George C. wrote:
We plan to go around the 10th of January, but I have a couple of questions.

1. Cash: Everyone says bring a lot, but how much assuming we'll be there
about a month and use marinas and restaurants about every other day?
Almost all marinas take plastic.... bring a couple in case there are
issues or you lose one. $300 customs fee-CASH (over 35 ft) Many
restaurants and groceries do NOT take credit. (50-100+per day)

Split it up and hide it inside the vessel...(don't forget where you hid
it!!)



2. Abaco: I've read that Abaco in Jan-Feb is chilly. Others, however, have
enjoyed visits there in Winter. How good or bad is it in Jan-Feb?

SImilar to SFL.... could be 75, could be 40... the further south the
better but the cold fronts do go deep in JAN.


3. Gulf stream crossing: How does one find boats to buddy up with for the
crossing? Where would we want to hang out waiting to depart from either Lake
Worth or Miami/Ft Lauderdale?
Assuming a powerboat....
Going to Freeport... leave from FLL or WPB....
Going to Bimini Leave from FLL or Miami.
If it is a sailboat... plan on leaving 20-30NM SOUTH of where you want
to cross to...

Depending on the size of the vessel... you may have to wait up to a week
for decent seas... remember.. any wind with a NORTH component... add a
couple feet to the stream.

Call around on Channel 16 for other crossers... I always go alone but
usually get in contact with others on 16 and we check up on each other
once in a while...


4. Reservations: Guide books say to make reservations for popular marinas.
Since the cell phone won't work, how do we do that? Will VHF reach
adequately?
Cell phone MAY work.... Bellsouth...YES (may require pre-registering...
DO IT NOW)
Call NOW for reservations... changes are usually OK if weather based..
Be prepared to anchor out in a pinch...(you might just never go back to
a marina... we rarely do anymore)
most marinas have really bad VHF sets... many times handhelds. Try 16,
68 and 9 for hailing.






Thanks. Appreciate the info.