Just joining and wondering if JPitman ever used your Sunfish for camping. I have been camping with mine several times with no major modifications, and it's worked quite well. I certainly would not tow, but there's no need anyway. Feel free to check out my YouTube Channel, Adventures In Reach if you would like to take a look. There's one video called Sunfish Sailboat Camping and another called Sunfish Sailboat Camping: The Campsite which may give folks some ideas and inspiration. I am also planning a trip to and around Isle Royale this summer with my Sunfish. That should be about 150 miles.
I can invision needing to tow a small lightweight waterproof cargo boat behind. Do you think this is possible or too much of a PITA?
Thanks. I'm glad you are enjoying them. I've got plenty more on the way, and a 150 mile camping trip planned in a few weeks from now.I have been enjoying your videos, and mentioned them in an earlier thread. Well worth watching!
I know what you mean. Just one night out in the wind, sun, and nature feels like several days to the soul.Good to see the resurrection of a boat camping thread... I started 'Laser camping' in '92, and I found the minimalist approach works best, no towing involved. Dry bags are your best friends, those 'Baja Bags' seen in AIR's videos look good! Ya want bulletproof gear for these overnight camping voyages... inferior gear that doesn't work should be replaced with better gear, one night spent in a damp sleeping bag will certainly convince ya, LOL.
Adventures In Reach (or AIR), kudos to ya for getting out there and DOING it, aye? Boat camping ROCKS!!! Er... don't HIT the rocks, just get your boat ashore as best you can, at least on offshore islands in the ocean. Anchoring a boat off Los Coronados in Baja meant swimming ashore in shark-infested waters, with no guarantee that the anchor would hold either... so I always made a point of dragging my Laser ashore, taking care to avoid damage to her hull.
Part of my minimalist approach stems from being a technical rock climber, part of it stems from being a disciple of Zen Buddhism... it's amazing what sort of adventures one can have aboard a 14' sailboat, using dry bags, soft coolers, a little ingenuity while loading, etc. I don't regret one minute of those numerous voyages to the islands, regardless of occasional minor discomfort... every voyage paid in spades on a spiritual level.
SO KEEP ON TRUCKIN'... ER, I MEAN SAILBOAT CAMPING... THE REWARDS ALWAYS OUTWEIGH THE EFFORT INVOLVED. CHEERS!!!
Just joining and wondering if JPitman ever used your Sunfish for camping. I have been camping with mine several times with no major modifications, and it's worked quite well. I certainly would not tow, but there's no need anyway. Feel free to check out my YouTube Channel, Adventures In Reach if you would like to take a look. There's one video called Sunfish Sailboat Camping and another calledSunfish Sailboat Camping: The Campsite which may give folks some ideas and inspiration. I am also planning a trip to and around Isle Royale this summer with my Sunfish. That should be about 150 miles.
Seriously? I've been considering circumnavigating and cruise-camping Isle Royale with my Hobie. I've been concerned if the shoreline is friendly to beaching, or at least accessing in a storm. I've never been to Isle Royale, so am pretty intimidated by Lake Superior. Tales of the Edmund Fitzgerald always spring into my mind!I am also planning a trip to and around Isle Royale this summer with my Sunfish. That should be about 150 miles.
Just joining and wondering if JPitman ever used your Sunfish for camping. I have been camping with mine several times with no major modifications, and it's worked quite well. I certainly would not tow, but there's no need anyway. Feel free to check out my YouTube Channel, Adventures In Reach if you would like to take a look. There's one video called Sunfish Sailboat Camping and another calledSunfish Sailboat Camping: The Campsite which may give folks some ideas and inspiration. I am also planning a trip to and around Isle Royale this summer with my Sunfish. That should be about 150 miles.
Seriously? I've been considering circumnavigating and cruise-camping Isle Royale with my Hobie. I've been concerned if the shoreline is friendly to beaching, or at least accessing in a storm. I've never been to Isle Royale, so am pretty intimidated by Lake Superior. Tales of the Edmund Fitzgerald always spring into my mind!
It will be a pretty serious trip. The campsites have docks and there are some places to pull up. I will listen to the weather channels on my marine radio each morning and look at conditions before launching. I'll be planning each day with coves to duck into and camp if it turns bad. I'm planning extra time into my trip so I don't feel pressured to sail if it's dangerous conditions. I've led sea kayaking trips around the Apostle Islands and previously kayaked to Isle Royale (with my girlfriend who had never kayaked before), went backpacking for 5 days, before kayaking back...so I have some familiarity. I will have equipment, supplies, and an emergency bag to sustain me for a day floating in the water in case the worst possible happened. I'll post videos on the trip and you can see if you want to go.Seriously? I've been considering circumnavigating and cruise-camping Isle Royale with my Hobie. I've been concerned if the shoreline is friendly to beaching, or at least accessing in a storm. I've never been to Isle Royale, so am pretty intimidated by Lake Superior. Tales of the Edmund Fitzgerald always spring into my mind!
Will do. I'm working on a requested video about my paddle attachment. I'll keep them coming as I prep for the trip... I'll probably post a longer video of the trip itself.I'm interested. Please keeps us informed. I would like to know more about your choice of gear and how well you feel it works out for your trips.
Rick
Thank you! I've enjoyed the trips, making videos, and how the video making encourages me to get out more often. Let us know what you do.I loved watching your videos and see the enjoyment of the outdoors life. Very inspirational! I must get out on the water more often!
I always drink the lake water. This last trip I used a SteriPen, which was fast, easy, and didn't add a bad taste. I don't bring freeze dried--too salty and expensive. I actually brought a salad, eggs, cheese, and fresh fruits/veggies in a foil bubble envelope with a freeze pack last time. I make a pasta dish and an omelet in a bag too. No point in going light if I'm not carrying the weight on my back!Just watched your videos. Most excellent! 2 questions...do you filter lake water for drinking and cooking? If not, what is your water supply? And (3rd and 4th questions, I guess...) What do you bring for food? Freeze dried backpacking food?
Agreed. I've been out kayaking and in the matter of 3 hours it went from glass smooth to 3.5 foot waves. The crossing will take 4-8 hours depending on the wind, so I'm certainly prepping for the worst conditions and planning extra time to wait it out if needed.I sailed my Sunfish and my son sailed our Minifish on Lake Superior but we were in the sheltered bay near Munising two summers ago. We got lucky and had a relatively calm day but nice wind. Have now sailed in 4 out of 5 Great Lakes.
That being said... I’d be very cautious about any long duration sailing trip, especially on a Sunfish, on the waters of Lake Superior. The Great Lakes can change from flat calm to insane waves day to day, sometimes even in the same day, and you wouldn’t want to be caught in those conditions.
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I don't bring freeze dried--too salty and expensive. I actually brought a salad, eggs, cheese, and fresh fruits/veggies in a foil bubble envelope with a freeze pack last time. I make a pasta dish and an omelet in a bag too. No point in going light if I'm not carrying the weight on my back!
Thanks. I'm glad you are enjoying them. I've got plenty more on the way, and a 150 mile camping trip planned in a few weeks from now.
Have now sailed in 4 out of 5 Great Lakes.
I have canoed that region quite a bit over the years, as I have a cousin in Alexandria Bay. It's a nice place to explore, with some nice beaches to swim and relax on. The lake is quite shallow, which gives the chop an odd kind of motion. It's the only place I have ever gotten sea sick! I have camped and Kayaked on Lake Erie and a little bit on Lake Michigan, but I like Ontario the best.Which one is left? Ontario? I've heard great things about sailing in the Thousand Island region where Ontario empties into the St. Lawrence.
Ya, we call that stuff, "Psycho Chop".It's a challenge in its own right, navigating through heller chop,
I'm still sitting at home 3 hours from Grand Portage where I plan to launch for my Isle Royale adventure. I'm itching to start, but so far held off by forecasts including thunderstorms. At least I have 5 days more than it should take, just for this purpose. I'll likely be leaving on Sunday now.It will be a pretty serious trip. The campsites have docks and there are some places to pull up. I will listen to the weather channels on my marine radio each morning and look at conditions before launching. I'll be planning each day with coves to duck into and camp if it turns bad. I'm planning extra time into my trip so I don't feel pressured to sail if it's dangerous conditions. I've led sea kayaking trips around the Apostle Islands and previously kayaked to Isle Royale (with my girlfriend who had never kayaked before), went backpacking for 5 days, before kayaking back...so I have some familiarity. I will have equipment, supplies, and an emergency bag to sustain me for a day floating in the water in case the worst possible happened. I'll post videos on the trip and you can see if you want to go.