Fuel stops

A 58YF with naturals will get 1 NMPG at 9.5kts but in ideal conditions. Calm seas, light wind and no current. If you slow down to 8.5kts you will significantly increase range.

You need to understand that even just 1/2 kts above hull speed will drastically increase fuel burn. At 10kts you re looking at 10 to 15% reduction in range compared to 9.5 kts

And don’t forget another 1GPH for the gen.

with a new to you boat, I woudl absolutely stop in Key West to top off the tanks, replace the fuel filters, confirm fuel burn, etc

you re also going to want to calibrate dipsticks for the tanks. Forget the gauges. Hatteras fiberglass keel tanks are tapered at the bottom following the hull so when the gauge shows 1/2 tank you really have 1/3 left.

And what engines are doing this magic?

Why would you run Port Charlotte to Cayman? The more conventional route is Key West to Isla Mujeres or Cancun. That will not even challenge you on fuel.

More difficult becomes once you leave Belize City. We had 9000+ gallons so didn't study carefully but captains I know who do it regularly, normally take a few drums. In fact, the best resource I know is Capt J and when he returns he can likely be of great help.

I would not do this without a knowledgeable captain.

lol, yep...

Agreed strongly. I think 2 gallons per mile is a really safe number with which to work. Hull speed for the boat is just under 10 knots. Currents will likely slow that down considerably.

Agreed on the tanks...best way to get to know your tanks is to fill them from empty in increments, checking gauges as well as marking dip sticks.

Hull speed is commonly calculated as the Sq root of LWL x 1.3. Yeah I know some say 1.33. Same thing.

LWL on a 58YF is 52/53’ or so yielding a hull speed of 9.38

LWL would have to be 40’ to only give a 8.2 kts hull speed.

I ve done a quite few thousand miles with my own 53MY as well as other’s 53w and 58s and at 9.2 kts you will get 1 nmpg excluding gen, current and wave action.

Sorry if many of us assumed inexperience in your original post but there were a few red flags in there

All anyone had to go on was your initial post. While the standard is Key West to Cancun, you were talking Port Charlotte to Cayman. You also talked Cayman to Panama. Totally illogical for someone worrying about fuel. You were talking 1 nmpg at 10 knots which is an ideal condition dream and all on a boat new to you. Your post didn't reflect the experience you now claim.

If you had all this experience you could easily go to many resources such as Active Captain and see where to fuel. You're still insisting on avoiding Key West. Why not make it the shortest possible run to Isla Mujeres and be able to run at cruise. It can be beautiful conditions for that run but for a limited time. I'd far rather run it in 15 to 20 hours than add anything to it. Key West is your last chance to leave US waters full.

Now you say you have a captain as a resource, but you asked us. Why Belize to Panama? You don't like the countries in between? You need to learn to plan trips yourself as well as your current skills are quite weak. The first fuel stop in Panama is Boca del Toro. I would want to fuel as near there as reasonable. Plenty of fuel in Roatan. That still leaves you about a 600 nm run. There is a marina on Isla San Andres, a Colombian Island off the coast of Nicaragua. I haven't been there and know little of it other than that they claim to have diesel.

Roatan to Bocas del Toro is very makeable at hull speed if you get 0.8 nmpg. A reasonable run if you have a couple or three drums just in case. I'd strongly encourage some test runs and real fuel calculations in advance and then check and recheck in Cancun or Isla Mujeres to see if the numbers are verified.

What size crew or captains with your talk of hull speed. If just two of you, that can get very tough with overnight runs. I'd run faster during daylight where possible and I'd make more fuel stops along the way. Regardless, Roatan and Bocas del Toro would be firm in my planning. While I mentioned Belize, I'd likely skip it. I'd make a stop in Cozumel or Aventuras and leave Mexico from there with my next stop in Roatan.

A trip of Key West to Isla Mujeres or Cancun to Aventuras or Cozumel to Roatan, to Bocas del Toro only gives you one long run and that is 600 nm or so.

In addition, the run and planned stop in Key West gives you a lot of time to shake the boat out, confirm your burns and speeds, and to play with idling back an engine to lengthen your range. There's ample experimentation and calculating that can be done prior to topping off just as you leave the US.

Going to probably upset a few "Old Regulars" but, I'm old enough that I don't much care about that. There are too many here that can't wait to tell people they don't have enough experience, don't know what they are doing, need an expert to hold their hand at every danged turn, on and on and on. There is NOTHING special about captaining a boat, any person with an average intelligence and half a bucket of common sense can learn to do it.

Will mistakes be made, shrug, that's how we learn. Will "experts" (half the people of this forum if you ask them are experts) tsk, tsk you? That's as certain of the sun rising in the east. But, but, but, you could die.. Hot news, we are all going to die and I for one would much rather it be from trying, failing, learning and trying again,,, or not.

Someone asks for fuel stops, then give him your best ideas on FUEL STOPS, not hiring another "expert" and telling him he hasn't enough "experience". Plain and simple, get off yer high horse... And now I will get off my soap box.

Have made this trip (3 times) utilizing a different route, object being to obtain most favorable sea conditions. Thru the Bahamas, last convenient fuel stop Flying Fish Marina (Clarence Town) Long Island. Next fuel is stop Port Antonio Jamaica by passing the Eastern most point of Cuba then direct to Port Antonio. Port Antonio direct to Colon (approximately 600nm) staying at Shelter Bay Marina.

Glad that you stepped down. No need for being on top of that soap box to begin with, as in doing so you're not much better than those with the tsk tsk attitudes. The first post had enough hallmarks to warrant being called out to the nominal extent that it was. Why? Because "we're" out there on boats and have to interface with dangerously ill-prepared folks on a too-regular basis. I absolutely, positively know that I do not know-it-all, that I make mistakes. But I prepare, I study, I ask questions, listen, and then revisit my plans. But in doing so I'm careful to not be emotional about the responses that I receive when I ask. I ask, then I look for the useful information sent my way amidst the responses. I'm here to learn and to share what I know for those that need the hand, but I also know I am not here to make other posters better people along the way.

A boat this size is going to be very challenged to enjoy 1 NMPG in seas and currents. It certainly isn't going to enjoy that burn rate at 10 knots. When you blend that information into your very first post, well, you're going to get some eye rolls. Why? Do you deserve them? Maybe not, but equally "we" do not deserve to sharing the waterways with folks that may be putting themselves as well as ourselves into potential peril (via interaction).

Ask questions. Learn from the responses. Drop the emotion from having your feelings hurt. Be happy that ugly people with bad temperament are taking the time to actually respond and lend a hand. No need to try to make them better people. Focus on making yourself a better person, a better captain of your vessel. Same applies to the ugly people with the bad temperament. Yet here I am hoping that others become better people. Alas...

I like this route as well. Only traveled it once, but it would likely be my return path if making the trip again. But that's coming off the east coast of FL...I can see the merit of the alternative for the Gulf coast...