What is the longest trip you have taken on your Shamrock?

[Agapemou]

I getting the bug to take a long-LONG- trip on my boat after it gets repowered. I could go down Baja but that would be too easy. I read about someone else who is planning on going from the Gulf around Florida, up the intercoastal, to NY then the Hudson River to the great lakes, then down the Mississippi back to the gulf. Now that's not just a trip-its an adventure. It has got me thinking. So I am curious-what is the furthest and longest you have taken your Shamrock? For me its to Ensanada Mexico-about 70 miles each way.

[Leprechaun]

My longest round trips are around 70 miles, but the fella I bought the boat from had an experience worthy of this thread.

He was a recently retired NYC cop and the one thing he wanted to do upon retiring was to ride the ICW from Fla to Long Island.

So he bought what was to become my boat, did some PM and minor upgrades down in Miami and then he and his wife spent three weeks bringing her North, stopping here and there for the night and finally made it back unscathed to Long Island.

Instrumentation consisted of a $99 Hummingbird depthfinder, the factory compass and a cheap hand-held GPS. Not one issue of any kind - no mechanical problems and no groundings.

But for the life of me I can't imagine the discomfort of running a bare-bones Predator that far. And with my wife no less. Geesh that would be tough.

As soon as he got back to Long Island he put the boat up for sale, his boating lust having been satisfied, apparently.

I bought her shortly thereafter, having stared at his ad in Newsday for 4 weeks. Can you believe that every person that went down to look at her hated that she didn't have a full galley and more amenities? Some actually got indignant about it. Guess they were looking for one of those high-end Bayliner tubs.

I had no such issues and bought her on the spot - and she was as close to flawless as any used boat I've ever looked at.

The rest of the story you pretty much know. Its what eventually led me here.

rgds, Leprechaun

[LiquidAddiction]

Not exactly the East Coast adventure that you guys are talking about, but.... In July 2002, I took my 246 WA from Wiggins Pass in Bonita Springs, FL to Key West - due South for about 105 miles. Stayed at a cheap hotel with dockage, and fished the south side of Key West for 3 days before making the return trip on flat calm seas for the entire 105 mile trip back. It was a great trip, and we caught a bunch of great fish while we were there.

[MATTANZA]

My first trip with my Shammy was 1300 + miles ! I was pulling it with my truck from Mississippi to Cal ... he he he he .
I would like to go down 90 + miles off San Diego , but I think I'm going to need to deck load some more fuel { I only have 2X40 gal tanks }. I'm thinking of by a fuel bladder for the extra fuel .

[Hav'nfun]

I have taken a 20' Walk-thru cuddy from Seattle area to Petersburg and the Misty Fjords area of Alaska. It was about a 1000 mile trip on the boat's bottom. What an adventure! I had full camper canvas but suffered 'boat fever' alot. The trip took a lot of planning, a lot of money for a young broke person, and I craved hamburger and pizza alot.

Still, I would do it again, and plan too, in the next five years or so. I pulled into inlets so small that my boat barely fit at low tide, then ate oysters pulled from the beach till I burst.

I fished streams that were only 50 yds from the beach to a waterfall that wouldn't allow the trout to migrate further, and had the fun of picking which fish I wanted to catch then working the bait to catch only that fish, as there were so many I hooked up every cast.

Once, while still in BC waters, I silently motored into a narrow way that seperated two small islands. I planned to stop for the evening on the southern island as it had a large granite shelf that looked inviting to camp on. As I drifted in, I noted a tent already set up. Looking around I spotted two kayaks pulled onto the rocks and above them two young ladies, sleeping on towels totally nude. I tried to back out without distrubing them but one woke up and spied me. She let out a shriek, grabbed her towel and ran for the woods. The other sat up groggy. It took her a minute to realize I was there. I must admit, I enjoyed the scenery until she spotted me and dashed after her friend.

I saw eagles fish, trolled for salmon, made may friends, and hated the rain. Imagine being confined (for the most part) to you 22' boat having it pouring rain for seven days straight. I read every book I had brought and Chapman's twice. Every article of clothing was damp, my food all soggy, my spirits low. If I went now, everything would be vacuum packed!

I looked like a floating fuel station with all the jerry cans I had in and on the boat. Still, I caught crab almost every day. I avoided the more popular anchorages and marinas as I had the speed, range and size to allow me to explore nooks and crannies most boaters pass by.

A great first trip would be join Jay Hammer on the Vag trip from Loreto to La Paz and back in July. It is a 300 mile round trip with other small boats. One nite in Aqua Verde, one on Isla San Fransico, two nites in La Paz, then the return. You'd learn a lot about long term cruising, make friends, get a chance to fish and dive daily, and have others about if you break down. The trip is right after the Vag Dorado Tournament July 14- 16th. The cruise is July 18th to 25th. Call the Vag club at (800) 474-2252 for more info, or Jay at (909) 687-7992.

I also plan to run to San Clemente Island, May 2-3 if you want to join me. It is a short trip, about 65 miles each way and overnite on anchor, but should be fun.

Make a trip in your boat, you'll have a blast. Just remember your boat is small. To make an extended cruise with more than yourself will be very difficult. Especially if you can't get off the boat each day. You must be great friends or you'll end up trying to kill each other. The trip to La Paz is short enough, and each leg short enough that two can make it easily. I've done it with four. Kids on the beach and momma and I in the boat or on the beach.

Tom

[looney2]

I sure can't match the great trip above but I did do one that was at least interesting. I had the boat in Tarpon Springs Fl. for a few years and one day got curious about the Anclote River. I've always had fun with the shallow draft capability of the 17 so I got it in my head to see how far up the Anclote I could get.

It was an interesting 12 hour trip squeezing under roads through culverts, dodging golfballs from the course I went through, getting stared at and at one point yelled at by some senior citizens in a trailer park that I'm sure had never seen a power boat in thier back yard before.

The grand finish came just after one last culvert when I entered a typical Florida back county woods complete with spanish moss, crystal clear water and in this case a cracker house really buried back of beyond. Just past the house the river narrowed so that beam not draft was the limitation. Also just at that point I looked into the clear water over (at that point) sandy bottom and saw a dozen or so of the biggest Snook I have ever seen. Just lying facing up stream and really a surprise this far up a freash water river. It was winter and I guess they went inland for even temp., warm spring water.

I was trying to very quietly get the tackle out when I saw a bearded good ol boy come out of the house around the bend. He had what looked like a twelve guage under his arm so I decided these were HIS fish and backed down to where I could turn around and sloooowly idle past his house. I waved but oddly he did not wave back. Bet that was the first Shamrock he'd seen though!

[jcarvour]

We launched out of Mission Bay at grey light and fished the high spot at the rockpile. Plenty O tasty bottom dwellers but no yellers! Fished Baja Mar for some nice vermillion then headed to the dock area in Ensenada Harbor. They have two secure areas you can slip your rig. Had lobster dinner and passed out early. Got some nice chovies from Mike and started the trip back North. We drifted inside the cliff areas of Salsapuedes where we caught some scorpion fish and admired the scenery. Saw a really large tortuga swim by the boat off Rosarito. Lots of dolphin followed the boat and were swimming a few feet off the bow. Got back in early afternoon. 157 Miles round trip. Fuel to spare. The Tuna are getting closer. :D