****New Poll****West End / Gathering?

[RUSTYNTABATHA]

Haven't been on in a while !!... but this one has me interested !!! The time frame is rite also !!! will keep watching close.... missed hanging with ya'll the last 2 years also !!!! Tab will be coming home march 25th and the youngest daughter will be popping a new deckhand out in the next couple weeks !!

[Fr. Frank]

Originally Posted by Vezo, Part II

I think I need to continue researching the mindset and requirements of this trip as I would seriously like to attend. With my experience on BW 15 Sports, I am not naive enough to be expect a crossing videoed by a member of Continuous Wave. He and his girl put up the Bimini and shoved off! It was like a mirror the entire way. Not a Bump! Of course, he was forced to leave it there, fly home, and fly back to get it. No video of the return trip!?!
Vezo, Part II

Yup! Took a 13' Whaler from Lake Worth to West End and Memory Rock several times in 1984. 35hp Johnson, 2 persons, 4 SCUBA tanks and gear, 18 gallons of fuel, and a cooler of food and beverage that doubled as a fish box. Made the trip over in just under two hours each time on summer morning glassy seas. The trip back always took 3-4 hours, and not nearly as pleasant.

[77SceptreOB]

Has anything been decided on this?

Jim

[Bushwacker]

The Fl. legislature passed a new law today giving folks a whopping $4 discount on their boat registration fee if you spend several hundred $ to buy an EPIRB or about $250 for a PLB. It was inspired by the 2 kids that went missing out of Jupiter inlet in their 18' SeaCraft last summer. In response to this news, my crusty old friend Bob who owned the Moesly 21 "UNOHU" that I made numerous Bahama trips with, sent a letter to the editor of the Palm Beach Post today pointing out that an EPIRB provides a false sense of security, because it takes a lot more than just a single electronic gadget to insure safety on an offshore trip! Thought y'all might enjoy his thoughts on the subject in the following email he sent me this morning:

Dear Editor:

Having crossed the Gulf Stream about 60 times during 30 years, my small boat navigation experience qualifies me to note a false sense of security likely to be brought by depending solely upon a radio beacon (EPURB or other). The beacon benefits only after encountering trouble. Whereas, boaters need to be trained and to obey cautions that prevent hazards and/or provide immediate rescue in life-threatening situations at sea. Gulf Stream boaters always face numerous potential situations that may require URGENT rescue:

1. FIRE – electrical and/or fuel – (fuel + spark = FIRE !).
2. EXPLOSION – gasoline fuel floods the bilge – STOP the engine !
3. RUPTURED FUEL TANK – caused by wear & tear + rough sea.
4. HULL and/or PROPELLER DAMAGE - from rough sea or striking a submerged or unseen object.
5. LIGHTNING – EVERY boat on the ocean is a Lightning Rod !
6. FUEL DEPLETION – insufficient fuel, leak or navigation error (Even with a GPS).
7. ENGINE FAILURE - with inability to repair and/or unavailable spare part(s).
8. RADIO and/or BEACON FAILURE – (YES, the beacon is also “electrical.” - ‘Nuff said !).

Of course, the obvious measure for avoiding threats is to be with at least ONE other boat, equipped with a proper tow-line! Twice, I crossed alone with a single engine and one radio, fortunately with no mishap. Later, I became educated to the fact that ANY ONE of these 8 listed hazards could render me and my family helpless in the infamous “Bermuda Triangle.” And, these cautions apply to ANY and ALL boats that are too small to carry a life boat or dingy. AND, your inflatable raft, must not leak after an explosion, lightning, etc. –

So, BE SAFE - Find a dependable partner.

The reply to Bob's note from another member of our flotilla follows, with Bob's comments in red:

Words of wisdom that I have benefited from! Remember you towing me and my Nova from just off the bank towards WPB when my lower unit broke? I believe that qualifies you as "a dependable partner"! Thanks, again! :+) The Big Rose pulled me across the gulfstream another time when one of my two engines failed and I was still at Grand Cay. Did not want to risk a solo crossing with one motor! As it were, the Fubar, was broken down just off Grand and he hooked on behind me so we both spent about 10 hours on a tow line!

Remember?! I was there!

I have been a “victim” of and/or have seen others in EVERY one of these situations. I didn’t have space to tell about your parents and my boat having had another boat actually soar INTO our boats ! – And,you know, those guys actually said I caused the collision because I had reduced speed. (I wanted to tell ’em their boat was coming apart. - Couldn’t raise ‘em on the radio.)

Craig’s pal, George X X X X, ridiculed me for having so many spare parts during the briefing at our home and again as we were pulling out of West End. When we reached Mangrove Cay, they motioned me over to ask if I could spare a can of oil. - Had to give ‘em 2 more cans at Cooper’s Town.

Alma Beck knocked her outdrive CLEAN-OFF coming across at night. A boat picked ‘em up in the morning. You had a similar fate right out here off Singer Island. We will NEVER know what you hit. Most likely a turtle. The keel of my “UNOHU” had a “green” scar from a turtle I had struck out in the Gulf.

[kmoose]

Our plans are to shoot over on the best morning between June 13th - 18th. Going to check on reservations this week for accommodations but will be capable of staying aboard if we have to for a few days.

[Vezo, Part II]

Where will you be staying until launch morning? I can make those dates work and have friends in Palm (City?), near Stuart, who would put me up a few days.

Vezo

[Bushwacker]

Moose, did you ever lock in on reservations for 6/13-18? I think Connor is planning an Abaco trip for 6/28-7/11, and a friend I've made several crossings with wants to make a short trip to Grand Cay on 7/16-20. Connor, what is your itinerary and what inlet are you planning to leave from?

I did learn something interesting at the WPB boat show a couple weeks ago. The folks at the Grand Lucayan marina on the south side of Grand Bahama recognize that folks often get stuck in the Bahamas waiting for decent weather for a return crossing. They have a deal where if you pay 'em $100 up front ahead of time, you can dock your boat in their marina for up to a month. The idea is that if you get stuck by bad weather, you can leave the boat and take the ferry back to WPB or Lauderdale, and then return on the ferry when the weather clears up. I've generally had good crossings early in the morning, but I've also experienced fronts coming thru creating north winds even in July!

You can still go on to Abaco from Lucaya by taking the cut thru Grand Bahama that comes out near Mangrove Cay north of Grand Bahama. The water is shallow around Mangrove, but guys with outboards shouldn't have any trouble.

[Vezo, Part II]

Denny stand by for a PM.

[Bushwacker]

Pls send email instead. PM inbox almost full!

[cdavisdb]

A little odd, but I'm having trouble filling up the crew list on my trip. Right now, dates are July 11-22. Shorter trip means it will be hard to get anywhere near Grand Bahama.

Connor