Texas to the Exhumas

[Jack Long]

We are going July 2018 to Exumas by way of Ft. Lauderdale. Cannot wait!!!

 

[Khalid]

We are going July 2018 to Exumas by way of Ft. Lauderdale. Cannot wait!!!

Nice! I can't wait to go back next summer. What type of boat will you be taking?

 

[Jack Long]

2017 Yamaha 242

When are you going?

We are leaving Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday morning the 14th of July.

 

[Khalid]

2017 Yamaha 242

When are you going?

We are leaving Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday morning the 14th of July.

We haven't decided on the exact dates yet but thinking June (if not May). It seems like sea conditions are quiter then

 

[Jack Long]

Hey I am curious, since you have been back, have you had ANY issues with your boat?

 

[Khalid]

Not at all, and I have been using the boat regularly (about 10 outings since my return).

Ttrip made me a strong believer in Yamaha boats and their seaworthiness.

 

[Julian]

Correct. No issues at all. These can are made for that

I have to disagree, a standard 5 gallon gas can is not made to store gas in a sealed compartment on a bouncing hammering boat. Can it do it? Sure. If I were to take this approach, I would install a fume detector in the forward part of the engine compartment, and make sure the cans were not filled too high, and the ski locker was as sealed as I could make it. I'd also look into gas cleanup/neutralization powder and an extra sealed blower to vent the ski locker.

When we ran to bimini we decided the risk of leaked gas in the boat was too high, so we put 3 5 gallon jugs on the lower swim platform. They worked great there. You could put 4 there no issue, and could likely get 6-8 if you want to get creative with ways to tie them down.

If just one can of gas were to leak in your ski locker it could not only result in a catastropic explosion, but if you discover the leak before detonation, it would be a major clean up effort to remove safely.

When we do bimini again, I will have a speed filler nozzle for the 5 gallon cans. Hanging them over the side isn't bad if you tie a rope to the side handle of the can...but having them empty faster would be preferable.

 

[Jack Long]

That's awesome! Based on everything I have read, they really are a well built boat.

Was weather your reason for going straight to Nassau or was there another factor?

 

[Betik]

@Jack Long I am not sure what is your experience with salt water. If this is going to be your first off shore trip please take some time to read the following thread if you have not done so already.
Judging this off shore trip through youtube videos is like judging a lady's appearance from her wedding day pictures. Trust me I very badly want to go feed the pigs too. Anyway, please take a look at this video ...

A lot of your questions will be answered on the first link. In terms of cost I think @Khalid just have run this very efficiently. I purchased an sx240 just for the Bimini trip and I spend over $3,000 in making the boat "seaworthy". from fixed VHF, back pumps, trim tabs, navigation, satelite tracking off shore life jackets etc. I will PM you an excel spreadsheet so you can get a feel for the breakdown.



https://jetboaters.net/threads/preparing-for-bimini.3800/

https://jetboaters.net/threads/jetboaters-net-bimini-fling-july-10th-to-15th-2017.11966/

https://jetboaters.net/threads/bimini-2018.15168/

 

[Betik]

Also please take a look at this video as well.

try to freeze at 1:15 and look at the angle which that 240 is taking off. Obliviously the guy does not know what he is doing, but still it is worth noticing the angle.

 

[Khalid]

That's awesome! Based on everything I have read, they really are a well built boat.

Was weather your reason for going straight to Nassau or was there another factor?

It was the weather. The original plan was to continue to Nassau after filling up at Bimini.

 

[Jack Long]

No doubt Betik.
My saltwater experience consists of many, many trips out in the pacific from Newport, Oregon. in a 30 footer.

I have SEEN the waves and look forward to this trip.

 

[Khalid]

@Jack Long I am not sure what is your experience with salt water. If this is going to be your first off shore trip please take some time to read the following thread if you have not done so already.
Judging this off shore trip through youtube videos is like judging a lady's appearance from her wedding day pictures. Trust me I very badly want to go feed the pigs too. Anyway, please take a look at this video ...

A lot of your questions will be answered on the first link. In terms of cost I think @Khalid just have run this very efficiently. I purchased an sx240 just for the Bimini trip and I spend over $3,000 in making the boat "seaworthy". from fixed VHF, back pumps, trim tabs, navigation, satelite tracking off shore life jackets etc. I will PM you an excel spreadsheet so you can get a feel for the breakdown.



https://jetboaters.net/threads/preparing-for-bimini.3800/

https://jetboaters.net/threads/jetboaters-net-bimini-fling-july-10th-to-15th-2017.11966/

https://jetboaters.net/threads/bimini-2018.15168/

1st of all, Very well done staying calm through the storm which comforts the passengers. Panic can only worsen outcomes and make the trip less enjoyable.

Second, did your trim tabs help? I'm considering installing them before my next trip

 

[robert843]

In 3 foot or less chop they make a world of difference in our boats once you start to get above 3 ft seas the difference starts to diminish and can even become dangerous as they do force the bow of our boats down so you have a stronger risk of taking water over the bow.

 

[Khalid]

In 3 foot or less chop they make a world of difference in our boats once you start to get above 3 ft seas the difference starts to diminish and can even become dangerous as they do force the bow of our boats down so you have a stronger risk of taking water over the bow.

Makes sense..

 

[Betik]

@Khalid
I have no experience crossing without trimtabs, but there very few times I retracted them, I deployed them back real quick.

Furthermore, before the Bimini trip I was running test runs at lake ray roberts during windy days. One of the days that is was my crew's turn to pilot the boat, the first question that she asked when she got on the helm was " where is the trim tab switch?" So if money was not a concern then $700 is well spend. BTW, if I had to do it again, I would get a 3rd level switch, not the oval ( same as swatski's).

@robert843 assessment is probably correct, as we took in plenty of water while crossing to Bimini. The highest one we got was about 6 inches on the cockpit, but taking in water was the only thing that we were 99.99% prepared. Keep in mind that we encounter 5-6 feet waves. When I arrived in Bimini everything ( regardless of compartment), literally everything was wet expect the clothes which were in vacuum sealed bags. I believe as rule of thumb, we will not attempt a crossing when we know ahead of time that the waves will be higher than 3 feet.
The other thing I want to point out is the increase in fuel consumption. I do not have data but I am 100% they introduce more drag. If you are planing Exuma's again, you probably are very fuel conscious.


knowing everything I know today, I would have still installed trim tabs.

PS. you can probably use this as reference as it should have the same haul design as yours.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/trim-tabs-options-wake-surfing-and-cruising.12031/

 

[robert843]

@Khalid

The other thing I want to point out is the increase in fuel consumption. I do not have data but I am 100% they introduce more drag. If you are planing Exuma's again, you probably are very fuel conscious.

I can confirm this the fuel consumption is drastically different probably 20-30% worse. When we went to Exuma in 2016 we made it 100 miles from Bimini to Chub Cay and the boats thought they still had enough fuel to carry on to Nassau. This year with both boats using trim tabs we left West End and traveled 100 mile to Spanish Cay and both boats burned almost exactly a full tank of gas both had less then 5 gallons left in the tank if I remember correctly.

 

[Betik]

I want to be a bit cautious on badly they influence fuel consumption. Because on our run to Bimini, I was in Bruce's group ( 2008 sx240). He arrived in Bimini with 13 gallons left with 100% trim and I arrived in Bimini with 100% trim and 1 gallon left.

 

[Khalid]

@Khalid
I have no experience crossing without trimtabs, but there very few times I retracted them, I deployed them back real quick.

Furthermore, before the Bimini trip I was running test runs at lake ray roberts during windy days. One of the days that is was my crew's turn to pilot the boat, the first question that she asked when she got on the helm was " where is the trim tab switch?" So if money was not a concern then $700 is well spend. BTW, if I had to do it again, I would get a 3rd level switch, not the oval ( same as swatski's).

@robert843 assessment is probably correct, as we took in plenty of water while crossing to Bimini. The highest one we got was about 6 inches on the cockpit, but taking in water was the only thing that we were 99.99% prepared. Keep in mind that we encounter 5-6 feet waves. When I arrived in Bimini everything ( regardless of compartment), literally everything was wet expect the clothes which were in vacuum sealed bags. I believe as rule of thumb, we will not attempt a crossing when we know ahead of time that the waves will be higher than 3 feet.
The other thing I want to point out is the increase in fuel consumption. I do not have data but I am 100% they introduce more drag. If you are planing Exuma's again, you probably are very fuel conscious.


knowing everything I know today, I would have still installed trim tabs.

PS. you can probably use this as reference as it should have the same haul design as yours.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/trim-tabs-options-wake-surfing-and-cruising.12031/

Thanks! It looks like I'm going to have an offseason project. I can use a smoother ride in light chop. I often boat in Texas hill country lakes such as Travis and Austin which frequently get 1-2' chops with boat traffic.

 

[myblueheaven305]

Exactly. Reaching the Exhumas will take 2 full days at best.
I kept telling myself and others that the trip is about the journey, more than the destination, as flying there and renting a boat is probably cheaper especially after counting my 20 hr drive to/from Texas.

Great Video.. of your adventure to Exhuma.. When you say 2 days to Exhuma is that from Bimini or Nassau?

Where are you from in Texas? We are from Dallas but now live literally across the street from Haulover..