keeps those areas cooled. I will be able to do outboard engine oil changes when necessary, with a oil change vacuum system. I expect to only need to change oil once. (Most maintenance guides suggest every 100 hours. Since we are going to be running at lower RPMS, I will push that out to 200 hours.) The lower unit lube will have to wait for changing until the boat is back out of the water and after I get back home. (Otherwise I'd have to pay to have it slung or taken out of the water by a marina.) Fortunately, I have already had the boat out on the water this season, with my earlier trip to Dale Hollow Lake. So I know everything is in good mechanical condition for this extended trip. I also finally bit the bullet and purchased the Starlink Mini, as the British Columbia coast can be pretty remote, and it'll be nice still having access to internet service. I believe I will be without cell service in much of the area we'll be cruising. I plan to take four days driving out to California. That's at around 500 miles a day. I do have an extra day available for travel, if we are unable to make good time. I only tow at a maximum of 65mph. I'm looking forward to this first part of summer and these two trips. Very happy that Rosanne will be joining me for this trip, but then she'll fly back home as I head north.Læs mere