Detailed Nekton Pilot Trip Report: Medio Reef June 6th - 13th

[H2O Gal]

Thanks for the report! I've got a trip booked to Medio reef in August and I can't wait!

 

[Mike_Mayfield]

Have a great trip H₂OGal. I loved the Nekton Pilot, especially the great crew, and would go back in a heartbeat. I would suggest you don't get cabin #7 though. The air conditioning is broken and it never got below about 80º. Hopefully Nekton will get that fixed when they get into dry dock this fall.

 

[cappyjon431]

Have a great trip H₂OGal. I loved the Nekton Pilot, especially the great crew, and would go back in a heartbeat. I would suggest you don't get cabin #7 though. The air conditioning is broken and it never got below about 80º. Hopefully Nekton will get that fixed when they get into dry dock this fall.

Cabins #3 & #7 have always run warmer than the other cabins on the boat, primarily because the extra windows facing the bow. The air handlers are not sufficient to offset the heat generated during the day. It is also important that nothing be placed on top of dresser unit, as this is where the A/C outflow vent is located. I can't tell you how many guests complain about the A/C not working (in all the cabins, not just 3&7) and when I went in to investigate I found stuff stored on the very top of the dresser, effectively blocking off the vent.

 

[Mike_Mayfield]

The extra windows are nice, but definitely a mixed blessing. They are nice to look out of from time to time, but we generally kept the curtains pulled all the time and even put towels over them to help block the heat. It doesn't help that cabins 3 & 7 are corner cabins, so they have two sides exposed to the heat of the day. I guess you take the bad with the good.

However, the air handler in cabin #7 apparently has a physical problem. The engineer came in and cleaned out the vents and air handler and put a fan on top of the dresser, which definitely helped. He said that the air handler has a partial blockage, so it doesn't work as well it is should. He was hoping to get it fixed when they go to dry dock. My suggestion would be to put a larger heat exchanger or two exchangers in the corner cabins, since they obviously get more heat that needs to be removed.

That said, we still had a great time and look forward to coming back on the Pilot someday. Even to cabin #7.

 

[tarponchik]

We did Rorqual trip exactly a year ago. It was about the same route (at least I remember Hawkbill at Bimini and both holes with sharks, big and small, but we also did drift dives at Dick's Rock and stopped at Water Cay where we dove through a swimthrough). We had an awesome chef named Jordan and just a dozen of divers on board. Our NITROX ranged from 29.0 to 31.6, according to my records.

 

[H2O Gal]

Thanks for the heads up about the AC problems. We did a liveaboard several years ago on a boat called the Gulf Stream Princess and none of the AC worked--it made for miserable nights trying to sleep. I'll be sure to call them and ask NOT to be in cabin 7. Do you have recommendations for the quietest parts of the boat? We're not night owls.......

 

[cappyjon431]

Thanks for the heads up about the AC problems. We did a liveaboard several years ago on a boat called the Gulf Stream Princess and none of the AC worked--it made for miserable nights trying to sleep. I'll be sure to call them and ask NOT to be in cabin 7. Do you have recommendations for the quietest parts of the boat? We're not night owls.......

On the Pilot, avoid Cabin #1, it is right next to the galley and you get early morning silverware/pots/pans noises. Cabin #3 is where the mooring line attaches to the boat so the roller makes squeaking noises during the night. Cabin #4 shares a wall with the salon right where the tv is located, so if you have night owl movie watchers, you hear the movie. Cabins #8 & #14 are closest to the generator spaces so when the night watchperson goes on rounds you can hear generator noises when the door is opened to the gen spaces.

In general, the upper cabins are noiser than the lower ones because people walking on the sundeck can sometimes be heard (if people don't tread softly at night).

Personally, if noise is a factor, I recommend 9,10, 15, 16, 17.

Not sure if the rorqual is numbered the same way.

 

[robint]

On both of our Nekton trips, everyone was crashed by 10pm (most people by 9pm actually) except for the last night when people partied later. We had NO problems going to sleep at all, ever. First trip we were downstairs, room was bigger slightly. Second trip we were upstairs across from kitchen doors so in the am we could hear the cook starting breakfast, but we were already up (we are early birds). I liked that location better actually because we could run into our room all day long and not have to hassle with going down those stairs to bottom deck.

 

[Mike_Mayfield]

No one had much of a problem with noise on our trip on the Pilot that I know of. We never noticed anyone walking above us in our upper cabin. The people in cabin #3 mentioned hearing them mooring us up when we moved to a new site overnight, but weren't particularly bothered by it.

Although no one mentioned it as a problem, I would heed cappyjon's advice about the galley. Those are some of the most hard working people and have to start pretty early in the day, so it might be a problem. Not sure I would particularly worry about it though. And let me tell you, the food is wonderful. Heike is a fantastic chef and the nicest person you will ever meet.

 

[H2O Gal]

I called Nekton today and spoke with Karen-she says the boat's pretty full, and found out I'm in cabin 9 so it sounds like I got lucky!
Did any of you notice that on the way to the airport to the River front drop off if they pass anywhere near a Sams club? I need something from there that's too heavy to fly with so I'm trying to find a way to go to one after we land.