First trip to the Bahamas--need a plan.

To clarify, we chartered in the Abaco's a few years ago, but this will be the first time going in our boat, crossing the Gulf Stream, etc. Thinking about a two week trip, maybe longer. Wanted to go in June but it looks like it will be mid July now. Wanted to get back to the US by August. I worry about hurricanes.

Anything special I need to do to make sure my boat is ready for the trip? It seems to be in pretty good shape-- AGM batteries two years old, electronics updated, have a PLB but no EPIRB. Have an Inreach spot tracker I got as a gift but have not really used yet. I don't have any paper charts-- just the Garmin plotter and an iPad, which won't have cell service I assume. I now have a new transmission and shaft, stuffing box packing, cutlass bearing due to some issues I had. [emoji25]. I don't have any solar so will have to run the gen to keep batteries up. I'm having some work done and wonder if I should install a couple of panels? Probably not worth it for just this trip.

As far as where to go, was thinking about crossing from Lake Worth (boat is in Stuart now) to West End, but really don't know where to go from there. Back to the Abaco's?

If the Abacos get the Dodge Guide instead of charts. If elsewhere get the Explorer chart book for that area.
You can rent an EPIRB from BoatUS on a weekly basis.
Prepare a ditch bag.
Do try crossing on a Saturday if you can as it will be easier to either find a buddy boat or have plenty of other boats within hailing if needs be.
When you get to West End buy a BaTelCo SIM and a data plan (currently $35 for 15GB). Then tether your iPad to your phone.
We have done the Abacos on our own boat multiple times, rented a house and center console over there, and chartered from Moorings in Marsh. So any questions, fire away.

Greetings,
Mr. 01. As I type this I'm sitting in Alice Town, Bimini. C'mon over. Since our ONLY recent experience is now AND my memory is poor at best, I defer to those with more extensive travels to comment. I only wanted to "rub it in" a bit.

Ditch bag! There's something I forgot. Thanks for the rec on the Explorer chart book and cell phone card.

Don't I need some flags for something?

RT-- Awesome! How is your trip so far? Are you continuing on from Bimini?

RT Firefly said:

Greetings,
Mr. 01. As I type this I'm sitting in Alice Town, Bimini. C'mon over. Since our ONLY recent experience is now AND my memory is poor at best, I defer to those with more extensive travels to comment. I only wanted to "rub it in" a bit.

Click to expand...

Are you AND your boat there?

cardude01 said:

Don't I need some flags for something?

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Yellow flag for quarantine?

The Navionics charts have many more tide stations than the Garmin charts.

You can also put Furuno Time Zero charting on your iPad which will allow you to use the Explorer charts in digital form.

If you like beer bring lots of it.

Make sure you aircon systems are in tip top shape. And bring spares for them.

If you like diet sodas they can be hard to find in places.

Bring frozen bait if you like to bottom fish. As well as a chum block or two if you have the space.

Don't forget extra batteries.

If you are going to be using your genset a lot bring the proper spares and tools for it.

Two weeks is not enough time. If you are limited to that, consider having someone deliver the boat to and from do you get the maximum time in the islands.

Where is your boat in FT Pierce? I will be down next week.

My boat is at Fort Pierce City Marina. Here's what I do. No reason to leave from Lake Worth. The Fort Pierce inlet is a good one. I leave from there and go over to the Little Bahama Bank entering at White Sand Ridge. It is about 60 miles. Once on the banks it is semi protected water about 12-18' depth. Then it is 40 miles or so to Great Sail Cay. If you have good weather, and your boat can make 100 miles in a day that's the way to go. You will find a good protected anchorage at Great Sail. Take a swim, and enjoy the evening.

Then it is about 30-35 miles to Spanish Cay where you can check in. It's about 30 more miles to Green Turtle Cay where you can check in at New Plymouth. The Abacos are beautiful, and easy cruising. The Sea of Abaco is almost like a lake except for Whale Cay Passage. If there is a "rage" going off shore, I think with your boat you can catch the tide right and go inside of Whale Cay. Ask for local knowledge of the Don't Rock channel.

Menzies gave good info about the Dodge Guide and other navigation info. Also, the current additions of C-Map cartridges have the Dodge info preploted. I don't know about Garmin.

It will be hot in July, but there is usually some breeze. I like May and June for over there. The weather is usually good, and the hurricanes have not started up. There is a radio net that cruisers will chime into. It will give the weather forecast and navigation info. I think it is 8:00 am on channel 69.

Have a great trip, Capt.

Menzies gave good advice. Get a guide book instead of charts, you will need a quarantine flag and a Bahamas courtesy flag

Abaco's are a great part of the Bahamas. You have protected water, blue water, lots of little settlements from Marsh Harbor to Man o War, lots of deserted islands and good air connections if needed. Services are pretty good for the Bahamas too.

If that's too civilized the Berry's aren't too far, and for some real different flavor Spanish Wells is very different and not too far.

Exuma is awesome, really awesome, also quite a ways South.

$0.02

Greetings,
Mr, 01. "How is your trip so far?" Well, you nailed it, AWESOME! In addition to the yellow (Q) flag you need a Bahamian courtesy flag as well.
We're staying put on this trip as the Admiral is in need of R&R so she sits on the beach and does her thing and I sit in the shade sipping coconut water (chilled). We'll be heading back to Ft. Lauderdale, weather willing, on the 19th or 20th...Yes, Mr. TB, on our own keel.

We're at Bimini Blue Water Marina on recommendation of Mr. Oliver (and others)-thank you all; right in the center of Alice Town and a short 10 minute walk to the beach on the west side of the island. We've been here before a couple of times but this is the first time we've actually been able to explore and meet the locals. Liquor store is about 3 minutes away on the route to the beach, three grocery stores within 5 minute walk, ATM machine next to the liquor store.

Read the thread Ms. Donna started as to what to bring. There are a number of good suggestions in that thread as well http://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/s3/what-did-you-wish-you-brought-31698.html

I also met another TF member here, Mr. steveg353. Great fellow with a charming and attractive mate. Safe travels Steve...

Gotta go. The cinnamon buns were supposed to be ready at the bakery at 12:30. Hope there are some left...

We are either going to Cuba (first choice) or the Abacos this year. Abacos are very touristy with plenty of marinas and towns to get supplies. We prefer the out islands but you could spend two weeks easily in the Abacos. You can find mechanics locally but parts will probably have to be flown in from Ft. Lauderdale on daily flights. Lots of nice diving, swimming, fishing, partying at bars, ect. Have fun.

And Garmin uses Voyagers Charts, I still have those drawn on paper charts.

Don

Boat is in Stuart now getting some work done. Was planning on bringing it back to Ft Pierce to that city marina. I really liked it.

I thought I needed to leave from a more southern point to take advantage of the Gulf Stream?

Capt Bill

Thanks for the pointers. My AC systems are original to the boat (almost 10 years old) and I'm not sure what shape they are in actually. They cool the boat well is all I can say.

I can go longer than two weeks but thought I should be out before August?

Keysdisease, et al

Thanks for all the pointers on the flags and destinations. I think the wife might fly out and meet me somewhere so that might influence my destination.

I wouldn't worry about early August hurricanes besides from the Abacos your only a day of two from Florida.

I think Don has you crossing about due east so your not going against the stream and once on the banks heading se. The stream has about a 3 knt northly flow so unless your really slow just go and have fun, set your cross tract on the gps.

Bigsfish said:

I wouldn't worry about early August hurricanes besides from the Abacos your only a day of two from Florida.



I think Don has you crossing about due east so your not going against the stream and once on the banks heading se. The stream has about a 3 knt northly flow so unless your really slow just go and have fun, set your cross tract on the gps.

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Do I need to figure how to set the AP to allow for that current somehow? Or do I just plug in the waypoint and it does it automatically? I've never had to worry about a side current yet obviously.

I think it's channel 68.

You can get better weather info off the internet IMO.

Most modern machines will auto correct firbyou, I have my auto pilot plugged into the GPS so I just set it and go to sleep. ��

Don't over think the Stream, it's strongest in the center and weaker near the edges and you won't be in it long enough to make any real difference. Just use "go to waypoint" and pop another refreshing beverage.

Having made the crossing (MIA to Bimini 50nm) on compass /RDF / Loran and GPS I think more people have missed their landfall from overcompensating for the stream than under.

In a sailboat in light air, then you need to do some compensating, powerboat, even a displacement trawler with todays nav aides, just point it and go

$0.02

cardude01 said:

Do I need to figure how to set the AP to allow for that current somehow? Or do I just plug in the waypoint and it does it automatically? I've never had to worry about a side current yet obviously.

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Oh , well, I think I can handle that. I like the refreshing beverage part. ?

Re crossing the stream. You can of course put in the waypoint and have your AP handle it - but by doing so you will actually cross in a shallow northward bending curve. You are best deciding the coordinates of your required stream exit point and add in a degree for every hour you will be in the stream. So if in the stream for four hours aim four degrees south, then after an hour bring it up one, after two bring it up another etc. You will find that you have navigated a shorter course.
You can either do this manually or plot a route that handles it.

Most modern GPS machines if you put in your point you want to go to as a waypoint and then select navigate to waypoint will compensate for any current, connect that to an auto pilot and it's automatic. You'll find the gps may get fooled getting to the stream and once across and on the banks as you will see a course to follow may change by a degree or so.

You'll know when you on the banks as it gets shallow and the color change. Believe the gps and your compass.

I sometimes don't take slower boats in consideration. I usually run from the Ft. Pierce sea buoy to enter the Little Bahama Bank in about 2 hrs and 15 minutes. If we run straight to Green Turtle Cay it is usually about 6 hrs and 30 minutes. I have been this route so often that the way points are already stored in my plotter. I turn it on, and tell it to navigate with the autopilot.

Moonstruck said:

I sometimes don't take slower boats in consideration. I usually run from the Ft. Pierce sea buoy to enter the Little Bahama Bank in about 2 hrs and 15 minutes. If we run straight to Green Turtle Cay it is usually about 6 hrs and 30 minutes. I have been this route so often that the way points are already stored in my plotter. I turn it on, and tell it to navigate with the autopilot.

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Damn that's fast. I'm going about 7 knots, so that's like 8.5 hours for 60 miles if my cyphering is correct.

Yep, Don moves fast in his boat.

cardude01 said:

Damn that's fast. I'm going about 7 knots, so that's like 8.5 hours for 60 miles if my cyphering is correct.

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It's longer. You are not taking into account bucking the stream.

Capt.Bill11 said:

It's longer. You are not taking into account bucking the stream.

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Ahh. Ok. That's what I don't know how to figure out, obviously. I will do some reading.

Thinking about the current, that's why I was wondering if I should first head south to Lake Worth and cross from there instead of having to fight the current. If in the current for 8 hours and the current is moving 2.5 knots, does that mean I should start about 20 miles south of my eventual destination?

Hey Dude,
Where in Stuart are you? Cat Daddy is at Stuart Yacht Harbor getting ready, we are heading to the Exumas at the end of the month.

An Explorer chart book for the northern Bahamas might help. My Garmin BlueChart Mobile seemed to be the Explorer data in electronic form and was spot on. An unlocked cell phone to put a BTC sim card in helps. The monthly phone/data plans BTC has are very reasonable and coverage is really good. Use it as a hotspot for your laptop for weather and internet.

Have fun.

Rafe

Cat Daddy said:

Hey Dude,
Where in Stuart are you? Cat Daddy is at Stuart Yacht Harbor getting ready, we are heading to the Exumas at the end of the month.

An Explorer chart book for the northern Bahamas might help. My Garmin BlueChart Mobile seemed to be the Explorer data in electronic form and was spot on. An unlocked cell phone to put a BTC sim card in helps. The monthly phone/data plans BTC has are very reasonable and coverage is really good. Use it as a hotspot for your laptop for weather and internet.

Have fun.

Rafe

Click to expand...

Thanks. The boat is at Britt Point marina getting some work done. Next to the Apex yard.

I just got back from four months in the Bahamas. I have a Garmin chartplotter and an iPad running Garmin BlueChart Mobile. Both were spot on from West End to Crooked Island.

You likely know this but you do not want to be in the Gulf Stream in any wind with an N in it. North wind against current can be brutal.

Two weeks, I would suggest staying in the Abacos. Weather windows to get further south (Berries, Great Harbour) can eat up all your time.

You can get a SIM card for your iPad from the Bahamas Cellphone Company, BTC, that will give you good internet anywhere in the Abacos. You can get SIM cards from Mr. Sim Card before you go, or every town seems to have a BTC office. Worth it to have good weather info.

Take cash as credit cards don't work everywhere. Customs will want their $300 in cash.

Beer is expensive, rum is cheap. Have fun.

Arch

A lot of good advice already given. For my first crossing to the Bahamas, here are my suggestions.

First crossing to either West End or Bimini. Shortest trip possible. Then, if to Bimini, proceed on toward Nassau, then maybe Eleuthera. If to West End, proceed along Grand Bahama and on to Abacos. Make first crossing the shortest possible and then break the rest into manageable pieces.

I would also start from further south than Fort Pierce. Fort Pierce leaves you going against the Gulf Stream for a pretty good amount of time. I'd start a crossing to West End no further north than West Palm. Further South even makes it easier. To Bimini, I'd start no further north than Fort Lauderdale and Miami is best.

These are only advice for the first crossing that you are somewhat worried about. Then it becomes easy and second nature.