StanE's Advice

[StanE]

WOW. Some Shake Down Cruise!!! Most boats are not built for the Bimini Crossing Conditions for that many hours. You guys tested your mettle. If the tower is the only problem, then fix it and at least you know it is fixed. Getting another boat might bring up other unknown and potentially worse problems. Better the devil you know than the ones you don't. If you fixed it, then you know its fixed. As a stinkpotter and a sailor, if I fix it, then it's fixed. If someone else fixes it, I am still not certain if they really fixed it - LOL. If Yamaha fixes it, I would still have one eye on the Tower at all times - LOL LOL. And yes, even my 33' World Class Formula and my 46' Prout Catamaran would probably have had something come loose, break, twist or whatever in those seas. I expect it and am surprised if nothing goes wrong. All you can do is be prepared, expect the worse and be happy with the best. My first shakedown cruise on the Catamaran was in 17' following seas and although nothing broke, it doesn't mean that the boat was built to handle that. If my Dad was not on board, I would have not been there. So if you go in bad conditions, go with those who know.

 

[swatski]

@StanE I'm not sure your post actually warrants a response as I'm not sure you read the thread. It is long, but if you want to say something negative it is usually best to familiarize yourself with the topic first.

Most boats are not built for the Bimini Crossing Conditions for that many hours.

My tower fell on me roughly 45min into the trip. Not many hours. Seas were rough but not too rough, there were no small craft advisory etc.
Many of us take these boats out in rougher conditions inland.
Are you saying these boats should not be used offshore?
Really not sure what you are saying.

A tower should NEVER EVER fall, unless it takes a chunk of hull with it. (If you ask me.)
What is your point?

If the tower is the only problem, then fix it and at least you know it is fixed.

A big part of this problem is the design itself. The bolts do not thread in deep enough - only about 6-7 turns (or 1/2"), there is no secondary safety such as a cross-bolt/ -pin. This design is so bad it is hard to fathom.
Several other AR240 with this tower have had bolts partially or completely pulled out throughout the trip. Several members here report routinely finding those bolts partially pulled.


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[Bruce]

@StanE, this is the water in question. Notice how my 10 year old is handling it? The 7 year old who is too close to the camera to be seen is also handling the crossing just fine.

 

[StanE]

Hi. The thread spoke about people selling their boats, maybe not buying that boat, etc. because of the tower. I am saying that if you CAN fix, then do it. Then you have a great boat. I presume you are very capable of fixing it, then you will know it is fixed. Sort of like packing your own parachute. You would not let someone else do it for you LOL. I am sorry if I wrote it in such as way that it seemed negative. Suggesting that you should fix it yourself is not negative. I said "most boats are not built...for that many hours" and your boats took a beating. I am glad you are safe. You are right - the tower should not come down - bad design - I agree with you.
I don't know why there wasn't a small craft advisory - I will ask my friend who flys helicopters for the Coast Guard here in Fort Lauderdale. That's a good question and will also ask a lot of my local boater friends. Thanks for your response.

 

[Bruce]

I don't know why there wasn't a small craft advisory

Because the conditions did not merit a small craft advisory.

 

[StanE]

OK. You guys win. I saw videos that looked rough. Glad everyone got there safely in spite of running out of gas. Thanks.

 

[Bruce]

Glad everyone got there safely in spite of running out of gas.

In spite of a few running out of gas. I burned less than 3/4 of a tank, 38 out of 52 gallons. Of the five boats and two skis in my departure group all except for the ski that broke its driveshaft arrived in Bimini on the fuel in their tank.

 

[StanE]

Maybe want to invite these guys. Nice music too...

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Maybe want to invite these guys. Nice music too...

These cats para-sail off their Sea-Doo boat in part V ....very cool

 

[StanE]

They prepared for over a year to do this. 18' Sea Doo.
Is this what happened to you guys on the way there - LOL? Part IX (9)

Check out minute 2. Huge water...
This trip is what most people want to do when they go the Bahamas (NOT part 9 though) and maybe not as far as they went. They were real explorers.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

They prepared for over a year to do this. 18' Sea Doo.
Is this what happened to you guys on the way there - LOL? Part IX (9)

Check out minute 2. Huge water...
This trip is what most people want to do when they go the Bahamas (NOT part 9 though) and maybe not as far as they went. They were real explorers.

The Sea-Doo bow/hull shape was the cause of such massive spray into the boat...waves were not that bad in the video.

 

[StanE]

Hi Speedling, I'm with you. Maybe some of my buddies may want a jetboat for our trips to the Keys. We can alleviate their pain for what, maybe $5000? LOL. There is another posting that someone wrote a 2 cent essay that I agree with. Please go there.

BTW, what does it take to become an "Admiral" that I see next to your name?
My father was a Commander so I will tell him that I was communicating with an Admiral - he will be impressed. He was a UDT /SEAL, Naval Academy graduate, Submarine Commander, XO of an Intelligence Ship, on a destroyer the Japanese blew up and he had to swim to shore (which was escorting John F Kennedy to take command of his PT boat), his name is in the UDT /SEAL Museum in Florida and had a statute revealed this past November in Coronado for his Team, 26 years total. I will tell dad that he must not have done enough because he never made Admiral. I am sure he will be happy for me, although he is 93 and has Alzheimers. I used to go to the SEAL meetings /dinners in Balboa park where everyone was a SEAL including the bartender except me because as I tell everyone "someone has to drive Dad".

 

[Speedling]

Hi Speedling, I'm with you. Maybe some of my buddies may want a jetboat for our trips to the Keys. We can alleviate their pain for what, maybe $5000? LOL. There is another posting that someone wrote a 2 cent essay that I agree with. Please go there.

BTW, what does it take to become an Admiral that I see next to your name?
My father was a Commander so I will tell him that I was communicating with an Admiral - he will be impressed. He was a UDT /SEAL, Naval Academy graduate, Submarine Commander, XO of an Intelligence Ship, on a destroyer the Japanese blew up and he had to swim to shore (which was escorting John F Kennedy to take command of his PT boat), his name is in the UDT /SEAL Museum in Florida and had a statute revealed this past November in Coronado for his Team, 26 years total. I will tell dad that he must not done enough because he never made Admiral. I am sure he will be happy for me, although he is 93 and has Alzheimers. I used to go to the SEAL meetings /dinners in Balboa park where everyone was a SEAL including the bartender except me because as I tell everyone "someone has to drive Dad".

In this case, I am an admiral because I post... a LOT. LOL! Hopefully most of them have been helpful!

 

[swatski]

Hi Speedling, I'm with you. Maybe some of my buddies may want a jetboat for our trips to the Keys. We can alleviate their pain for what, maybe $5000? LOL. There is another posting that someone wrote a 2 cent essay that I agree with. Please go there.

BTW, what does it take to become an Admiral that I see next to your name?
My father was a Commander so I will tell him that I was communicating with an Admiral - he will be impressed. He was a UDT /SEAL, Naval Academy graduate, Submarine Commander, XO of an Intelligence Ship, on a destroyer the Japanese blew up and he had to swim to shore (which was escorting John F Kennedy to take command of his PT boat), his name is in the UDT /SEAL Museum in Florida and had a statute revealed this past November in Coronado for his Team, 26 years total. I will tell dad that he must not done enough because he never made Admiral. I am sure he will be happy for me, although he is 93 and has Alzheimers. I used to go to the SEAL meetings /dinners in Balboa park where everyone was a SEAL including the bartender except me because as I tell everyone "someone has to drive Dad".

@StanE I bet you will get a lot better feedback on those important topics if you post in a separate thread.
It is fascinating.

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[StanE]

@swatski -Thank you. Stan

 

[Bruce]

So, @StanE, how often do you go to
Bimini?

Also have you had any luck asking Kevin and Corrie if you can cross with them? They are pretty responsive but you need to say goodby to your fears if you are going to keep up with them.

 

[robert843]

They prepared for over a year to do this. 18' Sea Doo.
Is this what happened to you guys on the way there - LOL? Part IX (9)

Check out minute 2. Huge water...
This trip is what most people want to do when they go the Bahamas (NOT part 9 though) and maybe not as far as they went. They were real explorers.

I have done this trip to Exuma in an AR240 and Abaco and Bimini on a Jet Ski. These guys can still look up to me if the like as there one trip to Exuma and few trips to Bimini are far fewer miles off shore then I have done in these trips. None of their videos look rough even the part you talk about it only looks rough because they are in an 18 foot boat with a low freeboard probably 2-4ft seas max and that is being generous I want to say 2-3ft. They also described being in 8-10 foot seas if I remember correctly in the tounge yet no video they have produces anything near that. Def not bashing them as they paved the way for many people to do these trips but to say they were real explorers nope thats not correct they saw a group of people do this trip on youtube several years before them and said oh we can do that and that is the same thing many other do about Bimini. Below is the video that inspired them to do the trip.