Gulf Crossing - The Hull Truth

wbcruising · 04-18-2005, 10:07 AM

We live up near the Quad Cities on the Mississippi. The QC is located on the Iowa, Illinois state line. We have been boating on the river for years and take our boat down to the Tenn-Tom in the winter. This July we will be taking the boat all the way to St John USVI. I need some help on a good place for charts and cruising guides along with any tips from people who have made the trip or at least across the gulf and the waterway that cuts through Florida to the east coast. I have everything for the rivers. I just need help from the gulf on. We have a 460 Sea Ray with all the raytheon equipment. Thanks

Fish Magician · 04-18-2005, 03:35 PM

And your fuel range is?

wbcruising · 04-18-2005, 09:16 PM

about 350 miles. I need to know how near the coast I can run. I understand it is very shallow in places. I am not trying to make the crossing straight across. I know many people run their boats to Miami from Mobile that are much smaller than mine. Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

swrock · 04-19-2005, 12:18 AM

I have only been as far as Destin from Mobile, traveled the ICW. very easy trip, you won't have any problems with shallow water on that part of your trip.
there is a place in Mobile Alabama that has lots of nautical charts. he should have everything you need as far as charts, if he don't i'm sure he can tell you where to get them.

Keith map service
251-633-5588

Buttanic · 04-19-2005, 10:42 AM

The big question here is do you have any open sea operating experience and navigation skills. Its not a difficult trip BUT for someone who has never done an open ocean crossing and has no open ocean experience I would think long and hard about it.