posted May 11, 2005 09:04 AM            

While reading where everyone sails out of I noticed a lot of us have had our boats a short time?

Anyway, that's not what this thread is about. I would like to know if anyone has done some extended outings (More than 2 days) in our Sandpipers and how did you find it? Depending on how things go this year & next year, we're hoping to take Barefoot to Victoria for a 2 to 3 week holiday and sail the Gulf islands or the sunshine coast. I've done it already in larger boats but I perfer to gunkhole around in smaller boats.

posted May 11, 2005 12:44 PM            

I've sailed ShortWave in the North Channel of Georgian Bay for a 3 week period.
There is no gas or ice available between small towns up there. We had an extra tank in the lazarette so we could switch it over without pouring gas from one container to another. We went 1-1/2 weeks between Killarney and Little Current for ice and gas stops.

We also sailed round trip on Lake Ontario from Toronto to the Kingston area in 3 weeks.

We sailed and motored anywhere from 1-5 miles offshore, both day and night. The Sandpiper took very good care of us.

Other sailors (bigger boats) would look at us when we got out in the morning. Two six ft people in that boat? Then we'd show them the luxurious double bed inside, while Lynn would begin cooking a nice breakfast in the cockpit.

posted May 11, 2005 01:48 PM            

For whatever it's worth. I could see a couple cruising for a week or so, but I don't think it would be as comfortable with, say, two kids, even if they're little kids.

posted May 11, 2005 09:14 PM            

2 people cruising on a Sandpiper is very comfortable. We've cruised the Gulf Islands in a 24 footer and the small boats can indeed go places a larger one can't.

You also have to weigh the extra size versus the ease of launching a smaller boat. Sometimes in B.C. you would have to wait for another ferry beacause they couldn't get a larger trailer onto the boat.

I'm not sure if I would take a Sandpiper all the way from the Gulf Islands up the Sunshine Coast in 2 weeks. It would be easier to sail in one area then trailer (upwind at 55 miles per hour) to the other area.

D'Arcy

posted May 12, 2005 12:10 PM            

They do enjoy sailing and going on short trips 2-4 days, but I'm not sure about a week yet. I'm not sure I could stand it either. It might be easier in a place like the North Channel, where there are so many anchorages, and places to explore. I think I would need to stop for ice, provisions and beer after 4 days though. Maybe someday we'll try it.

posted May 17, 2005 08:02 AM            

Later I towed it with a 6 cylinder Buick Park Ave, a much better ride.

posted May 17, 2005 10:36 PM            

Also, as I looked more closely, I love the little "washroom male/female" sign by the head access window.

I also notice, what, vents for the large & small lockers. Could you share on those installations too?

(I think you may have commented on these before, but I'm a slow learner & too lazy -- or perhaps to bored by my slow connnection speed -- to dig into the achives!)

posted May 18, 2005 08:19 AM            

The four rectangular vents were cut unto the sides of the lockers to help reduce the condensation inside. The spring lake water temperatures are cold, while the air temp inside the hull may be quite high in sunny Wx. I did not ventilate the smaller aft lockers. These are similar to what I used.
http://ca.binnacle.com/online/product.asp?dept%5Fid=10040&pf%5Fid=22371

I would be very careful of installing non-closing vents in the forward bulkhead of the laz. I installed a butterfly (closeable) vent in that location, but thought better of it after one season....it allowed a lot of water inside. The two scoop vents were installed high up in the cockpit coaming....this works very well. The scoops are soft vinyl, and don't take out your kidneys when you lean against them.
http://www.thechandleryonline.com//product.asp?dept%5Fid=1304&pf%5Fid=006%5FAN10873

posted May 18, 2005 09:43 AM            

I originally thought I'd remove the carpet but it adds some warmth to the all fiberglass inside. Nice on bare feet when you get up in the morning.