KRB64
Member
- Oct 12, 2006
- 785
- Boat Info
- '76 SRV195 (our first) -> moved up to
'78 240 WE (now 4 sale because ->)
'82 260 DA shared
- Engines
- A Ford 351, a couple GM 350s and a Cummins 6BT to pull it all (W250)
My brother and I are taking the kids to the Keys next April. We'll leave our boats at home but plan to rent a center console 18-20' to play around in, snorkle etc. Probably at Big Pine Key.
We (kids & all) grew up on the water and around boats. For me, thats about 35 years. Problem is, even though we've been to the coast plenty of times, we've never run a boat out on the intercoastal or open ocean. All our navigating has been on rivers or inland lakes, none big enough to loose sight of land. Some have been commercial waters with shipping barges, some not. And not just day trips but weekends and even weeks on the water only going to marinas to fuel up, pump out & get ice.
I'm trying to be well prepared ahead of time. I have Chapmans which I plan to re-read before I go. Also completed the Power Squadron course years ago.
I'd like to go several miles out to some reefs and snorkle (we've done that on a charter before). Maybe fish a little.
What are some tips and advice for us? I'm talking stuff that it obvious to you guys but something we've never had to deal with? We'll have a GPS. I know I'll have to learn about tides, swells, sand bars and charts etc. And I'm not the niave guy that thinks he can sail his 20' Bayliner to the Bahamas either...
Thanks,
We (kids & all) grew up on the water and around boats. For me, thats about 35 years. Problem is, even though we've been to the coast plenty of times, we've never run a boat out on the intercoastal or open ocean. All our navigating has been on rivers or inland lakes, none big enough to loose sight of land. Some have been commercial waters with shipping barges, some not. And not just day trips but weekends and even weeks on the water only going to marinas to fuel up, pump out & get ice.
I'm trying to be well prepared ahead of time. I have Chapmans which I plan to re-read before I go. Also completed the Power Squadron course years ago.
I'd like to go several miles out to some reefs and snorkle (we've done that on a charter before). Maybe fish a little.
What are some tips and advice for us? I'm talking stuff that it obvious to you guys but something we've never had to deal with? We'll have a GPS. I know I'll have to learn about tides, swells, sand bars and charts etc. And I'm not the niave guy that thinks he can sail his 20' Bayliner to the Bahamas either...
Thanks,
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