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What's the longest distance?

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CaptSteve said:
Having made this trip many times, albeit in a MUCH MUCH larger boat, I can tell you it can be VERY rough. I have seen where there is a 2-3' swell at Miami and 6' waves when you get to the Gulf Stream. You really have to pick your time if you are going in a small boat.

From Ft. Lauderdale the closest point in the Bahamas are the Biminis. All the marinas are on the east side of the islands. Your trip is really around 60 nm or 65 mile. From there, any other island is at least another 60 nm.

The reason most do it on a jet ski is that if you get swamped, you can get back on and go. In a boat, it is very different. These boats are not made for ocean crossings. If you are not use to blue water boating, it can be very dangerous.

I suggest you practice boating near shore in the ocean for a while to see how your boat handles. One wave on the beam and you could broach or swamp. I also suggest you take a safe boating course from the Coast Guard Aux. or the Power Squadrons.

Since you have to contend with real waves, you will not be doing 50mph. More likely something below 30mph if you are lucky. Slower is often better. Three hours of pounding and you will be very tired. In addition, you will find that you can not go in a straight line. You will have to tack a little to take the waves on the quarter, this will increase the distance and fuel usage. Be prepared to get very wet. If you try to go too fast or don't read the sea correctly, you will get into trouble.

I am not saying it can't be done, but you had better be prepared.

Make sure your boat is in top condition. Leave early in the morning, you do not want to be traveling at night. Have a waterproof vhf radio or two and know how to use them. Cell phones don't always work and the Coast Guard does not monitor them. Wear a type I or II pfd. The little type III jackets will not cut it if you go in. Have a GPS so you know where you are and where you are going. Get a nautical chart and know how to read it. Plot your course before hand and use waypoints. Make sure you have plenty of drinking water, extra fuel, oil, and food. Make a float plan and leave it with somebody on shore. Make sure everything is tied down, you do not want a gerry can of fuel banging around your boat.

DO NOT try this alone. If you can't get other boats to go with you, hook up with a large yacht and follow them. Most captains wouldn't mind and their passengers would probably find it interesting.

This could be a cool trip, if you are prepared.
Click to expand...

X2 Great advice!!
 
If you look on Yamahajetboaters.com i know there are several people from FL who are planning this run for 2011. I believe they are leaving from west palm though... They had lots of good information and fuel break downs ect. might be a good resource for you..
 
Capt Steve Good Advice

However it sounds like it is falling on deaf ears. Does anyone remember the 2 football players who drowned off Tampa a year ago because their 23 foot fishing boat CAPSIZED in rough water and they could not hold on to the bottom of the hull which was upside down ?

Crazy idea, open ocean in a 16 foot boat with no bilge pump to speak of.
You are much safer on a jet ski as long as the cold doesnt get you.

Try to get videos for YouTube at least.
 
the big e said:
Here's a vid of some guys in 07 speedsters making the trip. Only gone 3-4mi offshore myself but its a great, free feeling out in the big water:cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7ke76G4GQ8
Click to expand...

Looks like even the boats were carrying extra fuel, nice video, thanks for posting.

unclejay said:
However it sounds like it is falling on deaf ears. Does anyone remember the 2 football players who drowned off Tampa a year ago because their 23 foot fishing boat CAPSIZED in rough water and they could not hold on to the bottom of the hull which was upside down ?

Crazy idea, open ocean in a 16 foot boat with no bilge pump to speak of.
You are much safer on a jet ski as long as the cold doesnt get you.

Try to get videos for YouTube at least.
Click to expand...

People die/drown/crash everyday...proper preparation is the key....

Drive Fast, Take Chances :cool:
 
unclejay said:
However it sounds like it is falling on deaf ears. Does anyone remember the 2 football players who drowned off Tampa a year ago because their 23 foot fishing boat CAPSIZED in rough water and they could not hold on to the bottom of the hull which was upside down ?

Crazy idea, open ocean in a 16 foot boat with no bilge pump to speak of.
You are much safer on a jet ski as long as the cold doesnt get you.

Try to get videos for YouTube at least.
Click to expand...

I somewhat remember the story.....from what I remember they were drunk and not wearing and life jackets...plus I also remember them saying both of them couldn't swim!!

If you take proper precautions along with all the right safety gear you should be just fine.
 
WOOSAB said:
If you look on Yamahajetboaters.com i know there are several people from FL who are planning this run for 2011. I believe they are leaving from west palm though... They had lots of good information and fuel break downs ect. might be a good resource for you..
Click to expand...

Great info in that thread...thanks for posting:cheers:
 
You know.. I saw some of the videos posted a while ago.. back when i was thinking of buying the jet boat.. I thought it was awesome and crazy.. I never would have thought guys would chance taking a ski in a trip like that.. Now that I have my speedster I really want to take that trip.. Although as stated above the idea of going out on the open ocean in a 16ft boat is kinda scary.. I mean if you think about it you get stuck in the middle of no where you can be in a world of you know what.. I live in NJ and would gladly trailer the boat down to FL to make a trip like that.. Sounds like it could be a lot of fun but it would be my luck that something would go wrong.. I dont know enough about boats or how to fix them to chance getting stranded in the middle of no where..
 
Well if you have shitty luck I don't want to make the crossing with you:rofl: (joking)

You just have to be very confident in the mechanical condition of your boat, and go with a group that will watch each other's back!!
 
Thats the benefit of doing it with a large group. You arent stranded. Tons of others around for help. It looks like they have larger boats tagging along.
 
lol... The boat I would say is in great condition.. I bought it brand new back in July and it only has 10 or 11hrs on it.. but as i was once told it doesn't matter how old or what kind of use something has on it.. anything can happen.. i mean you could be as prepared as you want but there can always be something that breaks that you cant replace or fix while out there.. so say you are right in the middle of the trip and halfway there.. something breaks.. now what.. you get towed to the bahamas?? who is gonna tow you?? if you don't know anyone else there, you have to hope someone is nice enough or accepts some kind of fee to tow you IF someone is there that can... idk.. i guess you can tell im not the risk taking type.. i like to have a plan, a backup plan, and a secondary backup plan lol.. just hate to think that i could end up getting stuck out there by myself or have to ruin someone elses trip cuz my boat broke down..
 
I go offroading a lot.......almost always in a group...we never leave anyone behind....have towed or been the recipient of a tow roap many times, no shame...have also been able to pull of some field fixes to get back to the trailers without a tow roap, but anyways, the point is, I'm sure a trip like this would be the same way....they aren't going to leave you in the middle of the ocean.......

Number one rule of wheeing(boating) in a group, keep an eye on the guy behind, you, if he stops, you stop......

Now if Florida wasn't so far away, or at least had rocks so I could get my wheeling fix in as well....
 
The 2 football players were inexperienced in boating and went out without doing the planning, then when the storm approached and they could not make it back in the anchored the boat. They stood a better chance if they rode it out but they did not understand how to handle the seas.

Planning can make the trip to bimini a safe one, the weather can turn that around for you, besides gas and direction let the weather determine if you will make the trip or not

Sea Tow will come out and get you, even out to bimini, just make sure you get the package with plenty of time before you head out.

Don't guess on the range of your boat/ski. Take a long trip is you can. I am looking at a trip down the Ft. Meyers to Lake Okeechobee waterway over spring break just to make verify what my boat can do.
 
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