buddy boat for a trip to either Bimini or Dry Tortugas

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Hey Yall:
I had plans to head over to Bimini with some friends in June. However, these darn snow day have extended our school year. The admiral teaches so our dates have been scrubbed. Now I am looking at mid toblate July to make a trip either to the Keys or Bimini. I have long wanted to trek over to Dry Tortugas as well.

While I am confident in my boat and skills in making these trips solo, it is always nice going with a buddy boat. My son has Scout camp some where in there in July over on the Pamlico sound. It is a high adventure camp with sea kayaking. So I need to figure that out and work around it. Let me know if you are intrested in maybe doing one of these trips.

 

[VeroWing]

There may be some loosely organized weekly caravan trips to Bimini I think I read about on thehulltruth. Guy that bought my Seafarer makes regular runs to Bimini from Miami. I'd like to do that trip, but not sure if my boat will be ready at that time.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Vero,
I need to talk with the Scout Master about my son's camp time and I am leaning to go after camp is over and not before. I need to be here for work the last week of June and into the first week or so in July. So perhaps your boat will be ready?

My kids are bummed out about the extension of school and not going. My youngest is really into herpatology - biology and he was showing me all the different birds, the native Bimini Boa and so forth. When I told the trip was canceled you should have seen his face. Anyway, I will check out the Hull truth and figure something out. Maybe we meet up this summer. I have a met a few guys from here and it has been great getting together with our boats and the sea.

 

[ahill]

Smokey,
Just go
Bimini is great.
Watch the weather forecast, avoid high winds & you'll be fine

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Hey Guys:
I am looking to go around July 25 time frame. Ahill, You are right...just go!

 

[lgusto]

Headed once again to the Dry Tortugas from Key West on or about May 23 for a week. Glad to pair up if you can change your dates.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Larry,
My kids are still in school and the admiral teaches school. Would love to go in May, but alas I am not retired or an empty nester. Thanks for the invite.

 

[Grady_Crazy]

Smokey, do you tow your 228 to Miami? How long does it take you to get there?

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

We do tow the boat down to Florida. I have family in Deland and Titusville. We often tow from NC to central Florida and stay there a day or two. This drive takes about 11 hours. Then from Titusville to Miami is another 4 and to Key Largo it is 5. I take a few days in late April to early May to fish out of Brevard and Indian River counties to fish for dolphin. On average we trailer the boat 3 times a year to Florida.

 

[Grady_Crazy]

I thought my 6 hr tow to Morehead City, NC was a long tow. I have the same rig as you.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Hey Grady why Moorhead? For me the outer banks is just as far if not further than Florida. I can get to the stream depending on what inlet we fish out of anywhere between 6 miles and 28 nm. Now if you are chasing bluefin I understand going to Morehead. I am curious because if head 6 hours south you too could be fishing the stream closer in. I have fished out of Charleston before a few times and that is 6 hours from here. Once we get to Falkland towing becomes easier and gas mileage improves too..

 

[Grady_Crazy]

We've been going to the same place in Morehead since '83. We started going when we lived in Raleigh, it's just fun. We know the water, restaurants, fish, and my sons grew up going there. We had a 16' Carolina Skiff and they learned how to handle rough water there and loved playing on the sandbars and fishing, crabbing in the sound. One time my son said, this is my most favorite place in the world. That's why we go.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

The Emerald Isle area sure is nice, Beaufort and such. Sounds like a lot of great memories for your family there. When I was living in Florida we would head down to they Keys for Spring Break every year with the kids. Like you it is in our blood and we tend to go there. The irony in my life is I grew up in Florida and we always vacationed in the mountains be they here or out west. Now I live in the moubtains we tend to always vacation in Florida with the Bahamas tossed in to mix it up some.