I recently purchased a 25' and am interested in going to the bahamas.i plan on sailing down the east coast to palm beach then cut across to grand bahama.i also am using a 9.9 outboard and figure that if i need to i can use it to get me across the gulf stream.any info other than getting a bigger boat would be appreciated.
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How experienced a sailor are you?
Before I would consider taking on such a voyage in my H25 I would have to ask myself a few questions. What overall shape is the boat in? H25's are older boats, it might pay to have a surveyor go over the boat for you as part of planning your trip. They are also small, by that I mean your crew size is limited to two or three people if you want to be comfortable. The next thing you need to be aware of is the design of the boat. It is a fin keel boat with an independent rudder. This design is great for speed and quick turns. However when the weather gets heavy the boat must keep moving to maintain stability. In other words, you can't ride out storms you must out sail them. The other draw back to this design is the rudder needs constant tending, this might be a problem if you are sailing alone or using a cheap autopilot. There are many other things to consider but I have listed the major things I would look at before taking on such a long voyage. If you are an experienced sailor nothing I have written here should have shocked you. If I have shocked you...you might want to rethink your trip. Good Luck, Dan s/v Essayons
Before I would consider taking on such a voyage in my H25 I would have to ask myself a few questions. What overall shape is the boat in? H25's are older boats, it might pay to have a surveyor go over the boat for you as part of planning your trip. They are also small, by that I mean your crew size is limited to two or three people if you want to be comfortable. The next thing you need to be aware of is the design of the boat. It is a fin keel boat with an independent rudder. This design is great for speed and quick turns. However when the weather gets heavy the boat must keep moving to maintain stability. In other words, you can't ride out storms you must out sail them. The other draw back to this design is the rudder needs constant tending, this might be a problem if you are sailing alone or using a cheap autopilot. There are many other things to consider but I have listed the major things I would look at before taking on such a long voyage. If you are an experienced sailor nothing I have written here should have shocked you. If I have shocked you...you might want to rethink your trip. Good Luck, Dan s/v Essayons
concerns, too
Other considerations: As the former owner of a 23 (now own a 26) I know the freeboard is pretty low, making the chance of waves breaking across the cockpit in rough weather a real possibility. Unless you have an open transom (which I don't think is the case) it wouldn't take too long to swamp the cockpit with seawater. Given the small size of the drain plug, you could find yourself in trouble in very little time. If you know all this ... then disregard.
Other considerations: As the former owner of a 23 (now own a 26) I know the freeboard is pretty low, making the chance of waves breaking across the cockpit in rough weather a real possibility. Unless you have an open transom (which I don't think is the case) it wouldn't take too long to swamp the cockpit with seawater. Given the small size of the drain plug, you could find yourself in trouble in very little time. If you know all this ... then disregard.
Cockpit drains.
I wrote some weeks ago addressing the size of the cockpit drains on the older H-25 and how they could be improved. One must lay up fixed tubes of fibreglass connecting cockpit pan to hull, seamlessly, adequately reinforcing on both ends. Make the tubes about 2 inches in diameter. A caveat- attempting to glass in PVC pipe will fail miserably– they are not chemically compatible and all fibreglass depends on chemical bonds. Using exhaust hose between pladtic or bronze fittings is tantamount to sinking your boat. Robin Lee Graham fibreglassed a piece of plywood over the whole cockpit well of his 1960 Islander 24 in about 1968 as he was coming home from a circumnavigation. Whilst most people will think this is overkill, it is true that the only way to really keep water out of the cockpit is to permanently cover it up! But this is not a major cruise being considered. A hop across the 'Stream in good weather need only take half day from West Palm to Bimini. From there is is essentially island-hopping. There are many boats even being chartered in the Caribbean that are not what you'd call open-sea-compatible. Prudent avoidance of risks and sensible maintenance can make any decent boat reasonably safe and comfortable for such a cruise. The readiness of the crew is another matter, something only the one in question can determine. I wish our friend luck in any case and hope to hear how this adventure turns out! JC
I wrote some weeks ago addressing the size of the cockpit drains on the older H-25 and how they could be improved. One must lay up fixed tubes of fibreglass connecting cockpit pan to hull, seamlessly, adequately reinforcing on both ends. Make the tubes about 2 inches in diameter. A caveat- attempting to glass in PVC pipe will fail miserably– they are not chemically compatible and all fibreglass depends on chemical bonds. Using exhaust hose between pladtic or bronze fittings is tantamount to sinking your boat. Robin Lee Graham fibreglassed a piece of plywood over the whole cockpit well of his 1960 Islander 24 in about 1968 as he was coming home from a circumnavigation. Whilst most people will think this is overkill, it is true that the only way to really keep water out of the cockpit is to permanently cover it up! But this is not a major cruise being considered. A hop across the 'Stream in good weather need only take half day from West Palm to Bimini. From there is is essentially island-hopping. There are many boats even being chartered in the Caribbean that are not what you'd call open-sea-compatible. Prudent avoidance of risks and sensible maintenance can make any decent boat reasonably safe and comfortable for such a cruise. The readiness of the crew is another matter, something only the one in question can determine. I wish our friend luck in any case and hope to hear how this adventure turns out! JC
Motor and Rudder
Don't count on outboard motor in heavy seas. The prop will be out of 5the water much of the time. Also, as part of overall condition survey, take a very close look at condition of the rudder and rudder post. Rudders tend to fall off these boats. Take a look at archives if you don't believe me. If got a 25 and like it, but I wouldn't try the Bahamas with it.
Don't count on outboard motor in heavy seas. The prop will be out of 5the water much of the time. Also, as part of overall condition survey, take a very close look at condition of the rudder and rudder post. Rudders tend to fall off these boats. Take a look at archives if you don't believe me. If got a 25 and like it, but I wouldn't try the Bahamas with it.
hows this idea 4 a cockpit drain
thanks for all your feed back.as for the cockpit drain i was thinking about installing a 2 inch piece of fiberglass pipe used in petroleum stations and go from the side of the cockpit to the port or starboard side but dont know about structural strenth or how it will affect my boat...any comments?
thanks for all your feed back.as for the cockpit drain i was thinking about installing a 2 inch piece of fiberglass pipe used in petroleum stations and go from the side of the cockpit to the port or starboard side but dont know about structural strenth or how it will affect my boat...any comments?
Now I am Curious
I have sailed from Honolulu to Lahaina on boats as small as 22'. It is about the same distance as Palm Beach to the Bahamas, except that you sail by Molokai after about 30 miles. I have never been in the Gulf Stream but everyone I know has gotten sick at least once in the Molokai Channel, it can be nasty. In fact at times it seemed as if the 22' boat had a better ride because of the wave period. We always went with at least two and preferably three boats. Though we wear young and we thought immortal at that time we did everything we could think of to make the journey a safe one, and in fact they all were the only catastrophe was when half of the gang ended up in jail but I am sworn to secrecy on that one. OK, all that for this one question. Were we freaking nuts or is 30 miles not too far and the Gulf Stream way nastier than The Molokai channel? Second I have been trying to get my wife to agree to drag our 23.5 to Key West and sail to the Dry Tortugas I think it is like sixty miles but that is a guess. Is this a crazy idea in this boat? I really do not want to give in and go to someplace stupid like Disney and blow enough money to buy most all of the things I want for the boat. Help me out here guys.
I have sailed from Honolulu to Lahaina on boats as small as 22'. It is about the same distance as Palm Beach to the Bahamas, except that you sail by Molokai after about 30 miles. I have never been in the Gulf Stream but everyone I know has gotten sick at least once in the Molokai Channel, it can be nasty. In fact at times it seemed as if the 22' boat had a better ride because of the wave period. We always went with at least two and preferably three boats. Though we wear young and we thought immortal at that time we did everything we could think of to make the journey a safe one, and in fact they all were the only catastrophe was when half of the gang ended up in jail but I am sworn to secrecy on that one. OK, all that for this one question. Were we freaking nuts or is 30 miles not too far and the Gulf Stream way nastier than The Molokai channel? Second I have been trying to get my wife to agree to drag our 23.5 to Key West and sail to the Dry Tortugas I think it is like sixty miles but that is a guess. Is this a crazy idea in this boat? I really do not want to give in and go to someplace stupid like Disney and blow enough money to buy most all of the things I want for the boat. Help me out here guys.
the keys are great
hey rick the keys are great and so are the dry tortugas.i lived there back in 87.worked on several boats around the 115'foot range.lots of small sailboats down there.if it were me id go in a minute.im hoping to eventually move there with my company but thats at least a year or two away.but anyway,check with other people because i think the state turned the dry tortugas into protected land or something.oh and one other thing dont forget your treasure hunting tools.remember mel fisher found over 400 million dollars in diamonds and gold off of the dry tortugas.good luck and keep in touch maybe we can hook up and cross the gulf stream together. w.b. s/v slowride
hey rick the keys are great and so are the dry tortugas.i lived there back in 87.worked on several boats around the 115'foot range.lots of small sailboats down there.if it were me id go in a minute.im hoping to eventually move there with my company but thats at least a year or two away.but anyway,check with other people because i think the state turned the dry tortugas into protected land or something.oh and one other thing dont forget your treasure hunting tools.remember mel fisher found over 400 million dollars in diamonds and gold off of the dry tortugas.good luck and keep in touch maybe we can hook up and cross the gulf stream together. w.b. s/v slowride
Go for the Keys!
Go to the Keys! We've trailered three boats spread out over about 10 years on a sequential cruise from Miami to the Dry Tortugas. The most recent piece was from Key Largo to Key West by the Hawk Channel. Took us three days of sailing, then four days to eat our way across Key West. We marina hopped, anchored off, and finally tied up at the Galleon Marina and fell asleep to the sounds of the reggae band across the harbor. Key West is crude, raucous, literate, historical, multicultural and has a substantial gay presence. If that offends you, please stay in squeaky clean Disneyworld. 'Nuff said -- next winter's cruise we're going for the Dry Tortugas. Hey, that means we can trailer down to Key West and finish the cruise there, too! Harvey s/v Waiting for the Sun
Go to the Keys! We've trailered three boats spread out over about 10 years on a sequential cruise from Miami to the Dry Tortugas. The most recent piece was from Key Largo to Key West by the Hawk Channel. Took us three days of sailing, then four days to eat our way across Key West. We marina hopped, anchored off, and finally tied up at the Galleon Marina and fell asleep to the sounds of the reggae band across the harbor. Key West is crude, raucous, literate, historical, multicultural and has a substantial gay presence. If that offends you, please stay in squeaky clean Disneyworld. 'Nuff said -- next winter's cruise we're going for the Dry Tortugas. Hey, that means we can trailer down to Key West and finish the cruise there, too! Harvey s/v Waiting for the Sun
Tortugas in a 23.5
...Shouldn't be a problem, with the right weather and sea state. It's about 75 miles from Key West; a good place to spend the first night is in the Marquesas Keys. There are no facilities out there (not even water) once you leave Key West, so plan and provision accordingly. If it's rough out, or the seas are kicked up by the northerlies, then it can be a bit hairy. Also, it gets rough in the Rebecca Shoals area, so extra time and caution is needed to transit this area. --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
...Shouldn't be a problem, with the right weather and sea state. It's about 75 miles from Key West; a good place to spend the first night is in the Marquesas Keys. There are no facilities out there (not even water) once you leave Key West, so plan and provision accordingly. If it's rough out, or the seas are kicked up by the northerlies, then it can be a bit hairy. Also, it gets rough in the Rebecca Shoals area, so extra time and caution is needed to transit this area. --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
Hunter 25 should be fine
Pick a good weather window and the Hunter 25 should do fine. I have friends who trailer to Florida from Texas and sail over. The last boat they took was a Dovekie--spent a month in the Bahamas on it. I think the largest boat they've taken was 24 feet. In any case they are very competent sailors and that's the important element of their success.
Pick a good weather window and the Hunter 25 should do fine. I have friends who trailer to Florida from Texas and sail over. The last boat they took was a Dovekie--spent a month in the Bahamas on it. I think the largest boat they've taken was 24 feet. In any case they are very competent sailors and that's the important element of their success.
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