I would like to know if anyone else out there in Swaylock Land has a boat to get to those places that are hard to get to with a car or even a 4X4. I just bought a used 15 foot Hobie Power Skiff, with the intentions of using it to get to some waves that may be a little less crowded. My long range goal is to buy a sailboat around 30 foot or so to explore some of the Caribbean surf potential.
Howzit tom, When they put together the first crew to sail the Hokule they used what they figured were great water men but they weren't sailors and not used to long periods at sea. Well after about 2 weeks they were getting on each others throats and there was a lot of bickering and most likely a few punches thrown. Just goes to show a good surfer or waterman doesn't make a good sailor. I have done some sailing in my time and did one trip from Cabo to San diego and you are just beating against the wind the whole time but there were only 3 of us and we all got along fine so it was a fun trip and I had no problem being out there for a fairly long time which I think was about 11 days since we were tacking the whole way back. Aloha,Kokua
yea, I have boated to islands to surf. What part of the country are you in? A buddy of mine was homeschooled on a sailboat in the Caribbean. There are tons of surf spots down there, the most consistent are already quite populated, but he says there are a lot of fun waves that you can surf alone if you know where to look.
great boat, one of the best riding and seaworthy 15’ skiffs ever built, perfect for skimming the coastline in tight, looking for uncrowded waves. Match it up with a newer 4 cyl. 50 hp, and you’ll be grinnin a whole bunch.
Right Now I am in Florida just got The 15 foot Hobie. It is a very light boat only about 950 lbs with motor so would be easy to tow. They were designed by Hobie with the idea that it could be surf launched. If I get back to San Diego it should come in handy to get to a couple of places that can only be accessed by boat. Then There is also Baja! I Have info on some waves that take a long 3 to 4 hours on very bad roads yet can be gotten to by boat in 1/2 to 1 hour by boat.
I have my eye out for an older 30 foot sailboat with shoal draft. Here in Fla there are deals out there now on boats.
Exploring by sailboat is nice theory. Sailboat people are dreamers, I've been one. A boat might be one way of exploration and access but its probably not the most efficient. Boats demand constant attention and can't be left unattended while on the explorations, they have difficult administrative problems crossing borders among many other practical use issues. I was on an adventurous surf trip mainland Mex a few years ago, the surf camp was loaded up with car camping surfers. everyone surfed out, burnt by the sun, kicked back in the off hours in a great part of the world. So along comes the sailboat surfing family who had to anchor their yacht miles away down the coast in a populated area because that's where population centers grow up, leave the yacht uunattended on a rouphish piece of coast with population about, or have friends or servant aboard to keep the boat, then arrange for transportation to get up the coast many miles to the surf spots, with boards and day gear and the hasske factor goes on and on. A boat is only one way to expore.
Im not so sure being offshore in Baja in a 15’ boat in a remote spot is such a good idea. they don’t have vessel assist down there. and an hour by boat in the morning can easily become 4 in the afternoon if you don’t capsize. 3 hours by car is easier than 1 by 15’ skiff down there. and safer.
Then again, there are places that are only accessable by boat or float planes.
Hey artz,
My shaper has a 32’ sailboat and has been making runs over to the Caribbean for years from FL. I’ve seen some amazing photos of world-class waves. There’s a lot of guys who make regular runs over there from FL on cold-front swells. Most everyone is pretty tight-lipped about it though, and wisely so.
Surfing is just part of the adventure when going by boat.
John Mellor, That looks like a great little craft. Since I can't afford a De Havilland Float plane The boat will have to do. I have seen some photos of the Hobie skiff modified with a small cabin like the one you posted. The photos were from a Surfer in Santa Barbra.
To the skeptical, I Have been sailing for many years. I owned and operated a Yacht restoration and repair business in San Diego for 15 years. Did some Baja exploration with a 26" Columbia in the early 80's
hey John, love the photo i think i remember it from a TSJ article... JC? ... didn't he show up to a Swaylocks Campout a few years back?
I must be one of those "dreamers". I've invested a good chunk of my life gaining experience to sail off to remote uncrowded surf locations. In my late 20's I spent half a decade delivering race boats back from Mexico and one trip from Easter Island back through the Galapagos. Then I spent another decade managing a boatyard that specialized in restorations, commisioning of new boats and optimization of race boats. Lately, I've been down to one Mexico race a year and one race to Hawaii.
I know far more professional sailors that surf than I know professional surfers who sail. It's true that there are many breaks that do not offer the best anchorages right there. But, then again points often offer protection and good surf. So, you just have to know where to look when. It's a huge investment in time and/or money. But, it's a whole lot of fun and sometimes a whole lot of terror. But, you sure know you are alive when you are out there and there is no one else to rely upon other than yourself.
I don’t want to dash your dreams. I spend a lot of time in Baja and have experience at some of the more remote spots. I just think driving into some of them would be easier and safer but not faster. It is all relative because the perceived fastest way very often becomes the slow way quickly. A big difference between a 15’ skiff and a 26’ sailboat. I had a ranch boat 20 years ago only to find out that a lot of other people do too. Exploration in the Caribbean sounds really cool. I don’t want to be a bubble buster just relate my experience about things I think might not be so safe. You sound like you know what you are doing. Enjoy.
Hi Artz - Yes, the boat is a good one. It's a 15' Boston Whaler with custom spray cabin. There is a write up about the customization here. Also a write up on a Hobie Power Skiff customization here.
The owner of the Whaler has since sold it and has a newly customized older Radon done in a similar fashion.
Chrisp - Yes, it is a photo that ran in the article Jeff Chamberlain wrote. That is Jeff and Paul Jensen standing in the cockpit enroute to a remote section of coastline with no roads.
Tom - I know you are a capable sailer. It seems that with fuel costs being what they are, long distance passages are only feasible via sail. What a way to go!
PS - The Radon customization hasn't been posted but it basically went from a beat up bare hull to an extended version with cabin.
Check this out, hope the link works.... http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DswZ583Abu44&h=1de6e
A while ago there was a 26’ catamaran for sail, designed and built by none other than Phil Edwards. I tried to see if there was anyone interested in a 4 way partnership (I think the boat was selling for $25,000), but no one responded. It would have been a perfect boat for what you want to do- very fast for passages and island hopping. It had no cabin but was beachable- just run it up on the beach and pitch your tent.
When the time comes to purchase your sailboat, don’t just think of it as transportation. I think tomatdaum would agree with me- sailing in and of itself is nearly as big a rush as surfing. Make sure you get a boat that can surf! Get a boat that can perform, rather than a motorhome with a mast. You won’t regret it. If it was me I’d be looking for a Olson 30 or Hobie 33 which can be found for under $15,000, are a blast to sail (both designed by surfers- both capable of surfing), you’ll be daysailng all the time in FL and they both have illustrious histories of transpac crossings (CA to HI), so should manage a passage from FL to the Carib. However be prepared to get a little wet going to weather…
Where I live you are pretty limited by the lack of roads to the beach. All of the places that I surf are an adventure to get to most places are accessed via logging roads and hiking but boats really open up some different options.
Here is a picture of my little boat that I use to travel a river into a great beach:
My friend owns an ex Coast Guard Hurricane that we use to get to some very inaccessible spots.
This boat is extremely stable and will handle anything but it gets pretty cold on those wet or even sometimes snowy days.
Here is something you don’t see everyday!
We hitched a ride courtesy of the local law enforcement. Canadian tax dollars at work!
I wouldn’t have surfed half the amazing spots that I have without the boats that I have had access to. It really is to bad that I get awfully seasick every time I go out. I have to be the first one into the water and the last one out or else I will be sick.
Andy
Hey Andy, I have been wanting to come to BC to surf for a few years, now. I grew up surfing winter in New Jersey so water and air don’t bother me all that much. Any suggestions would be welcome.
In the mid 90s some friends and I began using boats to access some empty breaks that no one had ever surfed before. Well, some folks can’t keep their mouths shut and love to brag/boast. Now, when there’s a good sized swell in the water there will be up to 6 different boats in the channel with 4 to 8 guys in each boat. Last year, a boat full of SUP riders showed up. Kinda put the last nail in the coffin for one break.
SammyA For a long time Todo Santos was a secret. I heard rumors way back in the late 70's I use to surf with a guy from Imperial Beach. IB surfers for the most part had the Baja dialed in.
asorensen, I was looking for a nice inflatable before I bought the Hobie, The larger RIB's are very expensive.