Taking a 2750 into the DEEP!-gctid399580

[Guest]

So, my wife and I are thinking about taking our 1985 2750 Ciera Sunbridge from Florida to the Bahamas next year. I am just starting to entertain the idea, but I could use some good ideas and pointers... especially if its a BAD IDEA TO GO IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!

This is again, just an idea, but the way I figure it, its about 50-60 miles each way, well within the range of the boat... but I am just in need of logistical support, a good place to start and some good old fashioned advice.

I hope you all are having a great boating season!

Dave

[Guest]

I have looked into this a bit myself- considering FLA one day as a snow bird.

There are groups that go together, led by an 'expert'. I was thinking that would be a great way to do it the first time. I figure if I could get one under my belt, I would be good to go! I was pretty cheap too- 250 ish I think.

[Guest]

DaveB wrote:
So, my wife and I are thinking about taking our 1985 2750 Ciera Sunbridge from Florida to the Bahamas next year. I am just starting to entertain the idea, but I could use some good ideas and pointers... especially if its a BAD IDEA TO GO IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!

This is again, just an idea, but the way I figure it, its about 50-60 miles each way, well within the range of the boat... but I am just in need of logistical support, a good place to start and some good old fashioned advice.

I hope you all are having a great boating season!

Dave

Fun adventure - I would go with a group as recommended, I looked at it before and it seems they are somewhat frequent and it's quite common.

Wouldn't leave without a real lift raft and all proper safety gear including an EPIRB. I would also think that a tall VHF antenna would be sufficient to reach either side's emergency services from the middle of the trip, but I would investigate that first and get a sat phone if necessary. All 3 of those are items which you can rent.

Properly prepared, it's all about weather, weather and weather!

[captharv]

Read the below post I did for the usual question we get about bowrider going offshore.

Your 2750 i certainly more seaworthy, but the part about piloting an others are appropriate.

http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/fo...ea-worthy-quot

Now, that said. First, theres a $150 fee which covers 2 trips in a 6 months period.

Then, if you do not have a radio license for your VHF, get one. remember you are in a foriegncountry.

If you think you will need it, bring it everythin is way expensive over there, especially anything imported into the islands.

GO WITH A GROUP! The Bahamas tourism council sponsers trips to Bimini, West End, and even one to Nassau. Go to Bimini for your first trip, and stay at the Bimini Big Game club. That place is a class act. The tourism council will have the necessary papers, and they meet with all captains the night before you leave to see that you have the forms filled out. Some of the things you must document: How many horses died on the way there and what did you do with them. Same for crew/passengers. (I'm serious)

Firearms are allowed, but must be kept under lock and key when in the harbor or a marina. They want to know its make, model and serial, and will count the number of bullets you have. God help you if theres is 1 short when you leave.

Weather; Thi may be the deal breaker. You are planning a trip months in avance. If the wind is out of the NE quarant, it will back against the 3 knot +/- current called the gulf stream. The time we went, the seas were 6-8' rollers, right on the bow. A bit uncomfortable, buy doable.

A MUST: Passports for all adults aboard.

Pets: don't bring them. They require evidence of a rabies shot the day before you arrive there.

Now, the good parts.

Water with visibility 100-200'. We were trolling over a 90' reef and could see the bottom fish.

the fish are also larger, as you are in the gulf stream up to 200' from shore. If you dive, go with one of the shops there. They know where the good sites are which are within your skill level.

The people at the BGC are real nice. i needed a large plastic bag for a 40# tuna I caught, and the dock person rode his bicycle a mile to the ice house to get me one, and refused money for it.

The town at bimini. The areas around the marinas and hotels are very modern and nice. Across the road, the locals live in poverty.

Booze; if you like rum and/or vodka, its locally distilled in Nassau and NO TAXES on it. I bought a bottle of bicardis gold rum (liter) for $6. You can bring one bottle back for each person of drinking age w/o paying duty on them. We brought back 3,as I won one in a fishing contest. The US customs guy said the duty was so small its not worth filling out forms for it.

bring: spare oils, belts for the engine(s), filters, spare props, etc. They may not have what you need there. A friend blew a drive over there, and had to ship his boat back to the states on the deck of a freighter. Not cheap. If you have parts brought in, its a 25% duty paid to the Bahamas.

My background: Licensed Master, CG Auxiliary 26 years (search and rescue specialist), owned 14 boat over 43 years, and taught marine navigation at the local community college. Over 1500 boating-days of experience.

I went with the group. Does that tell you something?

EDIT: A couple of things I wnt to add. There may be some who will tell you that its an easy trip offshore to the islands (or catalina, or across any of the great lakes), and they do it all the time in their 18' bowrider. They are just plain lucky.

Also, when someone doe not make it there and turns up lost at sea, it is blamed on the "Burmuda Triangle".

Wrong! its usually the fault of the loose nut piloting the boat.

[Guest]

I had an '87 2750 Ciera for a number of years before I bought my Avanti. I used it extensively on San Francisco Bay and I once cruised it from Alameda (home port) to Half Moon Bay and back, open ocean out the Golden Gate and about a 75 nm round trip. The boat loved it. Sea conditions were 4' to 10' both downhill and uphill. I averaged 20 kts downwind and 10 kts upwind. Either way the boat handled it extremely well.And here's why:

[img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/703500=29665-4.jpg[/img]

[img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/703500=29666-5.jpg[/img]Note the deep forefoot, bow flare and the deadrise run carried well aft. The bottom pic shows the aft deadrise which is 21┬░ if I recall. That's a good ocean-going hull. Plenty of deadrise and a narrow beam makes a good sea boat.I intended to take her up to Drake's Bay which would have been another 75 nm ocean romp but fog got in the way.

[img]/media/kunena/attachments/vb/703500=29667-PC Nav System 002.jpg[/img]I'm sure she would have performed just as well. I can navigate in fog just fine but there is a lot of shipping out there and I didn't feel like chancing it.So you've got the boat to do it. As long as she is in good shape, enjoy the ride.

[Guest]

I have the same hull and have had no problems in the California Delta or SF Bay. But if you get caught in a squall, it will be difficult to handle. Check this post, and read through the thread if you get a chance. You will get a variety of opinions.

[Guest]

this is on the 10 year plan for me once i get my bigger boat.

explorercharts.com, watch it if the wind comes from the north.

[Guest]

The OP says he has the Ciera which is an express model. I don't think the Victoria compares well to it. They may have the same hull but the weight above waterline is quite a bit more for the Victoria which adds more mass and moves the center of buoyancy up which encourages more roll . The 2750 Ciera is a nimble little beast - she tends to be more of a duck than a wave crusher. She responds well to the throttle but also has a quick motion in a seaway which can be a bit unnerving.

Running before large waves requires a quick hand on the throttle - if the bow starts digging into the wave ahead, ease the throttle. If she is riding over with ease, give her a taste of the whip. Mind the trim tabs. In larger waves keep them in the up position. In the smaller stuff you can bring them down enough to promote decent planing. If you get out of sync and start submarining, bring her nose up by popping her to weather with the wheel. Not too much, just enough to bring her bow up.

Uphill in big waves she needs to be guided at an angle to the waves - a lesser angle on the face and a greater angle on the back. Bring her back up to course in the trough. In general, less throttle on the face, more throttle in the trough.

Try to avoid a beam sea in the larger stuff. You will not like the motion at all LOL!

That's about all I know about running the 2750 Ciera in the ocean. If you like a quick, nimble boat she can be a lot of fun in the bouncy stuff. I loved that boat once I got to know her. Sorry to see her go but I just needed more room.

Have fun on the trip - it sounds great.

[Guest]

Thanks a ton guys! This is a great place to start. I will be looking into all the avenues that you all mentioned. And its really great to hear that my boat can make the journey when we finally decide to make the trip. I will keep in mind those characteristics in the waves!

If you all think of anything else, please feel free to chime in! The more the merrier-and the safer me and my family will be!

Dave