tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post2642972817870689109..comments2023-04-29T10:15:24.539-04:00Comments on The Trawler Beach House: Finally Bahamas BoundChuck and Susan;http://www.blogger.com/profile/04844233452744671062noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-54545981724394737792014-08-04T11:27:30.747-04:002014-08-04T11:27:30.747-04:00Rob, We did not track actual fuel consumption. But...Rob, We did not track actual fuel consumption. But Beach House burns approximately 2 to 2.4 gallons per hour at 1750 RPMs and that computes to about 7 knots. We could have done the trip on a single fill up of 300 gallons but we found good fuel prices in Nassau so we topped off. ChuckChuck and Susan;https://www.blogger.com/profile/04844233452744671062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-7440740729806827812014-08-04T09:39:17.087-04:002014-08-04T09:39:17.087-04:00Hi Chuck and Susan, still catching up on your blog...Hi Chuck and Susan, still catching up on your blogs in order. What was your fuel usage on this hop and at what speed?<br />BTW great wealth of information and education from your blogs, Thanks!<br /><br />RobAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-29992923543557383162013-10-22T16:08:50.527-04:002013-10-22T16:08:50.527-04:00Ben, The Coast Guard announces the location of the...Ben, The Coast Guard announces the location of the west wall of the Gulf Stream as well as sea states on their VHF weather broadcast. My three pieces of advise to everyone is, wait, wait, and wait. ChuckChuck and Susan;https://www.blogger.com/profile/04844233452744671062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-7099542465433746932013-10-22T15:53:56.997-04:002013-10-22T15:53:56.997-04:00Wow! Thanks. 12-foot is huge. I didn't have to...Wow! Thanks. 12-foot is huge. I didn't have to think about the crossing time in my formerSea Ray days. But even 4-6 short duration is just unpleasant. Definitely NOT the Pamlico Sound though the distance from Oriental to Ocracoke is similar. Thanks for the detail!Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132166891893048907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-43378504571916066592013-10-20T09:36:57.854-04:002013-10-20T09:36:57.854-04:00Ben, It depends on the time of year. During the wi...Ben, It depends on the time of year. During the winter months the good weather windows can be few and we have waited up to two weeks or more for a good one. Remember, once you get across the stream, you need to get somewhere. A minimum of 3 days is best for a slow moving vessel. You may only get that once a month during the winter on average. The swells can be 3 to 4 feet on a good day, usually long and gentle. But add wind and then your in the 4 to 6 feet range and shorter duration. The swells will usually come from the direction of the prevailing winds, but large weather systems hundreds of miles away can send substantial swells from a different direction. On this trip, we had swells from one direction and wind waves from another. Strong winds out of the north against the current from the south can produce dangerous wave, close together and can easily reach 12 feet or more. That's why this is not a crossing to be taken lightly or by the uniformed. There are ships to watch out for, but we have never found them to be a problem. Stay safe. Chuck and SusanChuck and Susan;https://www.blogger.com/profile/04844233452744671062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-68374519162714644592013-10-20T09:16:44.181-04:002013-10-20T09:16:44.181-04:00Hi Chuck and Susan - Hope all is well. I really en...Hi Chuck and Susan - Hope all is well. I really enjoy this post because of it accounts the crossing. How rare are the good weather windows? How big are the swells if caught out in them? For 53 miles, flat water, for me (we have similar engines) would be about 7.5-8 hours. But - I know nothing about the actual crossing. Is the water surface mostly long period swells? Mostly a beam sea, right? Any worries about big ship traffic?<br /><br />Seems like there's no issue as long as the forecast is kind...Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02132166891893048907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-49522630282692711102013-04-24T07:54:37.933-04:002013-04-24T07:54:37.933-04:00Good luck Tom and we hope everything works out. Ju...Good luck Tom and we hope everything works out. Just be sure and get up to date forecasts for winds and seas to make your crossing and use as many reliable sources as you can find. When they are all pretty much in agreement, make your decision. You can usually find boats heading in the direction your going once you get to the more popular staging points. This time of year, May and June, folks are heading for the Abacos or Bimini. Have a great trip, whatever you do. Chuck and SusanChuck and Susan;https://www.blogger.com/profile/04844233452744671062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-36289212130423935982013-04-24T06:02:48.732-04:002013-04-24T06:02:48.732-04:00Thanks very much. I have told my friends that I wi...Thanks very much. I have told my friends that I will be taking no chances on this trip. If it looks like trouble, we'll just go to Key Largo instead and have fun close to shore.<br /><br />I'm very optimistic but I won't take a foolish chance. I'm very comfortable with my boat and I know how she handles however I have no experience crossing the stream. My hope is that the few boats in my marina that say they are going as well, are in fact going. I wanted to travel alongside someone who has done this before.<br /><br />Thanks again for all the terrific articles, I've enjoyed them quite a bit!<br /><br />TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-81229048909361859512013-04-16T14:23:29.966-04:002013-04-16T14:23:29.966-04:00Tom, You will need to do a little work with your c...Tom, You will need to do a little work with your charts. You can plot the distance the Stream will carry you north based on the miles and your speed. Aim for that distance south of Bimini and you can adjust your course as you approach. My best advise is to take the right weather window. It will be the longest 5 or 6 hours of your life if you choose wrong. Consider plan B because there is a good possibility you won't get the right weather for the time you have. Consider also that if you don't get a window coming back, you will be in Bimini many more days than you plan. ChuckChuck and Susan;https://www.blogger.com/profile/04844233452744671062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-71850205994399100782013-04-16T11:07:25.746-04:002013-04-16T11:07:25.746-04:00Thanks for the great story and information. Any ti...Thanks for the great story and information. Any tips for a first timer heading out of FT. Lauderdale in a 43 Gulfstar trawler? I'm heading over May 24th and plan to stay just for the long weekend and return Monday. I hear the Bimini trip is a great first trip to gain experience with the crossing.<br /><br />I'll be watching the weather and more importantly, the winds. I just need to figure out what my bearing will be so I can land close to the Islands. I am figuring my cruise speed will be 9 knots.<br /><br />Thank you!<br /><br />Tom B.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-22596037859075004362013-02-27T21:24:09.913-05:002013-02-27T21:24:09.913-05:00Thanks Barry, That's a good idea. Let me look ...Thanks Barry, That's a good idea. Let me look at some of the options and see what might work best. We will need to be able to update it. ChuckChuck and Susan;https://www.blogger.com/profile/04844233452744671062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5665070556831726952.post-12492442690031475022013-02-27T20:54:49.697-05:002013-02-27T20:54:49.697-05:00Could you post a map with route of your travels. W...Could you post a map with route of your travels. We plan to follow similar route in our 36 ft. Albin. "0 Regrets". We are cruising along with you and as always, have fun.<br /><br />Barry & DeniseBarryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12082237363426701325noreply@blogger.com