Caribbean Cruising

electricaldoctor

Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
May 14, 2008
3,538
Thousand Islands, Rockport, Ontario.
Boat Info
1988 390 EC
Engines
454 Mercruiser Gassers
I would like to hear which islands you have visited or plan on visiting with your boat from Florida. This type of long range cruising is on my bucket list and I would be very interested in hearing about your experiences.
 
We've had members do most of the Bahamas - we did Bimini this year, but Eluthera, Exumas, Abacos and Nassau have all been covered on here - one member a while back even made it to the Turks and Caicos - Cuba, DR, PR and beyond are possible in the right boat, but logistics (fuel, parts, marinas) need careful planning - a trawler or sailboat probably makes more sense than a sea ray for this type of cruising
 
I would like to take a year off and try to connect most of the dots in the Caribbean. I'm taking a long serious look at a 650 Neptunus Express. This boat is "CE Category A-Ocean Rated" so I would assume that she would be up to the task in the right weather conditions. Dreams like this help to get me through the winter up here and will hopefully come true in the very near future. http://www.neptunusyachts.com/
 
I would like to take a year off and try to connect most of the dots in the Caribbean. I'm taking a long serious look at a 650 Neptunus Express. This boat is "CE Category A-Ocean Rated" so I would assume that she would be up to the task in the right weather conditions. Dreams like this help to get me through the winter up here and will hopefully come true in the very near future. http://www.neptunusyachts.com/

Out of curiosity, why the Express and not their motor yacht? Is a great loop doable in the express?
 
Buyajet is planning/prepping for this. Might be worth comparing notes with him.
I live on the gulf coast and my marina has hosted loopers for a long time. After talking with several I and my wife decided we had no interest in looping so... we decided to go to places we had been to or want to go. The plan is just developing and we want to make sure we do it right. Education is the first step and there is a lot to filter. We like Abaco, Eleuthera, and so many more so there first then head south with plans to get to Nevis, Antigua, Montserrat, so pretty far south. Then to Turks on way back and the VI’s. Yes, taking our 420 that I have spent the last 4 months zero timing everything but the 800 hr. engines and 1000 hr. Genset. I will post anything that might help others once I tune this in better. Calm waters to you.
 
We are not interested in doing the loop at this point in time. Caribbean cruising from island to island is #1 on the bucket list for now. I will contact Buyajet for more info as we get nearer to pulling the trigger on our dream cruise. Thank you for the contact Woody.

~Ken
 
We are not interested in doing the loop at this point in time. Caribbean cruising from island to island is #1 on the bucket list for now. I will contact Buyajet for more info as we get nearer to pulling the trigger on our dream cruise. Thank you for the contact Woody.

~Ken
This is something I've been thinking of for a couple years. Trying to get a friend of mine interested to run along also. My thoughts are that'll it'll be the last boat run and I'll leave the boat in Florida for sale on the way back. As things develop for you and Buyajet I hope you two find time to post what ever you think might be helpful.
 
We run the boat to the Abaco and points south three or four times a year. We've been to just about every Island from Walkers to Chub to Bimini and still find new things to experience each trip. What I recommend is not making a firm agenda and be flexible; if you like a place, hang out for another day or so. Get The Cruising Guide to Abaco, Bahamas by Steve Dodge and the Bahamas Cruising Guide with the Turks and Caicos Islands by Mathew Wilson; these are very well written and will wet your appetite.
 
We've also have made many trips and I personally can't get enough.... Just came back after about month in the Abacos. We've been to Bimini, Walkers, Abacos, Berrys, Nassau, Spanish Wells, Harbor Island and the Exumas..... We gone as far south as Georgetown in the Exumas.... All islands are different and worth a visit.
Here are some things to keep in mind.... Fuel is expensive. I recently paid between $5.05 in Marsh Harbor, Abacos to $5.66 at Chub Cay in the Berries.
Food is also expensive. Make sure you have plenty of provisions including plenty of bottled water.
You will pay approx. .45 cents/gal. for water. We ended up installing a water maker for our Bahamas trips. It's certainly wasn't cheaper but allows us to stay on the hook without worrying about water. The Exumas are pretty remote with many anchorages.
Favorite area.... Probably Exumas. The most amazing water of all the islands. Not that the other areas aren't great also.
Favorite beach bar.... Pete's Pub in Little Harbor in the Abacos...Also "On da Beach Bar & grill" on Elbow Cay.
Don't wait..... Make it happen......
 
We run to the Bahamas at least once a year and go over several times a year without the boat.

For 2019 we will actually keep the boat in the Abacos. I also bought an airplane to facilitate the movement back and forth.
 
Ken. I was looking at the neptunus 650 as well. Looked at one at the boat show and met the owners. It is really a nice boat but the amenities can be beat by some others. I was very impressed with the build quality and the seaworthiness.

Josh
 
We run the boat to the Abaco and points south three or four times a year. We've been to just about every Island from Walkers to Chub to Bimini and still find new things to experience each trip. What I recommend is not making a firm agenda and be flexible; if you like a place, hang out for another day or so. Get The Cruising Guide to Abaco, Bahamas by Steve Dodge and the Bahamas Cruising Guide with the Turks and Caicos Islands by Mathew Wilson; these are very well written and will wet your appetite.

Thank you very much for the "Cruising Guides", I will be sure to look them up.
Ken. I was looking at the neptunus 650 as well. Looked at one at the boat show and met the owners. It is really a nice boat but the amenities can be beat by some others. I was very impressed with the build quality and the seaworthiness.

Josh

The 650E at the boat show was ordered that way by the owner. Jan will build that same model with whatever amenities that your heart desires. We were impressed with the boat overall and Jan will be giving us a plant tour in St. Catharines right after the Toronto Boat Show in January. We are really looking forward to that as there will be a 650E on the line at that time.
 
Take lots of pics. I would love to see that.
 
One of those boats visited our marina last year in Rochester. It looked amazing, I had no idea they were built so close.
 
It's been a week today since I got home from my triple bypass surgery and things have been going rather slow for now. I now have plenty of time to plan our 2020 Caribbean cruising dream. Being exposed to fresh water boating all of my life, I have zero salt water experience. This coupled with jumping up from my 390 to a 650, I have a steep learning curve to climb in a few short 12 months. The Admiral & I will start by taking a Coastal Navigation Course to bolster our existing boating experience and we will certainly be all ears when it comes to taking advice from more experienced boaters.
 
I hope to do a Bimini trip someday but that would require me trailering to FL, which isn't a problem but would require an extended trip due to about 3-4 days of driving. But lately I have been watching youtube videos of couples that have sold everything and sailed to the Carribean and live on their sailboat. I am not a fan of sailboats but the thought is cool. Also don't think I could permanently live on a sailboat. But really enjoy seeing the sights through the lens of others...lol.
 
It's been a week today since I got home from my triple bypass surgery and things have been going rather slow for now. I now have plenty of time to plan our 2020 Caribbean cruising dream. Being exposed to fresh water boating all of my life, I have zero salt water experience. This coupled with jumping up from my 390 to a 650, I have a steep learning curve to climb in a few short 12 months. The Admiral & I will start by taking a Coastal Navigation Course to bolster our existing boating experience and we will certainly be all ears when it comes to taking advice from more experienced boaters.


Congrats on your successful procedure and wish you you a speedy recoverery. If you are so inclined, you can follow along with the admirals blog, I know about cold winters, maybe this will help with the rehab. The posts are kind of far apart due to lack of WiFi here in the Bahamas. (I’m cheating right now on our BTC data). Don’t worry about a learning curve, I have no Idea what I’m doing other than having a blast. Common sense and basic boating skills have gotten us to a mooring ball tonight at Cambridge Cay in Exumas Park, amazing. Dream big and go do it. Good luck with it all.

www.ourcaptainschoice.blogspot.com
 
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Thank you for the words of encouragment Mark & Karen. The Admiral & I look forward to reading your blog tomorrow. Where will we be able to find future updates?

Ken & Laurie

Ken & Laurie, just check back to the blogsite and the latest post will come up. Any you may have missed can be brought up from the blog archive on the right side of the screen.
 

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