New Rawson going from La Paz to San Carlos-Questions advice for Newbie

singlehanding on long passages can beat you down. Definitely try to find crew - even if they're only capable of short watches. Can't you challenge the virility of some of your whitewater buddies to get them to join you? :-)

Best of luck with the repower,
Bignose

P.S.: great site yachtpals!

Hi Eric,

We have a Rawson as well (http://yachtpals.com/cordelie), also cutter rigged (with a Yanmar).  These Rawson 30's are the best.  Great Garden design with not too much beam, so they can lay over on the waterline and go.  Although it is built like a brick ^%!@house, she still loves to get up to hull speed.  Can you tell I still love her?  

We have roller furling on all of our sails, makes it much easier to single-hand.  Also, all lines are led aft, so you never have to leave the cockpit.  Well, almost never, that darned genoa sometimes gets stuck around the staysail in very light winds, and you have to go up there and give it a kick. 

My major concern for you single-handing for the first time is the performance of your auto-pilot system.  No whimpy auto-pilot is going to steer our 16,000 pound (fully rigged) Rawsons well, and without a steering aid you can get tired super fast.  Tired = Stupid, and that is the last thing you want to be when your judgement is so important to your safety.

So, what type of auto-pilot do you have on your Rawson?

Are you planning on making short sails north, and how far apart are the anchorages on your trip? 

My advice would be to plan out every anchorage possible on your route, so you have many options if you are tired, have unexpected bad weather, or have a mechanical breakdown.  

Hope this helps,

Kim (seageek) 

Eric, this is Kevin with the other Rawson in La Paz. If you want to
know about the sailing there, contact Jeff at Aquilla Adventures, he competes as well as instructs, he is taking my crew out for $80.00/day/person to tune them up; good opportunity for you to jump aboard for a discount, his
number is 011 52 1 612 119 1160, tell him Kevin from Colorado told
you to call. Another guy is Captain Mike, his number is 877-245-9689.

Are you down there yet? If you are having troubles with mechanics,
ask either Jeff or Mike, they might check out the work for you. Just
a bit of advice, nail anybody in Mexico down on a price before you
authorize the work. While parts are usually a fixed price (I always
check with West Marine or other supply houses to make sure I'm not getting hosed), labor is
always negotiable. If they give you a price make them confirm it and they will stick to it. Treat them as friends, same as you would government officials, they'll work faster and better than if you push.

Here are some cool sites to check out:

http://www.spanishforcruisers.com/index.htm

http://www.clubcruceros.org/index.html

http://www.latitudemexico.com/

http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/sailingregs.html

Also Google Earth, is a great resource for checking anchorages,
plotting way points and etc.

You ought to sail down with us to Puerto Vallarta, we are leaving no
later than May 3rd. Making our way to Mazatlan then down the coast to
PV. I need to be in PV by the 9th, or 10th. You could anchor in La
Cruz (Free), check out Philos a cruisers hang out and meet a lot of
cool people who cruise Mexico, with Great Advice and lots of experience!
Then you should have great sailing north to San Carlos. Plus, it would be safer, both of us having to do shakedown cruises with inexperienced crews or no crew. Just a thought.

I might be able to help you with finding crew. You are going to need some help with watches; across the Sea of Cortez is 24 to 35 hours, that's with perfect winds making hull speed. There really isn't an commercial traffic, except the ferries, fisherman and Shrimp Fleets.

On motors, I have a new Westerbeke, not a Yanmar. Also, make sure the exhaust is installed properly, I have to have mine changed. Call Cecil Lange, the surveyor, he can show you how to make sure it is right and save you some dinero.

Hope this helps,
Kevin, Sea Vixen

dampman:

The guy putting the Yanmar in his Rawson is matt - http://yachtpals.com/user/364

We're building quite the Rawson flotilla!

-SD

Thanks so much for all the tips encouragement and advice. I am trying to find crew to go with me although right now I would be happy just to get a funcitioning motor. Wistuful has a Navco autopilot and a Monitor Windvane although I have never used either one. Kevin I wish I could go with you to PV unfortunately I am almost out of time for this year. I will definetly take your advice and get a hold of Cecil for advice during the install . He was my surveryor as well.Neat guy. I am very interested in seeing your Rawson as Wistful is the only one I have ever seen. Kim I appreciate the advice and your enthusiasm for your boat. I can barely wait to get mine out of the marina. Cheers- Eric