length at running Diesels bringing home our newbie

[nealtrombley]

we are closing on a 410 with a good engine survey and hull & clean bottom , trip is from Miami to Ft Myers 200NM thru the beautiful keys,

Hawks Channel to Channel to # 5 bridge, hug the coast to Sanibel bridge then up river to our home... 10 hrs according to Garmin Active Captain..

I assume we can look at some idle time, lunch etc.. BTW AC cock pit LOL

what would your plan be?

we can run for 4 hrs stay on the hook in the Keys then push home. or preferably a straight run..

I assume the cats can handle 10 hrs of cruise? check the bilges every 2 hrs?

how do you manage long runs
Thank you we are excited


Side bar...
things I need on this trip, tools etc

 

[All's Well]

No problem at all for diesels to run 10 hours a day - day after day.
Be sure strainers are clean and know your filter status. Do your engine checks in the morning before the run and after you shut down. Even better if you have a camera in the bilge to spot leaks, steam or anything unusual.
Keep an eye on your engine & gen data throughout the day and be sure you have stable results. I scroll through through the data screens and take pictures of the data every couple hours to be sure I don't have variance throughout the day.

 

[Stee6043]

Shoot, I'd make that into a 3 day trip! If you don't have a deadline make it into a trip of a lifetime...

 

[sbw1]

When I run 10 hours, the autopilot is programmed for the entire trip and I stand watch at the helm. I make two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and have those and two bottles of water at the helm. I slow down to 4 knots for quick bathroom breaks when the radar shows no targets in front of the boat. Then it's back up to cruise speed. In good weather average speed is about 24 knots for the 10 hour run. I used to do this every July to get home from a vacation up north.

 

[spikedaddy99]

Boat will run it all day. You on the other hand, will be worn out in anything less than perfect calm seas. Our longest single day has been about 8 hours and it was very calm (not often on Lake Mi) As Stee6043 said above, if there are some cool places to stop, make it a trip to remember. Otherwise, I get up and move around as I can and let my son man the helm.

 

[The crime scene]

Why rush getting home is my thought. Stay on a mooring ball or in a slip a night or two in the keys and enjoy the boat. That will give you time to check everything over for the second (or third) leg of the trip. I have made several 9 hour trips and those Cats will purr like kittens all day long.

200 miles in ten hours is pushing it. To make it in that time, you will need push the boat and most likely have a fuel stop. Those are normally at least thirty plus minutes.

My Trip list:
Tools
Fluids (engine oil and power steering fluid)
Spare alternator belt (I have a spare alternator also, which is excessive but I want to be prepared)
Vests
Flares
Toilet plunger
Back up hand held marine radio
Zip ties (never know when you need one)
Duct tape
Spare sunglasses
Extra booze
Good friends

Have fun. It will be an awesome trip.

Keith

 

[my3sons]

Hawks Channel to Channel to # 5 bridge, hug the coast to Sanibel bridge then up river to our home... 10 hrs according to Garmin Active Captain..
View attachment 90190 View attachment 90191

Sounds like fun! Nothing to add other than don’t hug the coast too close, Cape Romano shoals go out quite far and also, the most interesting trip between 2 points is never a straight line. Enjoy the adventure!

 

[nealtrombley]

Boat will run it all day. You on the other hand, will be worn out in anything less than perfect calm seas. Our longest single day has been about 8 hours and it was very calm (not often on Lake Mi) As Stee6043 said above, if there are some cool places to stop, make it a trip to remember. Otherwise, I get up and move around as I can and let my son man the helm.

I think you are correct,,
I dont see us getting much sleep the night before, anxious etc.. new boat, learning things.. 2 days might be in store..
have elder parent issues or we would stay a few nights, lobstering etc

 

[Woody]

Unless you 'know' it's not necessary I'd start this trip with fresh fuel filters and carry spares.

 

[fr8dog]

Just after the channel 5 bridge there is a nice anchorage called Jewfish Hole. You can get in close. Nice spot to take a break and enjoy the sunset. It is referenced on Active Captain.

 

[Avenger]

Congrats, I did this same mileage for my first run last year in the same boat(Grand Haven, Mi to Boyne City, Mi) Like you I was anxious and excited for the trip add on top of that I was single handed. It turned out to be the best boating day I had ever experienced and an awesome way to gain confidence in the boat and myself. My trip was 189 miles and took me just over 10 hrs steady cruising at 22kts with very little no wake and one fuel stop. I averaged just over 1 mpg in favorable seas which I thought was great. All of the things Keith mentioned above would be helpful along with the fuel filter baseline and inventory. I will just add a couple safety items:
Epirb
Fist Aid Kit
Rescue Tape
Wood bung kit for plugging holes in an emergency
Dead blow hammer

Make sure your bilge pumps are all operational and your high water alarm is functioning. With the excitement of the new boat its easy to overlook the small things. Hope your first trip in the 410 is as great as mine was.

Josh

 

[FootballFan]

Sounds like fun! Nothing to add other than don’t hug the coast too close, Cape Romano shoals go out quite far and also, the most interesting trip between 2 points is never a straight line. Enjoy the adventure!

Nice looking boat - congrats.

I second this.

After you make the turn out towards the gulf past bullard bank, run out far enough that you can pick a spot west of Cape Romano Shoals. Don't hug the coast.

After you clear the shoals, you can run a few miles off the coast.

What are you thinking about fuel stops? After you leave the keys headed north, next fuel is Marco Island - last time I went in not that friendly to get in and out of. Given the distance you would be off shore, I would prefer to leave the keys with full tanks. Fueling at Naples is a hassle, you go in the inlet then have to go north up to where there is fuel available.

It has been a few years since I have run the Yacht Channel at #5. Last time, was perfectly doable, narrow at times.

Given the fact that you are going to transit west either way to clear the shoals, my preference has been to continue on west with Hawks channel, go under 7 mile bridge then go north. Gives the option to stop for the night in Marathon, get fuel, then go north.

Just a thought. Fun trip. If you do stop in Marathon, make your way over to Burdines for a burger and a fried key lime pie.

 

[Golfman25]

I would hang a day or two in the keys. Why rush home?

 

[b_arrington]

Unless you 'know' it's not necessary I'd start this trip with fresh fuel filters and carry spares.

I was going to say the same thing. Have spares for both the on-engine filter and the Racors, assuming you have both.

 

[glenncal1]

Sounds like a good trip. I too wouldn't push it and would spend at least 1 night in the keys and top off fuel. If weather is sporty on the outside the run down the ICW is an easy one. Gilberts is an easy spot to stop (west end of Jewfish creek). Their gas is pricey, not sure about diesel, call around they prices in the Keys vary a lot. If you go ashore in the keys make sure you have masks they are pretty strict about them down there. Have fun, when do you leave?