MICRO CRUISING GUIDE
CRUISING TIPS FOR MATT'S BOAT
GETTING READY
Mindy and I have sailed aboard Matt Layden's Little Cruiser for close to ten years now (over 20 now), and we have learned a good deal about micro cruising during that time. Though many people would consider this fifteen footer to be a little Spartan for two, we've found that the boat's small size is one of her strongest virtues. We've trailered her long distances with our aging four cylinder Honda Accord, and we've found it easy to launch the boat at any ramp due to the boat's 9-inch draft. Little Cruiser is simple to sail and to maintain, and her flat-bottomed hull along with her robust construction has proven itself over 10,000 miles of sailing in all kinds of weather. Most importantly, this miniature yacht has carried us safely six times to the Bahamas. We have enjoyed gunk holing in the shallow and incredibly clear waters in this sailor's paradise, and we have explored many pristine islands and beaches not easily accessible by larger craft. However, having a good boat is not the only thing that is needed to have a successful trip; therefore, we'd like to share our experiences on how to plan for a long trip along with how to cruise long distances safely in a micro cruiser.
We've found that it takes a good amount of time to get ready for our
trips. Not only are there a lot of chores to do to prepare for the trip
itself, but there are the day-to-day things that need to be taken care
of while you are gone. Unless you are retired, you will need to figure
out how to take time off from work, whether it is for a leave of
absence or simply for your upcoming vacation. Then, when you are away,
you will have to have someone handle your mail, pay your bills and look
after your property. In our case, we work part-time jobs that allow us
to leave for our trips when business is slow; and while we are gone, a
neighbor picks up our mail and watches our place, while our parents
tend to the bills. We realize that not everyone can leave for three
months like we do and that most sailor will have to plan their trips
around their own time schedule.
Once you have figured out how to get enough time off, you will then be
able to begin your preparations in earnest. The first thing you need to
do is to make sure that your boat is in tip-top shape. Before you start
packing, go over the boat carefully and tighten up any loose nuts and
bolts, and inspect everything for cracks and leaks. Look over the
gudgeons, the pintles, the rudder, the centerboard, the handrails, the
tiller and especially the spars. If anything needs to be repaired, this
is the best time to do it now since it will be harder to do when you
are on the water. Also, don't forget to have a look at your trailer and
it's bearings; and whatever you do, make sure the lug nuts on the
wheels are on tight! Don't laugh. We had a wheel fly off at 55 miles
per hour when we forgot to tighten up one side sufficiently after
repacking the bearings. Needless to say, it was scary riding down the
road on just the hub, and we were lucky to come to a stop without jack
knifing the trailer. Little Cruiser sure lives a charmed life.
When all the inspections are completed and your repairs are done to
your satisfaction, it's time to actually start packing. Since our trips
last nearly 3 months, we try to bring everything we need to maintain
the boat and ourselves. We have found that half the fun in preparing
for a trip in a micro boat is seeing how much stuff you can fit in the
boat. However, keep in mind that in Matt's sharpies most of the ship's
stores make up the ballast; therefore, you want to place the heaviest
items like cans down in the bilge while the lighter things need to go
higher up. Of course, as you eat through your stores, you will have to
shift things around again or add weight to maintain proper ballasting.
Many sailors are amazed by the amount of gear that we can carry aboard
LITTLE CRUISER. At times we even amaze ourselves! Packing it all away
in such a tiny boat is an art. We try to choose our equipment and
stores carefully, keeping in mind the available space and where it will
all fit. When we buy can goods we are constantly aware of the fact that
our maximum bilge space is 5 3/8" amidship while the minimum depth is 2
¾" up forward. This means that we can only fit so many tall cans in the
deepest part of the bilge while the smaller cans must fit elsewhere.
Somehow we manage to pack everything in. The many shelves and bins
offer secure placement for books, glasses, sun tan lotions, radios and
the like, while the hanging nets are for our clothes. All our equipment
is arranged securely since we don't want items flying around the cabin
or rattling down in the bilges when conditions get rough outside. We
can't tell you how annoying it is to hear things banging for hours on
end while you are making a long passage. Also, while we are packing, we
make up a list that tells us where everything is located. You don't
want to unpack your whole boat just to find that lonely can of beef
stew! In the end, it will take patience and time to get it all in, but
eventually you will discover the best way to do it. On Little Cruiser,
everything has a place and there is a place for everything.
At the same time you might want to start thinking about where you
will be headed on your trip. We often look on the internet for ideas,
and we talk to other knowledgeable sailors on where they have been.
Cruising guidebooks also have a lot of useful information. For our
cruises south, we use the "Yachtsman's Guide To The Bahamas." There are
also equally helpful publications like The Exuma Guide, On and Off The
Beaten Path, and The Abaco Guide by Stephen Pavlidis. However, our
favorite way to find new and exciting cruising destinations is by
simply looking at our charts. We use a chart kit by BBA Products, which
pretty much covers the whole Bahamas. The kit which is a spiral bound
collection of regular charts measures 17" x 22" in dimension. We've
folded our copy in half to fit it more easily aboard Little Cruiser.
When we pour over our charts we concentrate on those shallow areas
where the average boater might not want to venture. Of course we take
notice of any reefs or other dangers while plotting our course there.
However, the trouble is usually worth it since it is in these locations
where you will often find the nicest anchorages with the most secluded
beaches. Surprisingly enough, we have found that some of the most
interesting places are where the charts show dry land at low tide!
Since you will have a finite period of time to work with, it's a
good idea at this point to figure out how far you might want to go and
how long it will take you to get there. Usually our expectations are a
little too ambitious; and we seem to think that we can travel a lot
further and that it will take us a lot less time than it does in the
end. To make matters worse, the weather isn't always very cooperative.
As is often the case, the wind seems to blow from exactly the direction
you need to travel, and this raises havoc with all your carefully made
plans. Nonetheless, past experience has shown us that we can
comfortably cover around 800 miles in the 2 ½ to 3 months that we
cruise for. This works out to about 10 miles a day, which isn't very
much. However, a fair amount of time is spent enjoying our new
surroundings and waiting for good weather. We've found that making a 30
nautical mile passage in Little Cruiser is a relatively easy thing to
do in a day under normal conditions. We can cover this distance in
about 7 or 8 hours. Sailing from Florida to Bimini, on the other hand,
takes around 10 to 14 hours. The Bahama Banks crossing requires 15 to
20 hours to cover the 75 nautical miles from Bimini to the Berry
Islands. Of course either one could take you much longer if the winds
died or the weather became uncooperative.
Eventually, all the planning will have to come to an end, and you
will need to get going. When the big day arrives, remember to strap
your boat down securely on the trailer. Give those lug nuts one final
tightening, and check the chains. Drive as carefully as you can. This
will probably be the most dangerous part of the whole trip, so stay
alert! You don't want all that planning to be for nothing. Leave a
little extra space between you and the next car since it takes a little
longer to stop with a trailer and a boat. When you get to the ramp, rig
the boat while it is on dry land; and try not to launch your car with
the boat. Some of those ramps are mighty slippery! Once the boat is in
the water you probably want to do some test sailing before you begin
your cruise. We usually spend about a week in the Keys while we wait
for the right weather. This gives us an opportunity to tune the boat
and to run to the local West Marine for any forgotten items.
SIMPLY CRUISING
Maybe we should have called this part "Simple Cruising" because that is
what sailing in Little Cruiser and Paradox is really about. Nothing
about sailing these boats could be called difficult or stressful. These
are well-behaved and docile little craft. You sit and steer them from
within the safety and comfort of the cabin, and the lines lead right
back to you for easy handling. With no jib to contend with, all you
have to do is adjust the main sheet once in a while. The lug sail is
extremely forgiving of trim; and even if you sheet it in too hard, the
boat will continue to sail reasonably well. Of course for best
performance upwind, it's better to let it run more freely than you
would a sloop. Now to reef, you release the halyard and pull on the
reef line(s). That's it. This usually takes about 20 seconds. A total
beginner would feel at home in these little boats don't you think? They
track straight, and they will pretty much take care of themselves.
Things don't tend to happen too quickly either. If you make a mistake,
like an unintentional jibe, nothing horrible occurs. Nothing breaks,
and nobody goes for a swim. In addition, these boats don't seem to make
a lot of fuss while going through the water. This is probably because
they are so narrow, small, and frankly, pretty well designed. What we
find most amazing, though, is that we regularly have an easier time
going to windward than larger cruising vessels. Because we are so
short, we can often fit in between the wave troughs that larger boats
aren't quite able to bridge. The bigger boats find themselves crashing
through the waves that we merrily sail over. One of our favorite
features about Matt's boats has got to be the pilothouse with the large
sliding hatch. Sitting inside gives one the feeling that they are
driving a "convertible." When it gets rough, you just close the hatch,
and you keep on going. For this reason we carry no foul weather gear on
board.
Over the years we have thought about moving up to a larger boat to get
a little more elbowroom so to speak. However, after watching other
sailors handle their big sailboats, we probably won't change a thing
because it looks like too much hard work. Cranking on those big winches
while tacking back and forth could give us some real nasty blisters,
and hauling in those heavy anchors might strain our backs. Moreover,
coming into a dock with a large boat could be a real nightmare when
there is a foul current running or a strong breeze blowing. You'd
better have your fenders and lines ready when you need to stop a few
tons quickly. We usually just fend off with our feet and hold on with
our hands. Running aground looks like another real headache too. If you
can't get free right away, you'll have to jump into your dinghy, lay
out an anchor, and kedge off while using your sails to heel the ship
over. If that doesn't do it, and you're not in any danger, then you
have the pleasure of sitting out the tide on the side of your boat. No,
we prefer just stepping off our tiny craft and pushing. Come to think
of it, this is the worst job aboard Little Cruiser, which we call "wet
duty." "Honey, it's your turn to push. NO IT'S YOURS! " Last of all, we
really appreciate our 9" draft which allows us to wander around pretty
much wherever and whenever we want to go.
When it comes time to leave, we try to depart early enough so that
we will arrive at our next anchorage well before dark. If it is a
challenging passage like the Gulf Stream crossing , we pay special
attention to the weather. We monitor the weather forecasts on NOAA, or
we listen to it relayed by the WRCC net on our short wave radio when we
are in the Bahamas. If we had a barometer, we'd use that too. However,
we mostly rely on our own senses, and we try to use good common sense
to make up our minds. We stare up at the sky in search of the telltale
signs of an approaching cold front or a storm. We feel the strength of
the wind on our cheeks,and we peer out over the water to determine the
sea state. When it looks like a good day and the forecast seems
reasonable, we go for it. If within the first hour or two things start
getting unusually rough, we consider turning back or we may choose an
alternative destination. In all honesty, we have aborted a few Gulf
Stream crossings simply because conditions deteriorated or they didn't
look quite right. In one instance, the winds were forecast at 20 knots
out of the South, but by the time we got 10 miles out from Key Largo,
the winds were gusting close to thirty knots and seven foot waves were
routinely washing across the foredeck. We turned around, and headed
back in. Two day later it was blowing less than 10 knots out of the
north, and we had a comfortable and safe passage to Bimini. To us there
is nothing to be gained by punishing ourselves. However, there are
times when you are caught out or you simply have to make the best of
the conditions that are available.
Every boat handles differently in heavy weather, and Matt's boats
are no exception. We've found that in most conditions Paradox and
Little Cruiser are quite easy to sail, however, as the wind picks up,
things do tend to happen a little quicker. If you reef them
appropriately, these little boats just keep sailing along happily even
in quite heavy breezes. One thing to note is that they can roll a bit
while going downwind in heavy weather because they are narrow and cat
rigged. If over pressed with too much sail, Little Cruiser has been
known to dip the end of her boom into the water from time to time.
Though not dangerous, it does mean that it's time to reef. We've found
that shortening sail under these conditions is best achieved by turning
back upwind since releasing the halyard while sailing downwind may
allow the sail to balloon out like a spinnaker before the reef can be
pulled in taught. While on the topic of downwind sailing, we've noticed
that these flat-bottomed boats can surf quite easily. With 8-foot seas
and 25 knots blowing from right behind, Paradox and Little Cruiser can
probably surf at 8 or 9 knots in short bursts. To take advantage of
these conditions, you need to stay alert to catch and ride the best
waves. Generally, as a decent size wave approaches, it lifts the stern
and the boat begins to accelerate. It is at this time that you should
apply a little corrective rudder to keep your boat centered on the
wave. In Little Cruiser, we've noticed that the direction of this
action is opposite to the way the boat wants to go down the wave. With
a little practice you can surf along and really make up some time.
When it comes to sailing upwind in rough conditions, we've always
been amazed at how well these little boats perform. One would think
that their flat bottoms would pound like crazy; but the truth is that
they slice into the oncoming waves like the proverbial hot knife
through butter. Once heeled over, their narrow beams and their hard
chines present a sharp V to the oncoming waves. This along with the
boat's low windage and their hefty weights, allow them to maintain
momentum while still sailing nicely upwind. Surprisingly enough Matt's
boats seem to point reasonably well in spite of their low-tech rigs or
whether they have chine runners or a centerboard. Some people have
wondered about the performance benefits obtained by using a centerboard
in Little Cruiser over the chine runners in Paradox. It has been our
observation that after sailing together with Matt for several months ,
we cannot tell which boat can point higher. This leads us to the
assumption that both methods work equally well on Matt's designs.
However, we did notice that the chine runners do have a definite
advantage over a centerboard in really shallow water where a
centerboard can't be lowered sufficiently to provide adequate lateral
resistance.
We have no doubt that we would have little trouble clawing off a lee
shore even in inclement weather because we've always been able to go to
windward even during frontal passages and strong squalls. Just this
past year we completed a 26-mile passage to windward in such conditions
from Morgan's Bluff, Andros to West Bay, New Providence. The wind was
blowing a steady 22 -27 knots,as measured by our digital wind meter at
deck level, and we had to sail right into eight-foot seas in the Tongue
of the Ocean to reach our destination. Though pinched the whole way,
Little Cruiser averaged over 4 knots. One thing we did do to help our
boat sail her best was to sit on the cabin sole and to tie our spare
fuel container and our 2-½ gallon water jug next to us. This helped us
to carry more sail area so that we could power into the head winds and
the waves.
In regards to whether these little boats are tough enough for cruising,
well they are! Even though they were only designed for coastal sailing,
they are more than adequate for making dayhops across open bodies of
water if the conditions are reasonable. Of course almost any deep water
can get rough if the wind start to blow hard. But when that happens,
it's usually a good time to go exploring the more protected bodies of
water that can be found almost anywhere. Just think about it. How big
can a wave get in a few feet of water? To this day, I can remember the
look of surprise on that yachtsman's face in Sampson Cay who spotted us
sailing by his anchorage in well over 30 knots of wind during a frontal
passage. We kept to the shallow banks and to the protected creeks, and
the waves never got more than a foot or two. For the sailor in a deep
draft yacht to venture out that day, he would have had to sail through
out a tricky cut and out into the ocean where he would have met some
rather ugly seas. This cruiser was wise to stay in port while we
splashed around like ducks in the shallows, having no more to worry
about than the occasional uncovered sand bar.
Another advantage to cruising in small flat-bottomed boats is that
with a 9" draft there are many more cruising grounds available to
explore as well as many more anchorages to choose from. An anchorage
that might not have enough water for a larger boat will often provide a
secluded spot for our pint-sized yachts. The waves tend to be smaller
in the shoals, and it is often times possible to dry out on the tide. A
small creek is an ideal location to wait out a frontal passage, a gale,
or even the "storm of the century." If you must use a large and crowded
anchorage, it is wise to anchor in as shallow water as is possible
because should a large vessel break free, it will likely run aground
before it reaches you. Believe it or not, this actually happened to us
in Morgan's Bluff a few years back, and we were relieved when the heavy
45-foot sloop stopped fifty feet from us. Luckily, when the storm
abated they were able to re-float themselves. Anchoring in closer to
land also makes it easier to wade ashore, which is necessary if you
don't have a dinghy.
While on the subject of anchoring, make sure to invest in a few
decent anchors. Since they will be relatively small and inexpensive for
a boat the size of Paradox and Little Cruiser, don't be tempted to get
ones that are too small. Here size matters, and bigger is better. We
use a 9 pound Danforth with 15 feet of ¼" chain as our everyday hook.
It is stored below the floorboards when not in use. Our second anchor
is a 4-pound fortress on 10 feet of 3/16" chain that rides on the bow
roller for quick use. Our storm anchor is a 25-pound take-apart Luke
with ¼" chain that serves as ballast most of the time. However, we have
used it a few times in difficult anchoring situations where there was a
lot of eelgrass or where the bottom was especially scoured out. It's
nice to have the ultimate anchor when there are sharp rocks and reefs
nearby. Our three nylon anchor lines are between 3/8" and 7/16" thick,
and they vary in length from 75 feet to 150 feet apiece. There really
is no need to use anything heavier since you want them to stretch a bit
to reduce the shock loads. Most of the time we ride to two anchors if
there is room. We usually set them out in a "V" shaped arrangement
according to the way the wind is blowing. However, if we are in a
creek, a river or a channel we use a Bahamian Moor, which involves
placing one anchor upstream and one downstream. Some people may say
that using two anchors on such a tiny boat is overkill, especially in
the shallows; but we seem to sleep a whole lot better at night knowing
that all is secure. We guess it kind of like locking both the handle
and the deadbolt on your door at home before you go to sleep.
Over the years, one of the nice things we've noticed about having
such a small boat is that you simply use it more while you are out
cruising because it is fun to sail. These boats handle as easily as a
dinghy, and the shallow draft is perfect for exploring up creeks and
rivers. Running aground is never a problem when a simple push is all
that you need to get going again. We can easily pass under low bridges
by dropping our mast to reach new cruising grounds, and we can even
land on deserted beaches for a picnic. We've noticed that the typical
forty-foot cruiser one sees in the Bahamas tends to drop their anchor
and to stay put until they make their next passage. And who could blame
them? It's a lot of work to get all that ground tackle down and then
back up again. We often move around daily to enjoy the scenery, and we
have the luxury of choosing any anchoring spot we like most of the
time. In the end, we'll probably just keep cruising along in Little
Cruiser because she's easy to handle and she gets us where we want to
go with the minimal fuss, the lowest cost and the least effort.
Small Emergencies
Little boats generally have little problems. Things that break usually
are not too expensive to fix, and most repairs can be done oneself in
remote locations. We carry lots of spares as well as a pretty complete
repair kit for just about everything that is critical. See our list
here . Of course there are things you can’t readily mend while on the
go. One of these items is a broken drive shaft on an outboard motor,
and this is what sheared on our 10-year old Evinrude one windless night
a year ago in the middle of the Great Bahama Bank. At the time, all we
could do was drop anchor and get some rest.
In the morning we accepted a tow from a passing sailboat since the
forecast was for calm winds. Fortunately, we had an uneventful ride to
Morgan’s Bluff next to their dinghy which appeared to be almost as big
as our own boat. Incidentally, you don’t want to accept a ride from
just anyone. A cigarette boat with 900 horses that is in a hurry to get
home might not be your best candidate unless you wanted to convert you
little ship into a submarine. Also make sure that you tie the end of
your line to your bow cleat in such a way that it can be released
easily if a problem develops. When we got into port we gave our
benefactors a bottle of wine and some honey from our own bees in
exchange for their kind gesture. Then, a few days later, we sailed over
to Nassau, the capital, where we bought a new and reasonably priced
outboard motor. We’d hate to think what a large inboard motor would
have cost to repair or to replace in the islands. On the other hand, if
we did not have sufficient funds for a new engine, we could have always
continued under sail power alone, using our dinghy paddle as our
auxiliary. Of course, next trip we will remember to bring our yuloh
along since we can scull a lot faster than we can paddle.
By and large, the most common problem we encounter in Little Cruiser is
bumping into things. The worst are the reefs, which tend to make nasty
gashes on our 1” thick bottom. This damage is relatively minor and easy
to repair with underwater epoxy, and it doesn’t need to be attended to
immediately since the scrapes rarely go more than a ¼ inch deep. Over
the years we’ve also bumped into other things like rocks, pilings,
docks, pipes, sunken engine blocks and pretty much anything else that
has been thrown in the water. When you are routinely sailing in a ¼
fathom of water, you tend to hit a lot of stuff. On the other hand,
sometimes other boaters bump into you.
Several years ago we had a 42-foot power cruiser hit us when were tied
up at Weech’s Dock in Bimini. It happened when an inexperience captain
got caught broadside to the strong current that sweeps through the
crowded marina, and he slammed right into Little Cruiser. We heard the
loud crash from a hundred yards away, but there was little we could do.
To make matters worse, the motor cruiser became wedged between Little
Cruiser and an adjoining dock. In an attempt to free himself, the
frantic boater used Little Cruiser as a fender, while he repeatedly
applied power in forward and then in reverse from his boat’s powerful
twin diesels. We watched in horror as he continued to batter our little
craft with the swim platform that extended off the stern. When we
finally made it back to Little Cruiser, the motorboat was just about
free. Of course, we half expected to see some significant damage, but
instead we only saw some ugly dents and some missing paint. Though not
typical of the average cruiser, this fellow offered no apologies, and
we remember him distinctly saying, “If your boat sinks, I have
insurance!” Right. We probably wouldn’t even have met his deductible.
To add insult to injury, a day later we were hit by another boat,
this time a 17-foot fishing skiff that was traveling at high speed in a
nearby creek. We encountered the skiff in a blind bend where there was
room for only one boat. Since Little Cruiser weighed more than the
Bahamian boat, the lighter craft ricocheted off our vessel at the level
of the starboard windows and went bounding into the mangroves and then
back into the creek behind us. Nobody was hurt, thank goodness, and our
faith in Little Cruiser’s stout construction and her lexan windows was
further bolstered. None of these collisions, resulted in any serious
damage to the boat, and all of the cosmetic damage was quickly repaired
with the fillers and the paint that will bring along for just this
purpose.
Another thing one has to watch out for in our tiny boats is severe
weather. This is especially true while sailing in the Bahamas in the
wintertime when there are frequent cold fronts passing through the
area. Even though we try to avoid storms, it is not always possible to
escape them all. Sometimes when one is making a long passage the
weather can deteriorate quickly or an offshore squall may be
encountered. We’ve found that the best course of action is to reduce
sail promptly and then to proceed ahead more slowly. We usually close
the hatch and secure any loose gear that might fly around the cabin. If
the wind is on the nose we fall off a few degrees to keep the boat
moving. When we are being driven downwind in gale-force winds and rough
seas we reef our sail sufficiently to prevent surfing. Though our salty
little boats can handle these sea states, it can be tiring to steer for
hours on end while racing along in a storm tossed sea. Staying calm is
important. You can keep up your strength up by eating and drinking
regularly and by taking a break from steering should you have a crew
member aboard to take the helm from time to time. If the tempest
continues to increase in intensity a closer port may be chosen as a
destination; or if one is too weary to continue, you can deploy a
parachute anchor and rest for a while.
Be especially careful while entering a cut or a channel from the
ocean when there is a large sea running because the waves will often
break heavily as they approach land and “feel the bottom.” Usually the
deepest water in a channel is your safest route. In addition, a strong
ebb tide can cause the already turbulent ocean to get worse so timing
your arrival is important. This condition is known as a “rage” in the
Bahamas, and it is prevalent during strong onshore winds off of Whale
Cay in the Abacos. There are times, however, when you can simply drive
your little craft safely into sheltered water if the soundings change
more gradually, as is the case when approaching Bimini from the east
across the Great Bahama Bank.
Though this has by no means been a complete guide to cruising in
Matt's boats, we hope we have shed some light on how it can be done
more safely. We realize that despite all our efforts to dismiss some of
the fears associated with micro cruising, there will still be some who
remain convinced that the whole enterprise is foolhardy and that we
have been very fortunate indeed to have traveled so far and for so many
years in our diminutive craft. In the end, however, we believe that we
have taken adequate precautions to reduce the dangers through careful
planning and through good seamanship. We would also like to think that
when our luck ran low and our judgment was not the best, Little Cruiser
picked up the slack by doing her best to protect us and to carry us to
the safety of the shallows which she knows is her home.