I started this thread cuz the topic was getting mixed up wiht the
other.
I admit, my desire to go to Bimini in my 20' Tolman is mostly
hypothetical right now. My reason for wanting to do it rather than in
my 28' sailboat is that the Bahamas are shallow and I think I'll see
more of em in the Tolman than in a boat drawing 4'. I believe my boat
is more seaworthy than most production boats smaller than 22'. I have
been on long trips with my sailboat and have done several crossings
from St. Pete to/from NW FL where we were over 60 miles out.
So, given the boat I have (20' Tolman), :
Can it be done reasonably safely?
How do I minimize risk?
Is 10 kts (still planing, she seems to plane at 8 kts or less) a
reasonable thing if the chop is big?
Will the chop be better or worse than the shallow water I normally see
in NW FL?

Now, for the caveats. Several groups do this with smaller boats so I
would probably be with them. Being uncomfortable is no real problem,
doing something insane is.

On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:26:37 -0700, ohara5.0 wrote:

I started this thread cuz the topic was getting mixed up wiht the other.
I admit, my desire to go to Bimini in my 20' Tolman is mostly
hypothetical right now. My reason for wanting to do it rather than in
my 28' sailboat is that the Bahamas are shallow and I think I'll see
more of em in the Tolman than in a boat drawing 4'.

I wouldn't think 4' draft would be overly restrictive. A lot of cats
draw that, and, I would think it would be a lot safer trip over.

wrote in message
t...
On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:26:37 -0700, ohara5.0 wrote:

I started this thread cuz the topic was getting mixed up wiht the other.
I admit, my desire to go to Bimini in my 20' Tolman is mostly
hypothetical right now. My reason for wanting to do it rather than in
my 28' sailboat is that the Bahamas are shallow and I think I'll see
more of em in the Tolman than in a boat drawing 4'.

I wouldn't think 4' draft would be overly restrictive. A lot of cats
draw that, and, I would think it would be a lot safer trip over.


I'd take the sailboat in a New York second.

On Aug 17, 10:15 pm, "Don White" wrote:
wrote in message

t...

On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:26:37 -0700, ohara5.0 wrote:

I started this thread cuz the topic was getting mixed up wiht the other.
I admit, my desire to go to Bimini in my 20' Tolman is mostly
hypothetical right now. My reason for wanting to do it rather than in
my 28' sailboat is that the Bahamas are shallow and I think I'll see
more of em in the Tolman than in a boat drawing 4'.

I wouldn't think 4' draft would be overly restrictive. A lot of cats
draw that, and, I would think it would be a lot safer trip over.

I'd take the sailboat in a New York second.

Taking the sailboat is kinda complicated because just getting her to
the east coast is a considerable trip. Getting the Tolman there is a
matter of simply trailering her. The sailboat at 5 kts requires a
major weather window. The Tolman requires a much smaller weather
window.
After re-reading Tolman's book "Tolman Alaskan Skiffs", I am convinced
it is a reasonable thing to do if:

1 One prepares well (equipment).
2. One has sufficient experience

So, at this point, I consider it to be feasible although I may or may
not decide to do it.

wrote:
On Aug 17, 10:15 pm, "Don White" wrote:
wrote in message

t...

On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:26:37 -0700, ohara5.0 wrote:
I started this thread cuz the topic was getting mixed up wiht the other.
I admit, my desire to go to Bimini in my 20' Tolman is mostly
hypothetical right now. My reason for wanting to do it rather than in
my 28' sailboat is that the Bahamas are shallow and I think I'll see
more of em in the Tolman than in a boat drawing 4'.
I wouldn't think 4' draft would be overly restrictive. A lot of cats
draw that, and, I would think it would be a lot safer trip over.
I'd take the sailboat in a New York second.

Taking the sailboat is kinda complicated because just getting her to
the east coast is a considerable trip. Getting the Tolman there is a
matter of simply trailering her. The sailboat at 5 kts requires a
major weather window. The Tolman requires a much smaller weather
window.
After re-reading Tolman's book "Tolman Alaskan Skiffs", I am convinced
it is a reasonable thing to do if:

1 One prepares well (equipment).
2. One has sufficient experience

So, at this point, I consider it to be feasible although I may or may
not decide to do it.



I would fly to Bimini and find a rowboat or something fancier, depending
on budget, to rent when I got there, rather than push that 20' boat. A
boat that does only 12 mph in a chop is going to slow everyone else in
the "armada" down, and expose everyone else to more danger than they need.

Since you boat on the Gulf, you know about sudden onset storms. Well, in
the Atlantic, they can be a lot worse, and pop up a lot faster.

But, hey, if you go - take either loogie, reggie, dk, herring, bar, or
the like along as crew.

On Aug 17, 10:46*pm, hk wrote:
wrote:
On Aug 17, 10:15 pm, "Don White" wrote:
wrote in message

net...

On Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:26:37 -0700, ohara5.0 wrote:
I started this thread cuz the topic was getting mixed up wiht the other.
I admit, my desire to go to Bimini in my 20' Tolman is mostly
hypothetical right now. *My reason for wanting to do it rather than in
my 28' sailboat is that the Bahamas are shallow and I think I'll see
more of em in the Tolman than in a boat drawing 4'.
I wouldn't think 4' draft would be overly restrictive. *A lot of cats
draw that, and, I would think it would be a lot safer trip over.
I'd take the sailboat in a New York second.

Taking the sailboat is kinda complicated because just getting her to
the east coast is a considerable trip. *Getting the Tolman there is a
matter of simply trailering her. *The sailboat at 5 kts requires a
major weather window. *The Tolman requires a much smaller weather
window.
After re-reading Tolman's book "Tolman Alaskan Skiffs", I am convinced
it is a reasonable thing to do if:

1 *One prepares well (equipment).
2. *One has sufficient experience

So, at this point, I consider it to be feasible although I may or may
not decide to do it.

I would fly to Bimini and find a rowboat or something fancier, depending
on budget, to rent when I got there, rather than push that 20' boat. A
boat that does only 12 mph in a chop is going to slow everyone else in
the "armada" down, and expose everyone else to more danger than they need..

Since you boat on the Gulf, you know about sudden onset storms. Well, in
the Atlantic, they can be a lot worse, and pop up a lot faster.

But, hey, if you go - take either loogie, reggie, dk, herring, bar, or
the like along as crew.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


What do you use your lobster boat for?