Chinook is Bahamas Bound

[Chinook]

The $800 autopilot is a factory reconditioned Raymarine X-5 Smart Pilot Wheel Pilot. Reduced price but with the full factory warrantee. I saw a post on this board last winter which mentioned an internet source which was selling a limited number of the units at lower price. I jumped on it, and have been pleased with both installation and performance. Regarding fuel consumption, I'm running an 11.6x11 aluminum prop. When the boat and motor were new, I had a more aggressive prop, but kept having problems with fouled plugs. The motor tended to cut out at idle speeds, which was unhandy when docking. After switching to the current prop, that problem was corrected. I think, though, that the replacement prop probably reduces both my top end speed and maybe fuel economy. I do know that, when we're cruising, our boat is rather heavily loaded with up to 39 gallons of fuel, 40 gallons of water, lots of soda, beer and food, kicker motor, and dinghy which is usually being trailed. All these things tend to cut into fuel economy. Also, there's a big difference between 1700 rpm and 2500 rpm. I think we probably ran around 2300 rpm much of the time. I haven't run at 1700 rpm for long enough a time to measure fuel consumption, but 4.5 knots and 9 mpg doesn't surprise me. Also, please note that all my figures are based on nautical miles and not statute miles. 6 nautical miles per gallon would be somewhat greater if expressed in statute miles per gallon.

[mastreb]

That's a fantastic price. If you ever hear about another such deal, please post!

[pokerrick1]

I'd buy that and I don't even own a boat right this second

Rick

PS This is now officially the longest time period I have EVER gone not owning a boat

[pokerrick1]

Chinook - - - I'm sure glad you weren't in the Bahamas the past few days

Rick

[DaveB]

Yes he did and ended the trip I think 1 day before Hurricane season June 1st.
Glad you mention it, have to look back at his Blog.
Dave

Chinook - - - I'm sure glad you weren't in the Bahamas the past few days

Rick

[Chinook]

We did indeed plan our exit from the Bahamas so as to avoid the official start of hurricane season. While we were there, some residents downplayed the threat of hurricane, saying that the shallow waters of the banks, which surround most of the islands, tend to reduce the intensity of hurricanes. I see that the center of Irene is tracking over some of the out islands, which don't have shallow waters going for them. It sounds like Acklin and the Crooked Islands got badly hit, and I think the storm is making a direct hit on Long, Cat and Eleuthra Islands. The Holland America Cruise Lines owned Little San Salvadore probably got battered badly as well. I don't see much news coming out of those places. Most of the Bahamas reporting is from Nassau, which does have shallow waters in its vicinity. Nassau is also a bit southeast of the main storm track. These events mean more to you when you personally know some of the people who are affected. We're quite concerned about how things are on the Out Islands, where we befriended a number of folks. I'll be trying to contact Abe at the Bahamas Methodist Habitat, to learn how they fared. Since disaster relief is a core focus of BMH, I'm sure they'll be extremely busy making emergency repairs on damaged houses. They're an outstanding organization, which does a lot of positive things out there.

[pokerrick1]

I'm glad you're here now

Rick

[DaveB]

Shallow water is a good thing for a Mac. as waves would be small but depth would increase on the surge but going thru the Hurricane passing may leave the boat a ground until wind clocks 180 degrees, aground would be good on sandy bottom and full water ballast.Empty water ballast if you can't float off.
Good to see you had a great trip and I followed your Blog all the way.
Fair Winds, Dave

We did indeed plan our exit from the Bahamas so as to avoid the official start of hurricane season. While we were there, some residents downplayed the threat of hurricane, saying that the shallow waters of the banks, which surround most of the islands, tend to reduce the intensity of hurricanes. I see that the center of Irene is tracking over some of the out islands, which don't have shallow waters going for them. It sounds like Acklin and the Crooked Islands got badly hit, and I think the storm is making a direct hit on Long, Cat and Eleuthra Islands. The Holland America Cruise Lines owned Little San Salvadore probably got battered badly as well. I don't see much news coming out of those places. Most of the Bahamas reporting is from Nassau, which does have shallow waters in its vicinity. Nassau is also a bit southeast of the main storm track. These events mean more to you when you personally know some of the people who are affected. We're quite concerned about how things are on the Out Islands, where we befriended a number of folks. I'll be trying to contact Abe at the Bahamas Methodist Habitat, to learn how they fared. Since disaster relief is a core focus of BMH, I'm sure they'll be extremely busy making emergency repairs on damaged houses. They're an outstanding organization, which does a lot of positive things out there.

[Chinook]

I finally located the blog from Bahamas Methodist Habitat, the organization on Eleuthra where we spent a week and a half last spring helping out with a house addition projecth. The blog address is http://bahamasmethodisthabitat.blogspot.com/
If you're interested in learning how the out islands of Eleuthra, Cat, Mayaguana, Acklins and Crooked Islands fared, this is a good place to look. The general news out of the Bahamas is limited to reports that the major tourist areas were spared serious damage, and are open, business as usual. However, there is a lot more to the Bahamas than just Nassau, Paradise Island, and Lucaya. 2000 people live on Cat Island, which was hard hit, and suffered flooding and storm surge damage. Substantial property damage on Eleuthra, and the power will be out for a long time. At least 30 power poles were downed in the small town of James Cistern. Bear in mind that these communities largely depend on reverse osmosis for their drinking water supplies. They're relying on rainwater right now. And the serious damage was on Crooked and Acklins Islands, where destruction has preliminarily been reported at 90%. These places just don't get much coverage on the news, but as we learned, real people, without much in the way of resources, live there. Aid from NEMA, the official Bahamas relief agency, will be slow in arriving, since their resources are limited. The first boat isn't expected to reach Eleuthra until the middle of next week, and the storm hit there last Thursday. Bahamas Methodist Habitat facilities were damaged somewhat, but not seriously. They remain probably the best organization for mounting an immediate response. They have a network of pilots and planes, and are able to fly emergency relief supplies to the hardest hit communities in their small planes. They have immediate cash needs for purchasing aviation gas to keep their planes flying. If you're so inclined, there is a convenient DONATE link on their blogspot. I can assure you, any funds donated will be put to the absolute best use possible, and with virtually no administrative overhead. We all enjoy cruising in beautiful places like the Bahamas, and I think it's great when we are able to give back a little to the real people who live in "paradise", and have to cope with life's major and minor problems, mostly on very low incomes. Sorry about the soapbox, but this one hit us quite close to home, since we made such good friends while out there.

[Fxwg80hd]

Glad to see the rest of the trip has been posted. It has been a great story so far and I can't wait to finish reading about the trip. Hoping to make a similar trip in a couple years.

[Captain Steve]

Cant seem to find a good link to your Alaskan voyage. Can you supply one?

[Chinook]

We now have journal entries and pictures for the final few weeks of our spring Bahamas cruise posted, for those patient readers out there who have followed our adventures. There are some cool photos in this last set of posts, including some nice fish caught on the way to Grand Bahama and out in the Gulf Stream, as well as an ominous water spout near West End. Also, some nice pics of Sum and Ruth at their home place in Blanding Utah. They were wonderful hosts during our visit there. Regarding the Alaska Cruise journal, we're working on a new website to post it on. As soon as it's ready, I'll post the link.

[bscott]

Out standing travelog . You and Sandy are excellent sailors and story tellers, great writing and format with wonderful pictures. I'm sure the Methodist missionaries appreciated your help as well.
Thanks for sharing your adventure--it's great to be vicariously associated with you and Sandy.

Bob

[Captain Steve]

Thanks,,,, standing by for a good read!!

[mrbillfll]

Hello Chinook, I'm about 3/4 thru the trip report and read most of this thread.

You state your fuel consumption in miles per gallon. Do you have a gallons per hour figure?

2nd question, could you have gotten up on a plane if needed? (did you on this trip, and at what RPM does it plane (drop off plane))

3rd is would a 20-25 hp engine been a better choice for fuel if you can't plane the boat? would you consider that size if you needed to replace the current one?

I see there were a few strong current cuts where you motored thru, but no mention on how much power was needed, or if a smaller engine would have worked as well with less gas used.

Thanks, Bill.