How Big???
 

Lets say with several boats, for safety reasons, is it out there to attempt crossing to the Bahamas from West Palm in a 26' Formula with a single engine? Has anyone on this board done it? Would really be interested to talk with someone who has made the trip. Would like to try and make trip to see APBA finals! I do lots of intercoastal travel and make 150 mile day trips regulary.
Opinions????
Jay

Opinions...OK.....your nuts :D
No but really, I would think if you kept a real close eye on the weather and things looked clear for aways around I would try it. I would not suggest going it alone though. I would get someone with twins to run with you.
I have a 25 AT and under the right conditions I would do it.

Admittedly some do say Im alittle nuckin futz though :cool:
Good luck and please let us know when your leaving so we can look out for you.

Do it with another boat and you should be safe. I wouldn't do it alone. I have crossed Lake MI. alone and it was unnerving but had to be done. That far offshore your VHF wont work will it and normal cell phone is out of the question -unless you can borrow or rent a sat phone I wouldn't do it.

It can most certainly be done in a 26' boat. I've heard of people going in everything from 23' and up.

Granted, the conditions must be perfect for the crossing in that size boat, early morning in the summer is your best bet.

But, personally, I would want twins or be among a group of boats to make the crossing.

An EPIRB is a must(or some kind of sat phone) to notify the CG in an emergency.

Also, and I know this is borderline paranoia, but I wouldn't leave without a weapon, either....You hear of far too many abandoned and gutted vessels drifting back onto our shores after running into the wrong people out there. :cool:

Last year or the year before someone did the crossing witht he Florida Powerboat Club in a 28' Active Thunder. He was the only single engine boat on the poker run and by far the smallest.

OK so I m a little f*&^in nuts but ya know what a cool trip. I really am lookn for the right oportunity to run it without being really stupid about it. to limit it to a time frame would be a little out there, such as race weekend, but if I could hook up with the right people I do belive its feasble. As much as I like my boat I really hate being limited to just my imagination. If I only had that spare 350gs I'd go by that 38' Formula:D
Jay

Baja Daze,

Performance Boating and Automatic Weapons go hand in hand. Like Gin and Tonic :D

Nothing like a nice warm UZI!!!!

But seriously i would bring some artillery on that trip too.

JRocket,
If I can get the time off from work, maybe you can follow me?;) :D :D :D

Weather and water conditions are the keys...

I've heard that a pack of 13' Whalers cross once a year for kicks (I hear there are about 6 or 7 of them that do this).

There are times that the flats are like a big calm pond. Other times it is rougher. Weather is the key.

If you have good bilge pumps, with a biggun on each of two separate battery banks, a roll of plastic tarp big enough to "diaper" the boat if you have a hull leak you cannot find, and a buddy in a larger boat to go with - then have at it.

The laws of fate say that if you leave fully prepared, then nothing bad will happen. If you forget one key item, it will be that one that bites you in the axx.

As far as leaving from West Palm, I personally would hop on down to Ft.Laud first.

Sharkey,
A man with your back ground Ill have know problem following you:D :D
As for all who have mentionioned artilery notice where I am from. Ever know of a southern born Redneck without asmall arsenal of assorted weaponry :D :D Have gun will travel!;)
jrocket

P.S. Sharkey are you serious????Im willin if you are

One thing I've heard a bunch of times about the trip is to leave your return date open. It seems that far too many people have chosen to return on a bad weather day because they had prior committments, like work.

I know of a couple of guy's that do it every year in 22' Pathfinders. They go to Walkers Cay for a fishing tournament. But there is always 4 or more boats running.Pick your weather, epirb "A MUST", and yes, i'm with Daze, artilery !!! Personaly I would take a 12 Guage with 00 Buck, a 223 cal Mini 14, and of course my trusty 45 !!! The shot gun for a no miss spread, the 45 for up close knock down, and the Mini 14 so I can take their engine's out !!! Wardey

Well I really havent any real commitments being a DOD employee:D

Didn't Don Arronow do it in the first two 16's that he built?

I would be risking losing my Health Benefits from work:mad: :mad: :mad: Good thing they don't know about my website....
Besides not getting the time off, I wouldn't have to worry about the pirates. MY WIFE WOULD JUST SHOOT ME BEFORE I LEFT. :eek: :eek: :eek: :D

Check out this website: http://www.adventuregrrl.com/.

This chick and her boyfriend did it in a 23' Crownline. :eek:

I say go for it!!! :D

Didn't Don Arronow do it in the first two 16's that he built?
 

Yeah, and look where he is.

Weather and safety eqpt. is the key. Also travel with another boat and make sure your radios work. If the weather is fine then no problem. Otherwise, stay in port!

I have made the crossing on 50 ft sport fishermans and if it gets snotty, watch out.

Wannabe

jrocket...

Ever decide if you were going to make the trip... If so please drop a note...

Tnx, Karl

I remember reading a Hot Boat article about a 1972 CV-21 Glastron Carlson that made that trip. It was a 455 Olds and Berkley Jet Pump. They took extra fuel but had a hard time finding good fuel once they got there. Imagine running a Jet Pump that far and in Offshore Conditions!....Mike.