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Cat Island

J

jukelemon

New member
Louisville, KY
Aircraft Year
1977
Aircraft Type
112B Hot Shot
Reg Number
N377SB
Serial Number
526
Hi all.

When I was asking about the Bahamas in general... I think someone mentioned Cat Island? Joel maybe?

I am thinking about planning a trip to the islands again to correspond to when I would be picking up the plane after the overhaul. Why not... I am already going to be down that far :D

Thanks all.
 
Re: Cat Island

Yes me - My favorite Island - Pretty remote, not very populated, great beaches and friendly people.




Word of Caution - I Think I would fly the plane for a while before heading out over open Ocean!!
 
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Re: Cat Island

Commander91gm said:
Yes me - My favorite Island - Pretty remote, not very populated, great beaches and friendly people.




Word of Caution - I Think I would fly the plane for a while before heading out over open Ocean!!
Click to expand...
Thanks Joel. Any specific places in mind?

Well... I can either worry about flying over mountains (going home) or flying over the ocean :D

I really hope there is no anxiety about flying with new everything... that would be very disappointing. Why do you mention that? Just curious.
 
Re: Cat Island

I have done engines two times now and no matter how good the shop you will have a shake down period. Unless you do it yourself
no one ever gets everything correct the first time with that major an event.


I wouldn't even head home until I had put a number of hours on it near the shop that did the work.



My favorite place is Pigeon key - Very remote, right on the beach quite a way's from Arthurs town airport.


https://pigeoncaybahamas.com/#


Fernandez Bay is also very nice but a bit pricey. (New Bight Airport)



https://www.fernandezbayvillage.com/


Hawks nest doesn't have that much to offer but they have their own runway (one of the best in the islands). Restaurant, Marina , Bar really hopping if you happen to be there for the big fishing tournament - one of the biggest parties in the out islands.
Pretty cool to land, park your plane and just walk into the place a few steps away!


https://hawks-nest.com/
 
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Re: Cat Island

Ok on the engine.

I was hoping that the AP would be covered under my Open Pilot insurance, but he does not have enough hours in type.

I guess I will have to have an extended stay down there and just fly around.
 
Re: Cat Island

Commander91gm said:
I have done engines two times now and no matter how good the shop you will have a shake down period. Unless you do it yourself
no one ever gets everything correct the first time with that major an event.


I wouldn't even head home until I had put a number of hours on it near the shop that did the work.



My favorite place is Pigeon key - Very remote, right on the beach quite a way's from Arthurs town airport.


https://pigeoncaybahamas.com/#


Fernandez Bay is also very nice but a bit pricey. (New Bight Airport)



https://www.fernandezbayvillage.com/


Hawks nest doesn't have that much to offer but they have their own runway (one of the best in the islands). Restaurant, Marina , Bar really hopping if you happen to be there for the big fishing tournament - one of the biggest parties in the out islands.
Pretty cool to land, park your plane and just walk into the place a few steps away!


https://hawks-nest.com/
Click to expand...

question for you......are there airport fees if you just island hop for a weekend??
 
Re: Cat Island

No fee's on the small public airports - The bigger one's with a FBO like North Eleuthera' Marsh Harbor and Stella Marris will charge you if you don't buy gas - Private one's might depending on the mood they are in.
Hawk's nest is a good example - Fly in to drop someone off and they will charge you.
Stop to eat at the restaurant probably not.
You are still required to pay the $50 customs fee and the departure tax per individual. I think it is now about $30) Need to go into and leave from an airport of entry.



Used to be easier and cheaper to fly there for lunch!!
 
Re: Cat Island

No fees at Governors Harbor minus the required entry. No ramp charges etc.
 
Re: Cat Island

Jason,

NO WAY I'd take a freshly o'hauled eng across the water without putting a few hours on it first. Surely you haven't forgotten that hollow feeling in your stomach while watching that oil pressure gauge while you were feet wet earlier this month . . .

If something needs attention - you very well could be on an island trying to coordinate with your repairer. (hope your luck is better than mine, but I've never had any major work come out 100% the first time.)
 
Re: Cat Island

Jamesdub said:
Jason,

NO WAY I'd take a freshly o'hauled eng across the water without putting a few hours on it first. Surely you haven't forgotten that hollow feeling in your stomach while watching that oil pressure gauge while you were feet wet earlier this month . . .

If something needs attention - you very well could be on an island trying to coordinate with your repairer. (hope your luck is better than mine, but I've never had any major work come out 100% the first time.)
Click to expand...
Fair point. Thanks
 
Re: Cat Island

Jason,

My personal comfort level would be putting at least 10 or more hours and then an oil change, before taking her across the big blue water. Getting stuck in the islands anywhere other than Nassau and Freeport is going to be a huge PITA.
 
Re: Cat Island

50 miles or so over relatively warm water(with survival gear) is certainly sensible. Fly fairly high and you just have the bit in the middle to worry about.

Looking at recent accidents in the area, WEATHER is the main bugaboo. Another instance where being a weather geek is helpful. One should never let rental reservations or a return to work schedule control the flight decisions. I know, basic stuff, just saying.
 
Re: Cat Island

wiguy said:
50 miles or so over relatively warm water(with survival gear) is certainly sensible. Fly fairly high and you just have the bit in the middle to worry about.

Looking at recent accidents in the area, WEATHER is the main bugaboo. Another instance where being a weather geek is helpful. One should never let rental reservations or a return to work schedule control the flight decisions. I know, basic stuff, just saying.
Click to expand...




Cat Island is 260NM across water. Yes there is a few landing options but none of them have any service available.


Not a good decision to fly it with a new untested engine.
 
Re: Cat Island

I completely agree with Joel.
 
Re: Cat Island

OWT? If you have a new engine, if it's going to fail, it'll fail in the 25 hours? I seem to remember a number that if you get by, it's probably a good engine and will last a while
 
Re: Cat Island

Commander91gm said:
-----------
Not a good decision to fly it with a new untested engine.
Click to expand...

Joel,
Agree. I recall being halfway from La Paz to El Fuerte (Mx mainland) over the Sea of Cortez, suspecting that I had a bad mag, 4 souls and saying, "goodness, this is stupid"----but being halfway, kept going.
Ol' John P.
 
Re: Cat Island

atjudge said:
OWT? If you have a new engine, if it's going to fail, it'll fail in the 25 hours? I seem to remember a number that if you get by, it's probably a good engine and will last a while
Click to expand...
So... people who buy new planes with 0 hours just fly around their local airport until they have more than 25 hours?

I am asking in all seriousness.

This idea that one can spend 30k on an engine and it fail in 10-25 hours is a bit out of my logic zone. I am sure anything can happen... but what are the real %'s of this? I cannot imagine a shop staying in business if this occurred on a regular basis.
 
Re: Cat Island

I will tell you that it will take almost that long for you to have a level of comfort with the plane to commit to any long trips.
I know after I changed out mine I seem to hold my breath a bit each time I flew it and it took a while to get the confidence back.
I think that the number of hours to get there is different for each of us.
25 might be a bit long but getting the first oil change done and checking for metal gives one a bunch of confidence.
When I did mine I did not leave the Phoenix area (where there are a lot of options) for a while.


"This idea that one can spend 30k on an engine and it fail in 10-25 hours is a bit out of my logic zone. I am sure anything can happen... but what are the real %'s of this? I cannot imagine a shop staying in business if this occurred on a regular basis."


it does happen more than one might like - we are all human. The reason good shops are considered so is not just for the quality of their work but how they treat the customer when it does happen.

And it will - hopefully not to you but the chance exists and if they are going to fail it is usually in the first 25 hours or so.
 
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Re: Cat Island

Jason; I'll ck and see if I can find someone to do this for you.

Judi

jukelemon said:
Ok on the engine.

I was hoping that the AP would be covered under my Open Pilot insurance, but he does not have enough hours in type.

I guess I will have to have an extended stay down there and just fly around.
Click to expand...
 
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