Commuter Cruising means you’re going to leave your boat somewhere … whether it’s just around the corner in your home marina … or you make the traumatic jump like we did to leave the country. Realizing that we could never achieve our objective of the San Blas Islands in Panama and return to our US marina annually, we decided we’d leave the boat along the way, wherever we ended up after six months. Lots of people ask if we were concerned about safety issues and other issues, but “knock on teak”, we’ve never had any problem that we haven’t experienced right here in the good ole USA as well.
Here’s a compilation of posts that I’ve done on leaving the boat, a subject near and dear to commuter cruiser’s hearts, including Free Downloadable PDF Checklists on lots of subjects; Leaving the Boat – what to do with the diesel, how to keep out critters & bugs, water tanks full or empty and more; On The Hard or In The Water; Marinas; Hurricane Preparedness; and Returning to the Boat. Scroll down to see the lists.
Hopefully you’ll find a useful tip, or at least some thought provoking information … and if you’re on the fence about whether you want to leave the US and go “commuter cruising” leaving the boat wherever you end up after six months … all I can say, is “GO NOW!!!” You won’t regret it & you’ll have lifelong memories to cherish. I know we do & hopefully we’ll have some more before we’re done Commuter Cruising!
Checklists
I love checklists – and you can’t have enough of them aboard, especially if you’re not a regular commuter to your boat — anytime I do something twice a year, I’m bound to forget things.
“Seasonal Cruising in the Bahamas: How Do You Do It?”Caretaker ChecklistChecklist To Leave Boat in WaterChecklist to Leave the Boat for the HolidaysChecklist to Leave Your Boat Out of a Hurricane Zone: Originally Published in Bluewater SailingLeaving Your Boat in Alaska: Guest Post by Christy/sv Hello World
Leave the Boat
What to do with the diesel? How to keep out critters & bugs? NO MOLD or mildew?
“Seasonal Cruising in the Bahamas: How Do You Do It?”Back to Being a Dirt DwellerBag The Prop?Bugs, Critters & Mold … OH NO!!!Caretaker ChecklistChafe Gear? 4 Important Considerations for Your BoatChecklist To Leave Boat in WaterChecklist to Leave the Boat for the HolidaysChecklist to Leave Your Boat Out of a Hurricane Zone: Originally Published in Bluewater SailingDiesel Tanks… the Ongoing Debate: Full or Empty?Don’t Forget The FUN Factor!!!Don’t Throw a Party for Cockroaches Aboard!For the Birds!FREE Hurricane Prep Links!How To Find A CaretakerHurricane Preparedness #3 … Dock LinesHurricane Preparedness #4Hurricane Preparedness #5 … CaretakerHurricane Preparedness … #2Hurricane Preparedness … 1 in a Series…Leaving Your Boat in Alaska: Guest Post by Christy/sv Hello WorldRemoving a Roller Furled JibStep by Step: Roller Furling Jib Back On!The Last Sail ….Tips on How To Pick a MarinaWhat To Do With The Diesel?Which Dehumidifier for a Boat?While We’re Away, Boat Issues …
On the Hard or In the Water?
Which is best, on the hard or in the water? There are no right or wrong answers, but there are lots of considerations.
Marinas
What we look for in a marina to leave our boat for six months while we return to the Midwest. Also some of the marinas we've left s/v Winterlude in from southwest Florida to Colon, Panama.
1st Time: Leaving Winterlude on the Hard, Shelter Bay Marina, PanamaBocas Marina, Bocas Del Toro, PanamaBurnt Store Marina, Southwest FloridaCatamaran Island Hotel and Marina, Rio Dulce, GuatemalaCucumber Beach Marina, Belize City, BelizeGeorgia Liveaboard Laws Change Effective January 2012!Marina Paraiso, Isla Mujeres, MexicoShelter Bay Marina, Ft Sherman/Colon, PanamaTips on How To Pick a Marina
Hurricane Preparedness
- 10 Tips for Revisiting Dock Lines for Hurricane
- After The Hurricane …
- Chafe Gear? 4 Important Considerations for Your Boat
- Easy Hurricane Tracking Via SSB
- FREE Hurricane Prep Links!
- Here Comes 2012 Hurricane Season… Are You Ready?
- Hurricane Preparedness #3 … Dock Lines
- Hurricane Preparedness #4
- Hurricane Preparedness #5 … Caretaker
- Hurricane Preparedness … #2
- Hurricane Preparedness … 1 in a Series…
- Hurricane Season … Are You Ready?
- Hurricane Warning: Riding Out a Big Blow At Anchor
- Jim Cantore Stay AWAY From My Boat!!!
- Removing a Roller Furled Jib
- Staying Put: Ground Tackle for a Hurricane
Return to the Boat
… hurray! it’s time to return to the boat and resume the adventure!
“Seasonal Cruising in the Bahamas: How Do You Do It?”Back Aboard: Bocas Del Toro, PanamaCommuter Cruiser Priorities: Liveable, then Sailable!Exciting Times! Getting Ready to Return to the BoatGreen Lines Go AWAY!Spring Commissioning or Return to Boat Checklist!Tips for Flying Back to the BoatYear 2: Return to the Boat, Rio Dulce, Guatemala
