Solo trip to Bimini SX192

[Bruce]

Note to self:
Do not attempt to hand feed a 5ft nurse shark after your wife asks you not to. Shark will draw blood and wife will be pissed. Not sure which was worse.

Lol. It's around 1:05 of video I think.

A couple of guys did this at Honeymoon Harbor during the group trip. The funny part was that they kept going back for more after losing skin. @tim h, was it your guests feeding the nurse sharks?

 

[haknslash]

@JKallay i couldn't help but notice the lack of extra fuel cans during the video. How did you guys cross without having extra fuel onboard or did you have the cans on the swim deck?

 

[DBamaC]

@JKallay i couldn't help but notice the lack of extra fuel cans during the video. How did you guys cross without having extra fuel onboard or did you have the cans on the swim deck?

Good catch. I'd like to know that as well.

 

[swatski]

Good catch. I'd like to know that as well.

Not to preempt the OP answers..., but during our crossing to Bimini we had 2 5gal cans (w/fast spouts) of extra fuel. They fit upright in the ski locker, on the way there. I did not like to have any weight up front on the way back and kept them (upright) in the back of the starboard aft storage compartment, didn't want them next to the battery.

 

[JKallay]

@JKallay i couldn't help but notice the lack of extra fuel cans during the video. How did you guys cross without having extra fuel onboard or did you have the cans on the swim deck?

We had 4, 5 gallon fuel cans in the ski locker but didn't use them. We burned 24 on the way there and 24 on the way back. Burned another 26 while we were there.

The 192 optimum rpm for fuel efficiency is either 2100 during no wake or 6000 when running. I set cruise at 6k during crossing which helps a lot. We had been practicing 6k in lot of different conditions in the gulf and Tampa bay.

 

[JKallay]

Not to preempt the OP answers..., but during our crossing to Bimini we had 2 5gal cans (w/fast spouts) of extra fuel. They fit upright in the ski locker, on the way there. I did not like to have any weight up front on the way back and kept them (upright) in the back of the starboard aft storage compartment, didn't want them next to the battery.

Good call!

We have practiced with the shake siphon which works awesome. I didn't want to have to hold a can over the edge in unknown conditions.

Should be about $10 on Amazon.

 

[swatski]

We had 4, 5 gallon fuel cans in the ski locker but didn't use them. We burned 24 on the way there and 24 on the way back. Burned another 26 while we were there.

The 192 optimum rpm for fuel efficiency is either 2100 during no wake or 6000 when running. I set cruise at 6k during crossing which helps a lot. We had been practicing 6k in lot of different conditions in the gulf and Tampa bay.

@JKallay that is awesome! Very impressive with the 192.

For me, with family on board, that gets a bit tricky. If you can manage to go slow on plane, keeping it in cruise control with constant 6-6500RPM, you are golden. But in rougher water - anytime I look at my wife - I am tempted to compensate with the throttle for smoother ride. That's where your fuel consumption can increase dramatically. And if you need to keep up with bigger boats, e.g. if you go with a group, you may need to be going WOT at 35mph, and some such. I which case, your mileage will vary.
That said, I think I used 27gal and 23 gal, respectively. But, I did not do it @JKallay way, which is the best.

 

[Bruce]

I think I used 27gal and 23 gal

For comparison my 2007 SX230 burned 26 gallons on the way back. I did not get an accurate measure of fuel burn on the way there but believe it was less than 30.

 

[2nazt]

What rpms/speed did you run @Bruce on the return trip?

 

[JKallay]

@JKallay that is awesome! Very impressive with the 192.

For me, with family on board, that gets a bit tricky. If you can manage to go slow on plane, keeping it in cruise control with constant 6-6500RPM, you are golden. But in rougher water - anytime I look at my wife - I am tempted to compensate with the throttle for smoother ride. That's where your fuel consumption can increase dramatically. And if you need to keep up with bigger boats, e.g. if you go with a group, you may need to be going WOT at 35mph, and some such. I which case, your mileage will vary.
That said, I think I used 27gal and 23 gal, respectively. But, I did not do it @JKallay way, which is the best.

All good info. I didn't consider keeping up with a group. That would be a challenge and definitely effect the burn rate.

My wife knows to hold on and pregame with advil. Haha

 

[swatski]

For comparison my 2007 SX230 burned 26 gallons on the way back. I did not get an accurate measure of fuel burn on the way there but believe it was less than 30.

Just to put this into a context. A single engine Yammie will burn half the fuel of a double under optimal conditions in flat water at cruise.

BUT

Once you are in rough stuff, in a loaded 190 you will be going close to WOT to keep the same speed as a 230/240 will do with their RPM in mid range.

 

[Bruce]

What rpms/speed did you run @Bruce on the return trip?

Generally I was running 8,000 to 8,500 RPMs in both directions. On the way there I was in the lead trying to set a pace around 25. On the return I was the last boat staying a comfortable distance behind.

 

[2nazt]

Thanks for that @Bruce

 

[Bruce]

My wife knows to hold on and pregame with advil. Haha

This is a good example of a good captain and crew making all the difference in the world. Our boats are capable of more than most of our bodies (@1948Isaac and his crew might be the exception). If everyone on board is willing and conditions are reasonable a 190 / 192 / FSH is very capable of going to Bimini. If the captain and crew are not willing an extra 5' is not going to solve the problem.

 

[haknslash]

The Bimini trip has been something I've loved seeing you guys do. Maybe next year we can get in on the fun. I'll be sure to sedate my wife with meds lol

 

[haknslash]

@JKallay so how did it feel getting bit by the shark lol? I always assumed nurse sharks didn't bite ...not sure why I would think of such nonsense lol.

 

[JKallay]

Trying to feed it with squid by hand was a pretty stupid thing to do.

That being said, it surprised me more than anything. I had 44 little punctures in 2 fingers.

Being able to say I survived a shark attack...priceless.

 

[itsdgm]

Being a West Coast Boater here (and only able to dream about Bimini trips). It sounds like it might be useful to sort your groups crossing over to Bimini based on boat size/type. Especially if different models need to run at different speeds/rpm's.

 

[Bruce]

Being a West Coast Boater here (and only able to dream about Bimini trips). It sounds like it might be useful to sort your groups crossing over to Bimini based on boat size/type. Especially if different models need to run at different speeds/rpm's.

It certainly was considered. The sort this year was based on capabilities and equipment. I would not have wanted to create a disadvantaged group of 190s.