Bringing our Boat back to Florida in August

[kaypolitano]

We are bringing our boat, 30 ft. hydrocat, back to florida in august. We used her as a dive boat for Above and Below Abaco for 7 years but have retired the business. Will be looking for any hints or tips on crossing. She cruises at about 26 knots.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, kaypolitano.

[scoobert]

back from? cuba? canary islands? Patagonia?

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by scoobert

back from? cuba? canary islands? Patagonia?

I would guess Abacos.

[scoobert]

oh. is that a big trip for some people?

[belizesailor]

The crossing between Bahamas and FL is has been discussed a lot here on CF...do a quick search...then posting more specific questions is likely to generate more responses.

Also take a look at the Active Captain site. This is a well travelled route so I expect there is info posted there.

The biggest consideration is the Gulf Stream. Any signifcant wind out of the N can make it ugly.

[gettinthere]

Many use west end as a jumping off point. But they nickle and dime you on fees that drive the rate up to about $3/ft. If you happen to get there and the weather changes, you could be stuck paying quite a bit for several days.

You can anchor in a pretty well protected bay on great sale cay and you're less than 100 miles from lake worth inlet. Thats only 5 hours for you. The problem there is no comms except ssb. If you have that you can listen in on chis parker early in the morning.

You last place for good internet is green turtle. Running at 25k, you could make it all the way to lake worth or stuart in one day.

[capttman]

Running at 26 knots leave from almost anywhere to just about anywhere

[kaypolitano]

Originally Posted by gettinthere

Many use west end as a jumping off point. But they nickle and dime you on fees that drive the rate up to about $3/ft. If you happen to get there and the weather changes, you could be stuck paying quite a bit for several days.

You can anchor in a pretty well protected bay on great sale cay and you're less than 100 miles from lake worth inlet. Thats only 5 hours for you. The problem there is no comms except ssb. If you have that you can listen in on chis parker early in the morning.

You last place for good internet is green turtle. Running at 25k, you could make it all the way to lake worth or stuart in one day.

Thanks so much!!! We do have an option of hiring someone with a lot of experience to go with us. However, I have about 2000 hours of experience captaining our boat in the Abacos. It doesn't look that difficult. Just a wee bit jittery about crossing the Gulf Stream. However, I read that if you cross from Memory Rock and the wind is south or south east with seas 3 ft. or less you can cross in a couple hours with no problem. We have 2 Etec engines each 225 HP. We would go into Stuart. What's your opinion?

[Group9]

Uh, pack plenty of snacks and cold drinks?

And, don't go across in a north wind.

[pete33458]

I think you may be overestimating the magnitude of this trip. You're in a powerboat, headed west with prevailing south-easterlies. All you really have to worry about is the sea surface conditions (generally good this time of year) and impending weather (anything this time of year). If there's been no prolonged northerly wind recently, and there are no storms coming, it will be an easy trip. Your quickest option would be Alice Town (Bimini) to Miami, at your stated cruising speed, about 3 hours (including compensating for Gulf Stream drift). However, West End to Lake Worth (Palm Beach) only 4-5 hours. Leave in the morning and squalls shouldn't even be a serious threat. Just do it! pete

[gettinthere]

I don't use stuart because we're in a 5' 6" draft sailboat and I'm not confident in picking my way into that inlet. I know many use it every day. So do some checking into the current situation and it may be just fine.

Memory rock is a good waypoint although you can cross north of there if you want to make a bee line to Stuart.

If you want to run 20+ knots I suspect you want pretty flat seas. So getting a good report will be important. Definitely a south to south east wind under 15k for light chop conditions.