Typical Delivery Summary
Customer makes contact either by use of the contact form or phone call.
It's best to use the contact form first. I will need the info in the form to work up an accurate quote.
I will then follow up with a phone call.
I calculate the distance figure in boat speed and other variables and send you a quote.
You agree and send the required deposit. The deposit covers the roundtrip travel expenses for the crew to and from our base of operations. It also covers the cost of vessel provisions for the duration of the delivery.
I commission the crew for the days needed. I make the travel arrangements for myself and any crew.
The day/hours immediately before the desired departure time we travel to the boat, usually by rental car. We typically carry too much baggage to fly. REMEMBER we not ONLY carry clothing but also chartbooks, spare electronics, some bedding and other needed supply's perhaps a coffee pot or frying pan, depending on how your vessel is outfitted.
If possible we meet with you at the boat. If not possible we will speak via phone and continue to do our pre departure vessel, engine checks and vessel familiarization. If everything checks out ok we go to local grocery store and provision the boat with needed food and water for the crew for the estimated days onboard. Once provisions are on the boat we return the rental car and take UBER back to the marina and the boat.DEPARTURE (Booked Crew Days Start Now)
I try to time everything so we can leave early the first morning, by having everything but the fueling done the night before. When it's time to depart we go to the fuel dock and bunker fuel to capacity including any Jerrycans we have available. While fueling, we talk to the fuel dock hands and other boaters to obtain as much local knowledge as possible for the area we are in. Once the fueling is done, we consult the charts again, confirm course and get underway.
We will stay underway all day and into the night until we either get to the marina or anchorage we desire. When underway at night in an intercoastal or inland waterway, the deckhand is on watch with me looking for markers, boats, crab traps or any other obstacles. The deckhand does assist in anchoring and weighing anchor. When docking, the deck hand will have the mooring lines ready and the fenders out prior to getting to the dock. Once at the dock, we secure the vessel, tying it up, making sure the fenders are placed appropriately.
The next day we start very early again before sunrise by making coffee and then we check the engine oil, gear oils, coolant levels and belts.
We get underway again at first light. If we were at anchor, we would determine if fuel is needed and where to stop. Of course, if we stopped in a marina we simply go to the fuel dock, top off the fuel and pump out any sewage from the boat.
There is normally 2 people up and on watch at almost all times. Few exceptions are made except for long offshore crossings that take more than 24hrs. (extended offshore runs would require an extra crew person).
Occasionally, we may have to wait or slow down to arrive at the inlet, marina or channel at the appropriate time for a tidal change in order to get in or out safely.Almost every delivery either starts, stops or transits at some point on an inland or intercostal waterway. So it's very common to have to time bridge openings assuming the vessel we are on is ICW compliant, 64 vertical feet or less. Than we should be able to get under MOST fixed bridges, but not ALL are 65 feet. The rest of the bridges must be opened to pass even for power boats. Some bridges just open on request, others on the hour, half hour, every twenty minutes or every quarter hour IT'S A PAIN! The Idea is to arrive at a bridge (locks too), just before the schedule opening time.
DESTINATION
At our destination point of arrival we will put the boat in the slip, tie it off, put fenders/bumpers out, remove all trash and leftover food. Clean inside of vessel, put away sails, replace sail covers and neatly stow lines and hose off the outside of boat if hose is available.
DELIVERY COMPLETE (pay stops)
At this point we like the balance of our payment due..... SMILES!!!
But we're not done YET! We STILL need to get home.....the adventure continues! So bags in hand we call a taxi / UBER and either get a rental car or jump on a train.
At our home city we take an taxi / UBER AGAIN from car drop or train station or airport to crew members individual homes.
For more information please see my Rates/Fees And FAQ's
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(727) 236-1385
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