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@Babin Farms how do you feel about a first timer tagging along in his 255XD? Not a ton of experience, tbh. I've spent the last couple of summers on Lake Michigan but no experience at the helm in the ocean and I'm not comfortable staring that down on my own.
As long as you are comfortable with the boat & crossing that’s what matters. I never boated on anything but smaller lakes & rivers before in went and it was pretty much every boat for itself due to the terrible conditions crossing over. Just have to be prepared for anything.
Do most that cross and trim tabs, Sea Keeper. Zip Wake and or and a Garmin? If yes on a Garmin, any model suggestions. Is there a preferred handheld VHF radio?
I did not have trim tabs until I moved down here. They wouldn’t have made a difference crossing because I was trying to keep the bow up as high as I could to not take on any water with the seas we dealt with. I Installed a Garmin Echomap Plus 73CV with the Bahamas maps and a permanent mount vhf radio with a 4ft antenna on top of the tower. We did have a pair of handheld vhf radios but just used them once we were over there due to no cell service.
Im thinking about going. Does anyone have any idea what its like to cross with a 4year old? Kind of curious. This has been on my bucket list for some time. He has only known the life on the water but only on oklahoma lakes.
Im thinking about going. Does anyone have any idea what its like to cross with a 4year old? Kind of curious. This has been on my bucket list for some time. He has only known the life on the water but only on oklahoma lakes.
It all depends on the conditions. If it’s calm and flat I don’t see where it would be an issue but if it’s rough it’s gong to take a lot longer to cross and not be very enjoyable.
@Babin Farms how do you feel about a first timer tagging along in his 255XD? Not a ton of experience, tbh. I've spent the last couple of summers on Lake Michigan but no experience at the helm in the ocean and I'm not comfortable staring that down on my own.
I crossed in a 34ft baja and it was pretty rowdy. But coming back was pretty smooth. Just depends on what the gulf stream decides to do. But it's definitely do able. Like others said it depends how comfortable and proficient you are with your boat. The main thing is prep.
A perfect destination for a tropical vacation and the favoured escape of Ernest Hemingway, the Bahamian haven of Bimini is actually two islands in one: North & South Bimini. Bimini is known for it
Been getting the boat ready for another crossing. New Upholstry, rewired the tower speakers and be changing oil and plugs soon. Also double checked our boat insurance to make sure nothing has changed since last crossing and starting on some of the paperwork for customs.
I’ve read through all of this thread and most of the linked thread, @Bruce did a great job with his list and overall information, and while it is possible I did not see it in there, I see no mention anywhere of an EPIRB device or a ditch bag. If I was going to be making that trip an EPIRB would be on my PFD as well as a water proof / floating hand held vhf radio. A lot of the offshore guys I see also have a water proof / floating hand held vhf portable radio on their PFD.
However this one thing about the cell phone looking EPIRB that I found out from @MilesPrower, the antenna has to be out of the water. There was a story he told me about where a guys GF was always worried about him going off shore fishing with his buddies, she bought him the cell phone style EPIRB, and made him take it with him in his bag, the boat he was on sunk quickly but he grabbed his bag and deployed the EPIRB, his arms kept getting tired holding the antenna out of the water so the signal would fade in and out and added some time to the SAR crews reaching them, but they all lived, had they not had that device it would have been a different outcome.
There is another type of EPIRB that sort of looks like a flashlight and floats beam end up and that one also has a strobe so that the rescue aircraft can see it from a long ways away.
The ACR company also sells a bright chartreuse EPIRB ditch bag that floats and has room for essential survival supplies as well as the EPIRB itself.
The last thing I’d make sure I had was a good waxed paper chart and a reliable compass, if your electronic navigation system takes a dump you’d be glad you had this. Your co pilot / navigator can made periodic marks on the paper chart using the electronic chart plotter, so in case it quits you have a decent idea of where you are and what bearing to head on. Also understand the magnetic declination of the area you are in.
Boy Scout motto; Be prepared. Being prepared can turn a potentially deadly situation into a bit of a scary one.
