I need to rent a boat, map out my course, etc. I plan on hugging the coast and not going out very far (+/-5 miles)
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I need to rent a boat, map out my course, etc. I plan on hugging the coast and not going out very far (+/-5 miles)
When you hit the Chesapeake Bay you are going to find that ‘hugging the coast’ is an acronym for not planning your trip.
I would strongly suggest (if you intend to do this) taking a short course in boat navigation and at least carry a hand-held gps with enough replacement batteries (waterproof, of course) to support your plan.
Another smart item might be a compass although I wonder about the reliability of one in and around motors and other electro-mechanical magnetic field generators. All the same, if it gets cloudy and you can’t see (or don’t know) relative lunar astronomical navigation devices, the compass will serve you without the loss of power.
I’ve rented a boat in Florida to locate the Longitude/Latitude of a published shipwreck site and used my gps to find it. . . several miles out beyond the breakers and lo and behold I was put right on the bow of the wreck.
My first question is. . . rent a boat of what size?
Not going out very far is not +/- 5 miles. . . not going out would be advisable and taking the ICW would be recommended where you can.
I’m sitting here re-reading your question and coming up with more questions that can be listed. Questions like. . .
Have you ever done something like this before? Not a bad first time voyage but still one you need experience to do.
Do you have navigational experience? If not are you going to get it before making the trip?
How big a boat are you thinking of renting? Wait, that should be “charter. “I wouldn’t think of making the trip in anything less than maybe a mid 30’s boat or larger. Can be done smaller but not worth it. Oh, and you don’t say if you’ll be going back. Are you?
Power or sail boat? Deep pockets needed for a trip down and back for gas for the power boat with the cost of fuel now.
When are you thinking of doing this? Running out of time to do so in 2008 and 2009 wouldn’t be good until roughly late March but preferably April due to weather conditions. . .
The questions keep coming but think you’re getting the idea. It’s much more complicated than just “mapping a course” and loading up the supplies.
Now, I will apologize if you’ve got years of experience on the water and trust me, I wasn’t trying to insult your intelligence of boating but your question really gave us no means of knowing what you wanted to hear from us.
Good luck and smooth waters to you!
Good Luck.
Not too bad of a trip, but if sounds like you may need to do a little more planning. What type of boat are you going to rent? You also may want to think about the ICW, when the weather turns bad, 5 miles off shore does not mean 5 miles to safety.