Advice on Bahamas usage of an R-25???

H

Hillman1935

New member
Joined
Aug 29, 2009
Messages
3
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
I am a new member to this forum and hope someone will be willing to take a few minutes to give an enthusiastic but admittedly unknowledgable boater a basic "set of brains" on these boats. My previous boating has been a small amount of very basic fresh-water boating in small open Whalers.

Over the past several years I have been searching/researching different boat types and sizes in search of the best overall compromise boat that I could acquire and use in the Southern Bahamas where I own a small beach house with a shallow offshore beach mooring.

The most common advice I have received has been to buy a 26+ or larger quality catamaran such as a Glacier Bay because of its rough water capabilities, dual outboard redundancy (safety), ability to access shallow areas common to the Bahamas and the possibility to perhaps even use it to make good weather crossings from FL to the Bahamas and back each year.

Recently I discovered the Ranger 25 and 29' tugs and believe they might be much better for my imagined useage. I like the comfortable room and amenities for both relaxing day trips and weekend overnights to nearby islands and cays and casual fishing.
The safety of diesel over gasoline on board plus the economy of a single (but reliable) diesel over 2 thirsty 250HP outboards appeals to me and I am seldom in that big a hurry to need the speed. The trailerability appeals to me also.

Can someone advise me on the relative safety (or insanity?) of using an R-25 or 29 to seasonally cross the Gulf Stream and motor from FL to the Bahamas - especially for a newbie boater (I am a private pilot so I do have decent nav skills).

Anyone willing to engage me in some basic talk about the reality of using these boats in the Cribbean?
 
I'm basically a freshwater guy myself, but I fully intend to make that crossing in my R21-EC at some point in my life. I would never attempt it without a very good weather window and accompanying craft, but I definitely plan on the attempt. For what it's worth...

Texas Steve
 
Well, how things turn out is always funny... I set out to buy a real he-man, power cat, big engines vroom, vroom. . . . and came home with an R25...
The R25 will do the Bahama trip admirably, in my estimation... It is on my bucket list now...

The R25 is a different critter than the typical 25-26 foot go fast - SeaRay, whatever... You have a real bow that will shed fairly large waves before submerging the boat, especially if you keep it light and not overloaded with water and gear... I suspect the R25 can take far more weather than I can - or am willing... With the 125 and 150 horse diesel engines you have the torque and a big enough wheel to push up the slope of a wave without losing so much headway that you broach...

The R29 should be better being longer and wider... It all depends on how the boat feels to you... I am a believer in the old saying: Go small, go cheap, go now...
 
If it is insanity to take a R-25 across to the Bahamas. I guess that would be me, because I took a 22 ft C-Dory across a couple times. I plan on taking the Ranger over this winter. I will be prepared to wait for a perfect weather window. Can be as much as 3 weeks or more. ( in the winter ) If you make the wrong choice even with a 50 ft'er it can be plain hell. I don't gamble or push my luck. The Ranger gives a fairly comfortable place to live once you are on the Banks. Fuel in the Bahamas is a lot more expensive then it is here.

A lot of the Tugnuts and C-Brats run up and down the inside passage to Alaska. Some openings to the Pacific can be as bad as the Gulf stream.

Try it, you will like it. 😉
captd
 
Thanks to you who offered your thoughts on my post. Buying a boat is relatively easy (once you find all those bucks!) but how does one get instruction or learn how to safely and confidently cast off from FL and set off across all that deep blue for the Bahamas?

Does one go to school? Where?

Read books? (which ones?).

Marry or kidnap someone who knows how to do it already?

Just try it and hope you live long enough through pure, dumb luck to grow a set of brains?
 
The Bahamas Tourism Board sponsors several crossings a summer for folks just like us. That way, you're with a group of folks, some of whom know what they're doing. That is our plan when we finally have the time to make the trip.

Texas Steve
 
I have spent a fair amount of time in the Bahamas, and would be glad to give you the benefit of my experience, but I feel these things are best related first hand, not over a forum.

Sorry, but you're going to have to invite me to the Bahamas on your new Ranger! :mrgreen:
 
Tom,
Why not over a forum? Lots of people can benefit. Lots of different ideas and experience. That is what this site is all about. I know I got a lot to learn and get a lot from other Tugnuts and C-Brats. I hate to see a good topic go to P-m"s
:cry:
Captd
 
Capd, tsk, tsk, - you old killjoy, he is fishing for an invitation to be taken to the Bahamas ..

Anyway, all such fun aside... You learn it by doing it - in stages... First, get a boat, any boat - a 15 foot, beat up, old fishing boat will do for starters... Then go out a few times with someone who is more experienced... Then go out by yourself every chance you get - it does not have to be an all day affair, even an hour is accumulating experience in boat handling, wind, waves, cold, hot, etc...Then plan an overnight on the hook somewhere, it does not have to be far from home... In the meanwhile take the USCG safety course... Take a weather course - even one aimed at pilots will do nicely... Start going out in sloppy weather you would not have gone out in just a few weeks or months before - even if it is just to the mouth of the marina and back, or out on the bay for ten minutes... Then come back and dock in the gusty winds and blowing rain, you are building boat handling skills and more importantly judgment skills... Yes, you will bang the dock a few times, and maybe you will scare yourself a couple of times - good stuff for learning... Once you feel like YOU are safe, then you can start taking the family out with you - on PERFECT days - don't be a hero as you will frighten the admiral and it is all over at that instant...
Then will come the day when you stand on the dock, cast a weather eye at the sky, and confidently say, "Why don't we run over to the Bahamas for the holiday?" and know you can do it even if it is the first time...
 
Tom,
Now I understand where you are coming from and agree whole heartedly. I was thinking you were going to pm back and forth. and cut out us old kiljoys. 😉 I am a nosey guy and enjoy eves dropping on all the old salts. Sorry

Captd
 
OK - Let me ask a couple specific questions that perhaps you experienced folks can answer for me . . .

I would like to moor a Ranger 25 at an existing mooring in front of my house in a large, shallow bay on the lee side of the island with a sandy bottom. The water at the mooring varies with tides from perhaps 2 1/2' to perhaps 5' in depth. With a draft shown as 26" for the R-25, dare I use this existing mooring? If an occasional extra-low tide occurred due to wind direction, seasonal effects or whatever - would the boat's hull resting temporarily on a sandy bottom cause harm or damage to it? It looks to me like the prop sits higher than the keel which should protect it. What about the rudder? Or is this a simple No, NEVER ever allow a boat like these to occasionally sit on its bottom?

How does one get accurate marine weather in order to plan a crossing from FL to Bahamas safely in calm weather? I have heard that the water can get very uncomfortable especially where one encounters the Gulf Stream and one must have the right weather to cross safely. An airplane pilot can get a flight briefing from any Flight Service Station. Is there a similar service for boaters and will it cover conditions even outside of US waters?

If one experiences an emergency crossing, how far from the US coast will the Coast Guard come to save your butt?
 
Hillman1935":3463on9g said:
If an occasional extra-low tide occurred due to wind direction, seasonal effects or whatever - would the boat's hull resting temporarily on a sandy bottom cause harm or damage to it?

How does one get accurate marine weather in order to plan a crossing from FL to Bahamas safely in calm weather? I have heard that the water can get very uncomfortable especially where one encounters the Gulf Stream and one must have the right weather to cross safely. An airplane pilot can get a flight briefing from any Flight Service Station. Is there a similar service for boaters and will it cover conditions even outside of US waters?

If one experiences an emergency crossing, how far from the US coast will the Coast Guard come to save your butt?
Click to expand...

You will scratch the bottom paint a bit on sand, but won't hurt the boat a bit. If the rudder were deep in sand and there was wave action and swinging, I guess you might hurt it, but it's pretty sturdy. I'm not sure sand can hurt it, and seriously doubt it can if only resting on the keel.

NOAA weather radio is good enough, but there are subscription wx routing services that are all the rage with cruisers these days. If you cross slow in a Ranger, it will take 7 hours. You can do it in 3. It's not all that hard to find a 3 hour weather window.

I have seen the US Coast Guard all over the Bahamas, so if you stay in the Bahamas you'll see them fly over from time to time. You're not out of range.

Cruise the coast a bit first so you're comfortable, but rest assured that a Gulf Stream crossing is usually no big deal, and can include glassy water and great fishing. Lots of unprepared idiots do it all the time, and you'll be fine if you're careful.
 
What would be the lowest low tide? Once upon a time we got caught ina low low tide. Being a trawler with a good keel. The boat heeled over more and more until water came in through the engine vents. It was a bad night with very little sleep.
Totaly agree with Tom on weather window

captd
 
There are several very shallow areas around our boating area and we have had the pleasure of having the bottom on sand many times with no issues. The Ranger is a very durable boat.

Doug
Nauti Dream
 
Doug,
I agree the ranger is a very stable boat, but if the water runs out from under it, will it still set up right or will it heel over?
The boat we had the expierence on was a 40 ft Defever. One problem we had was we were on the edge of a channel. The keel was set on the high side.
I seen a boat ( sail boat) go into the shallows on purpose. He set anchors off both side to keep the boat upright. Tide went totally out and left him high and dry. Spent a nice day with sand for his yard. When we hiked over to talk to him , he was painting the bottom of his dink. Kind of neat , huh?

captd
 
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