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Random Quote: The longer I fish, The luckier I get!!
Has anyone here made the crossing from Florida to The Bahamas? If yes, which island and what size boat? What was it like? The whole concept sounds very cool. I'd never try it since I only have a 19.5' boat and I live in Pennsylvania but I'd still love to hear about it.
Yep-have done the trip the last 2 years. Best boating trips I have ever taken. One of the best sources of info is the Florida Sportsman forum. Go to www.floridasportsman.com and click on the forum, then on the Tropical Sportsman forum group. Lots of good info - just look back over the messages for the past few months.
Lost count on how many. First one in '70 or'71, Miami to Bimini with 3 other guys, all 17 y.o.,2 20 ft.boats, a Cuda Craft and a Cobia, both single i/o, no radios, seas 3-5,soaking wet both ways,caught a lot more lobster than we were allowed to. The only thing that scared me the whole trip were the "bahama mamas" trying to get me into their "house of pleasure".
That one and the one where I came back through Boynton Inlet with hydraulic steering just about gone are the two that I'll probably never forget.
I've made the crossing many times. Growing up we had a 25' Mako with twin Evinrudes. One of the first 25 foot boat Mako made in 1977. We had it about 12-13 years. We had a 28' Mako after that but the best memories were on the first boat.We usually would go across with at least one other boat. Would clear customs in Bimini, in more recent years at Cat Cay. We would spend about 2-3 days fishing the reefs for yellowtail, grouper, mutton snapper, some amberjack. We would spend nights on the boat anchored in shallow water, near small islands for protection. Some nights would fish for yellowtail. We also would snorkel for lobster and conch. We would eat like Kings. Some trips were more extensive going to the Berry Islands or further into the Exumas. These were major trips, had to plan where to get fuel, ice, etc. Our first trips were made before GPS, and Loran was new (at least for us). In more recent trips I've gone with friends on bigger boats with air conditioning and full navigation capabilities. Certainly more comfortable but nothing compares to those days. . .
As far as the "crossing" is concerned, launch your boat in Atlantic City, point it towards the northeast and go directly to somewhere on long island, pick a real hot sunny day. That is exactly what the crossing is like. Once there, now that's a different story. The Bahamas is one of my alltime favorite places to cruise. Any crossing is actually boring more than anything else though, nothing to look at, and one wave after another. It is always a great and rewarding experience though to leave land in one place, not see it again for a while, then run into a new place sometime later.
My biggest crossing was from Aruba to Panama last year, it took 3 days of steady 9 knot cruising on a 65 Viking Convertible. Boooooorrrrriiiinnngg, but very rewarding.
Bought a house on Guana last year and took our 22' Twin Vee (with twin Nissan 90's) over last July. Neat trip!! Keeping our boat there for the foreseeable future.
Ft Pierce to Green Turtle Cay (177nm) non-stop in a 175 Scout Sportfish. Stayed for a week, had a ball and did it in reverse. So calm I was falling asleep at the wheel.
We stayed on Guana Cay. Nice place. I enjoyed Nippers the most for night life and High Rocks was great snorkeling. That's a long trip. Were any of you small boat captains nervous? Is the Gulf Stream as nasty as they say it is?
I have done the Bimini thing too many times to count - mostly from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. I also have run to Walkers from Palm Beach. On good days these are fun crossings, but if the stream kicks up - look out! Most of my bad luck has been on the return leg, since it is almost impossible to predict the sea conditions more than a couple days in advance. You pick and choose when you go, but almost everyone is on a fixed schedule to return and that can make it dicey.
"Everyone should believe in something. I believe I will go fishing" --- Henry David Thoreau
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First trip: Sebastian to Walkers. Over it started out 2 foot and ended up about 1 foot. Very nice. We got nervous when we were 35 miles offshore and one of the three boats lost an engine. He and the other boat decide to head back in to Ft. Pierce. My brother and I were wondering what we should do and our wives both said, "what are you guys crazy? Let's keep going". So we went the rest of the way all alone and were lucky to have no problems and good seas. Even managed to navigate into Walkers without hitting any coral heads The return trip was not quite the same. Left Walkers in about 3-4 foot. The gulf stream kicked up to about 5-6. The last 30 miles was about 3-4.
Second trip: Stuart to West End. Over and back about 2 foot the whole time
What size boats were you guys in? What would you expect your average speed to be? My boat goes 50mph but the other day I could only do 10-15mph due to the waves. A little wind makes a big difference.
Made the crossing many times in sail and power boats. Born and raised in S. Florida and spent many summers in Green Turtle, Marsh Harbour, Man-O-War Cay, Nassau, Exumas, etc.....From Jupiter Inlet to West End on calm flat days, about an hour to an hour and a half ride.(buddy's boat does 60 m.p.h.) Of course, rough days different.
One thing I may suggest, do not rely solely on your compass and GPS! Always bring a hand held compass and check your heading occassionally just to be sure! You would not believe how many people have accidentally stuck something metal close to their compass and thrown it off 20-30 degrees without having a clue about it! In the old days it could have been an old steel beer can and my own father has admitted to that one! A few degrees off over 100 miles can put you a long ways off course.
Other than that, crossing with friends can be an excellent experience, especially when you arrive and experience the waters of the Bahamas. You have to experience it first hand to believe it! There's nothing like seeing the bottom in 80' of water! Once you make the initial crossing, going again will probably become a common thing, as you will probably get hooked. Summer days have many calm "glass like" days and is the time to go. Like someone else posted though, don't be so committed to when you come back, the weather can change your plans real quick.
There were two boats on my trip. My 17' Scout and my brother's 46' charter boat. I had also rigged up a hefty towline in case something necessitated the towing of the little boat. July has the calmest weather of the year although the fishing is not quite as good.
Small boats are fine, just have a plan ready for weather delays and breakdowns.
I spent 10 days in the Abacos. Went to Guana, Man 0 War, Elbow, Lubbers Quarters and Marsh Harbour. I know those waters are beautiful. If Bimini and West End are so close to south Florida, why do you think there is such a difference. Even the Keys couldn't compare. How'd That 17 footer hold up on gas? Did fast did you ride?
guanacay, you are right and I tell people who have never been to the Bahamas the same thing. There is nothing like the water in the Bahamas! The water in the Fl. Keys is nice, but the water in the Bahamas is unreal! It is so clear it can confuse you as to how deep it is! What you think is 3-4' can be 20' deep! In my opinion travelling to the Bahamas by boat is the only way to go!
guanacay,
The boat averaged a little over 5 nautical miles per gallon (115 Ficht) over a total trip of 570 nm. I made it from Ft Pierce to GTC on 32.5 gallons. Gas was going for about $2.25 a gallon back then so it was nice to get that economy and range.
Speed was slow because the boat I was with could only get about 18 kts. I would run ahead until he was almost out of sight then stop, have a drink or something to eat and wait for him to catch up to me. That first leg was about 10 hours long.
Some day. Some day maybe I'll make the crossing. We got the anchor stuck and I could see it plain as day. I decided to put my mask on and get it as it couldn't be that far down. I was wrong. The only way I could get it was to climb down the anchor rope. Even then I only had a couple of seconds of bottom time to try to free the anchor. We ended up dragging it loose. My ears were popping something fierce. I believe the anchor was 30 feet or so down. Too far for snorkeling, in my opinion. Man was that water clear and it was rough that weekm too. Very windy for two weeks straight. Back to back cold fronts.
Fla/Bahamas Crossing 
The return trip was not quite the same. Left Walkers in about 3-4 foot. The gulf stream kicked up to about 5-6. The last 30 miles was about 3-4.
