BR to Bahamas

However, the boat is not designed to handle adversity in the open ocean should you encounter something unexpected.

Like an inaccurate weather forecast? Crap... that only happens to you 1% of the time? What electronics you using? I need some!
 
Find someway to mount a couple high volume pumps on the deck near the stern, rear seat, where ever the water would collect before trying to drain to the bilge, just in case, every little bit helps. Just a thought.
 
Hello all, I don't advocate a crossing to the Bahamas in a bow rider, but it can be done. I've done it in a 21ft CC, with weather window and patience.

Now something everyone is not talking about is insurance. Your insurance company will "not" cover you in the islands. You'll need to get a rider policy to cover for that. Your insurance company will have guidelines which dictates the size of vessel, engines and experience. Usually 28 ft min, twin engines, and then will require you to cross in a "flotilla" meaning more than two boats with the same destination.

Now, the guidelines are just that, guidelines. My boat is only 25ft and single engine. However, I have a ton of experience and know the islands well. (my insurance co. tested me) So, if you can document your experience and your insurance co. can get a warm fuzzy on your crossing, they might cover you. My cost for the rider was $125.00 for a two week "declared" period. Meaning I had to declare the dates of coverage.

If I can help, ask me. If I can advise, ask me. I'll try to shoot you straight, and not judge you. It's done more often that you might think, there are folks who cross for lunch and return later that day. Mike
 
Hello all, I don't advocate a crossing to the Bahamas in a bow rider, but it can be done. I've done it in a 21ft CC, with weather window and patience.

I don't know what kind of CC you own, but there can be a world of difference between a self-bailing CC with a deep-v and plenty of freeboard and a bowrider. The CC is designed to be offshore- the bowrider is not.

Can it be done? Sure. We get flat calm days (none recently, of course) on the gulf where I've seen guys with 20' flats boats 15 miles offshore. Problem is the gulf stream crossing is a lot further than that, and you don't want to be halfway across when the weather turns. The wind howls most of the winter months, and thunderstorms rule most of the summer in the stream- it IS a big deal.

Let's say you decide to do it...
Since you live in Wisconsin, this will be a "trip of a lifetime"- with extensive planning. You plan your vacation, drag your boat 1000 miles south, and when you get to Miami you're ready to go. Unfortunately, the weather forecast isn't cooperating...but hey- I planned this for months, and the forecast isn't toooo bad... so what the hell, I'm going...

What I'm saying is that these types of trips in boats that are really not suitable for a crossing are usually taken by locals who are familiar with the stream and it's conditions, and because they are local they can jump on an appropriate weather window to give it a shot. As was said above, some go over for lunch and back the same day- and it can certainly be done on a perfect-weather day. It's definitely not the type of trip you can plan months in advance for a certain date- not gonna happen.

I had a business partner that's a pilot and kept his 33' Trojan in the Abacos. Took him an extra week and half to get home once because of the weather. True, that's flying weather but the same caveat applies. Someone already said you might get there but you don't know when you might get back.

If you decide to do it, go with a group of larger capable vessels that are experienced in making the crossing.
 
It's a serious question to some....

I thought it was a joke I wasn't in on.

Not to be dramatic, but low freeboard bow riders swamp or sink often just getting out the inlets let alone crossing the Gulfstream.

I'm right by the Port Everglades cut in Ft. Lauderdale and the small craft distress calls on CH16 are pretty common. This is one of the tamer inlets let alone dealing with the Gulfstream.

Given the choice of a jet ski or BR to do the crossing, I think I'd do the jet ski. You'd be miserable but you'd make it. In a BR you'd be miserable and stand a chance of ending up in the water.
 
We have made 2 trips to the Bahamas in our 280. First trip was 3-4 ft seas and, 6 ft rollers. Second trip was 1-2' seas, pretty flat. Problem is storms happen fast down here, thunderstorm pop up out of no where and you have to be prepared for seas quickly. In my opinion, a bow rider is not a safe journey to the Bahamas. Waves pick up and storms appear to quickly with no place to run and hide. Just my $.02
 
Hello all, I don't advocate a crossing to the Bahamas in a bow rider, but it can be done. I've done it in a 21ft CC, with weather window and patience.
.......
If I can help, ask me. If I can advise, ask me. I'll try to shoot you straight, and not judge you. It's done more often that you might think, there are folks who cross for lunch and return later that day. Mike

Mike,

Great to hear from you. Always nice to hear from people that know what they are talking about. Growing up in Miami it was a very common run during the summer months weather permitting.
 
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I appreciate the input of this thread. Not that I would even consider crossing or even going out in the ocean in a 185 but it has brought to light some things to consider.

Now I don't want to hijack the thread but I was thinking about the NC trip to MB on the ICW. What kind of wave action can I expect on the ICW? A good 3-4' chop will go over the bow of our boat and the navigator does NOT like it when a wall of water comes at her.

I guess I was under the impression that you really needed a boat with two motors to cross the ocean. So I learned something new.

DW and I have been on a few cruises (on the large cruise ships), so I find this very interesting. I'm thinking that it would be cheaper to split the fuel bill and costs with someone than to go on a all out cruise. Is this a fair conclusion?
 
.....

I'm sure all the bow riders are the same they do not drain worth a crap and guess where they drain to, the bildge right onto the engine (nice design) so you know what that means
...
What's really funny to me is the 2 sinks in the 240SD drain over the side but the deck and lockers all drain to the bildge where you then have to turn on the bildge pump to drain.....

Chris,
Does your boat not have the 2 (One on each side) Through-Hull Cockpit Drains?
 
Now I don't want to hijack the thread but I was thinking about the NC trip to MB on the ICW. What kind of wave action can I expect on the ICW? A good 3-4' chop will go over the bow of our boat and the navigator does NOT like it when a wall of water comes at her.

quote]

It really depends on where your departing from in NC. The ICW is well protected for the most part but it does cross some major rivers. Albemarle, Neuse, Cape Fear etc. Depending of the weather, those area's can be worse than being in the ocean at the exact same time. You can have a 4' chop that is steep and close depending on wind speed and direction in the rivers where the ICW crosses, Albemarle's the worst, but only 3' rollers offshore. South of Cape Fear to MB is a breeze. PM me if you'd like for more info on NC area.

People cross the GS daily on cardboard coming from Cuba, I'd rather try it on a bowrider than the way they do it :smt043
I would attempt it in a bowrider on a good day as long as I were part of a flotilla. My wife and kids would be in one of the other, more capable boats though. I like a challenge and would put myself at risk to do so, but not my family. Island hopper make some very good points about Insurance also.
SB
 
We made two trips to the Bahamas this summer. I was on the trip, that Barry mentioned, to Bimini. We were in a Sandancer 350 and the trip over was a bit rough. There were boats along on that trip that, in my opinion, had no business being out there. The ocean is clearly not to be toyed with.

In a trip to Grand Bahama from Ft. Lauderadle (+/- 100 miles of open ocean) the trip over was uneventful. When over there, the wind started to kick up and the reports called for 3-5 then 4-6 in the Gulf Stream. We decided no way and were thinking of leaving the boats there and fly back. Then, according to NOAA, we had a weather window on monday of 2-4 ft in morning becoming 3-5 in the gulf stream in the afternoon. In our minds, very managable. We cleared the inlet in Port Lucaya about 5am and we were running in probably 3-5, stll not a major problem. As soon as we hit the gulf stream(50 miles or so out), holy crap, we were runnning in waves up to 8 footers, not fun. In a bow rider you would have been toast. We made it back safely but I sure had a case of white knuckles.

My point is that the waters in the gulf stream can be unpredictable and the NOAA reports are not always correct. I know of many who have made Bahamas trips in boats like yours. Heck, my son will take the flats boat 15 miles offshore for dophin or swords, but only in the summer and I wouldn't do that on a bet.

If you want to make that trip, either get a bigger boat or get on somebody's larger boat that is going. The Bahamas Dept of Tourism runs a few trips every summer with lots of boats.

Ray
 
I should also mention...

When I swamped my bow rider, the little surprise is that the thing ends up going down in the water putting the outside exits for the cockpit drains underwater... they don't work well at that point. Put in a few thousand gallons of water in a 20 foot boat and it'll go all the way down to the gunnell. That gives you about 8 inches of freeboard... Just hope another wave doesn't come along.. with your drains under water. The way I got out a lot of the water out was to give it full throttle and that about washed people right out the back of the boat... coolers... loose items that float... etc... messy... That left about a foot of water inside the boat and it took about 45 minutes between the bilge pump and cockpit drains and slow cruising around to get it emptied out... That would be a hoot 40 miles off shore...
 
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... That would be a hoot 40 miles off shore...

Gary, as I have been following this thread I have been thinking “not safe, don’t do it” until I read your above post.

I agree with you. Now I’m thinking it would be cool.

The only issue is, what if its calm?
 
The problem with organized trips put on by The Bahamas tourism office or Sea Ray groups is there is always a minimum boat size along with other considerations. Sea Ray's is set at 32 or 36 ft. Then you almost always end up following the group to places you could go on a cruise or organized trip. I like to get out into the "real" islands, or visit small out islands and villages. Plus a large group of boats can overtask a small marina, ie. getting fuel, supplies, or service. 10 boats in a group can take a few hours fueling. (gets boring waiting) That peaceful cove becomes a small busy harbour. Depends on your definition of vacation fun.
My cruising area is from Walkers Cay to Marsh Harbour. I love Double Breasted Cay (Grand Cay, Rosies), and Carters Cay. New Plymouth and Green Turtle are great tourist destinations, and Treasure Cay Beach is beautiful. Man-O-War is a must do if your into boat building. They build Aubry Brothers boats there, and a great town. Most areas require a shoal draft and 3-4 ft is a norm. So you big boat guys have to anchor out and dingy in!
Anyways, it's all what you want to do. It's all in how you handle a situation or how well you prepare. There are inherent dangers with crossing the gulf stream, doesn't matter what size vessel you take. Don't get in a hurry, do have a good time. That's the Bahamas way!
 
The ocean is clearly not to be toyed with.

In a trip to Grand Bahama from Ft. Lauderadle (+/- 100 miles of open ocean) the trip over was uneventful. When over
Ray

I should also mention...
...
messy... That left about a foot of water inside the boat and it took about 45 minutes between the bilge pump and cockpit drains and slow cruising around to get it emptied out... That would be a hoot 40 miles off shore...

Nobody ever said anything about a 100+- crossing. The only thing I've said was a 42+- crossing from Miami to Bimini. At no point would you ever be 40 miles off shore. I agree a low freeboard bow rider should not be 40 miles off shore.
 

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