Mobile Bay to the Florida Keys

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Sat Oct 29, 2016 5:27 pm

In April I am going to take my boat from Dauphin Island to Islamorada. I have been there many times, some just to fish, some just vacationing, some both, but always by air or driving. This plan is to run the boat there, leave it a couple of months, returning to Mobile to work, but drive, go with a fishing buddy in a small private plane or fly down commercially to fish the boat 2-4 times, making the trip back before hurricane season. I have a friend on the dock at Dauphin Island who made the trip in 40 foot trawler last year. His boat is one of the many slow but fuel efficient displacement hull boats that make this trip, which is a leg of the "Great Loop". My plan is to make my FBC with newly remanufactured gasoline 454 Mercurisers a 7-8 knot boat, although running at cruising speed from time to time as well, and take this trip in two 5 day legs, leaving it at Tampa Bay after the first leg, coming to Mobile and work a week or two, return to Tampa and make the 5 day trip to the Keys, then to celebrate the voyage and to fish. Fuel economy is essential. I cruise at 2800 rpm and 15.5 knots loaded in perfect seas, with fuel consumption at 2/3 nautical mile per gallon. At 3000 rpm it is 17 knots but 1/2 nmpg. I am still gauging slower speeds. Last weekend was 8 knots at 1650 rpm and just below a nautical mile a gallon. Tomorrow I will try 1500 rpm at probably 7 knots and hope to get over 1 nmpg. I have bought and studied all the paper charts related to this trip. I have read the "great loop" blogs about this leg of the trip. Has anyone had experience with this type of trip in a 33 Bertram or similar boat, or with the waterways from Mobile Bay to the Keys? Dennis Knizley Knot Guilty IV 454 Mercruisers Dauphin Island, AL

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Sun Oct 30, 2016 12:27 pm

I've never done that trip so I can't help you but it sounds like a great time. I wish I had the time to run my boat down to Stuart and leave it for the winter. Maybe one day.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Mon Oct 31, 2016 4:23 pm

Buzz, Thanks for the reply. I do not have time to make this trip. I am going to take the time to the determent of my work. If not now I will put it off again and again and never take a trip like this. Dennis Knizley Knot Guilty IV 454 Mercruisers Dauphin Island, AL

downsouth58 · Post by **downsouth58** » Mon Jan 23, 2017 6:14 pm

Dennis, I bought my boat "Trinity" in Venice, Fl. I picked the boat up in Sarasota. So I made 500 miles of that trip. I would gladly share with you about our trip. I think you have my number. If not you can get it from Iris or Tim at Dauphin Island Marina. Mark Connor Trinity 315 Yanmars Mobile, Al

mikehedb · Post by **mikehedb** » Fri Feb 17, 2017 6:08 pm

I have made all of that trip, but not all in a B33. I live in SW Florida so make the trip to the keys annually. A couple of years ago I ran a 43 Ocean Alexander from Green Bay WI to Naples. Most people cross the Gulf from a little further west, but we left from Panama City and ran to Clearwater which was about 225 miles. From there south there are a number of places to get in off the Gulf and fuel up. Naples to Key West is about 110 miles, or you can get over to Marathon, but you shave off a lot of distance. I think Appilacicola(sp) is about 160 miles across the Gulf to Tarpon Springs. Good Luck.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 6:49 pm

April is about over and I am still tied up at the dock at Dauphin Island. I am not making the Islamorada trip this year. Work is just too overwhelming and with my best efforts I could not cut out the needed time. I am going to try the first leg from Dauphin Island to Carrabelle Island, just east of Apalachicola, in mid May. it will be going down the intra coastal, overnighting at Pensacola, Destin, Panama City then Apalachiola. On the return trip going outside, the plan is trolling the beach and if the weather allows get to the 100 fathom line 25 miles or so off Destin and dolphin, wahoo and bill fish. "Next year" I hope to make the Keys trip work. Hey, you New England guys, do you bill fish in May? Dennis Knizley Knot Guilty IV 454 Mercruisers Dauphin Island, AL

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Fri Apr 28, 2017 4:34 pm

The abbreviated trip is firming up for a May 14 departure. Just had the bottom painted and back overboard today. It looks like an eight to ten day boat ride. My wife is on board to Apalachicola or Carabelle. On that leg a sailboat friend and his wife, he with much experience, such as sailing from Dauphin Island across the Gulf to Cozumel and back, will be aboard. The wives leave at Apalachicola getting a ride back to Mobile. An experienced longtime fishing friend then joins the crew for a 3-4 day Gulf fishing trip home, weather permitting. Mark, did you do a straight shot across the Gulf or use the Intracoastal at times? Mike, if I do the southern leg next year, I would deeply appreciate your insight on that part of the trip. Dennis Knizley Knot Guilty IV 454 Mercruisers Dauphin Island, AL

downsouth58 · Post by **downsouth58** » Tue May 09, 2017 6:49 pm

Dennis, I stayed in the gulf. Clearwater to Panama City. Panama City to Dauphin Island. If I would have had time, I would have taken the ICW. Mark