armchair quarterback warning... This trip, and more in the Exumas, has been my bucket list since early 2015. Every year, just flat out bad luck at work has gotten me so I couldnt go. I read everything I can, follow what I can so I can live vicariously thru you all and love you for it!
A few things that concern me with this group trip, and seem to continually happen:
1. Lack of assuming personal responsibility. Everyone looks to Bruce like he is the end all be all to make each and every single call and several act like they have no choice. This is wrong. period. Bruce is the leader as far as organizing the group discounts, giving all the information he can to help you put together YOUR OWN trip to go with others, support for the new or inexperienced, and an all around good person. This whole "well Bruce said this" and "Bruce did that" is effing-bullshit!!! YOU are making the trip. YOU are piloting your boat or riding in a boat. YOU have to look towards yourself FIRST when a situation arises! Bruce is a tour guide in the mountains that knows where the good camp site is and doesn't mind showing you the way if YOU want to go along. If you jump off a cliff, it's on you, not Bruce! Laying ANYTHING at his feet is horseshit in the extreme. ...... last time I checked, no one was being held hostage or had a gun to their head forcing them to "go or else!". Show some damn personal responsibility!
2. I have said in a previous thread (2015 crossing) that anyone making this trip sound easy is essentially inviting someone to show up with their boat, a pocket full of cash, and think the group is their safety net and will take care of them. The general attitude of "I don't need X or Y, 15 boats in the group will have X and Y so if it goes bad they will save me", it's a crock of sh!t and going to get someone killed eventually - it's not if, it's when.
3. How in the hell would you even consider making this trip, under any conditions, and not have essential base things should a problem happen? Hand held radio range of 5 miles, on a 53 mile crossing? Zero spare gas? No gps or you one you can't read it? Sat phone? Epirb? Ditch bag? Secondary bilge pump? No no, I'm traveling with a GROUP! Im safe, I don't need anything because I'm with a GROUP and they will have it and save me!!! lets roll!!!! ...... Julian, can we get sarcasm font/tags? If you aren't equipped and prepared enough to make this trip solo or in someway help yourself at first in an emergency, then at the least be able to contact help if you're stranded and separated from the group under any circumstances or conditions, it's your own fault, not the groups! period, no debate. I find it extremely disturbing that several seem to put more planning of back ups and "what if" thought into the traveling from home to Ft Lauderdale and back part of the trip than they do into going out in open damn ocean!! Last time I checked, a highway hasn't drown anyone or sweep them away 20 miles from dry land! Yet you put tons of thought into the vehicle driving portion and virtually none into the boating side? Whose fault is that?
4. But some things are expensive for a 1 time or once a year trip. Well, what's your life worth to you? I've seen posts from several that it appears their life is worth under $400~600, because a piece of equipment over that amount "just isn't worth it for a 1 time trip". If that's the decision YOU are making for yourself, that's on you, not this group.
5. Gas... ok, this one I'm going to upset someone or possible 3 someone's. I dont give 2 craps what MPG boat X gets, or boat Y gets, or boat W. Every time there are less than ideal crossing conditions, every damn time, it winds up with boats not making it all the way because they ran out of gas and had no spare gas or not enough spare gas because they knew their boat would need it.. (or used their spare gas to help someone without and 1 or both didn't make it!). I have seen it said that the weight vs milage makes extra gas unnecessary or unwise. Gas weighs roughly 6 pounds a gallon. You have 700 pounds of crew, 300 pounds of food/equipment, 3800 pounds of boat.... and its advocated that 60 pounds of fuel (10 gallons) is a not worth it due to weight and because your boat should make it because boat Y can? Are you kidding? Well go fast enough and it's not a problem! ...Don't care!!! That should NOT be the solution addressing the need or un-need of having extra gas!! Would you even dream of driving any distance without a spare tire? No! Hell no!!! On this trip think of how many had 2 spare tires! At least 1 for the truck/SUV and one for the trailer! Hey, if I get a flat, I'll change it, duck off at the next exit and get a new tire mounted so I have a spare again and all good.... right? How many exits can you duck off to in 53 miles of open water? ......exactly.
This trip is a great trip but far far too many see all the pretty pictures of the blue water, and white sand then seem to disconnect their brains. And then when they herd follow and something happens, they immediately whip out the "its someone else's fault not mine" card. And honestly, several member here seem to go way too far encouraging someone to go when it's obvious they shouldn't by the questions they are asking! They aren't encouraging to be jerks, quite the opposite, they want everyone to experience the joy they have making this adventure!!!! The reality is several should get this joy via a plane or ferry, not launch their boat out of the water for 2 hours. Im sure a 50 mile hike in the mountains is stunning! Im also sure making that trip is not for everyone and the easier you make it sound the probability of someone attempting it that is grossly unprepared increases exponentially and should be discouraged!
just my .02
*quick ps to this. I typed this up because every single post and/or video I have read or seen extolling how much they went thru because of running out of gas, being adrift, how they wouldnt do it again, and how it was somebody's fault because they did X.... all had one common element....the person that got into serious trouble literally did not plan much to have self reliance. Their plan was the group will help me or have what I might need..... and they also have the attitude that when misfortune hit them the group making the trip was to blame or a person in the group or members of this forum. All issues that a sat phone (you can rent them), or extra fuel, or a longer range radio, could have basically solved themselves and the danger they faced been avoiding by just some simple self reliance, not being part of a group dependence!! You go as a group to further enhance safety, not being your only plan! That's my point!