Would it be "Better in the Bahamas"

[Lineleader]

Admittedly, this may be a bit far-fetched, but.....

How feasible would it be to get a group together and make a run to the Bahamas for a few days? Reportably, they run weekend flotillas from West Palm Beach to the Abacos in the springtime.

How hard would it be for us to make the run? I know the south florida folks would know way more about this than me.

Just food for thought as I await kick-off

LL

[Moody Blu']

I would do it.

[Donzi Blackhawk]

Lineleader,

I talked to Last Tango about this a short while ago. it sounds like we need to put a Sea Dog trip together. The water is supposed to be calmer in the winter. HP-500 (Ted) made the trip not to long ago in a 38' boat. We would need is input to plan the event. otherwise, count me in!

Bryant

[fasttrucker]

i used to have a house in key largo+pompano beach, on the water.the summer is the time to go.ive seen bass boats out 3 miles.the only trick is those big storms,i think they call them hurricanes+tropical depressions.they could screw-up the whole week making a trip hard to plan for a lot of people.

[Gearhead99]

Did the Pier 66 to Bimini run in a 29 Formula, with a Formula Flotila. The going was so-so till we reached the "stream". That was a different story. Couldn't plane, it was TOO ROUGH. Like eight to ten foot seas. Took a bunch of water of the bow. Mucho BIG WAVES!!! Got the crap beat out of us and wet. Had two 24 Formulas with us. They turned around and went back to Pier 66. With the low freeboard of a 18..........well don't think it is too safe.

FYI, on the return the water was like glass.

[knee deep]

Whoa! The winds are calmer in the SUMMER! Winter sucks! I do yacht delivery for a living and there has been many a day when I've left a boat tied to the dock in Nassau, or packed it in and stopped at Chub Cay. In the summer you have to watch for afternoon t-storms. If you had the right support people and some bigger stuff for escorts and took off early before the winds, plan on spending the night and come back the next morning. I think we'd be better off doing something local down here, like say Clewiston on Lake Okeecholbee. That way the guys that don't want to put their boats in the salt can come play too. Then there's always Fort Lauderdale and the hot body contest at Shooters...........

[avanti]

Hey guys we do it all the time only in a 33Ft. Avanti with twin 250 Evinrudes. Freeport to Ft. Lauderdale in two hours at 40 Kts. cruise. We also just came back from Abaco. I would recomend the best time to do this would be summertime. The end of July through August would be the best weather. We ran our 18 Classic over from Ft. Lauderdale and it took us 4 Hrs. It was flat calm off of Ft. Lauderdale but about half way across it turned into a SW wind and it was 4-6 by the time we got home. Just so you guys don't think we are crazy I want you to know that the Avanti was right next to us. It can be done in an 18 but it has to be one to two in the stream. If you want to go on to Abaco I would recomend Palm Beach to West End as it is only 55 miles. If you guys really want to do this I would be happy to help you with any arrangements you need over this way. By the way the APBA will be here next month for an offshore race. October 18-20 here in Freeport.

[HP 600SC]

I would not do it in anything less than a 33'
and at that I would have to watch the weather
forcast 48 hours in advance.
But thats just my U.S.C.G. Master Captain opinion.
(just had to throw that in there :D )
There are people that I know that have made it
in smaller boats and never a problem, but not me brother. There is a member of this registry that
spent 10 day's in a life raft after his 38(not a Donzi) sunk. Wonder what his take on it is???

[Gearhead99]

Give you one more story...

Had some of my mechanic's, years ago when I was in dealership, that got juiced up and took an airboat to Bimini !!!!!!!!!!

Yep, it was smooth running and they were tanked.
But, they couldn't get back. Ended up leaving the airboat there and hitched a ride to Ft. Liquordale. They finally had to have the airboat put on a larger boat and ferried back.

True story.

[Paul Storti]

On calm days usually in summer I crank it up to a nice 55mph cruise and head out about 30 miles until I can't see land anymore but i never have my passport with me so I end up heading back in. It s hard to no if it is calm enough until you get a few miles out.

[Tony]

Wasn't there a story about Don Aronow making this run with a bunch of 16's?

And...we'd LOVE to know who spent ten days in a liferaft. That would make a helluvan interesting post to hear that story!

[Dalelama]

Back in the day, we used to run to Bimini in the morning (summers only) and get trashed, crash at Ozzie Brown's (Compleat Angler) then run back (with major hangover ) the next morning. 18' Maverick ski boat and a 19' St Tropez.... one hour trip each way. Couldn't return in the afternoons... too drunk... and the 2'-3' seas were just too rough....

Dooable... but why not cruise Miami instead? Birthplace of the Donzi line... those origional boats were designed to run Biscayne Bay!

[Digger]

I would be very interested in doing that. As long as weather/sea state permits. I have tremendous respect for the ocean (maybe because I've seen thousands of miles of it thanks to my Navy brothers) Sometimes there just isn't enough boat...

[Surfer]

I've lived in South Florida all my life, made the trip to the islands many times, we boat / ski in the summer (no waves) and surf in the winter (ocean swells). I don't think the 18 is a real good rough water boat, as I've taken a bucket of water in the face going out Port Evergaldes to many times.

[Moody Blu']

2-3 foot aint bad. ive been in 4-6 at 40-45 mph...
you gotta keep you rhand on the throttle and wheel though... :D

I would like to do this......

how bout early summer next year?
Think we could get a chopper to take aerial photos and video?
I would sleep over for the heck of it..

wow that would be so fun...

lets do it! :D yippie

[HP 600SC]

LOL, you must use a different type of measuring
stick up there!

[florida gator]

I have wondered the same thing. I have a 21'. I know of people who have done made the run in smaller boats on the right day. My biggest concern is fuel. I have never really gone far, or paid attention to my range. I have approx. 50 gal. tank. Keep me posted.

[Dalelama]

41-16

41-16

41-16

[Tidbart]

41

[Lineleader]

You just gotta love Moody Blu'....The thread just gets started and he's in. Even after the "size does matter" comments, he wants to know when we're going! That's the spirit!

Sounds like we have some qualified leaders to take us across if we have the right weather and time. Why make the run if we can't spend a couple of days? We even have Avanti from Freeport to help sort things out in the Bahamas. Maybe a couple of the big boy boats will go and take a few passengers along?

Even if we don't go, isn't it worth a few minutes thinking about the beautiful islands and blue water? It's kinda like spending a few bucks on the lottery just to imagine what you'd do with all the $$.

Sorry, I just don't get 41-16 thing.

LL GT-21