Bimini 2018

[tim h]

In 2015 the trip took 4.5 hrs at 12 mph avg.
I believe I burned close to 100 gals with my Optimax's.
I PLOWED water nearly whole way in order to stay with the pack...
That was the year we decided to FALL BACK and re-group after a couple boats got swamped.


Last year I led, and until some of the Hardtop bolts broke(damn 1/4 inch bolts), I was going 17 to 20 mph.
After I noticed the damage I kept it at about 14 mph.

 

[Berrie]

How much salt water experience do you have?

Well there was this one time we went from WPB to Treasure Cay. And the the orher time when we returned to WPB.
And we've putted around PCB and Port Ritchie occasionally.

That's all the saltwater experience we have.

 

[Berrie]

In 2015 the trip took 4.5 hrs at 12 mph avg.
I believe I burned close to 100 gals with my Optimax's.
I PLOWED water nearly whole way in order to stay with the pack...

Last year I led, and until some of the Hardtop bolts broke(damn 1/4 inch bolts), I was going 17 to 20 mph.
After I noticed the damage I kept it at about 14 mph.

That was the year we decided to FALL BACK and re-group after a couple boats got swamped.

Heck i don't think i can run that slow!
At 18 i start to fall off plane, at 12 im pretty much in full displacement mode.
I can plow a path for you guys though.

 

[bronze_10]

soften the water in front of everyone? lol

 

[Bruce]

Heck i don't think i can run that slow!

soften the water in front of everyone? lol

We will try for 20 to 25 on the way to Bimini and likely 25 to 30 on the return. Our boats are inefficient off plane and fuel becomes an issue when we run slower than planing speeds. Running in someones wake also increases fuel burn and makes for an unpleasant ride. Unless their boat is measured in meters.

2015 and 2017 were particularly rough crossings to Bimini with stacking waves from differing directions. I would love to say that we will not cross in those conditions again but we have done so twice due to changes in wind directions from the forecast. There is a lot of energy in the Gulf Stream and the tides. Sometimes the wind combines to smooth the water and sometimes it turns against us. I wish there was a buoy somewhere near Fort Lauderdale!

 

[swatski]

In 2015 the trip took 4.5 hrs at 12 mph avg.
I believe I burned close to 100 gals with my Optimax's.
I PLOWED water nearly whole way in order to stay with the pack...
That was the year we decided to FALL BACK and re-group after a couple boats got swamped.


Last year I led, and until some of the Hardtop bolts broke(damn 1/4 inch bolts), I was going 17 to 20 mph.
After I noticed the damage I kept it at about 14 mph.

@Berrie I must tell you - watching @tim h guard our group during the 2017 return - I certainly hope you guys get him to join again! I can't even think of a better safeguard.

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[tim h]

Well there was this one time we went from WPB to Treasure Cay. And the the orher time when we returned to WPB.
And we've putted around PCB and Port Ritchie occasionally.

That's all the saltwater experience we have.

Port Richey ? North of Clearwater ? That's where I boat...

 

[Berrie]

@Berrie I must tell you - watching @tim h guard our group during the 2017 return - I certainly hope you guys get him to join again! I can't even think of a better safeguard.

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@swatski Like a sheepdog hearding cats?

 

[Berrie]

Port Richey ? North of Clearwater ? That's where I boat...

@tim h Yes we stayed at the Magnuson

 

[Julian]

Running in someones wake also increases fuel burn and makes for an unpleasant ride.

Not sure I understand why....I drove Barefoot Island's boat in when we rescued him, and I follow my boat very closely so as improve our gas mileage as much as possible by not pounding waves. This worked great and we were able to get half way across on 15 gallons into heavy waves and wind....so I think the tactic worked well and I felt the ride was MUCH smoother by following my boat than if I'd driven in open ocean.

 

[bronze_10]

when we went to cape look out last weekend i followed @Eric Ballard for most of the time in his wake.. i still made 2.8 miles per gallon.. not sure what my 08 is suppose to get but i thought that was pretty good. maybe my boat does better in clean water.. i just never did the math

 

[Berrie]

I think it haa more to do with water being turbulent which affects your heading and speed. So you are constantly correcting which increases fuel usage.

 

[Bruce]

Not sure I understand why....I drove Barefoot Island's boat in when we rescued him, and I follow my boat very closely so as improve our gas mileage as much as possible by not pounding waves. This worked great and we were able to get half way across on 15 gallons into heavy waves and wind....so I think the tactic worked well and I felt the ride was MUCH smoother by following my boat than if I'd driven in open ocean.

My experience has been that riding in someones wake made the conditions worse. @Betik tried to ride my wake in 2017 I found it uncomfortable. Perhaps different conditions result in different outcomes.

 

[bronze_10]

@Bruce for comparison what mpg do you get with your boat.. ours are basically identical. except the red makes mine faster!!

 

[swatski]

@swatski Like a sheepdog hearding cats?

I think it haa more to do with water being turbulent which affects your heading and speed. So you are constantly correcting which increases fuel usage.

Yes! and yes.
LOL.

 

[Bruce]

@Bruce for comparison what mpg do you get with your boat.. ours are basically identical. except the red makes mine faster!!

Going to Bimini our boats are heavily loaded. That weight increases fuel consumption but water conditions make an even bigger difference.

2017 was both my longest and highest fuel consumption crossing. From the mouth of Port Everglades to Bimini Sands was 4:20. I burned 38 gallons during that time leaving 14 in the tank. That is 1.6 mpg. On a good crossing to Bimini I would burn closer to 30 for 2 MPG. On the return crossing I typically burn around 25 gallons for 2.4 MPG.

First generation 240s burn more fuel than my 230 and the latest 240s burn even more. Several first generation 240s arrived in Bimini with a few gallons left in the tank while some new 240s needed a few extra gallons to get there.

 

[Bruce]

You guys are welcome to have a look at my inReach data from 2017 https://share.garmin.com/PropLess

 

[Drift Away]

Port Richey ? North of Clearwater ? That's where I boat...

I hear there are some cool people with boats up there lol.

 

[bronze_10]

@Bruce that good data. But on an average boat outing.. none crossing related what would you normally get? Is my 2.8 mpg normal.. below average? We were in pretty open water and a lot of chop before turning into a protected icw creek. Most of the way i was in @Eric Ballard wake.

 

[swatski]

I think it haa more to do with water being turbulent which affects your heading and speed. So you are constantly correcting which increases fuel usage.

Same reason jet propulsion does not work well with hulls featuring the new "air-step"/air-cushion (or "air-supported" hulls - whatever they call it nowadays). Air going into the intakes (by any means including cavitation, ventilation, etc.) reduces pump efficiency in jet boats.

But - you guys with props - are going to be okay, lol.

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