GL: Route request

[Bob Austin]

Y(ou need to give us a bit more information about the boat and yourself.  How
long is the boat?  What is the rig?, what is the air draft? (mast tip off the
water).

There are two ways to go--and it may well be that the West Coast of Florida
directly up the tom Bigbeeway to the River system (Mast down) will be the best
and easiest route.  Check out on the conditions of the St Lawarce as suggested
!  Not really a benign trip--nor is the trip up the coast.  A boat going
either of these routes must have clean fuel, good filtering systems and be up
to an offshore passage in heavy weather.

Second question--is what is your experience?  I consider my self very
experienced, and would want good weather routing, radar profeciency and
probably a good crew--espeically if you are on any sort of a time schedule.
The easiest way is to go directly to Bermuda, Bermuda directly to the St.
Lawrance Sea Way--and then down.  But unless you have the skills, and the boat
is in shape to do this, I would recommend,you go down around Key West, up to
Pensacola/Mobile, Have the rig pulled, and either shipped or take it on deck,
on up the inland waterways, which have controlling depths of at least 9 feet.
Most the loaded barges are 9 foot draft--and 10 foot is not unheard of.  The
waterways are protected and the distance is signifantly shorter.

I took a boat drawling 6' 7" up the ICW with 62 1'/2" bridge clearance--ran
groung a couple of times---much eaiser  when I went directly to Bermuda from
S. Florida--less time and hassle.

Bob Austin