What Happend to a cheap sailing trip...an eye opening tale..

[Moe]

You are exactly right Frank and we are planning on doing just that this summer and as much as we can.

My advice is to start out with some 3-5 day trips, staying at anchor with no other support. Find what a comfortable length of time you, your boat, and your family can be self-sufficient. Put some time in between them so you can discuss lessons learned, what to do or not do, what you needed and didn't have, and what you had and didn't need. Most importantly, try to bring out honest feelings from all the family members, and try to adjust the situation, or help them adjust to it.

Then try some trips for a small multiple of that comfortable time, practicing reprovishing at remote locations (without your own vehicle). You'll find out how nice a slip or mooring with water taxi is, but you should probably also practice it with the dinghy. Again, breaks with discussion will help you all adjust and learn what works for you.

Too much learning experience all at once, with the light at the end of the tunnel too far away, may be overwhelming and discouraging.

[Greg]

Rich

This summer we ( family of 5) spent a week on the Finger Lakes and Erie Canal. After getting a slip at the marina for the night we went into town to eat. Arriving back at the boat afterward, my wife's purse was missing, prompting me to cancel the credit cards that night (she had left her purse in the restaurant and we retrieved it in the morning). We had 22 gal of fuel onboard, some food, no sails, $200 cash and no credit cards. We spent under $200 for the rest of the week - including the trip home- which made it one of our cheapest vacations.

Breakfast - usually consisted of cereal, cereal bars or oatmeal.
Lunch-the kids like "boat noodles" (cup-a-soup, 4 for a dollar on sale) when cruising and we have sandwiches etc.
Dinner - usually something on the grill- hamburger or hotdogs with vegetable on the side or Dinty Moore beef stew type meal.

The mind set changes when you are on a limited budget. After the first night, we anchored out every night or stayed at free town waterfronts, ate on the boat, found free entertainment, museums, swimming, fishing etc.

I gotta compliment you though on being a good Dad and taking your kids on a 4 day trip that most fathers won't experience. A trip like yours with the 2 kids is not the same as a 4 day trip with the admiral. I have done day trips and a few overnighters with my 3 kids (8, 11 and 13) and it's much easier to go with the "amenities" than to try and skimp.

Greg

[Catigale]

The NY canal system is a great deal in the summer - most of the town docks dont charge and the food and amenities in upstate NY is very cheap. Lots of historical stuff for the kids.

Check out Sampson State Park - where millions of soldiers mustered before shipping out to Europe for WW II.

Womens Rights Museum in Seneca Falls

The Famous Lockport 'Flight of Five" Locks

There is even a white water rafting race at Lock 32.

Offical web site

History

Tell them Catigale sent you.....