Congrats Mark! You have worked so hard to get to this point and done so much to Keeldragger that I wish you nothing but the best on this epic adventure. Godspeed, Fair Winds and Following Seas my friend.
Good Luck! As a fellow SoCal sailor I've been watching your stuff for years. Word to the wise from someone who just crossed the Pacific earlier this summer on a 43' Jeanneau, Starlink pulls A LOT of power out in the middle of the ocean. We didn't have solar onboard, but we had to run our engine way more than we thought we would in order to keep the lights on when running Starlink for just ~half an hour a day.
Congratulations! Best wishes and happy sailing! I am bummed I missed keeldraggerpalooza before you headed south this year. Maybe we will catch you again somewhere! Thanks for all the great videos and keep them coming!
When you motor, you create appearant wind. Your mainsail sheeted tight on centerline will give you drive and save a bit of diesel over many sea miles. When the wind fills in you only have to roll out your jib and Bob's your uncle. Congratulations on slipping your docklines! My favorite spots in SOC are San Evaristo and Playa Santispac.
I usually have my main up when motorsailing. Not sure I am going to make it up into the SOC this season. I'm headed to the Mexican Rivieria, but I'll have a few weeks to explore.
I’ve watched all your content, and I recently got a Catalina 22, which I have docked over in Wilmington. I’m sailing her every week and working on repairs to rekindle my love for sailing and to learn more about boat systems, with the goal of eventually moving up to a larger rig. Your videos have been a huge inspiration in pursuing these goals. Thank you, and wishing you fair winds!
My first boat was a Catalina 22. Lots of fond memories sailing her on the Illinois River! Not necessarily the boat I'd want for an ocean voyage but my friend Ron on sv Makai is sailing his Macgregor 23 to the island. Similiar deal - trailor sailor, swing keel, and auxiliary power is a trolling motor.
Just hit me up when you want to sail. Currently I'm in the process of repairing my rudder. But I'm definitely going to have to test it out afterwards 😊. We can go on your boat, my boat or race to the island 😂. I'm down
Congrats Mark. Been sailing for a little over 4 years and been following you for about the same. Looking forward to following you on your journey. Thanks for making us a part of it!
@@keeldragger a yellow Cal 29 named Wildflower!! I used to have a Flicka and would always watch your Dana videos for inspiration. I'm looking forward to meeting again when you're back in LA!!
Good luck. I've worked out on the island from time to time most of my life. I was Harbor Patrol in Two Harbors this last summer, probably next summer too. If i could I'd circumnavigate the pacific. I'll watch your adventures hope it all goes well for you.
We love using the induction cook top with a long yellow extension cord too! The big plus is cooking fish and other smelly meals outside in the cockpit....Cheers!
Selling the house and leaving that dock were big moments, but the only thing making me anxious right now is the amount of time I'll be away from my wife, dog, and the rest of my family.
Mark. After returning to LA from La Paz and missing you in Ensenada. I now have a slip at Cabrillo Way and was talking to a boat owner next to me. He mentioned you and that you were in the slip next to me. What a coincidence that I missed you again. Looking forward to your next videos
Found your channel, like your style and enjoyed this video. I subscribed and look forward to following your adventures! I follow quite a few sailors but no one from California. I live in your neck of the woods in Westlake Village and sail occaisionally out of Ventura and Santa Barbara.
Thanks for subscribing! We have a number of folks reprezenting California and West Coast sailing - Triteia/Sailor James and Sam Holmes both started in LA Harbor. You have some newer channels with folks actively sailing SoCal like @sailingsole and @FlightLevelZero, etc.
@@keeldragger I also like that you answer most of your comments - not everyone does! Another reason I want to follow you is that you sail in one of my dream boats, a Valiant. True, Sam was once out of LA Harbor. The only other west coast guy I follow is "Life is Like Sailing". He sails VERY locally in a Hans Christian 43 around the Straight of Georgia. I kidded him recently that his channel is like Seinfeld, a show about nothing! But he is great, produces very mellow, chill videos that people love. Don't worry, I'm not usually this verbose, I won't take a lot of your time!
Thank you very much for the video and let me see twin harbor once again. It’s been probably 25 years since I’ve seen twin Harbor I was there then with my dad you pulled out of the same harbor that he used to be in his name is Tom Eskridge I used to do a lot of sailing with my dad but it’s been too long. I’m looking for a boat right now, we’ll find something but if not, I still have that little fatty knees that we’ve had since 1983. She’s a good sailor anything to get on the water if you know what I mean, I will follow you in your travels. I have subscribed and will see you on your next video.
That will be my last time to Two Harbors and Catalina island for a little while. I'll miss it! Love the Fatty Knees! If I had room for a hard dinghy I'd probably get one.
I have an induction stove at my home. I use a silicone pad between the pans and burners. I did it for 2 reasons. The first reason is so the stove top doesn't get scratched by the pans. The second benefit is you eliminate the vibration that can happen with induction stove tops. The silicone pads can handle high temp. I've had them for more than 5 years without any issues.
Most likely I will be returning to SoCal via Hawaii after cruising French Polynesia. However, I am considering options for a longer voyage that may have me returning via Guam!
negative... well, sort of. the wife will be flying in to visit. she has zero desire to do offshore sailing. the dog is getting up there in age and won't be sailing.
An electric skillet needs neither alternating current nor 120 volts. Switch a few solar panels to series and try 63 volts across its leads and see what you can cook. I wouldn't have a boat without a CB radio, and occasional skip can put you in random conversations in the middle of any ocean. 12 volt chest freezers are a good addition even though you have a boat fridge. My motor electric will be coming from a 3 horsepower air cooled Situan Sifa MB168F diesel. That turning an alternator at low throttle comes from a crankshaft adapter to 1 inch and a 7 inch pulley. My plan is this motor also drives the prop lightly. You can point in the doldrums that way. Many sailboats suffer from lead batteries hard wired in parallel, and diesel + drinking water seawater contamination from the deck valves and vents. Your boat is like a floating Hilton. A fresh change. I hope this series gets good.
@keeldragger what kind of boat is that? I try not to recommend small gas generators on boats. That's why my 44 LB diesel is better. Most boat generators are huge, expensive, and far fetched.
I left for Ensenada just as the small craft advisory came in. No Santa Ana's on the way down but I did have consistent 20-25 knots and 6-7 waves for several hours. I made good time getting down here.
I sail a 36 Catalina out of San Diego. Would be my dream to join you/ do a similar trip some day. I’m just fixing things up slowly to build to that point. Will be watching you and taking notes! Let me know if you need anything. I’d be happy to run it out to you when you pass San Diego. Beer delivery? 😊
I decided to skip San Diego on the way down to Ensenada and do the passage in one leg. Hope you are getting the Catalina 36 out to the island and Ensenada. Both are within easy striking range!
OUPV and masters have seatime requirements. I know of many who have inflated their reporting or who claimed sea time while their boat was at the dock the entire time. I applaud people who take the effort to learn and study for the test, but I do not respect it as a measure of someone’s ability to competently operate a vessel. It’s like getting a drivers license without taking the behind the wheel test.
Congrats Mark! You have worked so hard to get to this point and done so much to Keeldragger that I wish you nothing but the best on this epic adventure.
Godspeed, Fair Winds and Following Seas my friend.
Thanks, bro - thankful for having you along on part of the journey and I'm looking forward to your adventures as well.
Good Luck! As a fellow SoCal sailor I've been watching your stuff for years. Word to the wise from someone who just crossed the Pacific earlier this summer on a 43' Jeanneau, Starlink pulls A LOT of power out in the middle of the ocean. We didn't have solar onboard, but we had to run our engine way more than we thought we would in order to keep the lights on when running Starlink for just ~half an hour a day.
I have some solar (700W) but I'm still concerned about the power draw from Starlink. I am only using it intermittently.
Awesome. Your living my dream.
I am incredibly lucky!
Congratulations! Best wishes and happy sailing!
I am bummed I missed keeldraggerpalooza before you headed south this year.
Maybe we will catch you again somewhere!
Thanks for all the great videos and keep them coming!
Thanks, Ian. We'll have another Keeldraggerpalooza in a couple of years. Start planning for it now :-)
When you motor, you create appearant wind. Your mainsail sheeted tight on centerline will give you drive and save a bit of diesel over many sea miles. When the wind fills in you only have to roll out your jib and Bob's your uncle.
Congratulations on slipping your docklines! My favorite spots in SOC are San Evaristo and Playa Santispac.
I usually have my main up when motorsailing. Not sure I am going to make it up into the SOC this season. I'm headed to the Mexican Rivieria, but I'll have a few weeks to explore.
Will be standing by in the Philippines awaiting your arrival 🎉
On my way!
looking forward to your adventures and living vicariously through the videos. Be safe and have fun.
Thank you!
I’ve watched all your content, and I recently got a Catalina 22, which I have docked over in Wilmington. I’m sailing her every week and working on repairs to rekindle my love for sailing and to learn more about boat systems, with the goal of eventually moving up to a larger rig. Your videos have been a huge inspiration in pursuing these goals. Thank you, and wishing you fair winds!
My first boat was a Catalina 22. Lots of fond memories sailing her on the Illinois River! Not necessarily the boat I'd want for an ocean voyage but my friend Ron on sv Makai is sailing his Macgregor 23 to the island. Similiar deal - trailor sailor, swing keel, and auxiliary power is a trolling motor.
Just hit me up when you want to sail. Currently I'm in the process of repairing my rudder. But I'm definitely going to have to test it out afterwards 😊. We can go on your boat, my boat or race to the island 😂. I'm down
Let the adventure begin! Good luck Capt, thanks for sharing.
Thank you!! I couldn't be more excited!
Fair winds and following seas, really enjoy the channel, looking forward to watching your adventure from central control.
I'll be making regular updates to central control!
Have a great adventure! Thanks for the great video work.
Thanks, John! I'll keep posting...
Have a blast on your journey. I’ll be following along as we will be doing a similar journey starting this time next year.
Thank you! I’ve been looking forward to this adventure for a long time!
@ you were always so helpful when posting the reality of sailing….the good, the bad, and the ugly. I appreciate your candor!
We are just now watching the start of your journey. Congratulations on the first day of your journey! Fair winds and safe travels🙏🏼
Thank you! and welcome aboard!
Hi Mark, good luck on your adventures. You are inspiring me to follow my sailing dreams. I’ll be following along here. Wishing you fair winds.
Hi Sean - the best advice I can give on following your own sailing dreams is do not wait too long!
Congrats Mark. Been sailing for a little over 4 years and been following you for about the same. Looking forward to following you on your journey. Thanks for making us a part of it!
Thanks, Thomas. Glad to have you on board!
Just subscribed, I like your video! Safe journeys, looking forward to your next video❤
Welcome aboard :-)
Glad to see you going for bigger goals! 🙏⛵️
Thanks, John. Me too!
Godspeed! Looking forward to see your adventure unfold!
Thank you, Mark! I am excited about the journey ahead!
Congratulations on embarking on your dream! Looking forward to following your journey.
Thank you, Tom!
This is going to be a Good Series !
I’m so Stoked you’re doing it Mark .. Let’s Go !!!
Thanks, Glenn!
Awesome!!!
Following a few of your footsteps!
I'm excited to watch your journey! If you ever find yourself in a bind and need crew... I'm just a phone call away!
@@sailingfrogsleap roger that, amigo!
What a great episode. Love the intro! Can’t wait to see these upcoming episodes.
Thanks, bro! looking forward to following your SoCal adventures.
nice mark. looking forward to watching your continuing adventures.
Thanks, Bert!
Enjoy the journey!!
I plan to!
Oh my gosh I saw you out at Cat Harbor!! Have an incredible journey--you've come so far on this channel.
Thank you! What is your boat?
@@keeldragger a yellow Cal 29 named Wildflower!! I used to have a Flicka and would always watch your Dana videos for inspiration. I'm looking forward to meeting again when you're back in LA!!
@@elliotaron right on. Flickas are awesome pocket cruisers! Cal 29's are great, too.
Good luck. I've worked out on the island from time to time most of my life. I was Harbor Patrol in Two Harbors this last summer, probably next summer too. If i could I'd circumnavigate the pacific. I'll watch your adventures hope it all goes well for you.
Thank you! I'll do as big of a loop in the Pacific as I can get away with! Hope to see you Two Harbors one of these days.
We love using the induction cook top with a long yellow extension cord too! The big plus is cooking fish and other smelly meals outside in the cockpit....Cheers!
I never even considered cooking fish outside in the cockpit. Great idea! Although I'd not want to attempt this while under way.
@keeldragger frying spam and eggs out in the cockpit with coffee in the morning is the 👌
Godspeed Cap! So happy for you.
Thank you!
Fair winds! I used to sail out of Cabrillo back in the 60-70s.
Excellent! I owe my interest in sailing to my father, who told me about sailing his 24 foot wooden sailboat to Catalina in the 60's.
I'm stoked for your next Adventure! I imagine leaving the dock was a little unnerving
Selling the house and leaving that dock were big moments, but the only thing making me anxious right now is the amount of time I'll be away from my wife, dog, and the rest of my family.
Mark. After returning to LA from La Paz and missing you in Ensenada. I now have a slip at Cabrillo Way and was talking to a boat owner next to me. He mentioned you and that you were in the slip next to me. What a coincidence that I missed you again. Looking forward to your next videos
That’s funny that you wound up next to my old slip. I’m sure we will connect one of these days!
Found your channel, like your style and enjoyed this video. I subscribed and look forward to following your adventures! I follow quite a few sailors but no one from California. I live in your neck of the woods in Westlake Village and sail occaisionally out of Ventura and Santa Barbara.
Thanks for subscribing! We have a number of folks reprezenting California and West Coast sailing - Triteia/Sailor James and Sam Holmes both started in LA Harbor. You have some newer channels with folks actively sailing SoCal like @sailingsole and @FlightLevelZero, etc.
@@keeldragger I also like that you answer most of your comments - not everyone does! Another reason I want to follow you is that you sail in one of my dream boats, a Valiant. True, Sam was once out of LA Harbor. The only other west coast guy I follow is "Life is Like Sailing". He sails VERY locally in a Hans Christian 43 around the Straight of Georgia. I kidded him recently that his channel is like Seinfeld, a show about nothing! But he is great, produces very mellow, chill videos that people love. Don't worry, I'm not usually this verbose, I won't take a lot of your time!
Best of luck, looking forward to following your adventures. Give us a word about your boat. I like that you give the dates of your filming.
Thank you, Jerry. Keeldragger is a 1989 Texas-built Valiant 40. Cutter rigged with Nautosphere headsails and hydranet main. Hydrovane autopilot, water maker, B&G electronics w/ radar, LifePO4 batteries, Beta 35 engine, Spectra watermaker.
Fair winds and following seas, brother! 🎉⛵️
Thanks, brother. Hope to meet you in an anchorage one of these days.
Fair winds my friend!
Gracias Amigo!
Thank you very much for the video and let me see twin harbor once again. It’s been probably 25 years since I’ve seen twin Harbor I was there then with my dad you pulled out of the same harbor that he used to be in his name is Tom Eskridge I used to do a lot of sailing with my dad but it’s been too long. I’m looking for a boat right now, we’ll find something but if not, I still have that little fatty knees that we’ve had since 1983. She’s a good sailor anything to get on the water if you know what I mean, I will follow you in your travels. I have subscribed and will see you on your next video.
That will be my last time to Two Harbors and Catalina island for a little while. I'll miss it! Love the Fatty Knees! If I had room for a hard dinghy I'd probably get one.
Subscribed 🎉
Right on!
Have a great trip. I left San Pedro two years ago for La Paz. I am on the way back this week.
Hope the 'bash' goes well for you! Maybe we'll cross paths!
Can’t wait for more captain lol!
working on it!
Follow you to congratulate you rounding Cape Horn 🎉
LOL.. Cape Horn is not in the plans. I was crazy enough to want to do this when I was younger and a little more adventurous!
@ you could be the first to bring a valiant 40 and round Cape Horn , somebody done it with a Catalina 30 and a hunter 30 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@hebertcentrone6804 lots of Valiants have circumnavigated. I would not be close to first!
I have an induction stove at my home. I use a silicone pad between the pans and burners. I did it for 2 reasons. The first reason is so the stove top doesn't get scratched by the pans. The second benefit is you eliminate the vibration that can happen with induction stove tops. The silicone pads can handle high temp. I've had them for more than 5 years without any issues.
I am going to look into the silicone pad. Great tip!
If you make it to the western pacific (Guam) stop by and say hello. Safe sailing! Look forward to following your progress.
Most likely I will be returning to SoCal via Hawaii after cruising French Polynesia. However, I am considering options for a longer voyage that may have me returning via Guam!
Glad you said: "Peeed Row"!
i've been working hard on that lately! hahaha
Enjoy seeing some sailing in the local waters. Is your wife and dog going to join later on?
negative... well, sort of. the wife will be flying in to visit. she has zero desire to do offshore sailing. the dog is getting up there in age and won't be sailing.
F yeah!!!!!!!
I'm pretty excited about this f*cking adventure!
An electric skillet needs neither alternating current nor 120 volts. Switch a few solar panels to series and try 63 volts across its leads and see what you can cook. I wouldn't have a boat without a CB radio, and occasional skip can put you in random conversations in the middle of any ocean. 12 volt chest freezers are a good addition even though you have a boat fridge. My motor electric will be coming from a 3 horsepower air cooled Situan Sifa MB168F diesel. That turning an alternator at low throttle comes from a crankshaft adapter to 1 inch and a 7 inch pulley. My plan is this motor also drives the prop lightly. You can point in the doldrums that way. Many sailboats suffer from lead batteries hard wired in parallel, and diesel + drinking water seawater contamination from the deck valves and vents. Your boat is like a floating Hilton. A fresh change. I hope this series gets good.
I'd still need more solar to regularly cook with the electric skillet and power the rest of the Hilton . We'll see how this setup works.
@keeldragger what kind of boat is that? I try not to recommend small gas generators on boats. That's why my 44 LB diesel is better. Most boat generators are huge, expensive, and far fetched.
@@stanleybest8833 Valiant 40. Gas generator is kind of a last resort for me.
Pretty gnarly Santa Ana’s this last week - your timing was perfect - how’d you do out in Catalina?
Looked like a gale most of last week!
I left for Ensenada just as the small craft advisory came in. No Santa Ana's on the way down but I did have consistent 20-25 knots and 6-7 waves for several hours. I made good time getting down here.
@ I’ll bet!
Fair winds
Thank you!
I sail a 36 Catalina out of San Diego. Would be my dream to join you/ do a similar trip some day. I’m just fixing things up slowly to build to that point. Will be watching you and taking notes!
Let me know if you need anything. I’d be happy to run it out to you when you pass San Diego. Beer delivery? 😊
I decided to skip San Diego on the way down to Ensenada and do the passage in one leg. Hope you are getting the Catalina 36 out to the island and Ensenada. Both are within easy striking range!
Bon Voyage Mark and Debbie. Good luck on your new great adventure. Can't wait to follow you along on You Tube.
Thanks, Derek!
might as well go all the way around
I have considered it but that adds a year or two beyond what I can commit right now
I don't remember, do you have flooded lead acid (FLA) batteries or LiFePO4 (Lithium iron phosphate) ? What fuel does the Dingy use?
I believe Mark has 600 Ah of Lithium.
I have a Group 27 AGM starting batteries and two 300 Ah (total of 600 Ah) LifePO4 batteries. Very happy with LiTime so far. It's been a game changer.
What kind of camera and handle are you using? Thanks and good luck!
Thanks! Nothing special - mostly using GoPro Hero13 and a cheap floating handle off Amazon
i did that run back in 2009. not sure what boat you got there. Tell us about it.
1989 Texas-built Valiant 40. Beta 35 inboard. Cutter rigged with Navosphere headsails and Hydranet mainsail. Hydrovane autopilot. Water maker. B&G electronics. LifePO4 batteries.
Dang that intro monologue made my eyes start leaking a little.
It has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster so far.
I am here KeelDragger
at Cat Harbor? I'm down in Ensenada now.
😅masters licenses require seatime experience as well as exams. Been there have that...
OUPV and masters have seatime requirements. I know of many who have inflated their reporting or who claimed sea time while their boat was at the dock the entire time. I applaud people who take the effort to learn and study for the test, but I do not respect it as a measure of someone’s ability to competently operate a vessel. It’s like getting a drivers license without taking the behind the wheel test.