Sorry to derail the topic of "what happened to me" stories , and back to the crossing from FL to Bimini or points beyond

Last year we stayed with Austin and Amy at Lubber's Landing. A great vacation . . Austin owns a Pantera 28 with twin SBC and frequently makes the crossing from the Abacos to FL. I am also planning on making this crossing in my Magnum 27, Austin has offered to fly over to FL and join me for the crossing . . I'm certain he would do this for anyone who wants to stay with them at Lubbers!

We also rented a boat in Marsh Harbor for our stay, but all of those boats are a bit difficult to really see all of the Abaco chain . . something a it quicker and comfortable . . I picture a run to Bimini, refuel, have an early lunch and run across to the Abacos . .

Mario - I read your thread about your stay with Austin and Amy. Looks like it was a good time and they appear to be really good people. Hard to find that nowadays. It definately sparked my interest for a possible future vacation to the bahamas. However, heart is kinda set on just doing bimini for now. Just need to decide on whether to carry a portable AC unit or install a permanent on in my 292.

Get a room.....the heat is going to fry you and the few hundred you pay for a room will become priceless! A shower, bed and AC will be the best part of that vacation after you get sunburnt!

I don't plan on staying on my boat . . after a day of waves and sun, solid land and a bed makes the next day a lot easier!
My thought is a run to Bimini, refuel and run over to the Abacos . . my Magnum only has 100 gallons capacity . . I could add a couple of fuel cells ?

Better to run from Palm Beach straight to West End and get fuel there and then continue to Abacos, 100 gals is not a lot of fuel if you have any problems, also I would only go if the seas are calm because your fuel burn can double if it is rough. What kind of MPG do you get?

Bahamas isn't NJ, I understand that, but I spend my most of my weekends during the summer sleeping on a boat. As we don't have a shore house at the moment. So roughing it on the boat is nothing new to me. My vacations for the past 4 years has been a week spent on the boat in July. I haven't ruled out a room for maybe a night or two even. If the weather doesn't workout in our favor for the crossing, we could always pack up and head down to the keys or even over to the gulf. This way our time off doesn't go wasted.

Every time I have been there I ended up sunburnt and I have lived in Florida since 1975. You do everything outside, the water is beautiful so you want to be out there but the sun is catching up with you at the same time!.......Outside of a big cabin cruiser, I would have zero interest in staying on a boat at the end of a day in the Bahamas! If it came down to money, I would stay less days in Bimini with a hotel than staying longer aboard the boat.

Good to have a backup plan in case you don't cross.....If it was my trip I would plan 3-4 days in Bimini then back to the Florida Keys for the rest of your vacation so you get two great destinations knocked out in one trip.

Alot of this forum does not stay on board there boats.

But there is a few of us that use our cabins. I have lived ona sail boat for 2 weeks, I have lived on a 17 foot bow rider for a week.

My 34 foot, with vacuflush, genny, and AC is like a hotel room. haha

Bingo.

Totally depends on the climate too.

I stayed in the cabin of my old Sonic, up north down to 45* before w/no heat other than the gf.
Stayed on my old cruisers to the low 30's w/a single space heater.

As to the heat, if you can get shade (bimini or Anchor Shade) and a breeze you're in. Interestingly, on all the performance boats I've seen, they have the bow hatches facing the wrong direction to function at rest/anchor. I reversed them on both my Sonics.
Assuming anchoring from bow, you will always be bow to wind which will give you an awesome breeze for sleeping in the cuddy.

When I'm staying on the boat and I come into dock or prepare to anchor, I determine wind direction first and attempt to put bow into wind once secured.
I've had friends on my Sonic, down here in the 90's and w/the bow hatches open, and a breeze and they've all said they could sleep in the cabin.
At dock, you some times have to back in to get the wind direction correct.

If on the other hand, you have no escape from the sun and no air movement, and it's hot...., you're screwed w/o AC.

I got heat stroke one time on my old Sonic on a steaming ass August day after spending a day exploring Pelee Island by bicycle. I had no shade and there was absolutely no air movement. I ended up hiding in the small shaded area behind the port bolster. Only shade on the boat. It sucked and scared the hell out of me.

Also sucks to wake up in sweat soaked sheets which I've done several times.

Thats what Jupiter is talking about. A 1/2 hr in an AC'd hotel room would have instantly healed me.

I completely agree, I reveresed the hatch on my old 252 for that exact reason.. and I could leave it cracked and bring in fresh ari while crusing too.

My 342 has sideways hatches. which dont scoop but they do work kquite well with them both open letting air come in and out.

I also run the genny from dark to mindnight cooling the cabin, charging batterys, and stuff. that helps... and the few nights you stay at the doc, ice cold...