A number of readers have inquired about crossing the Gulf Stream in small boats, and the best time of the year to do so.

Now granted the definition of “small boat” is one of perspective.  To the captain of an ocean freighter, we’re all in small boats!  The context in which I see this question most often phrased, is most often talking about the boat usually under 30 feet, with little or no cabin for protection, and little or no ballast for stability.

Given the right weather, and the right crew, almost any boat can make the crossing from Florida to the Bahamas.  The captain of every vessel should be careful about the weather for the crossing, but the owners of a 23 foot open power boat must be much more selective than those on a 50 foot sailing vessel. 

Many boat owners make the trip to the Bahamas in relatively small open boats, but it seems that this is more popular in the summer months when the seas tend to be more flat.  In Bimini, you’ll often see families and couples make the run across the Gulf Stream in a small, fast, open power boat; spend the night in a hotel and return home on Sunday afternoon.  This can be a leisurely outing on a lazy summer weekend. 

On this web site, under “Tides and Weather”, I have referred visitors to NOAA’s weather data station at Settlement Point, West End, Grand Bahamas as a good indicator of current conditions in Abaco.  This location, however is on dry ground and gives little information about the Gulf Stream.  For current and historical data about the Gulf Stream, the visitor is referred to NOAA data buoy 41009, located off Cape Canaveral.  The graph provided is taken from the archived data from that data buoy.  You will notice that the mean wave height in the Gulf Stream is less in July than any other month.  Also note that the extremes are less this month as well.  Based upon this information, I tend to recommend May thru August as the best months for crossing in small boats.  Please further note that these wave heights are in METERS.

Useful weather links for checking the marine weather before a crossing:

This link publishes the written text version of what you'll hear if you listen to the Miami Coastal marine forecast (and out 60 miles)

On this link click on spgf1 for current conditions at west end Grand Bahamas
lkwf1 for current conditions at Lake Worth Inlet
and 41009 for current conditions in the Gulf Stream.

For historical data scroll down to buoys 41009 and 41010,
41009 best represents data in the Gulf Stream.