Hey Gary M.

[magicalbill]

Question for you..

You go to the Bahamas a lot...Can you get Non-Ethanol fuel over there? We are thinking about going later on and that is a major concern for me.

Always enjoy your pics from there. I am not a fisherman; we just want to find beaches to anchor at and snorkel, etc.

 

[Grog]

I've fished there a few times, watch the sharks.

 

[magicalbill]

Thanks Grog; So noted....

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

I am not Gary M. I am not one to tell you Magic what to worry about or not worry about in terms of ethanol. I will say don't let that stop you from going. My boat rarely gets to quinch it's thirst on ethanol free gas. I supply can't get..here. So, I liberally use stabil and ring free. Change my fuel filter regularly and make sure in the winter we keep the tank filled.

I will say though I have been to the Bahamas several times and seen a lot of Lemon sharks. The Bahamas has not seen a shark bite or attack in many years. It is my opinion the Gulf beaches are far more dangerous in Florida with the bull sharks than the reefs of the Bahamas. Bull sharks will attack people to purposefully eat. Most tropical reef sharks will keep a safe distance. I am not saying all sharks not would I be suggesting that I have been a bit more vigilant when encountering sharks either in the Keys or Bahamas. New Smyrna Beach, FL has more shark bites than any other beach in The southeast including the bahamas. I have surfed there for years and it was our beach growing up. Bottom line the risks are low for getting bit by a shark in general and the in the Bahamas one should be pretty safe from shark bites.

 

[Gary M]

Hi Bill....... glad that you enjoy my Bahamas postings and photos.

I have been using both types of gas for years, on two Gradys with zero problems. The 1994 Sailfish had 225 Evinrudes and I ran it to the Bahamas from 2002-06. The 2001 Marlin has 2001 EFI 250s and the only fuel related problem was that some of the small fuel pumps got weak from age.

In the Bahamas it is ethanol free over there as well as about $6 a gallon! In Lauderdale, I get my fuel delivered to the house dock and pay anywhere from .25-.75 a gallon less than at a local Marina fuel dock....... but it is ethanol. Putting on 225-250 gallons back home after a Bahamas trip......... that saves me a lot of $$!

"Personally" I think that if you dug deep beneath the stories of guys who have had "ethanol" problems that you might find other reasons for fuel problems. Old gas, cheap filters, not running the boat often enough, poor servicing, etc. I try to keep my gas in the tank "fresh" and I do that sometimes by not filling it up, but by taking partial fill-ups more often than full tank fill-ups less often. I recently had a full tank and the boat had sat a bit so I hustled out fishing a few times, to burn off the 100 gallon minimum for the home delivery so that fresh gas would freshen up the other 200 gallons that were in there. I'll be burrning off about another hundred gallons soon so I'll be sure to add in fresh gas again. The gas I get delivered comes for shiny new trucks that fill up in the mornings from the fuel farm here in Port Everglades that had just been topped off from a tanker ship...... so I know that it's about as "fresh" as it can be!

On the day before I take on fuel, I will add Stabil and Ring Free. I feel that doing this before and then pumping 100+ gallons in on top of it helps to kind of stir that all in with the gas........ but that's just my theory.

Sharks in the Bahamas? Don't snorkel where you fish. If you see one, get out and move at least a mile. Don't snorkel alone and keep everyone's heads on swivels. I have been snorkeling over there for 25 years and have only once had a shark actually come over to look at me but that was while we had been spearing fish. Yes, they have not had a shark attack over there in I don't know how long with many thousands of tourists swimming around. Surfers in Florida get bit every year. Jump in and enjoy the scenery!

And don't forget to post a Report with your photos!

 

[magicalbill]

Hey Smoky;

Thanks, as always for the info. I have heard so many horror stories about Ethanol and as a result, my goal is to keep it out of my tank. I believe you and I were messaging that it's OK to mix the two fuels nowadays.
It'll be a year or two before things line up for us to make the trip, if then. I will assess the Ethanol problem then. I appreciate your input and give it due consideration, as always. Ultimately, I want to avoid using it, hence my question to Gary M, as he seems to go there regularly. Techs and marina owners say to not use it. However, people like yourself and others are OK. (As of 2006 or so, Ethanol-free fuel was not available in Kentucky, either.)

Sharks? I try to be aware when at anchor. I rarely swim out to the sandbars off the beach like I used to. I don't surf anymore, but I still like to play around in the shallows and snorkel off the reefs in the Keys. (Mostly Barracuda there...)
I will admit, I am wary of them, but I try not to let them keep me out of the water. Whats the point of being in Florida if you can't swim in the Gulf or Atlantic? Again, I don't care about fishing, so that's all we have to do.

 

[magicalbill]

Hi Gary;
I just fired off an answer to Smoky as you were typing yours, I guess.

Thanks for the info! I try to keep my tank mostly full and I can get Ethanol-free here. I'm glad you can get in in the Bahamas. For a vacation trip, I'll gladly,(well, maybe not "gladly") pay the $6.00 price for my piece of mind. I have had, (knock on wood) no fuel issues using Ethanol-free gas, I'd like to keep it that way. If ever I have to use it, Smoky's and others experiences are encouraging, since they seem to do alrite.

I don't fish, as I've mentioned, so I won't attract sharks that way. The odds are with us given the multitude of swimmers that swim in salt water. If we get to go, we'll certainly give a full report with pics. (If we can post them onto the site here. That has been a problem in the past.)
Until then, we'll live vicariously thru you!

Thanks!

Bill.

 

[alfa1023]

Bill,

Thought I would add my 2 cents. We have been to Bimini, West End and the Abacos several times. Ethanol in the gas is not an issue. But the one thing I always do is buy gas at a location that I know does lots of volume (the larger marinas and ones visited by the big outboard guys more so than the diesel sportfisherman). I had heard numerous horror stories of water in the gas from Bahama marinas and didn't want that fun that far from home. I always take several spare fuel/water separators and check them a couple of times after buying gas over there just to be safe.

The shark thing is kinda funny. We dive in all the so-called sharky waters and so far still have all our body parts. We dive extensively out of Jupiter (east coast of Florida) and it is a rare dive not to see big Bulls, Lemons and occasionally a Hammerhead. The only time they come close is if we are spearing and then they are like a dog - you have food and they want some.

If you haven't already, get your Local Boater Option cards for all of your crew and do the Float Plan thing before leaving - makes clearing customs on the trip home fast and easy.

Jim

 

[Gary M]

Just so there is no confusion........ I don't like using Ethanol and I wish that I did not have to mix them, but I try to do all the things that are recommended to keep fuel issues to a minimum. We are all lucky in that our fuel tanks are not fiberglass as that adds to the potential of problems right there.......

Good suggestion on having everyone on a Bahamas trip having their own Local Boater Option card. When you come back in to the states, you'll only need to make one phone call to clear everyone in, versus having to make a personal appearance to a Customs/Immigraation office somewhere.

 

[ahill]

I've never encountered ethanol in the Bahamas.
My wife & I have LBO cards makes rentry a phone call.
I don't think the card is available for kids so you'd have to appear at a customs office for them. I've never verified the kid part so you may want to check, if applicable.
Also if you take a guest that doesn't have a LBO they have to appear at customs. If you are not certain they will, take them because you are open to a fine if they don't appear.

 

[magicalbill]

Thanks everyone!
This is a good example of why this site is cool. People helping each other.

I am grateful for all the tips;

One more question; I have a 232 Gulfstream; I know the winds lay and do not blow North during summer..Even so can our 23 get over there halfway comfortably? I don't want to get slapped around all the way across. Do the winds go down to 10 knots or less regularly, or is that the exception rather than the rule? I can deal with a groundswell, but a surface wind chop of 2-3 feet for an extended distance would not be much fun.

 

[alfa1023]

Bill,

Everytime we have crossed, we have left at first light. The winds are generally lighter in the morning.

We have crossed with 2 to 4 boats each time, some smaller (and much less capable) that your Grady. Pick your day and be ready to sit tight for a day or so if necessary in order to cross in good weather. Or conversely, be ready to leave the Bahamas a day early if necessary. Crossing the pond when its nasty is not fun at all. Been there, done that.

Jim

 

[magicalbill]

Thanks Jim; The early departure makes sense.
We will certainly be flexible with the schedule.
Speaking of crossing with other boats, we want to do that also. I don't want to run over alone, especially the 1st time.

 

[Gary M]

You should do fine in your 232 since it's not only 23 feet long, but it has a nice wide beam. I did three trips in my 1993 208. Miami-Bimini, Ft Pierce to the Abacos (11 days with my Grady-Bunch) and Lauderdale-Freeport/Lucaya........ single 150. Only the Bimini trip was a solo boat trip, but it was my first! But, I had the experience from many other croossings on bigger boats with my father-in-law boat captain.

Once you've decided where in the Bahamas you want to end up, that will dictate the possible departure points from Florida. Obviously, the less exposure to open waters, the better. As mentioned, a morning departure is best. Some guys leave at the very crack of dawn but I prefer an hour or more later as that keep me from running out an inlet and offshore with a blinding sun right in my eyes. Customs doesn't open until 9am anyways.

No winds out of the north unless light and with light winds a few days before. Look at the forecast weather for a few days before you depart...... this will show you a trend. If they show 3-5s on Weds but 2-3s on Thurs, you can bet that Thurs morning will be a mess.

Keep in mind that you will also want good seas to come home! Many guys succumb to "Get-home-itis" when it's time to go home and end up making bad decisions. :bang

Know your Bahamas Customs/Immigration entry procedures. Get a full set (5 pages) of the Customs/Imm forms ahead of time if you can. A lot easier to fill out 99% of them at home on the dining room table than after 3 hours of running. Keep the exact entry date and arrival time blank until you actually get there.

Look into Bahamas Flings.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Bill,
I am eGary M here on the fuel thing. If I had a choice I would run ethanol free. But I dont and from what I read it was the MTB additive that once was used in ethanol free gas which would chemically react with ethanol causing all the problems. MTB is no longer used so the issue of mixing the two should not be a problem.

I ran over in my 228 last summer with Coconut here and another guy and his family and I would do it again in a heart beat. Coconut has a 330 and my friend Wally has a 30 foot Contender. They both knew and were completely cool with me coming along. Seas were forecast to get worse on anticipated day of departure. Those guys were fine with running and I was concerned so they graciously and happily departed a day early for everyone's safety. So running a smaller boat is very doable and it means being able to pick your days crossing. We got stuck there for an extra week due to tropical storm debbie. I know it was rough detail getting stuck in the Abacos, but somebody's has to do it.

I am hoping to go next year and both Coconut and Wally have invited us to go again. Quick story

We were in Hope Town atop the Hope Town Light House when a big 130 footer was coming into the harbor. Atop the light was an older fellow and what appeared to be his grandson. They both were adorned with shirts with the yacht's name on it. A rude American tourist with his son next to him said to his son, there is no way anybody could have any fun on that big boat. The Yacht's owner said in his Texas ascent said, son, if you cant fun on that boat, then you do not know how to have fun at all. I chuckled and I struck up a conversation with the guy. He asked me where was my boat. I pointed to the tiny 228 docked below. He looked at me, then the boat and said, you came here from West Palm in that boat? I said, yes sir. He then said, you must be a good sea captain. I did not know what to say and he followed up, Grady White makes a fine boat, very fine boat. I said they do. He then said, well son, you and I are both here enjoying the islands together and that is more important than the size of one's boat. We talked some more and both went on our way.

It is GREAT trip especially when light winds of summers kick in. if you have the time and a group to go with I highly suggest doing it.

 

[magicalbill]

Gary M;

May I repeat that I am grateful for your taking the time to explain the above procedures and things to look for. You have to be a busy guy and I appreciate the gesture. As I mentioned above, it is common on this site and that's what makes for enjoyable boating and interaction between captains.
When the time comes to seriously plan for this trip, your tips will be helpful in piecing it all together.

Smoky;

Ditto what I said to Gary; I do want to make the run, and as with Gary M, I followed your posts concerning your trip over. My main hurdle is my significant other's work schedule. We both are all about it, but to take 2 weeks or so off will take some advance planning. In the short term, helpful stuff from you and others here is always good.

alfa1023;

As mentioned above, thanks for your insight as well. The Local Boater Option card is a great idea and one I hadn't heard of. (Haven't been out of the country except for Canada in the 70's.)
Interesting that you almost always see rather large sharks in your Jupiter dives. I have paid big money to Charters to catch one and my only sightings (and success) have been inshore trips where we caught several Nurse sharks. (The equivalent of catching big catfish..)
Great tip on fuel too.. I always try to fill my diesel pickup at truck stops where they rotate fuel stock regularly. I will also do the same for the Grady.

 

[Gary M]

No sweat, glad to help...... Get ahold of me 6-9 months before you think you are going and I'll give you a few more pointers.....