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Old 25-09-2024, 09:11   #1
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Bahama bound with two other boats

First post to the Forum, first time to the Bahamas, first cruise with our new to us boat. Our boat cruises at 18kts, our companion's boats cruise at 10kts, yet the plan is for us to go together; I guess we will troll around allowing them to catch up; any advise would be appreciated
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Old 25-09-2024, 09:21   #2
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Re: Bahama bound with two other boats

You would probably burn 1/4 the fuel at 10kts vs 18kts.
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Old 25-09-2024, 09:53   #3
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Re: Bahama bound with two other boats

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dancyn View Post
First post to the Forum, first time to the Bahamas, first cruise with our new to us boat. Our boat cruises at 18kts, our companion's boats cruise at 10kts, yet the plan is for us to go together; I guess we will troll around allowing them to catch up; any advise would be appreciated
well just slow down!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 25-09-2024, 10:42   #4
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Re: Bahama bound with two other boats

Google found a post on another forum from a 490 owner, as follows:

Quote:
We routinely cruise right around 1400 RPM, doing ~8.5 kts consuming 5 gph total (2.5 each engine). At high cruise 2450 RPM (~17 kts), we burn approximately 25 gph (12.5 gph each engine).
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Old 25-09-2024, 12:23   #5
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Re: Bahama bound with two other boats

Not gonna catch any mahi in the gulfstream doin' 18kts.
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Old 25-09-2024, 12:47   #6
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Re: Bahama bound with two other boats

You may want to ping the folks on TrawlerForum. There are several owners of very similar boats on the East Coast (if I recall, the Meridian 490 grew out of the Bayliner 4788 series). Crossing the Gulf Stream requires a bit of extra planning to assure winds are not against the current.

As far as other tips - line cutters on the shafts; and make sure your depth sounder is calibrated. Tapping props can get expensive very quickly.

I am pretty sure the fuel burn numbers leecea googled are overly optimistic. 5gph @ 8-kts is probably more like it - at 8.5, the boat will start climbing out of a hole and fuel burn starts its the 'hockey-stick' trajectory. And I highly doubt 25 gph @ 17-kts. More like 35, probably 40+ gph.

But leaving aside the expense, burning a lot of fuel means you'll be constantly planning around fuel docks. Guessing your boat carries 500g diesel. At 18-kts, you might have a 225 mile range. At 8-kts, closer to 500 mile range. It's a tortoise and hare approach. As an ex-delivery skipper of powerboats, I can give dozens of examples where deliveries are fastest when the boat slows down simply because searching/planning fuel stops takes time. And frankly, hanging around a fuel dock while you put on 500g in the hot sun isn't very exciting. My luck is I have to wait for a Viking 70 to put on 1500g of diesel......

Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Old 25-09-2024, 14:09   #7
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Re: Bahama bound with two other boats

You don't say where in the B'mas you intend to make landfall. That will make a big difference in your crossing time, etc.
While you might be able to do 18 knots in the ICW, you will unlikely be able to maintain that speed in your proposed trip.
Etc, etc, etc. Think this thing thru' a bit.
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Old 25-09-2024, 14:34   #8
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Re: Bahama bound with two other boats

First landfall West End
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Old 25-09-2024, 16:33   #9
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Re: Bahama bound with two other boats

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First landfall West End
So about 3.5hrs from West Palm. Very doable ... You can fill up there for somewhere around $7.00/ gallon. it's only money.
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Old 25-09-2024, 17:05   #10
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Re: Bahama bound with two other boats

Well, realistically speaking, you'll probably be doing around 10 knots on the crossing, especially so if doing the trip with another boat that can't do more than 10 knots.
On top of which, you have to allow for the northerly set of the Gulf Stream.
As the crow flies, the distance from WPB to WE is around 65 miles, but seeing as you'll be crabbing across, you can expect to add to that, so say, 70 miles.
Converting that to nautical miles is about 61 nautical miles.
Plus add some miles from wherever you are docked to the inlet, etc, and allowing for some safety factor, etc, you might want to figure on around a 70 nautical mile trip.
At 10 knots ave. that is 7 hours.
Finally, no telling what the weather will be doing, but a northerly wind tends to set up some seas, likely causing you to slow down even more. Even a 15 knot SE breeze will set up some waves for you to contend with.
I can guarantee you that bashing into waves is gonna knock the fillings out of your teeth. Powerboats tend to be quite rolly in those conditions, and you can expect to rocking from side to side, so hopefully you (and crewmates)are not prone to seasickness.
There is no telling what the weather will be. You might get lucky and have all smooth sailing, but more than likely, you can expect some wind and waves on the nose. If the weather gets to be really gnarly, crossing is not likely to happen.

Just some food for thought for you.
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