[cdavisdb]

For you new guys this is key:

"I don't know how green some people are, but it goes to say, where you are going, you either have what it takes to fix it yourself or a ton of money and time to have someone else do it, at half the quality.
So, even with older engines and such, just make sure all your annual maintenance is done, and I mean everything, plugs, w/p, thermos, bilge pumps, filters."

I'd add to that, run the boat thoroughly in the months leading up to the trip, spend some serious money on spare parts and tools and don't forget to bring'em. Don't ask why I added the bit about forgetting.

The weather can get snotty and you may not like it, but the seacraft will handle it just fine. Having something critical fail 100 miles off and there is no substitute for spare parts, tools and the knowledge of how to use'em.