Bahamas Crossing | 7 foot rough seas in two storms | Boston Whaler 280 Vantage | Sea Ray 250 slx

[@withadub]

I migrated from Facebook... this was awe-inspiring and chilling! Awesome boat, and thanks for explaining and sharing!

[@sandbarserenity]

Thank you for your great comments! It was challenging and the Whaler tackled it brilliantly.

[@JCAJCA3]

I made a similar stupid decision once and ended up in 8-10's. It never happened again! I think you did a wonderful job once you were in it. Good job getting everybody back safely. This will be a good teaching tool for boaters when not to go as well.

[@sandbarserenity]

Thank you so much for your comments. Indeed it won't happen again and I hope a fair amount folks who watch this video see just how fast conditions can degrade from 2-4 foot rollers into 5 to 7 foot seas. Note that at the halfway point of the trip I actually say, "looks like smooth sailing from here to Fort Lauderdale." 10 minutes later storm 1 and then storm 2. On the positive side, I am a much better captain after encountering the storms than before entering them, as I am sure you are too!

[@jessvd1]

Been there. Done that. Watched the radar during lunch in Bimini. No storms, so we headed out on fair seas. Halfway the first storm hit. No other boats were around. Kept going, then the second storm hit us. Center console became detached resulting in no electronics. I asked the captain, "Should we put on floatation devices?" He said, "You don't want to be out here that long," as he ditched the bait. Finally, I could see the buildings of Ft. Lauderdale. What a relief!

[@sandbarserenity]

Wow that sounds exactly like what happened to us. Storms can happen at any time!! It was brutal but a huge learning experience too. Very confident in my boat and equipment now! I will have the main Bimini video out in about a week. Going to pin your comment.

[@35grandslam]

You got extremely lucky. I’ve had a captains license for 30- years, ran fishing charters for that time. I never would have put my passengers in that situation. Especially in a bow rider. I hope you learned something from this experience.

[@sandbarserenity]

The video was really intended to be educational and to "learn from this," and not a brag. Never taking that risk again! Could have been worse.

[@danzick5694]

I agree. Not till later were they wearing Life jackets!

[@sandbarserenity]

Yes correct.

[@nickdrouin7142]

What baffles me, is that 10 captains made the call to cross with impending weather. Not one spoke up?

[@sandbarserenity]

Everyone saw the same data. We crossed in 2 hours and 15 minutes, had a 3.5 hour storm gap. The squalls that popped up were not predicted nor visible when we left. This happens frequently. However I have since been made aware of CAPE readings which can help determine the probability of storm pop ups in your route. Gold level info.

[@topshelf321]

First off glad to see you all made it unhurt. I would say you got lucky. Small, open bow boats in that kind of weather is a disaster waiting to happen. Only take one over the bow to sink it. I've been in those shoes before, letting time dictate travel. I've also learned the hard way the ocean doesn't care about your schedule. After over 30 years of ocean travel, I've learned to choose safety over schedules. I've left in 3-5 and came through 12-15 twice. Anything over 2 and clear skies I'm not crossing with my family and I'm in a 40-footer.

[@sandbarserenity]

Indeed, truer words have never been spoken!

[@greathornedowl3644]

Thank you for the great footage. Lovely to view from the safety of my recliner.

[@sandbarserenity]

Hahahaha, indeed!

[@CSmith-xh5ne]

Excellent video and explanation! Thanks for the shoutout!

[@sandbarserenity]

You bet! An epic time! Thank you for sending the great vids, now forward it to your friends and say "look what I survived!"

[@acousticmikeb8119]

That’s a lot of sea for little boats! Glad you made it through.

[@sandbarserenity]

Indeed it was, not looking for a repeat performance!

[@FX25SC]

Great strategy, good results 👍. Thanks for good info. This crossing is on my bucket list

[@sandbarserenity]

The results of being in the Bahamas are well worth it!

[@slowrider7191]

1) thanks for sharing your trip, conditions, strategies and fuel consumption - watching the video and reading most comments was highly educational 2) I think you handled it beaitifully - both the boat and the comments 3) good to know about CAPE Thanks so much for sharing and driving thw discussion in the comments. Made me more aware of risks and mitigation strategies just reading all that!

[@sandbarserenity]

That is awesome to hear! So glad you got value out of it! It is tough publishing your "not so good moments" because everyone in social media wants to be perfect. I am focusing more on reality, education and learning from others. CAPE energy is a big one! Lesson learned on CAPE! Thanks for your great comments!

[@SmithScott129]

Ah geez, couple of boats out when they should have stayed in. It looks like you had some fun and got lucky to get across. I don't know what the heck you were thinking.

[@sandbarserenity]

The pop up storm was what hurt! The rest of the trip was fine. Yes we did indeed get lucky. It could have been far worse! But we made it and learned a great! I take the challenge and accept the punishment!

[@SmithScott129]

@@sandbarserenity "We're heading out on a stormy morning" is not the way to start a crossing like that in boats of this size. I'm glad it wasn't worse and everyone made the crossing safely, but man, your number will come up if you keep tempting fate like that. That crossing is notorious and those boats are too small for less than ideal conditions.

[@sandbarserenity]

Absolutely agree, not doing that again.!! That area is littered with wrecks! Will learn from the experience and move forward!

[@AmericaFirstFLL]

These are the go - no go decisions airplane pilots face. Small airplanes don’t do well in storms either.

[@sandbarserenity]

Absolutely, a friend of mine who flies A380s was giving me a full download on his thoughts about the weather too, from a pilot's perspective.

[@kennymedinatherealtor]

Gotta say there’s plenty here trashing you but besides all the the negative yapping I must say you did a great job at keeping focused and maintaining everyone calm as well as using the conditions to favor the vessel’s capabilities. Realty is that area is very tricky and storm cells come and go without much notice as it’s in the area that warmer water/air hit the cooler northern water/air specially during our hurricane season. I’ve done that crossing multiple times and it’s very common to read 1-2’s and actually be flat as glass to then run into 2-3’s for 2-5 miles to then become flat again. So if you’ve never been in that particular area or crossing your yapping without understanding the possibilities that you can encounter. Sure there’s lessons learned but you mastered the true attributes of maintaining control. Thanks for the content and information it helps guys like me become better navigators!

[@sandbarserenity]

For those who know and are out there all the time, you know. Your words are perfectly stated. All the armchair captains who say they are experienced yet have never somehow "experienced" pop up storms in that area is quite humorous. Do they really think we just randomly decided to go run into storms for the fun of it? In that area storms pop up in perfect conditions just as easily. As you hear me say in the video once we reached the halfway point, "looks like smooth sailing now to Fort Lauderdale." In the open seas, weather can change quickly just as it did for us. Indeed it tested me and others and was a tremendous learning experience. Don't wish for it in the future to happen again, but confident I can address it when, not if, it arises again.

[@kennymedinatherealtor]

@@timo7913 so as a Floridian sailor, you should know that things on this side change quickly and as much as you want to plan you always need to understand that there’s gonna be changes in the climate that you can’t control so thank you for your comment.

[@sandbarserenity]

100% agree

[@BennettBarry]

That was an intense trip! Glad y'all made it back safely and thanks for filming it and sharing it! We are making a trip from Stuart to Marsh Harbor next month.

[@sandbarserenity]

Thank you so much! Expect pop-up storms on a trip that long. This was a learning video and cautionary tale for other boaters. Love the Abacos, enjoy!!

[@mattyjdyoutub]

Just don't do what they did. 2 hr window to go 55 miles in a small boat is not enough of a window. Certainly not with limited fuel capacity.

[@sandbarserenity]

@@mattyjdyoutub just to clarify, we only needed a two hour window. The storm window available was actually 3.5 plus. The pop up storms were not predicted and the weather apps only showed seas of 1 to 2 feet. When we arrived at 930, after leaving at 7 am, the weather apps then only showed 3 to 5 feet.

[@sandbarserenity]

@mattyjdyoutub had plenty of fuel finished with 65 gallons in the tank plus 5 reserve. Enough to do the trip all over again and then some.

[@BennettBarry]

Unfortunately the weather is not always predictable. We're leaving at 6am and running 180 miles. 3 stops for fuel.

[@lildeena1]

Cheers for making it across with everyone safe. I wouldn’t have gone with what looked like a very convective unsettled weather situation. Maybe if I had radar and a really fast boat.

[@sandbarserenity]

@lildeena1 Thanks so much. Yes it is not something we will be repeating!!

[@joseramos7476]

Great footage, Thanks for sharing!

[@sandbarserenity]

You bet! Thanks for your kind words.

[@mdz4h5]

At 4:29 looks like the Sea Ray almost capsizes. Was is as close as it looked on camera?

[@sandbarserenity]

The 269 slx was in 5 foot waves at that time with an occasional hit across its beam from larger waves. It was up to about 30 degrees on that roll as you can tell. Wasn't close to capsizing but definitely unnerving for the occupants.

[@AmericaFirstFLL]

Scary. I owned a Grady White 33’ Canyon with SeaKeeper. It was my favorite boat so far. Did any of the small boats significantly outperform the others?

[@sandbarserenity]

Yes, that Grady is an awesome boat! The Boston Whalers definitely did great. My BW 280 Vantage performed brilliantly. The 250 SLX Sea Ray tucked in behind a BW 330 Outrage so it was not out there on its own. The Outrage was knocking down waves for it.

[@eranmaron909]

Crazy! You guys seem to handle this beautifully

[@sandbarserenity]

Thank you! It was quite the challenge. We put the cameras down for the worst of it. It is not something we ever want to repeat, but we definitely came out the other side stronger than when we went in. Here is the video of the amazing trip prior to the storms! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoiyiqGfaraqnJosi=UeDiUOoVTtT_BIQI

[@louv4437]

Man that sucks glad you made it! Could of been bad especially for that sea ray. I know how fast the ocean can change being an offshore fisherman my whole life in NJ.

[@sandbarserenity]

It can change drastically very quickly. Thank you for your comments. The Sea Ray tucked in behind a 330 Outrage to let it knock down some of the bigger waves. But yes they still had a tough ride.

[@SofloTactical]

Got caught in a very similar situation in a 33 conch while crossing back to Hillsboro inlet. One of the sketchiest rides iv been on till this day, the bow was slamming so hard I thought we were gonna bust the outer skin of the hull. So much rain you couldn’t see 40 feet infront of you and the rain felt like pellets. Wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone.

[@sandbarserenity]

100% Yes, the rain was stinging our cheeks from the wind and boat velocity. I have no desire to ever be in that situation again, However, my Whaler performed brilliantly and really gave me confidence we were going to be fine. I bought the Whaler because I had been caught in storms before, and even lost an engine too. I purchased a very specific power to weight ratio to ensure I could lose an engine and survive a storm. Calm seas never made great captains!!

[@DSPNJ]

This video is very informative. Unpredictable weather happens. You’ve got brass ones to try to squeeze a trip between two storms. Going north probably saved your lives. Not just because of fuel, but the north current going over your bow. How did the other boats in your caravan fare?

[@sandbarserenity]

Thank you for your comments, that is the intended purpose, to inform. I hope it helps others who may get caught. The other boats were all Boston Whalers and did very well. The Sea Ray was 25 feet and was the smallest. It got tossed a bit so it tucked in behind a 330 Outrage and did ok. All the Whalers performed brilliantly. Yes, going north and turning waves hitting my beam into a following sea was the strategy and it worked amazing. After the storms, I just turned due south and had no issues. My Boston Whaler 280 Vantage can handle a lot more than I can, it did awesome. I am a much better captain now having gone through it. I have had many say to me in comments...Good sailors aren't made on calm seas.

[@ItIsColdHere]

Great job crossing. What’s the smallest boat you’ve seen making the trip? (Any conditions)

[@sandbarserenity]

19 ft bay boats, but smaller than that, a lot of people cross on waverunners. Search in KZbin for that and you will see a lot of people doing it. We saw many waverunners in Bimini with gas cans strapped to the back that crossed.

[@Gmtail]

If this is predicted to happen on the day you leave, is there a way to stay on the island and wait it out? I ask because it was my understanding that you can only stay 5 days per what customs say.

[@sandbarserenity]

@@Gmtail we may have been able to find an Airbnb to stay in for the rest of the week. However, the stormy weather and rough seas were advised through Friday, we left Tuesday morning. I am not aware of that customs rule but may need to check on that for the future. Thanks for your comments.

[@Gmtail]

@@sandbarserenity Thank you for the reply. Just curious, if and when I decide to do this in the future. Your trick to help decrease gas usage was a good one 👍

[@sandbarserenity]

Yes, it really can save you gas and also time! If you don't employ the technique and instead cut across the waves you will definitely be going slower and have a rougher ride! Just ensure the waves are generally heading in the direction you want to go and about 3 or more seconds apart (to avoid stuffing the bow). Then, when you pass the storm and things calm down, head straight to your destination. It will save you lots of time and prevent a good beating on the boat too. Works best when the wave period is about 3 seconds or more.

[@johnkosowski3321]

What day was this? When you passed by Sea Crest, we were on the end of the dock in your video. We crossed back Bimini to Palm Beach Friday, June 14.

[@sandbarserenity]

7am June 11

[@Wsmoniker]

Amazing!!

[@sandbarserenity]

Thank you so much!

[@DavidR.-gm9vq]

Great video. Question on the fuel consumption calculations, were you going by the fuel flow or were you going by the remaining fuel quantity indications? Specifically, wondering about the accuracy during the rough seas on the return.

[@sandbarserenity]

I was looking at both actually. I started with 104 gallons with boat floating level and finished with 65 gallons. At halfway I was at 80. I was also watching fuel flow rate on the Simrad in real time. But,, I was throttling up and down so much that fuel flow rate was a constant variable. So basically I was estimating with fuel flow rate. The real tell was the fuel level at the endl.

[@mattyjdyoutub]

Great video on what not to do.

[@sandbarserenity]

It is a video to demonstrate that seas and weather are unpredictable. The weather apps showed 1 to 2 feet at departure, and only updated to 3 to 5 feet upon arrival in Fort Lauderdale. Moral of the story, always be prepared and have good equipment because weather can pop up and happen whether you want it to or not!

[@chiphill4856]

Nice job making it under those conditions!

[@sandbarserenity]

@@chiphill4856 Thank you. A challenge I hope to never have to repeat, but definitely ready should it find me!

[@mikehatcher5855]

Crazy, up here on the Canadian west coast every one would have been in a mustang jump suit. I’ve been in 5’ seas in my 18’ welded boat. Weather change and sea state give me major anxiety. It’s also stopped me from being to gungoh to trailering the boat to need places. The qualicum northerly winds are no joke and I tend to just keep the boat out of the water. I do know bow tho st some point we want to pull the pin on a 28 footer welded boat 👍👍 thanks for sharing this video

[@sandbarserenity]

@mikehatcher5855 Great comments thanks for sharing your experiences!

[@cskipper65]

I have to say the conditions looked suspect from the beginning. Looking for near perfect conditions in that boat or any other.

[@sandbarserenity]

In that area, that is a near impossibility. There is always weather. But yes, I hear you! We were definitely not looking for this.

[@douglasjre]

I've been through some stuff almost this bad. Absolutely terrifying to go through what you did. I'll never do that

[@sandbarserenity]

I plan to never do it again! But I also hope others can learn from this video.

[@ClassicalMpact]

That is some crazy stuff!

[@sandbarserenity]

I have never been in that type of weather before and don't plan to again!!

[@mattyjdyoutub]

Insane...like should be put in an asylum.

[@sandbarserenity]

5 to 7 foot seas are common, most people just don't have cameras available to record them. If you are prepared and have quality equipment then you can brave those storms. Weather pops up frequently, you have to adapt and move forward. Not saying I am going hunting for it though!!

[@mysticvalley2003]

As a captain my thoughts are simple, knowing you were going into questionable weather without realizing your fuel consumption is highly concerning, but to offset it you used the waves to surf off of....but even then I am surprised you didn't put your bow cover on in an attempt to prevent a wave from swamping the boat if you mis calculated a rogue wave and by doing so it would have also kept your passengers warmer. The rule of thumb is if the waves are expected to be higher than the sides of your boat for any duration you may want to reconsider your trip. I'm sorry I cant applaud your actions after seeing how you rolled at minute 4:27.

[@sandbarserenity]

Best comment of the day!! First, the videos are from two different boats. The boat that rolled was a Sea Ray 250 SLX. My boat is a Boston Whaler 280 Vantage. Second, I was aware of my fuel consumption every second and calculated how much I would need to fight seas the entire way prior to leaving. My maneuvers were strictly intended to preserve every ounce of fuel I could. I ended up with over 65 gallons in the tank remaining, plus I had a 5 gallon reserve tank onboard. I had enough starting fuel to easily burn at the rate of 2 gallons per mile and make it home fine. I did not leave Bimini short on gas at all, rather, was just taking every step to ensure there was ample fuel at every step. Awesome comments!

[@Tony_TheAncientWorldReimagined]

my first thought was they must have had to lol. I would never lol Good thing that have a good boat big boy shit would had been to leave days laters lol

[@sandbarserenity]

yes indeed, correct on all counts!

[@michaelcameron8855]

Two things I’m having a hard time understanding. You say a 2 hour weather window, but the radar showed that 2 hour gap was moving offshore. Even without the cells that popped up, you were going to get hit before you made it home. So you had 60 miles of ocean to cross and you were trying to catch a 2 hour window between cells. No way were you going to maintain 30mph. Where I’m going with this, you completely miscalculated the time to get across and the likelihood of a cell popping up in the gap between the cells on radar when you left. You were going to get hit no matter what you did. Fortunately it wasn’t a REALLY bad cell or we would be dolphin fishing on a string of capsized boats up here off SC about now. Secondly, your fuel. I don’t follow your calculations. First rule of planning how far you can run - know how much fuel you need for the pickups to not suck air regardless of how rough it is. Subtract that from the total gallons in the tank. 100 gallon tank - 10 gallons to keep the pickup fully supplied means you have 90 gallons available to burn. Rule of thirds - 1/3 going out, 1/3 coming back, 1/3 for contingency. I know gas in Bimini is higher than giraffe ninnies, but why would you not top off knowing you are headed into some nasty weather? Sorry for the long rant. Glad you posted this for others to learn, but this was not good decision-making on many levels. Stay safe out there. Mother Nature doesn’t play favorites and she doesn’t give mulligans.

[@ajhorta6553]

Agian not ideal boats to be going out there

[@alberto22274]

How long it took you to get to FL. About 3 years ago we got bad weather on our way to Bimini (5 to 7) and it took us about 5 hrs to get there.

[@sandbarserenity]

It only took 2 hours. We stayed between 27 to 30 mph. Surfing the boat allowed me to maintain forward speed when you would normally slow down.

[@markuswilmes3694]

Boston whaler make great heavy solid boats love too see this rough crossing in a freeman

[@sandbarserenity]

It would eat it up just like the Whaler did!

[@jcmjcm1945]

Ever seen one submerged???

[@sandbarserenity]

Did you mean a Freeman or Whaler submerged? I've never seen a Whaler submerged.

[@johnsikora4235]

@@sandbarserenity You never will!

[@sandbarserenity]

@@johnsikora4235 100%

[@AlexNichiporchik]

Had to do the same thing a few times - go north on the way back and then zigzag down due to monster waves coming from the south. Summer here is no joke, can go from 1 to 100 in minutes. We were leaving Bimini a month ago and got caught in a flash thunderstorm in the bay, while fueling. Had to make my way back to Mega Marina blind, against the wind and our GPS got knocked out along with a bunch of electronics. Zero visibility in that narrow channel. Was sure adventurous

[@sandbarserenity]

Yes!!! It is amazing to me how people who say they are captains for 20 plus years have not experienced this! Lol Conditions deteriorate rapidly in the Summer in the ocean...but, calm seas never make great captains!!! Thanks for your comments!

[@scottmonroe1802]

Is it common for Floridians to take boats designed for lakes and rivers use across the Gulf Stream? Really surprised to see this is something done in those vessels.

[@sandbarserenity]

Not only is it common, but many people actually take wave runners to the Bahamas and back. Very common.

[@scottmonroe1802]

@@sandbarserenity Wow.

[@sandbarserenity]

Just search in KZbin "Bahamas by waverunner" or a variation of that. They strap gas tanks to the back of the waverunners and go. That is crazy stuff!

[@mattyjdyoutub]

Except they do not thread the needle on the storm window. At least the smart ones.

[@sandbarserenity]

We had a 3.5 hour plus storm window and only needed just over 2 to cross. We left at 7am and arrived at 9:15am.

[@hildablanco1591]

Always go out in a cabin boat like the 45 Boston Whaler or a Searay Sundancer 35 with diesels

[@sandbarserenity]

Very nice boats!!

[@davids8048]

You’re very lucky. I believe I would have remained in port. Glad you’re all safe.

[@sandbarserenity]

Yes indeed!! Thank you.

[@jameshart1159]

Life jackets would have been a smart idea. Glad you made it.

[@sandbarserenity]

Thank you! Not an experience we want to repeat, and we would definitely do things a little different should the circumstances present themselves in the future.

[@jimakcelik6486]

Whaler always makes it always❤

[@sandbarserenity]

The Whaler had absolutely no problems. The boat was far more capable than my initial white knuckles. After a bit, I saw how well it was handling the storms and gained tremendous confidence. Safety and survivability in those specific situations are why I bought the Whaler in the first place!

[@Lastcall115]

Well if it looks rough on camera it was really rough. Cameras never portray wave height very well. Glad everyone made it safely, nice work.

[@sandbarserenity]

@Lastcall115 you are 100% correct. The camera really distorts and diminishes the wave heights and conditions. A lot of keyboard captains don't understand this. Same with cars...if you see on video a car that looks like it is going fast, then it is really moving!!! Thanks for your comments!

[@P964turbo]

In a small craft!! Amazing

[@sandbarserenity]

Thank you, amazing trip and amazing people!

[@romanmaimo1468]

I did this trip from Freeport Bahamas to Miami it took us 12 hours in 10 to 15 foot waves very scary when you lose one engine and we were by ourselves I know the feeling rough but I’m experience check the weather first

[@sandbarserenity]

Omg, you definitely get the courage award! I cannot imagine 12 hours of pounding and being an engine down!!! That is real fear and exhaustion!

[@SouthernBear71]

Excellent video sir. other than the yappy negative commenters. I want to say thanks for the video. The seas are like weathermen. They can change in the blink of an eye. What seems to be an awesome clear day can turn drastic with pop-up storms. But keeping a solid grasp on the helm rather than panicking and fetalling up is what great sailors do. You don't want to ever be caught in bad storms, but sometimes crap happens. Doing the tack northwest (from the chart plotter) worked well for you. You played the hand you were dealt and played well. I'm sure a lot was learned from your trip.

[@sandbarserenity]

Absolute facts, I couldn't have said it better. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I am amazed at the supposed " captains " who have commented on this video who don't know these basics. I think in other video posts, they may also randomly become scientists, doctors, and lawyers of more than 20 years too.

[@westernsoutherner1]

Wow glad you all are okay. The open ocean is its own world.

[@sandbarserenity]

Absolutely 💯!! And changes conditions drastically!!

[@brettknutsen6476]

Definitely would want to be in the Whaler.

[@sandbarserenity]

Handled the trip like a champ!!! Amazing boat!

[@brettknutsen6476]

@@sandbarserenity I have a 2020, 210 Montauk. I've taken it 30 miles off the coast of Washington in 8'-10' swells with 2' chop. Whalers are built for this stuff!

[@sandbarserenity]

Absolutely they are! I was white knuckled to start, then got very confident when I saw how the boat was eating it up!

[@kevinacronin]

Glad all were safe. PFDs are advisable for ALL (yes, some were shown worn), for the entirety of such a crossing. Too many adults are PFD averse. (lookin at you fellas) Every day PFDs save lives. Military, LEOs, Fire & Rescue, Coast Guard, etc. all wear them for good reasons. Worldwide today ZERO people wearing a PFD will drown (ok, maybe a couple in some outliers cases will drown, but you can set the example...)

[@sandbarserenity]

Absolutely agree!

[@jonathanhole3956]

Just came across this, and not much more to say other than summarize so others don't have to dig to find all the pertinent comments. For me the boat choice was fine, very familiar w/ that model and being open bow is not dissimilar from similar capable center consoles in terms of sea worthiness. I would not do the crossing w/o bow tonneau cover to help protect against stuffing (a must for me) and front/side curtains to protect my passengers from getting pelted and soaked - yes they scratch but if you use them only on such outings who cares, keep at home until needed. I had a nasty storm once that required me to open the drivers flap and stick my head out in pelting rain from time to time as wiper could not cope, but while they laughed at me, the rest were pretty dry still. Also, I remember when I would not have a boat with a transom door as hard to dewater and protect from following seas, but alas times change. I'd be comfortable crossing with your boat but would definitely cover the bow w/ support pole underneath. Just from your video alone, I would also have turned around seeing the conditions at the start, regardless of what apps and radar were showing. Have done that many times on ocean transits with family whereas with the guys I may push it a bit. Always life jackets on everyone IMHO and if you can afford that boat you can afford good inflatables for adults such as Mustang ocean rated, no lake or inshore, you need the higher inflation capacity should something go wrong way out there. I didn't see it mentioned but I'm sure you had at least personal locator beacon attached and EPIRB on boat - again cheap insurance even with an unsinkable Whaler that can still capsize and floating level in those seas swamped would feel like swimming. I would also make sure to have a fully charged handheld GPS and handheld backup radio in case you run into electrical issues, which could include taking on too much water, mechanical / vibration issues. Again, you probably know now but watch videos or use inlet running techniques in big water - stay on the back side of waves especially if breaking, learn how to get to the next one if the wave you're on closes out - pitch poling is very real in such situations. If you have the vertical space if rack stacked, and if you plan this crossing reasonably often, adding radar would be great not only in these conditions but in fog and dark. All in all I think you held your cool and will be much more experienced as a result and hopefully this will save a boat or life from the discussions...thanks for being open and sharing!

[@sandbarserenity]

@jonathanhole3956 Thanks so much for your comments. Yes, I had and EPIRB, back up radios, and marking dyes onboard and plenty of PFDs. I also have radar now so hopefully that will assist in the future. Not a performance I am looking to ever repeat, but I gained great confidence going through this in my Whaler, it handled it brilliantly. Thanks for your comments and advice! It is always a difficult proposition to share your not so great moments on video, but hopefully others can see the reality of it and determine a better path forward in the future! By the way, here is the video of the Bimini trip prior to the storm... kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoiyiqGfaraqnJo

[@jonathanhole3956]

@@sandbarserenity Great video! You'll love having radar, great add and I figured you had the rest but for those dropping by mentioned it. If I were looking for a mixed use boat that 280 Vantage would be top of my list. I grew up on the coast of NC and my dad was a boat dealer (he's been gone 10 years) - we were out fishing 4 days a week on all kinds of boats, all kinds of weather, learned inlet running from him at a young age...even owned a shrimp boat at one point. Almost retired now so looking for an enclosed but quasi-trailerable boat we can use for trips up and down the east coast, which is probably why KZbin figured I should see your video! P.S. I recently got a DJI Mini 4 and Pocket 3 so I'm ready! Be safe and enjoy family time on that boat!

[@sandbarserenity]

@jonathanhole3956 Thank you so much for your great comments. Have you considered a BW 285 Conquest? Great boat with lots of versatility and enclosed. Still trailerable too! Glad you enjoyed the video. I use a skydio drone and multiple Go Pro cameras. But I had none of them going during the trip home. 😕

[@ManoliGreek2640]

Why take the chance ??

[@sandbarserenity]

Storms occur in that region all the time. I have been on clear days and then had conditions change drastically. It is not unusual. We had a 3.5 hour window, we only needed 2. Everything was calculated, starting the night before and watching weather beginning at 4 am the morning of our departure.

[@rski1036]

@@sandbarserenity So much for your "great" calculations. Get a larger boat or forget about future crossings.

[@sandbarserenity]

People do these crossings on waverunners and 23 foot bay boats. Just search in KZbin to find the multitude of videos. My 28 foot Boston Whaler is made to handle offshore conditions and performed brilliantly. Bigger doesn't mean safer. The construction of the boat is key. That is why I have Whaler.

[@johnsikora4235]

@@sandbarserenity You are 100% correct. That 280 vantage with twin motors is more than capable to handle those conditions.

[@sandbarserenity]

@johnsikora4235 It can also do it with loss of an engine...ask me how I know...lol 🤔

[@robertwilliams279]

Not going to criticize your trip. Plenty of input there. I have one question. Why don't you invest in a set of front curtains at a minimum? If you had front and side curtains it would make getting caught in the weather maybe not safer but least you would not have rain pelting you in the face .

[@sandbarserenity]

@robertwilliams279 I had them on my prior Whaler. Never used them, took up way too much space on trips, and scratch easily. My go forward solution is a simple face shield/mask that i can keep in the glove box.

[@SRacingnet]

wow great footage. So did you get wet?

[@sandbarserenity]

We arrived slightly damp in some areas!!

[@DeanaMills-v9x]

Soaking Wet!!! 😮

[@sandbarserenity]

Ok, soaking is more appropriate...lol

[@itninja9503]

Reading through the comments and I am glad you seem to have learned your lesson. Fact is you have a fair weather boat. Crossing can be safe on a good day, but if there is any question put your family on a plane and come back for the boat another day. You don't have a "2 hour window" boat. The only reason you could follow the seas is your boat is so small. If you had a bigger seaRay you would have stuffed the bow. On that note, what would any of you had done if another boat had difficulty? Just a laundry list of foolish choices. Only positive is that lady in the sun hat has amazing eyes! Lessons learned, and smooth seas.

[@sandbarserenity]

I don't have a Sea Ray. I have a Boston Whaler 280 Vantage. The Sea Ray was a travel companion, there were 11 of us. In poor conditions, there is little that can be done even if you are right next to another boat. I have tried transferring passengers to my boat in relatively flat seas and it is extremely difficult, much less with 2 to 3 foot seas. One of our biggest foolish choices was giving a bit of reliance to the weather apps telling us that seas were 2 to 3 feet. When we arrived in Ft. Laud the apps said only 3 to 5. Of course, no one can predict pop up storms which is what we ran into. As I mention at the halfway point in the video, "looks like smooth sailing from here to Fort Lauderdale," 10 minutes later pop up storm number 1, then 2.

[@adamb13]

@@sandbarserenity "Of course, no one can predict pop up storms which is what we ran into" --- google and read about CAPE, "convective available potential energy." it is essentially a measure of volatility in the atmosphere. if the values are too high, there is a high likelihood of unforecasted storms to develop randomly, ESPECIALLY in the summer afternoons off the florida coast!! welcome to boating.

[@sandbarserenity]

Awesome thank you, great tip. Is there an app that you use that displays this info so it is readily available?

[@sandbarserenity]

I just found that index in my Windy app. Thanks so much!

[@jeffhewitt2181]

In the keys we fish that weather weekly

[@sandbarserenity]

Hahaha, indeed!! I've been there many times catching lobster in foul weather too!

[@rotaxrider]

I was going to give my 2 cents but seen other have. You were lucky this time.

[@sandbarserenity]

Indeed, plenty of loose change in the comments. Yes we had a sporty trip! The video of the awesome days preceding this video will drop soon.

[@chrispotter3680]

Everybody looks nervous except for Grandpa he like fuck yeah let's go do it again 🤙👊 surf's up dudes

[@sandbarserenity]

he was definitely chill and focused!

[@michaelw3809]

Great fun

[@sandbarserenity]

indeed it was, what a challenge! Also not ever doing it again!

[@johnkiely8966]

Thank you for showing me what not to do.

[@sandbarserenity]

Indeed!!

[@chachi1970]

never surf a following sea. it can cause broaching. a dangerous situation.. read up on it. Always stay on the back side of the wave in front of you, or run the troughs

[@sandbarserenity]

Great comment thank you.

[@Maxbfishing]

Rule 1. BIGGER BOAT. Rule 2. Don't be this guy ❤

[@sandbarserenity]

Amen to both. View this as an educational video!

[@bahamadreaming]

Thanks be to God Almighty, you made it home safely!

[@sandbarserenity]

Indeed, we were praying 🙏

[@michaelw3809]

2 hrs weather window? That's hilarious. I think the next time you mention to the wives hey honey do you want to go to Bimini this weekend their answers might be different

[@sandbarserenity]

To clarify what I said, we only needed a needed a two hour weather window to make the trip. The actual window was 3.5 plus. The pop up storms worked against us. We left at 7am and arrived at 9:15. Weather didn't arrive in Fort Lauderdale until around 11.

[@mattyjdyoutub]

How is fuel an issue in a 55 mile trip? Maybe you need a bigger boat? This seems like you are trying to replace foolishness and ignorance with bravery and intelligence. Never should have left in these conditions.

[@sandbarserenity]

Fuel was not really an issue, I had enough to burn at 2 gallons a mile, plus reserve. I finished with 65 gallons remaining. Enough to do the trip all over again. I am, however, always conscious of fuel burn, especially when storms pop up like in this video. This is an educational video. Unfortunately for us, the weather apps told us seas were going to be 1 to 2 feet when we left. The apps updated to show 3 to 5 feet when we arrived in Fort Lauderdale. Nothing can predict pop up storms. So you take what shows up and adapt to the conditions presented.

[@richbowie76]

GOOD IDEA !

[@sandbarserenity]

It seemed to work out well with these specific conditions. Adapt and find solutions for everything! Calm seas never made good captains!

[@Cappy22279]

A few thoughts. You were in an area of unstable tropical weather. Knowing this, you should have stayed put. No one in your group wanted to be the guy saying NO. This could have been a disaster because you had a “window of opportunity”. Several things stand out. Life jackets should have been put on and I mean the real deal, not jet ski floatation devices. Color of clothing. Too many dark tops. Rescue teams cannot see you if you are wearing a dark color. A bow rider? Oh my God. No no no. Having numerous boats travel together is a good idea, but no number of boats can compensate for rough sea conditions. You are very very fortunate to have come through that ordeal. I hope you get a different boat for future crossings. Stay inshore with that SeaRay. However, you did handle the boat well, and I am so glad you all survived. It is a very BIG ocean and your passengers could have been swallowed up in an instant. Life is precious, and the sea doesn’t have any pity. None.

[@sandbarserenity]

Brilliant comments, thank you for the constructive information. Yes, mistakes were made and we are all better for it now. My post trip analysis included a lot of what you advised...we are far better captains after exiting the storms than prior to going in. Concepts are now real! I have a Boston Whaler 280 Vantage. The SeaRay was with us and tucked in behind a 330 Outrage to dampen the swells. Still a tense and rough ride for them. Thank you for writing.

[@jasoncoleman8133]

@@sandbarserenity Great video! You're too kind to these "captains" critiquing you, and your groups every move. 90% of these neckbeards have never been on anything more than a canoe. Hell, half of them think you are onboard the Sea Ray. Considering the fact the storm was going to linger for 3 days, I would have crossed as well. Anyone, and I mean anyone with an ounce of salt in their blood could have made that crossing on ANY of the vessels in your little armada (lol). That Whaler was built for conditions EXACTLY like this. Great job on the crossing and the fuel consumption.

[@sandbarserenity]

Finally someone who really understands the situation and knows what a Whaler can do. Thank you!!! You are my new best friend!

[@Joey-nq2ec]

Those aren't 7 footers, maybe 4 to 5

[@sandbarserenity]

Unfortunately, we all had cameras down during the higher wave heights. For most of the trip and during storm 1 you are absolutely correct. 4 to 5 was the norm. Later on the wave heights we're higher than my hard top...easily 7.

[@djboogieboy]

Why not just stay in and wait for the storm to pass.🤷

[@sandbarserenity]

The storm would not be over for three additional days.

[@JaimeBobby1776]

Why are you so concerned about recording in a small bow rider? In a boat that small you should be waiting out bad weather.

[@sandbarserenity]

The weather was going to last until Friday , 3.5 days more.

[@rski1036]

@@sandbarserenity So what, and if you were in that much of a hurry there's an airport with 5,000 ft. runway on South Bimini.

[@sandbarserenity]

Lol...to clarify, a 3.5 hour window to cross and only needed two. Storms occurring on the seas is common. If you watch the Bimini trip video of events that occurred before this crossing you will see storms in many shots in the distance. You don't just cancel because a rain storm or waves pop up. 5 to 7 is completely manageable. But don't misunderstand me, I am not nor was I wanting to get into the storms. I had a camera so I used it. Now, you can make your own judgments in the future about storms and strategies based on what you saw I encountered.

[@sandrawesseln9619]

I’ve made that crossing dozens of times in 50 -60’ sport fish boats. You shouldn’t have done that.

[@sandbarserenity]

I'll go with you next time!

[@kevinmason3141]

not to bright hey?

[@sandbarserenity]

Not the best moments, but definitely educational and we learned that when weather apps tell you seas are 1 to 2 feet (as they did at our departure time), you may want to apply your own knowledge and not trust them. When we arrived in Fort Lauderdale the apps still only showed 3 to 5 foot seas. Technology cannot account for pop-up storms that last less than hour.

[@johnm1619]

Conditions weren't good when you left

[@sandbarserenity]

They were 3 foot seas when we left. Definitely foreshadowing events to come.

[@joerectifier]

Sheeeeit……Boston Whaler sayin ……”meh, I didn’t sign up for this little stuff….wheres the real stuff, dawg”. I thought this was a good video and the call to roll on the wave direction was a smart call….still the Whaler 280 is a big bad boat and made with this kind of thing in mind. Awesome boat.

[@sandbarserenity]

Yes it is and it ate up the waves no problem! I was more apprehensive at first but as I saw how brilliantly the boat was performing my confidence grew. Definitely a better captain now than before entering the storm. Thanks for your comment. Calm seas never made great sailors!

[@joerectifier]

@@sandbarserenity I would also have been apprehensive and on high alert….these things are going to happen and you stayed calm and focused on solutions. Working with and reading the water and patience - kinda like boating version of Floyd Mayweather - and the confidence inspiring Whaler 😎👍🏻

[@sandbarserenity]

Your comments are too kind, thank you! Yes, that is exactly what happened. At a minimum I hope this video helps others who may get caught in similar situations in the future, which is why I spent so much time detailing the context and my results in the video. By the way, here is the video of the trip prior to the storms. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoiyiqGfaraqnJo

[@BillSailor]

It's only 50 miles? We run 120 to Walkers in same seas😂

[@sandbarserenity]

Then you, sir, are the definition of awesome!! 😎

[@sandbarserenity]

What boat do you have??

[@paulmanoogian7646]

looking like deadliest catch there for a second

[@sandbarserenity]

Hahaha, so true. Love that show. It did get worse than what was on video. Had to put the camera down for that time. Not something we ever want to repeat!

[@mg8718]

7 FT waves is childs play.

[@sandbarserenity]

Yes, after going through them, it could have been far worse. My Whaler ate the waves up no problem.

[@mg8718]

@@sandbarserenity The Whaler can get you home alive.

[@sandbarserenity]

Yes, that is exactly why I purchased it. I also bought this exact power combination so if I lost an engine I could still get on plane with one engine. Other models would not be able to do so. I have lost engines, twice, on prior boats in the Bahamas. Not a fun experience.

[@TheCornucopiaProject-bd5jk]

95% of boating incidents and dangerous situations are self made. You decide how much of this fits in the 5% and 95% brackets

[@keithsims5109]

Not sure why you would want to put yourself in danger like that, I would have told y'all to go ahead, I am staying put! happy you made it home, but I think you wouldn't do that again right

[@sandbarserenity]

💯...not doing that again. But much more skilled after the storms than before!

[@nicklohmann-mo2km]

I’ll wait… Thax though

[@sandbarserenity]

Yes, no issues with that strategy too!

[@JoeThornFreedom]

I know you’re not a sailor in the traditional sense of the word, but you do realize predict wind works for all vessels, not just sailboats

[@sandbarserenity]

Indeed! But just as important is CAPE energy . Wind is good to know but it is not complete. CAPE energy is the ingredient that turns good days bad very quickly.

[@dodgechargersrt]

Basically a lot of luck on this one. You have what amounts to a vessel geared for the intercostal, not open ocean. Again, you held steady and had luck was on your side. But had a big wave inundated the bow, you would have been in some real trouble. I know you had an EPIRB and a six-person life raft. Leaving in a flotilla bought you some safety.

[@sandbarserenity]

@dodgechargersrt yes, we had 11 boats, epirbs, marine dye, and more. Made these crossing many times and hit rough weather before. I absolutely will take a little luck every time I cross. I would disagree with you on the boat characterization though, a Boston Whaler 280 Vantage is not an intercoastal boat. It is designed to be on the ocean and push through this type of weather. I bought the Whaler precisely for these storms, as I got tired of getting beat up in lesser boats. The Whaler performed brilliantly and inspired great confidence through the ordeal.

[@mg8718]

Try the Perfect Storm in the North Atlantic with 100 ft waves. They never made it back.

[@sandbarserenity]

No thank you! I will leave that to people far more crazy than I am.

[@controlledchaos2000]

Holy smokes. Would've been white knuckled the whole way.

[@sandbarserenity]

We were, but you also focus on each wave and are pretty occupied!

[@adamsyclone7409]

Maybe check the weather and your surroundings next time or take shelter in a closer port

[@sandbarserenity]

I think we were more on edge than the boats were. My Boston Whaler 280 Vantage performed brilliantly and ate up the waves. It was far more capable than I knew. But yes, not looking for a repeat.

[@dcs2021]

Wow! Omg

[@sandbarserenity]

yes, the waves were pretty high but spirits were up!

[@Renaud-n5f]

It probably challenged you but for sure not the Whaler, that thing can handle much worst condition believe me...

[@sandbarserenity]

100%, the Whaler performed brilliantly. I had some white knuckles to start, but gained tremendous confidence once I saw how the boat was handling it. Never felt afraid. Much better captain now than before the storm.

[@johnsikora4235]

Had 19 foot BW Montauk out in similar conditions off Sandy hook. with a little knowledge, seamanship, and a working motor, no big deal. Still decided to get back into Sandy hook bay. What if things got worse or motor problem. Won't sink, but can be flipped. Ocean is the real boss and you better respect it! Was in a 15 ft Sportcraft Sportsman in much worse conditions in late 70's with my Dad. I was young and overconfident and Dad would risk his life to fish. We were both nuts! LSS I got back from Shrewsbury Rocks to Atlantic Highlands safely. Skill and luck was on my side that day. Would I ever do that again? HELL NO!

[@sandbarserenity]

@johnsikora4235 Great stories! I never look to go through it again either! But as you well found out, you are a much better captain after going through those storms than prior to entering! But I'm definitely not looking for a repeat performance!

[@aerostadt4693]

Loss of an engine would have been disaster. Loss of power from saturation would have been disaster. Whoever was running bowriders should lose their insurance.

[@sandbarserenity]

I have had the unfortunate experience twice, of losing an engine. Specifically purchased my BW 280 Vantage because it can easily get on plane with 1 engine.

[@shawnl3151]

Please get some inflatable pfds with beacons and whistles for adults it’s nearly impossible to even see much less rescue someone in large waves especially going at high speeds you’ll never slow down in time and spot them. For kids glad you had jet ski jackets but you should swap them out for offshore jackets in this weather.

[@sandbarserenity]

100% facts

[@jackdonaghy1281]

Good sailors aren't made on calm days

[@sandbarserenity]

Brilliant! So very true, we are much better captains now than prior to entering the storms!

[@austinstults7033]

Who in their right mind would cross to the Bahamas in a ski boat

[@sandbarserenity]

I have a Boston Whaler 280 Vantage. It is far from a ski boat. What is amazing is that people make this crossing all the time on waverunners and bay boats. Search in KZbin for it , tons of videos.

[@austinstults7033]

@@sandbarserenity the sea ray 25

[@sandbarserenity]

The sea ray had a rough go. It tucked in behind a 330 Outrage that was knocking down the waves down.

[@SignatureServices-uz2df]

Bet you'll never do that again.

[@sandbarserenity]

It is not high on the list of repeat activites!

[@royleeborn6445]

Engine failure would have taken a few generations this day.

[@sandbarserenity]

I have lost engines to and from the Bahamas. That is always on my mind unlike others who have never experienced that issue. I purposely bought this boat and engine combo because I could make it back on 1 engine. Stayed with naturally aspirated over supercharged, avoided larger heavier boats etc. This is always on my mind. I have lost two engines prior to to this on two trips. This is a newer boat (2023) with 50 hours, so I was very confident in the package and had it serviced just prior to leaving.

[@aaronerskine3401]

would have been safer to go get your trucks and trailers and trailer the boats home rather than cross that water

[@sandbarserenity]

We were leaving from Bimini, trucks were on the other side! 😁

[@MrGbustamante]

That was not fun! I bet many of the guests will never make the trip again.

[@sandbarserenity]

There may be one or two who are challenged, but practically everyone else accepted the challenge and fought through and posted series of texts stating ready to go again!! The storms did not have the effect you would genuinely think!!

[@henrycole8705]

A rain suit is all thats needed

[@sandbarserenity]

We have since purchased them!

[@surfstarcc1]

So many haters in the comments, everyone is an armchair Captain around here. I've been making a similar crossing to walkers and Grand cay for about 30 years now and it can happen to anyone.

[@sandbarserenity]

Thank you so much for your comments. Storms can pop up at any time despite your best plans. If you wait for perfect, then you will never leave the dock!

[@surfstarcc1]

@@sandbarserenity in 2019 we hit a nasty storm on our way home from Grand Cay to Sebastian inlet, my Radar was torn off the top, lost my outriggers, electronics box was torn off the top with 2 radios and cell phones, bow rail broke some welds, but we made it home safe. The ocean can be a very angry place

[@sandbarserenity]

Indeed it can! I can't imagine what that was like! Wow

[@enricoderojassarson5596]

Should have waited a day as soon as you stuck the nose out at Bimini. Boating on a schedule never goes well.

[@sandbarserenity]

Indeed, schedules are not good. It would not have been just a day. Rather, it was going to be 3 to 4 before the system blew through. Conditions were only going to deteriorate worse from Tuesday to Friday.

[@davidharris7235]

Just don't cross during a storm.....duh.

[@sandbarserenity]

Yes, I wish it was always that straightforward and that weather forecasts were accurate!

[@mikephillips9311]

Those are simply squalls, NOT storms lol!

[@sandbarserenity]

@mikephillips9311 squalls that were part of the larger storm system that I show in the second half of the video.

[@watchman11000]

Incredibly dangerous to have the bow cover off of a bowrider in heavy seas. Lucky to not have submarined it into a big wave and swamped it.

[@sandbarserenity]

It's no different than a center console, and I have never seen a bow cover on a center console. For that matter, I have never seen anyone make the crossing with a bow cover on in any inclimate conditions. I understand the concept of why you may put it on, but in reality I have never seen it. Bow covers are not designed to withstand the force that would be delivered from surging water. They easily unsnap with just a light tug. They are made to protect from the sun, not several hundred pounds of water. My boat, the, Boston Whaler 280 Vantage is designed to evacuate water quickly and withstand the tough conditions in the video. That is specifically why I bought it.

[@KMT15]

Honestly pretty stupid with a single engine boat

[@sandbarserenity]

I have twin 300s on my Boston Whaler 280 Vantage.

[@sandbarserenity]

I would not attempt going offshore with only one engine!

[@rski1036]

Remember that famous line; "I think we need a bigger boat." Open bow & Center Console boats simply don't belong out there.

[@sandbarserenity]

Those types of vessels are the overwhelming majority of boats in this environment. They go all the way up to 52 ft. These vessels are plenty capable of handling these situations. But as always, buy quality not size!

[@tlo2134]

This is nothing. I made that crossing on a 5 foot paddle board during hurricane Andrew, Katrina, and Ivan with my wife riding in the bow and my two sons in the stern.

[@sandbarserenity]

@@tlo2134 Please come with us next time! We could use someone with your wit and skills!

[@tlo2134]

@@sandbarserenity you got it homie. And in case you breakdown on the way I can also tow you back to the dock. Done that before towing a 40 footer with the paddle board and fam on board no problem. Thats how I roll.

[@sandbarserenity]

@@tlo2134 love it! Good man and paddleboard to have around in a pinch!

[@willraefpv]

Can only push your luck so many times…

[@sandbarserenity]

100%, never looking for a repeat performance! But much better prepared now than before the storm!