Planning a route - Fort Myers to Miami

[federalexport]

Hi. We bought 2020 Galeon 425 hts. Have no experience at all. We are going to drive it from Fort Myers to Miami on june 9. It is about 240 miles and should take 2 days. Due to no experience at all we cant drive in night time and we have to stop for night at some island. Can anybody give me idea of our course, where can we stop for a night and where is the passage that we need to find to get through these islands that goes from miami to key west. Boat got navigation and everything that needed for 2 days traveling, but we have 0 experience and decided to do it by ourself without hiring captain. Please dont advise to hire captain. We just need course and we can do it. Thank you in advance.

[denverd0n]

No offense intended, but... No, you can't do it. Not safely. You need to either hire an experienced captain, or at least find someone familiar with the area and with boats like this to help you. If you can afford a boat like this then you can certainly afford to hire some experienced help.

You MIGHT manage to do it successfully yourself, but the odds are WAAAAY against you.

Good luck, in any case.

[chubby]

Originally Posted by federalexport

Hi. We bought 2020 Galeon 425 hts. Have no experience at all. We are going to drive it from Fort Myers to Miami on june 9. It is about 240 miles and should take 2 days. Due to no experience at all we cant drive in night time and we have to stop for night at some island. Can anybody give me idea of our course, where can we stop for a night and where is the passage that we need to find to get through these islands that goes from miami to key west. Boat got navigation and everything that needed for 2 days traveling, but we have 0 experience and decided to do it by ourself without hiring captain. Please dont advise to hire captain. We just need course and we can do it. Thank you in advance.

unsure if this is serious...

[federalexport]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

You MIGHT manage to do it successfully yourself, but the odds are WAAAAY against you.

.

Thats not a problem. We are in it. I have huge experience with machinery and semis and some experience with 23 feet yamaha. I m sure we can do it. We just need course and island to stop for a night. Thank you.

[Knotical]

"planning a rout" - No thanks

Sorry, couldn't resist

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by Knotical

"planning a rout" - No thanks

Sorry, couldn't resist

Maybe they mistyped. Maybe they meant to say they "were planning a riot"?

[Shanachie]

Interstate 75 goes directly to Miami.


If you can't read a chart, you have no business behind the wheel of a large powerboat. And really, you buy a 700K boat and you're too cheap to hire a captain to show you how to operate it?


I wouldn't want to have to explain your situation to the insurance company when you run aground or crash. You do have insurance, right? And does the company know you don't know what you're doing?

[federalexport]

Originally Posted by Knotical

"planning a rout" - No thanks

Sorry, couldn't resist

😁😁😁🤣🤣

[federalexport]

We decided not to hire a captain. Everybody can do it with the captain. Its not interesting. I found the spot on Marathon island. I think we will go there for a night after first day. Also friend of mine gave me navigation app and its very helpful.

[AKA-None]

Well as you said it should be interesting

Awaiting part two

[Rocinante33]

If this is a real request and you really have zero experience you probably ought to consider the Okechobee Waterway from Ft Myers to Stuart and then th ICW to Miami.

[Wotname]

Well...

There is no reason at all not to travel at night if there are at least 2 of you. The boat and the water can't tell the difference.

You have told us the boat has navigation equipment; it will give you the course, you only have to work out the route. If you can afford this boat, you must have enough nous to look at a chart and work out which is the water and which is the land. Stay in the water and make sure it is deep enough.

This link from 2009 might help you with local knowledge. https://www.thehulltruth.com/florida...ia-fl-bay.html

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by federalexport

Hi. We bought 2020 Galeon 425 hts. Have no experience at all. We are going to drive it from Fort Myers to Miami on june 9. It is about 240 miles and should take 2 days. Due to no experience at all we cant drive in night time and we have to stop for night at some island. Can anybody give me idea of our course, where can we stop for a night and where is the passage that we need to find to get through these islands that goes from miami to key west. Boat got navigation and everything that needed for 2 days traveling,

but we have 0 experience and decided to do it by ourself without hiring captain. Please dont advise to hire captain. We just need course and we can do it. Thank you in advance.

Your insurance company agrees you can run the boat -- with zero experience -- without a training captain?

You don't know how to look at charts and determine the route?

Okeechobee Waterway, Ft. Myers to Stuart; then turn south.

-Chris

[hpeer]

FederalExport

Dead serious here. And assuming you are serious in your request.

What you are proposing is foolish and irresponsible.

It may not appear that way to you but it is.

That you are getting some snarky answers is because your proposal is way over the top. People find it easier to believe the post is a prank than that you are serious.

I have met someone just like you, but with more experience, with a bigger and more capable boat. He wanted to do about 1/2 the trip you propose. I refused to go with him. Last time we talked he did not make it but found refuge for a few days to heal.

I wish you good luck and better sense.

There is a old saying:
If someone calls you a Jack Ass ignore them.
If a second calls you a JA, look in the mirror.
If a third does it, buy oats.

You have had about 10 opinions, which you came to solicit. If you did not want the advice why did you come?

[Wolfe10]

With zero experience and that size boat, I would not recommend the Okeechobee Waterway.


Single handling that boat in the locks???????????




At night across Florida Bay-- hard to see crab pot/floats. And much easier for a novice to get disorientated.


PLEASE, follow all the advice in this thread. Have someone knowledgeable with you and better, divide the trip into 3 easy, fun days.