Size matter?

M

mlaymance

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Aug 17, 2008
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30630
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Hello I would like to know what is the smallest size boat you would make the trip across to the bahamas in .I read somewhere that a 22 was the very least you should take?
 
Depends on your level of experience, ability to prepare properly and your risk tolerance level.
 
The type of boat, boat speed and range also have significance. For example a 26 walk around would be a better choice (IMHO) over a bow rider of the same size. It could also depend on your ability to swim :D.
 
I'm wondering, Boatbum, why you came top that conclusion. Seems to me a center console is equally vulnerable to blue water over the bow and the possibility of swamping as a bowrider is. Just curious......Thanks.
 
Roy I was not talking about a center console, but a walk around something like a grady white off shore 24. Just about anything has more freeboard than a bow rider (in the generic sense). I consider those to be party barges at best.
 
Center consoles have better water drainage because they are designed for off shore, where as bowriders are designed for lakes and rivers.
 
It all depends on the weather. When I went back in May, I was very glad to have a 30' cat. Certainly there are some very calm weather windows, it's just the trick of finding one over and one back in a smaller boat. I'd have a backup plan to leave the boat and fly home in case you can't get a return crossing window. That being said, here's a nice article on small boats crossing the "stream":

http://www.biminicruisingguide.com/smallboattobimini.htm

(notice the emphasis on weather, safety equipment, and boat seaworthiness)
 
This is the kind of information I was looking for. I realize the trip is a simple one in the best conditions, but a tough one in the worst.

It is obvious that weather is the (or should be) the number 1 factor in planning a safe trip. Anyone that attempts these type of trips in anything but the best of conditions has much bigger garbonzo beans than I.

Does anyone keep journals of these type of trips? If so I would love to read them.
 
What sort of journal were you looking for? I've got a little website for our recent trip, but I designed it for mainly non-boating friends and didn't include weather information:

http://www.undock.com

However, I can give you a quick idea of the conditions. We left Stuart just as the winds turned to 5-10 out of the N (normally not a good idea, but they had just turned). That made the seas about 3-5 during crossing. All the way "down" the Abacos to Hopetown & Marsh Harbor it was blowing about 15-20 with the sea of Abaco anywhere from 2-6 (bigger at some passages like Don't Rock). When we saw a return weather window we did a 90-ish mile trip from Allens Pensacola to West End to be in place for the window. Thankfully, the Sea of Abaco was COMPLETELY FLAT that day (what a treat!). The return crossing called for 5-10 out of the S. It was bumpy for some reason to start, but then calmed to near flat about halfway across.
 
Holy Sea Swamping Batman someone else wants to make a run to the Bahamas.
Only kidding, but here is some advise from someone who already has the boat there.
Last September after going through this same advise and talking stage I chose to ship the boat over as I did not have the time to hang around and await smooth seas.
I understand that most of you want the adventure and possible bragging rights for future trips. And this is great, I too wish that I could have driven from the US of A.
Here is my point having now spent 20 years over in the Bahamas of which the last year with a boat of my own, I now see a pattern for the weather.
It is actually quite simple and easy to follow and understand.
Every morning when you wake up look outside and check out the seas..if it is rough they seldom calm during the day. If you witness calm seas have the boat already and beat feet to the boat and go out and have a great time, always watching the skies and seas. This is not to say weather reports should be neglected.
This past year for some reason has been above average in sea choppyness. In speaking with the natives and fellow boaters the majority will agree that for some reason this 2008 years has kept boaters and fisherman alike at the dock more than not.
We spent April 2008 with the boat (26ft Carver) ready to ride and only had 3 days that were comfortable enough to say it was a nice day for boating.
With this said, the last month with storms has been horrible and I hope that Oct/Nov. 2008 bring calmer seas for all.
POE Bob
 
As mentioned, weather is a major component of a safe crossing. While you should only attempt a crossing when the PREDICTED conditions are good, you should also be aware of thunderstorms. Thunderstorms occur in weather fronts that are generally predicted. Thunderstorms also occur when the air is unstable in the summertime. The seas can get large quickly in a thunderstorm. One super cell thundersorm will alter the seas state within 10 - 15 miles of the storm center. In the summertime, these storms mostly occur in the afternoon. This is why most crossings start in the morning. I aborted one crossing in July when we encountered thunderstorms in the morning about 10 miles out from Ft. Lauderdale. The predicted 1 - 3 foot seas had become 6 - 8 foot seas.
 
quote:
Originally posted by deerows

The predicted 1 - 3 foot seas had become 6 - 8 foot seas.

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Ouch!

Glad you turned around and played it safe. Otherwise, who's going to give me a ride next May when I return to Stuart :-)
 
Kurt when the sea of abaco had 2-6 how was it? Chop or rollers? Given it is shallow I was thinking it would be quite choppy and a rough ride in a following sea heading south?
 
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum

Kurt when the sea of abaco had 2-6 how was it? Chop or rollers? Given it is shallow I was thinking it would be quite choppy and a rough ride in a following sea heading south?

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Without a doubt we preferred the one "flat" day, but it is what it is. I'd classify it as chop, but not the close-spaced chop I'm used to in the Chesapeake, so for us it was a new not-so-bad experience (nothing worse than closely-space chop). My outboards never enjoy the switch between ethanol and non-ethanol gas. By the time we got our second tank of non over there, I was loosing RPMs (like dropping to 3k when I usually run closer to 5k). That prevented us from hitting plane and the chop was coming over our bow (which is 4' from the water line). But once I got the engines running again, we could stay on top of it. Most of it was a head sea. The only day I remember a following sea was the return trip N through Don't Rock. Now that 3-4' depth there does some fun things with both chop and rollers!

I hope that answers your question?
 
Mixman,

Thanks for the reply. Thats the first Motorcat I nhave ever seen, and I LIKE it! It seems to handle the trip very well. The Photos and Journal of the trip was Oggled over by me and wife for over an hour yesterday.

We would like to plan a trip within the next couple of years. First order is a bigger boat. The 23' cuddy seems too small for the trip to suit my comfort level. We will be looking for something larger (27-30')within the next few months.

In the meantime we are reading and studying all we can about the trip, navigation, and teaching her to drive the boat. We tend to frequent the coast a lot and are looking forward to moving our boat there in the spring for some intercoastal trips. Perhaps that will give us more experience in the big water. I have been a boat owner for years but never anything bigger than a 19' bass boat till now.

Thanks again for the info.

By the way, what outboards are you running? I am very interested in the boat and how it handles.

Michael & Sharon
 
Michael,

I don't want to hijack a thread and start yackin' about my boat...oh, it's your thread! :-)

Believe it or not, we're powered with just twin Honda 50's. The "flat" day we were at our 17 knot cruise, but most other days were were between 15-16 knots. We went with another Motorcat that was running E-Tech 90's. They ran about 19 knots through the slop. But where I'm burning 3-4 gallons per hour, they're burning 9gph. We'd get to a fuel dock about 20 minutes after them, which was fine as I'd need 1/3 of a tank and they'd need 2/3. They keep trying to talk me into getting bigger outboards, but I'm siding with the vast majority of these boats that 50's are the perfect size, all things considered.

There are 3 of these used on the market currently. One in NC that's got a great price (and a great trailer), but needs a little TLC. If you get a Motorcat (and thus run the same speed) we'll be happy to have you tag along when you're ready. We plan on doing this trip each spring for quite some time, and having somebody to show you how the trip works the first time is usually a good idea.
 
Kurt thanks yes it does. I am confident we will not be using Don't Rock, opting to go outside instead. It's too close for us to try there even tho we only pull 3.5. If you folks are there in May we may cross paths since we (most likely) will have to be north of Fla. by June 1st.
 
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