You're not leaving it in the water docked, you're using it for 5 or so days and not taking it out of the water - correct? Nothing will grow on it that won't wash off.

It wouldn't be docked for 5 days straight, no. I don't know what our itinerary is yet, but there's a possibility it would be docked for a day or two (I wouldn't imagine we'd stay in one place longer than that), and then every night.

I stayed in the Keys for 5 nights this summer with my boat docked at my rental house. Nothing on the boat at all.

Goodluck on your run!

What I do (or I should say used to do because it's been more than 10 years now, sad to say!), is run the boat to a nearby sand bar if you can find one (Treasure cay has a great spot). If there isn't a nearby one that will work I run out and anchor off a reef and do a combo of catching lobster and cleaning the bottom with snorkel / mask / fins.

not much will grow so a quickie wipe down is all it takes, mainly on the transom and sides where the water doesn't rush over while running.

BTW, it's legal (or at least used to be so check) to Pole spear lobster in the bahamas so they are easy as hell to catch. We'd take a portable grill with us and cook on the dock when we got back.

Here is a link to my Naples to Key West trip. It was the biggest ocean trip we have done, and it was a blast.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...-key-west.html

I keep a ton of spares on the boat, and we planned for every possibility we could think of. I had a dry-bag with abandon ship supplies ready to go (waterproof radio, EPIRB, first aid kit, water, etc.) Wear your lanyard, watch the weather, and make sure your boat is in tip top shape and you should be fine.

I love making trips like these :)

Here is a good thread on spares and equipment.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/b...-bring-me.html

I've always been a proponent of dual batteries for each engine. If you have dual batteries your battery switch and electrical charging system should allow for the charging of both batteries at the same time when the engine is running. I prefer that my electronics are connected to a deep cycle battery and tied into the charging system.

I'm dying to hear this one......

As I tell my kid when loading his Quad and Dirt Bikes, "Load for the crash........not for the ride"

Just be prepared for the worst and have a ball.

You will never regret doing it.....but you will always regret "Not" doing it.

I have a ditch bag ready to go, and most of the things others mentioned. Remember, cell phones don't work very far off shore. Paper charts and a compass and knowing how to use them is all you need for a back-up GPS. You can rent a EPIRB....cheap insurance.

We go to Catalina Island for as long as 10 days in the water. Nothing that won't just wipe off.

Do keep your eyes open. There can be big junk in the water like logs and shipping containers that will ruin your day.