25' Center Consul, Fl.-Panama Via Caribbean Chain, need routing help!

[Capt.Jon]

Hey All!
So I'm looking for help and information on fuel stops along my journey from Ft. Lauderdale to Bocas Del Toro, Panama. My plan is to buzz down through the Bahamas, make it into the V.I.'s and work my way down the caribbean chain. Once I make it to the mainland, ill head back up the coast until I make it to Bocas Del Toro!

The boat is a 25' Twin-V cat, she runs right around 30kts and has a fuel range of 250 mi. ( I plan on also adding a bladder). Any information regarding fuel stops and run distances would be awesome. Word of mouth is always better then books!

[tuffr2]

No help with fuel stops - sorry
But will be interested in your adventure. How many miles total will that be? My estimates go from 1,300 to 1,600. That is a lot of miles in a 25' boat.

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[Capt.Jon]

With headed the entire distance down the Caribbean chain, it's looking right around 3,000 miles. Hopefully 18-20 travel days. The goal is to make it in 2 months.

[tuffr2]

Is 30 knots the sweet spot for the engines or is 25 knots a lot more fuel efficient?

On my current boat, little runabout the engine is nice and quiet at 25 knots vs 30 knots.

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[Moontide]

Gas or diesel?

Potential problem with the coast of Venezuela. Most cruisers, insurance companies, etc. are death (pun intended) going anywhere near there. Probably worse now with the current economic and political conditions.

Have you thought about doing Key West, Cuba, Cancun, Cozumel, Roatan, Provendencia, San Andres, Bocas. Guessing more (less risky) fueling options going south that way than along South America.

What range will you have?

[Moontide]

P.S. GoogleEarth is great for getting mileage between ports

[SVNeko]

that is nuts

[akprb]

Why not go Keys to Isla Mujeras, Belize, Guatema, Honduras, San Andeas, Panama?

You're really taking the long upwind way. We've done both, for your trip I'd consider the above unless of course the goal is to spend all that time in the Antillies.

Can't say it will be comfortable and consider your kidneys :-)

[captlloyd]

What is your goal? If you are looking for an expensive challenge, then you have a good plan. If you are looking to get the boat to Panama, I would say just trailer it, a lot cheaper and easier to do by a long-shot. What is the beam?

[DMCantor]

The political/economic situation in Venezuela is really terrible now, and getting worse. I think visiting any time soon is a very, very bad idea. It's about 400 miles from Grenada to Bonaire, maybe you could manage that between a spare fuel bladder and running at optimum fuel-economy speeds.

The islands in the Caribbean chain are great places to visit, and there are plenty of fueling options between the VI and Grenada. Most of the legs are 30-40 miles, basically a hop for a boat like yours. You will experience some significant waves in some places.

[jessehunt]

Considering the current economic situation in Venezuela, it would be wise to stay 30 miles, and perhaps 50 miles from any Venezuelan coastline. Piracy in coastal waters can be a problem.