Daydream's Great Loop Blog!

Meander has always been able to plane quite easily, even though a higher RPM was required to do so. Even at Lake Powell. If you can't get Daydream on plane, try a lower pitch prop.
Click to expand...
I would run the WOT test (see what RPM you get at WOT) and where you should be, then if you are in the range with a bit of wiggle room, change the prop down a notch.
Click to expand...

We were somewhat in the same "boat" with our 25 and a 130 Honda--considerably less torque, and far more difficult to plane, especially with all of our great for a month either in AK or Powell. (Cold vs Hot/altitude). We did try stepping down one size (and have done this in our 22 also)--It would allow us to plane, but at an RPM which was higher than I was comfortable with running for a long time. We also found that we had to go up considerably in RPM just for our displacement cruising speed. So, we stuck with the higher pitch prop. When we sold the boat at Lake Powell, we went down 2 sizes--at the recommendation of Ken at Prop Gods--and he was correct--our slippage dropped significantly as well as the RPM at plane. We sold the boat with 3 props--and I think the final Powell Prop is what is still being used. Since Pat is going mostly at displacement speeds, It is probably his best bet to stay with the standard prop--and get better mileage at slower speeds.
 
I suspect that Harvey's comment about Amsterdam, NY being a "Weird place", is prompted by the comments that there are many empty buildings and few businesses.

This is not unusual in many small towns across America. We see many of then if you get off the freeways. The small town near to where our farm is located is almost a ghost town--as are many towns near it. There is no grocery Store, the bank closed 4 years ago, the hardware store closed, no restaurants, The seed company was bought out last year and operations moved, and that was one of the last employers in the down.

Drive along Route 66 the towns are gone. Same for the Erie Canal once a major center of commerce, now a few barges which don't stop, and an annual run of "loopers". The farms have changed; where a farmer lived on the farm and worked a few hundred acres, now are owned by large conglomerates which farm many thousands of acres. Many similar stories where the young people move to centers where there are jobs.
 
Probably off-topic, but we are traveling with our motorhome, staying to the back roads. Like Dr. Bob, we have come across plenty of small towns that are on the rocks economically. Right now, though, we are in the small Iowa town of Winterset, Iowa (John Wayne's birthplace), and it seems to be thriving. The shops have found a niche, rather than trying to compete with the nearby bigger city of Des Moines.

When we cruised on the Erie Canal, we found the western portion to be far more interesting, and the towns more viable, than the eastern portion. Many of the towns have free or inexpensive walls for boaters, understanding that this brings $$ into the town. Not being on a schedule, we were able to time our travels to enjoy the various farmers markets and town celebrations along the canal. Besides free dockage, we found other "perks" like free use of a washer/dryer, and free pump-out stations (not always the case out east, unlike the PNW).

The Erie Canal is a true boat cruiser's delight: easy transition, friendly lock masters, friendly townfolk, lots of interesting history, and inexpensive to boot! Restaurants and grocery stores in walking distance.

Hope Pat and Patty enjoy their time on the canal.
 
"I suspect that Harvey's comment about Amsterdam, NY being a "Weird place", is prompted by the comments that there are many empty buildings and few businesses."
Click to expand...

Bob is right, the "nice and weird" was aimed at the empty buildings with the manikins, and not at the people. Sounds like the folks at the marina were super. Empty buildings, I get that, and see them around frequently. Manikins in the windows, that we don't see everywhere.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

1_10_2012_from_Canon_961.highlight.jpg
 
Today you get a two-fer!

The first blog post covers yesterday, just hanging at Canal Harbor at Little Falls!

The second blog post covers today at a very nice park at Lock E-20 in Marcy, and a very nice lady who came down to our boat bearing gifts!
 
starcrafttom":25mmsg77 said:
http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/news/one-suzuki-and-two-sisters-take-america-s-great-loop

16ft open boat with two young girls. Pat you are on a palace.
Click to expand...

Yes, I followed their blog when they were doing the Loop. They did it in a Duroboat, their Dad owns/owned the company! They stopped in at Appalachicola for an engine service, and I think Marc posted about it at the time. He was worried about their safety crossing the Big Bend, and I think he set them up with an EPIRB. And yes, we are on a palace compared to that Duroboat, since they actually slept and ate on it!

Here is the story from the Duroboat site!
 
Pat,

I am looking to download the Garmin charts for the iPad, so I can use Active Captain. Which chart will cover the Trent Severn and Rideau canals. There are "North America v 2017.0" and "US Coastal v 2017.0" charts. I can't find any good description of what area each chart covers. The Garmin web page is a POS and you can't see the coverage until you buy and download.

I realize the difference is only $15, but I don't want to buy the wrong chart. Anybody else know the answer?
 
Brent,

We got BlueChart Mobile North America for the iPad for about $48 (including the tax, the price was $44.95). As I recall, that lets you download unlimited map tiles for cruising areas, which I did. It says it expires in a year, but the download maps do not disappear, I think only your ability to update them. We also got Navionics Boating U.S. & Cananda HD for $60 (including the tax, the price was $54.99). I think it also required downloading specific cruising areas. Anyway, we have the entire Loop on both, plus our home PNW cruising grounds,

The Navionics has FAR better marine cartography, but the Garmin BlueChart Mobile has Active Captain, which is pretty much indispensable to us.

Pat[/color]
 
Back
Top