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Random Quote: Golf is for people who don't know how to fish!
i am making my second crossing this summer with the family this time. i have three kids 15, 10 and 5 running in a 32' regulator. i want to be prepared so i am asking for suggestions on what to prepare for. i just ordered bean bags and trying to find a good offshore vest for the smaller kids. am i missing something? thank you in advance.
Where are you running from and to, and at what speed?
Make yourself up a ditch bag. Put a PFD at the bottom of it so that it floats. At minimum handheld GPS, VHF, cell phone, water, flares, and EPIRB (BoatUS rents them).
Go on Ebay and get yourself a drift parachute if you plan on making that crossing regularly. If you lose your engines but the boat is sound it will make for a more comfortable and safer ride until help arrives.
Spare engine parts like impeller etc. should always be on board, not only for the crossing but to avoid the expense of shipping them in.
How many miles? what is your boat equip with? Make sure to leave a float plan with someone, have a ditch bag ready fill a bunch of juggs with water and tie a bouy to them so you can thrown it over in an emergancy and the list goes on.....what do you have on the boat?
I agree with all the above. I would also not make this trip with out having teamed up with another boater heading over around the same time you are with your family. Regardless what you have its alot better to have the option of ditching yours and getting the family in another boat safe. Good luck with your decision.
isn't it 400+? if you are cutting it close with fuel don't forget if you run into rough weather that will drain you fuel very fast making your engins working harder pushing up waves.
If you are a VERY good captain and know what you are doing and know how to prep go for it! If you are a novice I wouldnt even consider it esp with your family on boat that would be irresponsible.
My God! Everyone thinks your boat is going to self destruct on the way over. It's less than 60 miles from Miami and I doubt you'll ever be out of VHF range of somebody.
Mask, snorkel, fins & sunscreen for everyone and 2 good anchors is how I'd be prepared.
Yeah, I agree. Don't be to paranoid. Pick a good weather day and there will be plenty of boat traffic. Where are you leaving from and what island are you going to? I run from Ft Lauderdale to Bimini all the time.
My God! Everyone thinks your boat is going to self destruct on the way over. It's less than 60 miles from Miami and I doubt you'll ever be out of VHF range of somebody.
Mask, snorkel, fins & sunscreen for everyone and 2 good anchors is how I'd be prepared.
all great comments folks. i am trailering the boat to sailfish in WPB and going to cross from there with two other boats, one is a 30' dorado and the other is a 26' robalo (56 mi.). i do have an epirb on board. when i fish out of sc to the gulf stream we run 80 plus miles one way with no land on the other side so i am use to the open water. i like the idea of the life vest at the bottom of the ditch bag and the float on the water jugs. i love to know why menzies and chrisb made the comments about "the other side" i will have a weapon on board and not to scared to use it if i need to protect the family hence the reason for this post; i will not put them in harms way so even when i have many hours in open water i don't want to be complacent with the preplanning part and thank you to the group for their time to insure a safe trip by responding to my post.
I would buy a 5cu ft chest freezer. You can score them for around $125. Get a piece of scrap carpet to protect the gelcoat & lay down on the deck & between the freezer and the transom and strap it down.
Fill it with ice, bait, chum etc. When you get to your assigned dockage remove the items and lift the freezer up on the dock. Plug it in, re-fill with your frozen stuff and lock it.
When your ready to go home, put your fish filets and left overs in a cooler. Sell the freezer to a local for $100
Ice can cost you approx $15 or more a bag. You need all your cash for fuel
bahama bound with the kids 
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