Advice on Best Trawler Route - Miami to Panama

[dohenyboy]

trying to plan this route. I was planning to go Dry Tortugas, then south near Cuba, west to Isla Mujeres, then to Roatan, around Cabo Gracias a Dios offshore then direct to the canal. However, I have read that the waves will be more managable if I just round Cuba's west coast, stop in Grand Cayman, and go directly offshore to Colon. Timing is thought to be December or January. Note, this is a powerboat not a sailboat. range about 600 miles conservatively

[dohenyboy]

correction range 2000 miles

[chuckr]

did it in a sail last year in January - only issue will be the wind - when it blows from the east when you leave roatan - which it does 85% of the time (i think - check the admiral charts) it can get a bit bouncy even it a big power boat

chuck patty and svsoulmates
cartagena colombia

[s/v Moondancer]

That corner where Honduras and Nicaragua meet is a shallow lee shore with the full Caribbean Sea as the fetch and it can become very dangerous. We did the trip in the opposite direction, Panama to Key West, last November in a sailboat...

We chose to cross from Panama to Grand Cayman to Isla Mujeres to Dry Tortugas.

There is less current on the Cuban side.

There is good fuel in Isla Mujeres and Puerto Morelos.

[imagine2frolic]

I would go via the east end of Cuba. You will be encountering the Christmas Winds. I wouldn't want those seas on my beam of a sailboat if it can be avoided. Stop in Jamaica to top off the tanks. Enjoy the Jumentos before the Windward Passage.......i2f

[Panamajames]

Whatever you do is don't go into Mexico with a gun on board. Arm yourself with bear spray large cans. I like MACE brand. Be sure and have 2 with holsters. Buy on Amazon for best price. A must to defender yourself. We just boat an electronic barking dog to plug in at night to give us advance warning.
You never need a good defense until you do...Good luck

[mjwarner]

Ding, Ding ding! I think we have a new record here on CF. It only took five posts to go from the PO's innocent question about routing from Fl to the Canal to a guns on-board/pirate thread. Way to hijack, Panamajames!

[Panamajames]

Just a route warning through the Yucatan channel.... sorry jajaja

[mjwarner]

And I hope you know that I was just poking some fun too!