Bahamas cruising

Frank · December 31, 2007, 12:36:38 AM

Just another nice sail in 'skinny' water

AdriftAtSea · December 31, 2007, 07:22:28 AM

Is that water below the keel or actual depth??? :)

Auspicious · December 31, 2007, 08:39:39 AM

Golly.

I was out yesterday with some friends and touched bottom at 5.6. Fortunately there was 25' "right over there." <grin>

Sure wish I was touching bottom in the Bahamas instead of the Chesapeake. It was pretty darn cold.

AdriftAtSea · December 31, 2007, 10:54:30 AM

Auspicious-

At least your boat is in the water... the water up here is in solid form in many places, and we got the fluffy white stuff coming down... broke a state record for the most snow in the month of December that has stood for over 35 years. :)

Frank · December 31, 2007, 12:03:11 PM

The transducer is approx 1ft below the water line, so add a foot for true depth ;D Gotta love a boat that draws one meter

CapnK · December 31, 2007, 12:46:34 PM

It is a lot of fun to slip right over a shoal! I used that method twice in 'races' when I had the Com-Pac 23D. Be sure to wave at the big, deep boats behind when they have to turn away... :D

If only that boat worked as well to windward! ;D

AdriftAtSea · December 31, 2007, 01:47:10 PM

A meter... that's a lot... with the centerboard up, I'm at about 15-18 inches draft. ;)

Quote from: Frank on December 31, 2007, 12:03:11 PM
The transducer is approx 1ft below the water line, so add a foot for true depth ;D Gotta love a boat that draws one meter

Frank · December 31, 2007, 03:40:10 PM

Adrift wrote.."I'm about 15-18 inches"....please move your responce to the "does size matter" thread in 'discussion'...

Auspicious · December 31, 2007, 04:54:06 PM

1.75 m draft :(

Frank · December 31, 2007, 05:08:12 PM

What Capt K posted is quite accurate.A few years back while cruising on our Pearson Ariel (draft 3ft 8in) we would routinely beat a Freedom 33 to the next anchorage.They were real ice folks that 'buddied up' with us for awhile and were quite frustrated seeing us cutting across shallows as they sailed miles further to go around.

Lynx · December 31, 2007, 05:54:48 PM

In the Bahamas, drawing less than 3 feet really has its advantages. I can anchor in 18 inches where almost nobody else can. I do get some strange looks and a few props messed up with them wizzing by and creating to much wake.

Right now I am in 2 feet of water in Man of War Cay. Just may use this as a home base for the season. Nobody else wants it. Always a place for me in Marsh Harbor.

CharlieJ · December 31, 2007, 06:12:15 PM

That can have it's draw backs though. We draw 3 feet 3 inches, and last year were anchored in 6 1/2 feet of water. A squall came through and the waves built- when the storm was at it's height, we slammed bottom hard enough to put a very small crack in the hull at the bottom of the keel. I igure is was a 4 foot wave.

Since then I want AT least 8 or 9 feet to anchor in unless the area is TOTALLY protected and small enough so waves CANNOT build.

AdriftAtSea · December 31, 2007, 06:23:55 PM

Of course having such a shallow draft also means you have a lot more choices of hurricane holes to hide in. :)

Lynx · January 01, 2008, 03:09:35 AM

So far all of the times that I have set the hook I have had a soft bottom under my bottom.

Thanks for the tip, I will keep an eye out for it.

CharlieJ · January 01, 2008, 10:44:57 AM

Lynx- we were anchored over sand. If you hit hard enough even a relatively soft bottom can be really hard.

Jut be careful.

Frank · January 01, 2008, 12:42:35 PM

Once again Charlie...I gotta agree with ya. Had my jenneau anchored in the shallows with about 2ft under my retracted keel years ago.The rudder was on a SS rod so it could slide up and was in the raised position.Similar to what you mentioned, it got quite rough the one night and I touched bottom several times.None felt too hard but in the AM, I found the rod the rudder slid on was bent. The tiller was stiff and the rudder was at about a 10 % angle, but usable, allowing me to get home for repairs (block of wood and a BFH) The beauty of real shallow boats is hopefully sneaking into a protected place with out wave action.Problem is..sometimes there are none that protected.

Lynx · January 01, 2008, 01:04:43 PM

Thanks for the advice, one of the things about a Mac 26 is that everything retracts above the hull and I do retract when at anchor otherwise the banging it to much. The hull is strong enough to take all but the sharpest point.

I am getting some bow wave action here but not as much as other harbors.

Frank · January 10, 2008, 10:44:52 AM

Boats= work!! Jubilee weathered well..BUT..changed the waterpump impeller this mornin,did a gelcoat touch up(anchor gouge) Had late breakfast and now off to sand bottoms,paint,cetol and wax. :-(

Captain Smollett · January 10, 2008, 12:30:04 PM

Quote from: Frank on January 10, 2008, 10:44:52 AM
Boats= work!! Jubilee weathered well..BUT..changed the waterpump impeller this mornin,did a gelcoat touch up(anchor gouge) Had late breakfast and now off to sand bottoms,paint,cetol and wax. :-(

I don't want to hear it. >:(

At least you are DOWN THERE, not here trying to earn the $$$ to GET to GO!! ;D

AdriftAtSea · January 10, 2008, 12:38:28 PM

I have to agree with Capn Smollett... you want some cheese with that whine. :) Last week, it was in the single digits here.. this week, we've gotten lucky and it's been in the high 50s, low 60s, but that is not going to last.

Quote from: Frank on January 10, 2008, 10:44:52 AM
Boats= work!! Jubilee weathered well..BUT..changed the waterpump impeller this mornin,did a gelcoat touch up(anchor gouge) Had late breakfast and now off to sand bottoms,paint,cetol and wax. :-(

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