light bulb moment

[cdavisdb]

Now here is one that might really get you thinking.

Before too long there will be car ferries running from Florida to Cuba. Several companies getting ready. My lovely and very innovative wife asked me, "Why not hitch the trailer and the boat to the truck and take it all to Cuba?" Why not indeed? It would be one heck of a trip. Cuba has more beautiful and undeveloped anchorages than most dogs have fleas.

Does anybody know anything about Cuban roads? Boat yards where you could get the boat in the water (I doubt boat ramps exist)? What would you need for such a thing? Slings, lifting points? What do the Cubans have? Is good fuel available? Are there safe places to leave a truck and trailer for a week or two, maybe leave the boat and trailer and come back more than once? Anybody know anything about cruising the Cuban "out islands"? Any other info out there?

Speak to me, O ye experts!

[kmoose]

I think a new gathering opportunity has just arisen! I'm in!

[Terry England]

Originally Posted by kmoose

I think a new gathering opportunity has just arisen! I'm in!

Si, me Amigos.
Bahia de las Cochino, Segundo.
As Mark Twain said "What turns out to be Trouble, usually starts out as Fun".
I think they still have firing squads down there.
But, I'm in too!

[NoBones]

As luck would have it Blondie and I just renewed our Pass Ports..

September is out for us, as Mexico and the Caribbean is on the menu.

We are in for this one !!

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by NoBones

As luck would have it Blondie and I just renewed our Pass Ports..

September is out for us, as Mexico and the Caribbean is on the menu.

We are in for this one !!

IT is holding out here.
Havana to GC?
More pics please.

[kmoose]

I think I will make it in a two stage trip. Cayo to Key West then on to Havana. I don't want trailering to KW to suck any of the fun out of this. I also want to ave an intact truck and trailer when I get back.

[McGillicuddy]

That's a couple of long rides. Cafe cubano será muy necessario. Sounds like a great adventure. Wish I could commit to such a trip. Gunkholin' Cuban calas must be awesome. I imagine there are some lightly trampled reefs and wreck all over.

[cdavisdb]

Looks like I might be able to scare up some company.

A brief look at Google Earth shows zillions of fabulous looking anchorages, reef, mangrove fishing areas, etc. Now, just how doable is this? I've got some feelers out and done a little research. Car ferries will run from Miami and maybe Key west. The Cuban road system is quite good. You can get to most major destinations. Secondary roads can be rough, but, with some research, that ought to be solvable. Gas apparently is available most places. Two big issues are how to get the boat in the water and how to find protected parking. Another is how protected will Americans be who are trailing around very expensive toys.

Anybody with any info, please chime in.

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by cdavisdb

Looks like I might be able to scare up some company.

A brief look at Google Earth shows zillions of fabulous looking anchorages, reef, mangrove fishing areas, etc. Now, just how doable is this? I've got some feelers out and done a little research. Car ferries will run from Miami and maybe Key west. The Cuban road system is quite good. You can get to most major destinations. Secondary roads can be rough, but, with some research, that ought to be solvable. Gas apparently is available most places. Two big issues are how to get the boat in the water and how to find protected parking. Another is how protected will Americans be who are trailing around very expensive toys.

Anybody with any info, please chime in.

More than a toy. A way out. Don't imagine you can take anything more than a flare gun.

Also a way to make some real money with fares back. Not trying to bring you down.

[kmoose]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

That's a couple of long rides. Cafe cubano será muy necessario. Sounds like a great adventure. Wish I could commit to such a trip. Gunkholin' Cuban calas must be awesome. I imagine there are some lightly trampled reefs and wreck all over.

Well, if we trailer to Naples and find a decent place to park for a week it's only 90 miles to Key West, less than 4 hours running 25 knots. Grab a room on the water or just snooze on the deck, fuel up and strike out first light and be smoking a fine Cuban by noon in a cabana bar. If I didn't do too much running around I wouldn't even need fuel until I got back to KW.

The wife is completely on board and excited to get moving forward with a plan. I'll start doing some research but there are already major fishing tournaments scheduled there next year so the logistics may already be in place.