Meet the new La Rea!

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  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,751 mod
    We're traveling with a Looper boat from South Carolina, so we're both thousands of miles from home.  They said "Wait, what?  You randomly ran into somebody you know ... HERE?!?"



    For those who have never visited this part of the world -- do it!  You won't regret the trip.  The Trent-Severn Waterway is just magnificent.  
  • Dream_InnDream_Inn Member, Moderator Posts: 7,661 mod
    @YYZRC That is a great story!  Definitely sounds like something I've done and my wife would just hope there is nobody around she knows.  Glad you got to see that Rando Maritimo that keeps showing up!

    Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express

  • Liberty44140Liberty44140 Member Posts: 4,379 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Cool! Stopping by Isle Royal? 
    07' Cruisers 390 (Previous Rinker's: 06' 342EC & 01' 310FV)

  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,751 mod
    Nope - we spent less than an hour in Lake Superior.  Now we're already at Drummond Island.  
  • captkevincaptkevin Member Posts: 269 ✭✭
    Saw where you were on your website. We snowmobile in Munising area most years. Some beautiful scenery.
    2004 232
    2021 Yamaha Fx svho
  • Dream_InnDream_Inn Member, Moderator Posts: 7,661 mod
    LaRea said:

     
    Wonder how much gas it took to write that! LOL!  (yep, small when compared to the rest of the trip).  Pretty cool!

    Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express

  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,751 mod
    We ran on plane for most of the trip, so I'm guessing that piece of artwork cost me around $250!
  • aero3113aero3113 Member Posts: 9,044 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 29
    @LaRea , now you need to print and frame it, hang it up somewhere on your boat ⚓️👍🏻.
    2008 330EC
  • captkevincaptkevin Member Posts: 269 ✭✭
    pretty impressive work
    2004 232
    2021 Yamaha Fx svho
  • IanIan Member Posts: 2,860 ✭✭✭✭
    LaRea said:
    Yesterday we visited Lake Superior -- the farthest north we'll go by boat this year, and around 1300 miles from our starting point.  To commemorate the moment and prove we really did go there, I decided to to trace out the boat's name while recording the GPS track.  It worked!!  It was MUCH harder than I expected, mainly because of 3-foot waves tossing us all over the place.  Here's a screenshot from the Nebo voyage tracker.  Each letter is about 200 yards tall.  

     
    Typical engineer… :D

    Regards,

    Ian

    The Third “B”

    Secretary, Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club

    https://www.rcyachtclub.com/

  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,751 mod
    So true.  :D   I plotted the waypoints on my laptop the night before, and hand-steered it while staring at the chartplotter screen.  I doubt I'm the first to do it, but I've never heard of it before.  
  • Rich_Rich_ Member Posts: 171 ✭✭✭
    LaRea said:
    So true.  :D   I plotted the waypoints on my laptop the night before, and hand-steered it while staring at the chartplotter screen.  I doubt I'm the first to do it, but I've never heard of it before.  
    I did something similar when my friend got a new boat and I ran it back for him. I turned off the plotter so there were no connecting lines went into the middle of the bay right out of the channel and drew a limp phallic symbol. Was hilarious when he went out the first time to see the puzzled look on his face

    Sounds like an awesome adventure 
    Rinker sold but still have other boats        Eastern LI, NY
  • tricountytrailtricountytrail Member Posts: 203 ✭✭
    Could you also share your fuel data. just wondering what efficiency your getting with a vessel of that size?

  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,751 mod
    Was hoping nobody would ask!  :D  My original projections were pretty close.  With the genny running:  
    600 RPM, 7 mph, 2.6 mpg (only when required by law)
    800 RPM, 9.5 mph, 1.9 mpg (80% of the time)
    2000 RPM, 26 mph, 0.5 mpg (when I want to splurge or need to outrun weather)

    To be honest, I have grown to love the long passages going 8 knots.  It's just me and Diane chilling at the bridge -- peaceful, quiet and calm.  We talk and enjoy the scenery.  On longer legs, she reads or writes and I can usually work on my laptop (billable hours when I can, or planning the next day's trip).  It's a different style of boating from when i was working full-time.  
  • captkevincaptkevin Member Posts: 269 ✭✭
    Sounds amazing to me
    2004 232
    2021 Yamaha Fx svho
  • GrahamuGrahamu Member Posts: 880 ✭✭✭
    As a comparison on our Mainship 390 trawler on the loop, a single Yanmar Diesel 370 HP running at 1750 RPM, 9.5 MPH, our average for the whole loop was 0.44 GPM. We ran at this speed for at least 95% of the time and agree with @LaRea it becomes an enjoyable way to cruise.
  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,751 mod
    Update on the swim platform. 

    After much discussion with Stella Marine in Australia, they just don't have good records of my build.  (It's a semi-custom build, and they acquired the product line from Fleet-Hydrol years ago.)  They could build new hydraulic rams for around $6000 (gulp), but can't guarantee they would fit.  The only reliable way ahead is to ship them my rams for rebuild.  

    Even with shipping, it will be cheaper than new rams, and they'll provide spare parts for the next rebuild.  The real killer is that our floating home will be out of the water for 2+ weeks, but I really want to get it done.  Just need to find the right yard to do it.
  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,751 mod
    One more update.  We're almost to Chicago, which means we'll need to transit the LOWEST BRIDGE on the Great Loop!  

    The bridge clearance is 19' 6" which is exactly the height of my anchor light mast.  Can I clear the bridge -- well, I don't know.  I'm going to ballast the boat with max fuel and water, then re-measure the height.  Maybe I won't need to remove the mast.

    And, I'm hoping to see @TonyG13 this weekend!
  • mvnmvn Member, Moderator Posts: 753 mod
    LaRea said:
    Update on the swim platform. 

    After much discussion with Stella Marine in Australia, they just don't have good records of my build.  (It's a semi-custom build, and they acquired the product line from Fleet-Hydrol years ago.)  They could build new hydraulic rams for around $6000 (gulp), but can't guarantee they would fit.  The only reliable way ahead is to ship them my rams for rebuild.  

    Even with shipping, it will be cheaper than new rams, and they'll provide spare parts for the next rebuild.  The real killer is that our floating home will be out of the water for 2+ weeks, but I really want to get it done.  Just need to find the right yard to do it.
    Can't you just send the rams to a hydraulic shop States-side for rebuilding rather than sending them to Australia?

    Msrk
    Good,  fast,  cheap.... pick two. 
    2019 MTX20 Extreme

  • IanIan Member Posts: 2,860 ✭✭✭✭
    I’d have thought that too, @LaRea if I make a trip over there I’ll let you know. Hopefully not at short notice like the last trip.

    Regards,

    Ian

    The Third “B”

    Secretary, Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club

    https://www.rcyachtclub.com/

  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,751 mod
    A local rebuild would be a roll of the dice.  I'd probably need Stella to make the parts anyway, which they can't do without seeing the rams.  If anybody's going to Queensland and doesn't mind taking a rather heavy carry-on, let me know!   :D
  • GrahamuGrahamu Member Posts: 880 ✭✭✭
    Lake Michigan is 3" lower than this time last year and we had no problem clearing with antennas down on Oct 09/23, If rainfall is normal the level will continue dropping.
    Are the seals gone in the ram?
  • LaReaLaRea Member, Moderator Posts: 7,751 mod
    edited September 20
    @Grahamu - yes, seals are gone.  The platform goes up and down but won't stay level or hold position.  

    When I haul the boat and take off the rams, I'll get the yard to fabricate a couple temporary struts to hold the platform up.  Then I can splash the boat and use it until the rams come back from AU.  
  • TonyG13TonyG13 Member Posts: 1,329 ✭✭✭✭
    The wife and I had the honor and privilege today to meet the man, the myth, the legend that is @LaRea and his wonderful wife.

    If you are anywhere near @Larea's route along the Great Loop a stop to visit and meet them and see their vessel is a must-do.

    Also, the rumors are true - and I can confirm - you can eat off the floor of the engine room -- it is that immaculate! And that was after he just did over a 120 gallons of oil changes yesterday! And the rest of the boat looks like it just came off the showroom floor with almost 2000 miles into the trip! (Ours looks like a tornado hit it after a ride around the harbor.)

    He definitely has us daydreaming about doing the Loop in the future!
  • IanIan Member Posts: 2,860 ✭✭✭✭
    We also had the pleasure of meeting Chris and Diane on their way up the Hudson and I can also attest to all claims of their beautiful vessel.

    Regards,

    Ian

    The Third “B”

    Secretary, Ravena Coeymans Yacht Club

    https://www.rcyachtclub.com/

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