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Old 22-02-2014, 08:29   #1
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Monohull in Exumas

Anyone sailed a monohull with 6' draft in Exumas? Bad choice? Good choice? Also, how important is air conditioning in early May in Exumas?
Thanks much.
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Old 22-02-2014, 16:44   #2
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Re: Monohull in Exumas

6' is no problem, but you need to be alert in some places. Same with 5' draft. Same with 4' draft. Air conditioning is unnecessary for almost all the time in the Bahamas. If you find that it is so hot and still that you need AC, you should immediately head for a hurricane hole.

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Old 22-02-2014, 17:19   #3
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Re: Monohull in Exumas

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Originally Posted by colemj View Post
If you find that it is so hot and still that you need AC, you should immediately head for a hurricane hole.

Mark

That is GREAT info! Easy to remember too.
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Old 22-02-2014, 17:23   #4
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Re: Monohull in Exumas

We traveled to the Exuma a number of times with our 6 foot draft. AC is in the feel of the beholder. We seldom needed it or used it while cruising in the Bahamas. We do have a genset and can run the AC anytime. Chuck
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Old 22-02-2014, 17:52   #5
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Re: Monohull in Exumas

You can cruise 7ft almost anywhere in the Bahamas!! With proper Care! We have used AC a few times when it was hot as hade's and the mostquitos were unreal!! As far as needing it, it depends on what your used to ! Compared to So. Louisiana it cool there as long as theres a breeze!
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Old 22-02-2014, 17:54   #6
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I am glad we did not install an AC for the Bahamas. Never ended one so far.
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Old 23-02-2014, 06:12   #7
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Re: Monohull in Exumas

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, wyowind.
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Old 23-02-2014, 09:12   #8
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Originally Posted by wyowind View Post
Anyone sailed a monohull with 6' draft in Exumas? Bad choice? Good choice? Also, how important is air conditioning in early May in Exumas?
Thanks much.
6ft is manageable but there are some places that you can't get into where you could with 5ft. Likewise 4ft draft will get you into some nice hidey holes that 5ft can't. A Gemini or some such with 2ft can really get in there. Usually though you want to anchor where there's some breeze which means not too close to the beach.

We managed fine with 5ft but many boats anchored near us drew 6 or more. Places like Red Shanks off Crab Cay will be ok with 5ft or less but not 6 although friends with 6ft often rode out fronts anchored in Masters Harbor just in front of Red Shanks and just a 1/4 mile away from us inside.

Most of the time we anchored in 10ft or more. Tides usually run 1ft to 2ft at most. Spring tides maybe a bit more.

A/C not required just take a swim if you get hot.

Use the Explorer chart kits to plan passages and find anchorages. Use the Explorer waypoints for channels or cuts and you won't go wrong.
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Old 23-02-2014, 09:29   #9
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Re: Monohull in Exumas

Did it pretty extensively with 6'5" draft. A few spots you might pass but not too big a deal. Sure I'd rather have 3 ft!
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Old 23-02-2014, 10:49   #10
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Re: Monohull in Exumas

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Originally Posted by bobconnie View Post
You can cruise 7ft almost anywhere in the Bahamas!! With proper Care! We have used AC a few times when it was hot as hade's and the mostquitos were unreal!! As far as needing it, it depends on what your used to ! ----
7 feet! My hat's off to you guys. I guess reasonable draft also depends on what you're used to.
I tell folks you've become a true multihuller when it doesn't bother you that your knotmeter is reading larger numbers than your depthsounder.
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Old 24-02-2014, 04:45   #11
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We have 6 ft draft and did the Exumas, I would not do it in 5-6- or 7 ft bolted on keel. Any bulb or wing keel either. You'll be happier with a 6 ft, even happier with a 4 ft draft. Air is really not needed.
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Old 24-02-2014, 08:33   #12
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Re: AC in Exumas

My problem is with other people's AC in the Caribbean where its usually balmy enough to sleep with out a sheet maybe just a mosquito net or repellant. But the neighbors A/C will keep me a wake since the cooling water pump shuts on and off every few minutes in an other wise quiet marina or anchorage
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Old 24-02-2014, 09:36   #13
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My problem is with other people's AC in the Caribbean where its usually balmy enough to sleep with out a sheet maybe just a mosquito net or repellant. But the neighbors A/C will keep me a wake since the cooling water pump shuts on and off every few minutes in an other wise quiet marina or anchorage
Good point. One reason I do all with solar, no generator.
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Old 24-02-2014, 18:47   #14
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So if i run my generator all.night in an anchorage, so i can sleep comfortably is that a bad thing to do?
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Old 24-02-2014, 19:11   #15
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Re: Monohull in Exumas

+1 to what Mark answered here!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by colemj View Post
6' is no problem, but you need to be alert in some places. Same with 5' draft. Same with 4' draft. Air conditioning is unnecessary for almost all the time in the Bahamas.
Mark
I've been sailing the Bahamas with 6' 6" draft for years...(first cruise there in the mid 1960's was on a 3.5' draft, but it's been 6'+ draft since the early 70's...)




Now as for gensets and air cond....(yeah, I've got 'em on my current boat...it came with them!), but I don't use 'em much....and certainly NOT in an anchorage with other boats around!!
Quote:
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So if i run my generator all.night in an anchorage, so i can sleep comfortably is that a bad thing to do?
, So, Bohemian, the answer to your question is a big YES IT IS A VER BAD THING TO DO!!!!
Can't think of a better/quicker way to make dozens of enemies!!!




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