Ft. Lauderdale to Chub to Boat Harbour

[mateosdcal]

Looks like we will be crossing from Fort Lauderdale to Abacos in late may. We are thinking of making the trip in two days with overnighting in Chub Cay. Any thoughts on going from Ft. Lauderdale to Chub then to Abacos. Any areas of caution. I have looked at the maps and charts and it looks like it should be ok. We plan on going from Chub to Hole in the Wall up to Boat Harbour.

Mateo

[dp]

If you have a good-size boat and are willing to weather the open Atlantic, the trip should be OK. But remember, unlike going north of Abaco then running south in the Sea of Abaco, the waters you propose are largely unprotected, including the long run from Hole in the Wall to the first inlet into the Sea of Abaco at Little Harbor. That can be a nasty lee shore in bad weather. I've done those waters in a 40 ft+ diesel boat and its very nice. I assume you aren't in a 20 ft outboard!

[Alan Brown]

Another suggestion.

Pass just to the north of Great Isaac and make your first landfall at Great Harbour Cay (Bullock's Harbour). From there you can pass south of Hole-in-the Wall and continue NE to the cut outside Little Harbour.

From Ft. Lauderdale you want to avoid trying to head SE against the Gulf Stream. This is what you would have to do in order to get to Chub Cay. Don't try to fight the current. Let it push you north a bit to Great Isaac, or a lot to Grand Bahama, where you could follow the northern route to the Abacos.

I wouldn't suggest the Gun Cay/Cat Cay/Chub Cay route unless you were leaving from Miami.

The Dodge Guide has a great sketch which shows all the various route to get to Abaco.

Have fun!

[mrbill]

what type of boat?

north of great issac is safer, but the gun cay to chubb via NW channel might be calmer..

how much shorter is the cubb cay route?
-it can be tricky at little harbor, n bar, so you may end up at N MOW channel... anyway.

[mateosdcal]

We are aboard a 52' Sportfish. We have been studing charts and want to fish outside of Chub for Marlin but if the crossing is not reccomeneded we will travel the northern route.

Mateo

[Hjudge49]

check to see if CHub has fuel if you need it. The word we had last week was that the tournament boats were having trouble getting diesel.