Anyone take their 270 rinker fiesta vee on a virgin island 5 day?
maxwell
Member Posts: 106 ✭
Is this boat too small to attempt this?
(Just the wife and I.)
We would be leaving from punt@ gorda area.
too ambitious?
considering this trip , among others.
Getting time in ,handling big waters in door county wi. presently.
All comments welcome
thanks.
(Just the wife and I.)
We would be leaving from punt@ gorda area.
too ambitious?
considering this trip , among others.
Getting time in ,handling big waters in door county wi. presently.
All comments welcome
thanks.
Post edited by raybo3 on
Comments
That's a long trip.
Why not make it small steps and try for the Bahamas first (less than 70 to 90 miles).
Weather will be key and you can likely meet up with other groups on similar boats doing the same trip.
Once you hit the Bahamas your tow boats is likely useless. Also make sure you're insurance hooks you up with a rider policy to cover you on the trip.
If you make that long trip from WI to go and weather doesn't cooperate you can boat in the keys for weeks, months, years even.
You need more than 5 days to go to the Bahamas and back, you'd need perfect weather to rush it. The time of year you decide on will also affect your weather windows. Im not saying you can't but waiting on a weather window that calls for smooth seas and good wind is a must. On a good day the seas are smooth and clear. On a bad day they seas are square, white cap and you'll be beaten to death at 5 miles per hour. I've never crossed completely but I've fished in much smaller boats in 600 or so ft of water in the stream many times. I've seen days calling for .7 footers turn out to be 3 footers. The wearher plays by its own rules and can change instantly.
You can do it no problem in a 270. You may need to store exta fuel as the range might be a little tight. Like I said, you'll need good weather. Don't be afraid to turn back if it gets too rough.
It's a trip id love to do one day. People cross in much smaller boats and slower boats all the time and did so back when there was no GPS, they just used the lights shining from Bahamas at night. Leave at 3 to 4am from Florida and arrive for brunch.
Were thinking about doing it in segments .
2 days at most in oneway,no port travel,shorter spurts,with marina fuel and fill stops as needed.
We want to work our way down.
Going back can be done in segments as well
The better half is worried about piracy.
Any thoughts?
We have (sea tow) coverage ,I thought they were worldwide?
Instead of putting in at P#nta Gorda, why not cruise down the Atlantic coast instead? Put in at Melbourne, make your way down to Miami. That way, you'd have the option to stay inside on the ICW if the weather is rough. On the Gulf coast, you don't have a lot of options.
Or go from West Palm Beach to Freeport (90 miles).
Wilson!!!
Generally the crusiers who have made the pass, seasoned sailors, who have done so on a schedule and it was a first and only trip.
Its called the thorny path.
So while i won't say it can't be done, you will need plenty of time for weather windows to open.
There have been more than a few American boats abandoned in the islands after they survived the trip over. Also plenty of them shipped over by barge then shipped back when they vacation was over
Thank you to everyone ,on all your thoughts.
Wife and I are not huge risk takers ,but we have learned that life is very short,and putting ourselves out there at times can be rewarding in more ways then one.)
Doing this trip has been a goal/dream,of ours for many years.
Piracy is about the only thing that will keep us home.barrier islands,ect
Our boat will be tasting the ocean for the first time.(in **** Gorda),next year.
Its a 2002,but has less then 250 hours on it and looks almost new.
(well kept up,by previous owner)
My sister,and husband did this trip in a 20 ft sail rig.(small cabin)very small.
I thought what we were going to use ,was doable ,as well as comfortable and safer,compared to that.
I am rethinking this trip right now.
Perhaps We will pay to have it transported to a port ,in the middle of the island chain.
any thoughts on that?
Who to use?,where to start?
thanks again to all.
Once we visited 7 ports in 7 days. In another trip, we cruised 500 miles (DC to Nags Head NC and back) in 7 days. Both trips were fun, but completely exhausting. Instead of arriving home rested and relaxed, we'd be a total wreck for 2-3 days.
Now we avoid cruising two days in a row, and we rarely cover more than 125 miles in any single day. Even in good sea conditions, it's taxing getting your body bounced around on a boat for hours at a time with all that noise and vibration.
Go Steelers!!!
the boat does in excess of 44 miles per hour ..with a chevy ,400 I believe.
double prop,and on plane .....is smooth and pretty quiet.compared to others..
rough seas..we would sit out for sure.
we have 2 months to do this.
I thought about waiting for ideal weather ,but could be too long of a trek.
We would most likely sell the boat when done.
fly back.
a once in a lifetime trip.
The virgin islands,just will not do it for us.
Does anyone know what that may cost?
I believe the boat is about 7000 pounds.
Shipping container?
Keep in mind, my boat weighs more than twice as much as your boat. There won't be a lot of days when you'll want to cruise much faster than 32.
Thats the trip directly in front of us..
I want some ocean time ,before we ship the boat to Puerto Rico.
Thinking...
in a couple of years ...if we live that long..
From there its the adventure of 2 months in and out of ports,as we work our way down to the lower islands and back.
We want to fish for our dinner at times,My sister did this as she was on a shoestring budget..
any suggestions for bait??
Yes I know ..live shrimp.any thing else as in lures?