2019 Bahamas Grand Cay MOAG (Mother of All Gatherings)
 

What kind of trip are you looking to do? CSC needs another serious guy that wants to cross the Gulfstream and actually does it! I crossed last June and stayed over there two weeks in the Bahamas. The Sceptre is more than capable. A trip to Grand Cay for at least four days is the next and best mother of all gatherings for our group. Hopefully there will be some seeds planted in Jensen Beach in June at our next gathering. I grew up across the state in Jupiter going to the Bahamas since I was 4. It is nothing like a cruise ship experience… If you’ve never been there in your own boat, it will blow your mind. It will change you and it is for unforgettable! Check out the gathering section with the Bahamas threads.

I would consider this.

I am very serious. It’s on my bucket list. Living in Alabama the travel is not too bad either. I want to get to know my boat a little better before I put the wheels in motion. I think the Yanmar diesel will be a good engine and reliable enough to do it. Thank you for the information

Next July??
 

You guys want a 16 month clock starting?? 7/2019 Grand Cay. Leave Lake Worth Inlet 6-7am, clear West End by 10:30, 12:30pm at Grand Cay

Here we go again...........
 

In honor of Carl's man card, let's see who has newer, or at least reliable powered SC's that is willing to step up! Newer power on a SeaCraft with a missing man card is a bad look! Don't be caught without your man card. Carl and Bill didn't design and race their boats to be a trailer queen that blesses the inland lakes of the Southestern US or to booze cruise up and down the intracoastal waterway! Shoot, Bushwacker may be interested in being our mother ship for the "MOAG"! A 50 foot Defever trawler. He will have recently completed the Great Loop with his bride, Arden. Hopefully that will be the added security blanket needed for our brethren.

Count on 50 gals one way with 4 strokes and DI 2 strokes- no more than 150gals for the trip(30 in WE, 50 in Grand for 4 days) $440 in Bahamas refuel gas costs / $150 for a cruising permit / $125 X 4 nights =$500 in Grand Cay. Count on $1500. Did your man card just get smaller? I hope not! You have 16 months.........

I made over a dozen trips in my 23' to Walkers Cay. 105 mi
Take a breather at Memory Rock. I had a 20" CC SeaCraft travel with us on several of the crossings...
You guys will have a.blast ! I'm sure Snookerd has a Check Sheet and A Float PLan he would share...

Add the "cheap bastard" in!!! :)

Heyyyy
My face hurts

Chuck, you the man...I wanted do the Memory Rock route direct from Jupiter last year. That route cuts a bunch of time out. I do have a pretty good list and float plan from last year.

And all this just for a boat ride?? ;)

Now this grand voyage might force my hand, and I'll have to repower after all!

Ya know Jim I hear Yamahas are the #1 engine the thieves like to steal in the Bahamas....you might need to be careful with yours. :)

I have wanted to do this trip for a long time. Would this a cruising or fishing trip? I wouldn't mind a little cruising around but I would be more interested in the fishing.

You"ll be crying in your Kalik! After spending $15 a bag for ice (I mean your wallet) :)

It's roughly 1400 miles from York, Maine to the Bahamas. If I could get a month off from work, I would do it in a minute.

A Bushwacker Sighting
 

Anita and I had dinner with Denny and Arden the other night. Also a tour of his 49' Defevere trawler (very nice). Told him he could be the mother ship for a Bahamas gathering. A busy man. In one weeks time he sold his NPB home of 50 years, completed the trawler purchase, and was married! A happy couple!

If the Kalik does not do him in the Yellow Birds will...:eek::cool:

$15 sounds like a bargain. The last time I went to Walker's, over 20 years ago, we paid $20 for a bag of ice.

How much is gas in the Bahamas? Oh, and BTW my motor only likes non-ethanol fuel...lol!

For those of you on The otHer siTe....No affiliation I just thought it was a stand-up offer and may be convenient.

https://www.thehulltruth.com/florida...r-parking.html

Very good info!!!

Nice offer. That might change some of my plans, need to think about it.

Gas in the Bahamas never has alcohol in it, that I know of. Normally what you get at the dock is about 91 octane.

Indeed.

DaYum. Is his daughter, Debbie (?) trawling along with? Nice to read. Be well.

Michael.

I want to do this with my wife and two boys

It would be both.......I could see us trolling over and back and spearing around the area and fishing offshore. The island is not a tourist destination, only a sportsman's destination. Double Breasted Cay is the local hang out to chill. On Grand Cay, there are a couple bars , 3-4 restaurants and good quality rooms. They have 4G cell service that is $10 a day with our ATT international day pass program. They will cook your catch and there is even a "Crusty Crab" food hut near Rosie's.

YouTube Video
 

Here are video links:

https://youtu.be/lq7piQ-W39A Spearing off Grand

https://www.youtube.com/embed/khW19zBX1Ow Drone Video

https://youtu.be/jGDAftSF13g ******SeaCraft Sceptre Trip 2014 by a CSC member

https://youtu.be/9Z_LIPpmxpQ

https://youtu.be/Fd2QV73k3YQ

Very cool video. Would anyone be doing the trip in a 20? The MA will have a new 80 gallon fuel tank, 175 Johnson, and the Seafari only has 40 gallon fuel tank, and 150 Etec. I’d prefer the Seafari and a fuel bladder. Is it like 80 miles to island fuel? Hoping to get 3+ mpg (or 3+ gph?) with addition of PowerTech four blade prop, as well as lower planing speed.

Yes I’ve seen the video of the BW 15 Sport make the crossing. Haha

Vezo, Part II

40 gallons and an Etec should be fine. I did several Bahama trips in my 20 seafari with a gas guzzling carberated Black Max.

Michael-You have to take the 20 Seafari! Bushwacker did it over 1/2 dozen times. Count on it being around 105 miles, then add the 1/3 reserve fuel.

I did this trip for 2 weeks last year in the Abacos with my wife, 19yr old son, 15yr old son, and 14 yr old daughter. All 5 in our 23 Sceptre. I will be bringing my family again......The family just needs to be ok with relaxing "old" Bahamas style (fishing, diving, sandbar parties). No internet cafes, but good cell service. I would consider this the "real Bahamas"not what some other out islands have become. I met the principle of the island grades school. He also runs a shipping company and has his MBA. Real people that live there. Bring lots of beer and you can get many favors!

Suzie is engaged. She is jet setting in SE FL these days!

Connor, did your Seafari hold 40 gallons also? Thanks.

Michael.

I'd be willing in my 20. I do have the 2 stroke on it though, 84 gallons of fuel might make it right?

Absolutely will be enough fuel. With a maintained boat, it will be no problem.

I think I'll be in! So Grand Cay is the place to find housing and docking?

Vezo, yes, I'm pretty sure it was 40 gallons. I think it was getting about 3 nmpg, loaded medium heavy. Yours should do much better than that, plenty for all but the longest runs you can make in the Bahamas.

Another way to look at it, we used to run out 40 miles loaded way over the load limit for the boat, run around to dive spots, idle all day waiting for divers and run back, took about 45 gallons.

Seafari Fuel Capacity
 

I realize different year models may have different size fuel tanks. The 1976 brochure shows for the 20' Seafari 47 gallons in the outboard version and 38 for an I/O. I think Bushwacker's 1973ish Seafari outboad tank was smaller than my '76 20' Seafari outboard tank.

Mine was about the same vintage as Bushwackers.

My refurbed ‘77 is said to be 40 and the current fuel gauge is very accurate at 1/4’s and agreed by new 94sv and NMEA 2000. I’ve got a certified 18 gal above deck RDS Aluminum tank ready to go on a BW 15 Sport floating around yet. I’m not scared. Thanks Conner.

Michael.