What would you do to prepare for an open ocean trip?
09-11-2012, 07:19 PM
#11
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Have done it in 21 Mako , friends did it in 21 Donzi... Way before gps OR cellphones..
Hell I used to go 10-15 miles offshore in a 17ft Formula..
Obviously dont go time of year when weather is rough and be prepared to stay a couple extra days if weather turns once you get there. Like everything else taking your time and using your brain wins over just having a bigger boat every time..
Hell I used to go 10-15 miles offshore in a 17ft Formula..
Obviously dont go time of year when weather is rough and be prepared to stay a couple extra days if weather turns once you get there. Like everything else taking your time and using your brain wins over just having a bigger boat every time..
09-11-2012, 11:49 PM
#14
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Its is an easy crossing if the seas are calm, at 40mph it takes me 90 min from the key biscayne lighthouse to bimini sands resort. You have about 1 month left of calm seas before the cold fronts start and it will be to rough to go until april. Bring a spare handheld GPS & VHF, life jackets and water and make sure your sea tow or boat us is up to date, there are always enough ships passing by that you could get help if you needed it, and in the summer plenty of boaters. Assuming you can contact them and relay your position and problem. I assume you can cruise faster than 40 so on a flat day it would be an easy trip and Bimini is awesome.
09-12-2012, 07:02 AM
#16
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You should talk to Stu at Florida Power Boat Club about how the last few years of that run went and stay far away with your boat. It sounds like a 45 min walk in the park but it can take down guys twice as big as you with ocean going boats. Ask him about the guy who tore up his boat and cut his face apart on his windshield 
09-12-2012, 07:25 AM
#17
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09-12-2012, 07:45 AM
#19
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You should talk to Stu at Florida Power Boat Club about how the last few years of that run went and stay far away with your boat. It sounds like a 45 min walk in the park but it can take down guys twice as big as you with ocean going boats. Ask him about the guy who tore up his boat and cut his face apart on his windshield
The biggest thing you can do is have a very flexible schedule. Monitor the hell out of the weather. If the weather sucks, don't make the crossing. If the weather is great when you are over there leave a day early to cross when it's nice.
You should be idling out as the sun comes up. Have a regular GPS, handheld GPS, and if you have a smart phone... Navionics as backup. Handheld VHF and a dump bag if the crap hits the fan... with water in it, the handheld VHF and the handheld GPS. This is in addition to the above parts that were mentioned... Except I suggest 2 fuel filters in case you get a bad run of fuel.
With a single... go with other boats and one of the boats should have a tow rope. There are plenty of groups / clubs that do runs and the Bahamas even does boat flings that are designed for this very thing.
http://www.bahamas.com/webform/9029/boating-flings
