Not funny, just stupid!

[GatorMike]

Not at all funny but does qualify as stupid. Last week we took a couple of 20 footers (actually one 21 footer and one 19 footer) across the gulfstream to the Bahamas with Tropical Storm Ophelia just over 100 miles north of us. We were certain she would continue north so we went ahead and crossed. She stalled just off the Central Florida coast and threatened to circle back on us leaving us stranded for a couple of days. We were beginning to wonder if we might be there a couple of weeks when she took off to the Northeast giving us an opening to get back to Florida. Certainly a trip I will never forget. Saturday I was peeing blood from the pounding we took coming back. It took us 3 hrs to get across and 10 hrs to get back to Florida.

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Not funny, just stupid!

Gator Mike,<br />I did that once. A friend talked me into making a crossing in my Whaler Mauntauk. Slicker than snot on the way over. Coming back, 2-4 all the way. Funny how the water will kick up suddenly, especially when flat seas were predicted.

 

[fgough]

Re: Not funny, just stupid!

I've made more than 100 crossings from Lake Worth Inlet to Grand Bahama. SMallest boat I ever did it in was a 13' Whaler with a 35 Johnson, 2 people, 4 scuba tanks + gear, 15 gallons fuel under the seat, and 6 more in a spare tank. Traveling with 4 other boats, none over 23'. July morning, like glass all the way over, 30 mph all the way. Next afternoon, seas are 4-6, Left Jack Tar marina, West End at 3pm, arrived at Sailfish Marina, Palm Beach at 12:30 am, cold, wet, bruised. We never got on plane for the entire 55 miles. Went back 4 days later, but took my grandfather's 43' Rybovich. <br />Most of those 100+ crossings are in a 20' Seacraft Seafari. Most of the time, we travel in the morning both ways, with glassy or nearly calm seas.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Not funny, just stupid!

Boy you've got some nerve Frank making that trip in a 13 footer. Of course I guess I should talk making it in a 19 footer on the tails of a tropical storm (that stalled and turned into a cat 1 Hurricane). Seas were less than 3 feet when we left Ft Lauderdale but 10 miles from Bimini they were 6 to 7 ft. I had waves breaking over my bow the last 5 miles. The trip back was worse, 9 to 10 ft but the period between swells was great enough we were never in trouble. You know seas are big when the 21 footer you are traveling with disapears for 15 seconds between swells.