Dry torturgas question(s) | Florida Outdoor Forums

Laxcoach
Junior Member

Posts: 32

Dry torturgas question(s) Jul 3, 2024 20:20:41 GMT -5 via mobile

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Post by Laxcoach on Jul 3, 2024 20:20:41 GMT -5

Hi all,

I’m heading to south Florida for a month. Last year was light house point. This year I’m back to stock island / key west.

My wife wants to go to the tortugas for 1 or 2 nights.

I’ve got a 2020 sea fox 228 commander with a Yamaha 150 and 90 gallon tank.

I’m comfortable with the distance in terms of safety equipment. We have a PLB and I run out 30 miles to the stream without a thought (in good weather).

For me, it is all about weather forecast and gas.

But I have never really paid attention to gas mileage. I’ve seen YouTube channels with the same class of boat where they bring 20g of gas as a buffer for two nights plus fishing. If I brought 90+20, I wouldn’t want to come back with less than 30.

Mind you, my Yamaha + electronics are very accurate in terms of gas usage. So, I will have a pretty good idea how many gallons I’ve used along the way.

My thought is that I will do the ~35 mile western rocks marquesas fishing trip one day and get a gauge on running mileage.

Have any of you done this trip in a similar Cc? Any advice on gas needs? I know that depends on a lot of factors. Any tips?

lemaymiami
Junior Member

Posts: 81

Dry torturgas question(s) Jul 4, 2024 5:28:42 GMT -5

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Post by lemaymiami on Jul 4, 2024 5:28:42 GMT -5

Hook up with a second boat before making that trip - and along with that PLB - you really should have a full sized EPIRB...as well as SOLAS flares on board... I work out of a 17'skiff, am rarely ever offshore (and then not much more than ten miles. I have the required safety gear for "passenger for hire" vessel -type 1 PFDs (to SOLAS standards), SOLAS flares, as well as both the beacons I've mentioned...make sure your VHF is functioning properly... Each handheld SOLAS flare is around ten bucks, each parachute flare is around sixty dollars - but they'll fire off in really heavy rain and actually can be seen when needed...

With a bit of luck none of that safety gear will ever be needed - the day it is you'll wish you had more. That SOLAS designation stands for Safety Of Life At Sea - and it's the standard needed for an ocean crossing - much better gear than the cheap minimum stuff that recreational types are required to have.... Hope your trip goes well -but to me that second boat is your real insurance... As far as fuel goes - run your hull like an airplane as far as fuel goes - on third out, one third back - and that last third in reserve...None of this enough fuel to get there and back stuff, ever... Hope this helps

Last Edit: Jul 4, 2024 5:32:43 GMT -5 by lemaymiami

catseye
Junior Member

Posts: 22

Dry torturgas question(s) Jul 4, 2024 12:35:46 GMT -5

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Post by catseye on Jul 4, 2024 12:35:46 GMT -5

I carry a self inflating two person life raft and two PLB's. One of the PLB's stays on my person and the other is in a ditch bag. The main disadvantwge of a PLB is that it needsto be held upright to transmit while a EPiRB can transmit while floating. Two PLB's if not used at the same time will transmit as long as one EBIRB. And a 357 revolver to blash a shark that might deside to take s bite out of the small life raft. LOL

Last Edit: Jul 4, 2024 13:33:38 GMT -5 by catseye