Bahamas Gathering 2012 - Updated '08 Thread

[Bushwacker]

Good list Rainmaker!

I'd often change to the cheap aluminum prop over there, since it was most likely to get dinged when diving around the reefs, and keep good prop to run back on. To that list I'd add duct tape, spare fasteners and canvas snaps/tools, sea anchor, extra oil for motor, hydraulic steering and lower unit, maybe a spare seal kit/tools for steering cylinder, a good compass that's been swung with deviation table, good charts, and a stop watch. Should have compass headings worked out ahead of time for each leg of trip and marked on chart. Don't need a spare GPS, but you should know how to navigate via dead reckoning and how to allow for current running across the stream. (All my trips were made before we had GPS.) However I have to admit that it IS nice to have a satellite antenna on your GPS to pick up storms and be able to see how fast they're moving, especially to be able to avoid the associated lightening! (Don't mind the wind and waves, but sure don't like all that electricity!) Didn't carry much beer to minimize weight; we just bought rum in Bahamas, where it's cheaper than beer or soda! Took frozen groceries to also minimize weight, packed in dry ice in foam coolers. Don't need EPIRB, Satphone or SeaTow if you're running with other boats, which is wise to do for many reasons anyway. All need to stay in sight of each other with good radios so somebody can yell and be heard if they have a problem. Also good to be rigged for quick towing hook ups. The guys I ran with all had a snap hook on anchor line (with about 300' of line minimum), with the line run down thru a carabiner hook on bow eye and back to deck, so you have a LONG towline attached down low instead hooked to a bow cleat. Everyone also had 20' lines hanging on stern cleats, with snap hooks to towing eyes in transom and an eye spliced in other end of line. Put the tow-ee's snap hook thru the eyes on the tow-er's stern lines, and you have an instant bridle with a tow line that the tow-ee can adjust as sea conditions warrant.

I think a lot of folks get in trouble because they try to come back across the stream in the afternoon when they should wait for a smooth easy crossing in the early morning. Having some slack in your schedule and the capability to spend the night on your boat is somewhat of a safety factor in my mind . . . if you can comfortably wait for better conditions, you're less inclined to take chances with the Gulf Stream, where you can quickly get in over your head if something breaks!