Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

I got this crazy itch to make this run.
I read about a couple old guys(retired) who went there in 2 13ft Whalers as well as other further trips.
I read about a guys trip on a Cig who had some troubles.
I'd like to have a bigger boat w/twins for security and maybe able to swing it by next winter. Would be a kewl 25th wedding anniversary trip.
But... I'm thinking about it this winter in my lil 23 footer.
Am I crazy??
Who's done it? Tell me about it.
It's what... 40 miles?
Cost me more to trailer to Miami than boat gas...
Where'd you launch from?
Where'd ya stay when there?
Gulf Stream problems?
When is the best time to go? (during winter)
It would have to be a budget trip... dumb ol firemen are poor... sleep on boat one night, hotel/shower next.
Thinking about 2-3 days there. There and back w/in a week or so.
I'd like to go in Feb. or early March.
Tell me about it please?
Thanks
Mark

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Wow... The conditions would have to be perfect... I went over on a 55 Hatt. once and it was snotty. There are a number of groups that make the trek and I would recommend travelling with several other boat incase something happens.... a 23 footer would be really HAIRY... weather is the wildcard. I got invited to do it once with my 29 beak and chickened out....

Remember you always have to come back across too :eek:

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

LEAVE FROM PORT EVERGLADES I THINK IT'S LIKE 55 MILES IF THE DAY IS NICE IT'S A SUPER NICE TRIP PURE OPEN WATER. DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT :evilb:

JR

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

My boss has done it in a 38 Stinger and 45 Sonic. He said it got so rough they were 30 miles off course due to the waves and current and were going to run out of gas.

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Did it in the late 80's in my 29' beak got lucky with the weather and everything was uneventfull. Personnally I have done it but there are tons of nicer spots less exposed to weather you can go in South Florida without those headaches.

Check with your insurance... to which they will say "no way" :D

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

[QUOTE=GLH]Did it in the late 80's

THAT DOESN'T SOUND TO GOOD :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :eek: :evilb: J/K

JR

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

The guys at Nor-tech were talking about that 22 minute run for a long long time !!!!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

It's prolly a hair briained idea... I am just THINKING about it.
I'd just like to try it. 2hr run at 30-35mph cruisin then. Depending on the weather. I got a 78gal fuel tank. I don't want any part of 12-14ft waves! :eek:
I may have to wait till next winter when I'll have a bigger boat I expect.

Big Game club... I'll look it up.
Thanks everyone for the input, good or bad. Keep it comming! :D

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Winter is a bad time to go gets very rough that time of year. Went there 2 years ago for my bachlor party in Madcows 42 sonic BIG WATER.........But fun!!!!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

I want to do a run to Atlantis sometime, heard they have a killer marina. Stay for a few days and come back. Sounds like and OSO trip, whos in.

Wild

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

In 1989 and a crap load debt... I was 25...

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

I guess you liked the color RED !

LS

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

To match my net worth...

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Did it 7 or 8 times in the mid 90's when I lived in Cape Coral with a 28 Donzi cruiser. Only had 1 bad trip and just had to wait the weather out for 2 days. Always run with other boats in case something happens. i remember 1 time stopping in the middle of the Gulf Stream and swimming in glass calm water. It was soooooo erieeeeeee. It's not a bad trip. As a matter of fact there are 3 or 4 boaters from Houston that are talking about making the trip next July 4.

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Thanks for the info guys... keep it comming!
I didn't know winter was a bad time. It would just be a good time to get outa Ohio. What would be the best part of winter?

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Just join us at the Miami Boat Show Feb 16 to celebrate your 25th and wait until you get a bigger boat to take this one on.....come on, we weren't that bad were we? I promise Becky won't do any shots :evilb: :D :drink: :eek:

Rob & Barb

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Ha ha... you guys were great!
Our 25th is next winter tho... not this year.
Prolly should have a bigger boat for this trip but...I'm jus kicking the idea around.
I couldn't see going to FL in Feb w/out the boat!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Summer time is the best time to make the run. Winter is really rough in the Gulf Stream.

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Just did that trip in July with the Florida Powerboat Club. Super cool, was a little nervous with a 32 Sunsation Mid-Cabin (boat has open front, worried about taking water over the bow) but trip over was DEAD FLAT and we ran WOT (70+ mph) and was there in less than an hour. Run back was a little rough with 2-4's. Ran back with a 36 Gladiator at 50 mph and got bounced around. I ran with 8-9 boats and mine was smallest and slowest but had a blast. Stayed at Bimini Big Game and it was cool, not much to do on the island because it was kind of rustic. Check pics at www.FLpowerboat.com
Off Palm Beach it is like a 70 mile run to Port Lucaya which is more touristy with casinos etc. if you were looking for more things to do.

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Make sure your boat is in good shape. Cooked a starter over there and had to have one flown over from Dollar. Knew a guy who did it about 10 years ago in a 25 checkmate. Left Lauderdale at midnite so he could use the lighthouse to guide him in. :eek:

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

We went a couple of years ago. Beautiful water!! Expensive landing fees, gas is $4+. Take any spares you might need. Bimini Big game club is a good place to stay. Watch the weather. We went over it was calm, came back in 8 to 10. Are we having fun yet?

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

In 1979 I took delivery of a new 38 Foot Magnum Sport, and my wife and I took another couple over to Bimini for the weekend. I'll see if I can find a picture and post.

Left from Ft Lauderdale on a bright sunny day in May. Water was calm all the way and we made the trip just cruising in about an hour and half.

The return trip was something else. I don't want to say how big the waves were, as time has taken some of the edge off, but I do remember as the boat climbed the face of the waves, the tachs would start dropping down until the engines were going to stall, and then the boat would drop off the other side of the wave and we would start the process all over again.

Six hours of climbing and dropping...just like ocean racing, only in slow motion.

I do remember passing a 60 foot Hatteras and waving as if nothing was wrong on our boat. Of course I had instructed the girls to stop upchucking over the transom if we passed other boats, didn't seem to fit in the Magnum image.

Finally made it back to Port Everglades and had to hold offshore for another hour, as a heavy rain squall had cut off all visibility and I couldn't find the entrance (no radar).

Great trip....make sure you do it in a boat you can really trust and just be careful of the weather!!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

I think this roundy-round racing is diluting our seamanship! In the sixties, I raced a 16' Whaler to Bimini (twice), and I wasn't the smallest boat. With the speed of todays boats, weather forecasting doesn't mean s**t. Pick a decent day and your'e there in an hour, for crying out loud. GPS takes all the sport out of navigating. If the weather is rough for the trip home, leave the boat and fly home. Jake Trotter and I delivered about 125 boats to Nassau from Miami. Biggest? 23' Formula. Smallest,15' Thunderbird O/B. In 1966, two days before Christmas, Jake, Mike Collins (Pres of Donzi and Proline) and I delivered two 16' Donzis to Nassau. Come on you guys!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Great stuff! Thanks and keep it comming!
Brownie... you da man!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Brownie - Ahh, the ghost of offshore past; when men were men and the sheep were scared! Not sure I'll be down in Key West to join you for drinks this year, if not I'll sure miss your insights! When is your book coming out? Lots of us want to buy a copy!

OSO Admin - True you don't need a passport, but if you don't have your birth certificate AND your drivers license, it can be a problem. On our last trip over I didn't have my passport and only had a drivers license. They yanked me off the boat and down to the immigration office. For an hour they said I broke immigration laws and threated to lock me up. I don't know if they were looking for some payola, but they were very serious even saying they would feed me three times a day.

Barry

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

I’ve escorted boats over with the Bimini Fling, you need a passport or Birth Certificate and DL if you are a US citizen. If you are not a US Citizen you will need a Passport. My wife is not a US citizen but has a green card and she needs a Passport.

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

What was your favorite color in those days??? :D

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

OK I got a bigger boat w/twins, I'm waiting on summers calm weather/water. Been doing my homework.
Sign4boat... lets do it!
I hear they dropped the passport thing for one more year.
I want to put some hours on my new(to me) boat to ensure she is reliable first. July sounds like the time!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Haven't been in along time but we went in June. Could have water skied across.
Usually strong easterly winds in winter and some bigger water. For example, Friday and Saturday's wave model predicts 6-8's for the 27th and some spots of 8-10's on the 28th. In a 23 I'd stick to the Keys.
BTW isn't there something like a $200 or $300 landing fee now?

The attached is pretty accurate wave forecast tool for anyone looking for conditions.
https://www.navo.navy.mil/cgi-bin/gr...336/21/0-0-1/2

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

I got a 30 footer now :D
I read 150 for boats under 35ft and 300 bucks for over.

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Did the trip on a 70' sailboat a few years ago....It was great!!!!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

i got to ride across in a 36 ft. "go fast" from lauderdale to bimini. very cool trip. ill look for the pics from that day... gps becomes very impt!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Hey guys... Jupiter Sunsation has the right idea... Bimini is a bit small and there isn't much to do especially since Hemingway's burnt, as I heard it... Lucaya is much more like the things everyone is used to but it is a bit further, however, you can depart from FLL... Fees are $150 if you are under 35' and $300 if you happen to be over that and that's for four people... Wouldn't do it on my own with a single but normally just take off and go during the summer... Be sure and take all the spare parts you may need, especially to Bimini and even Lucaya, and the $4 a gallon gas won't be much fun either... Give a look at this website which may sway your decision... Good luck but Winter isn't the best time to go due to large cold water and tourist hotel rates...

Thanks, Karl

PS... Brownie is the man!!!

www.lucayanmarinavillage.com

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

we went over for the afternoon and back. (drinks and food) not one time did anyone approach us, we stopped twice in bimini, no one had a passport and there wasnt a landing fee paid. i guess we all just took a chance, who knows. if you do check in and pay the fee, you have to call in to the port in the u.s. and tell them you are returning... good luck with your decision!

the way over, weather was nice and waves were rolling. the way back, waves were much larger and storms were scattered. pretty neat to dodge the showers!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

That was part of the Bacardi race straight out the cut to Bimini for the "M" Class 48 minutes the last time I ran across to the Islands! My old Boss Paul Haggerty drove a 16 foot Donzi to Nassau no problem!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Went several times,41 & 46 sailboot,42 trawler,52 motoryachet,35 Fountain,32 Pachanca.
BTW the "Complete Angler" was reported to have burnt down. :eek: :( :( :(

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

i say go for it on a nice day just be sure to take a babe with large floatation devices, i mean whats the worst that could happen? you float around on her fun bags for a day or two holding your epirb :eek:

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

kidding aside, i would do it but would do it in summer ons a nice hot day and take an inflatabe liferaft stowoed on board if you dont go with another boat. tkae flares and get a personal epirb the have them at all the marine stores. but in the summer go with the traffic go over sat am and return early sunday afternoon when there will be other traffic you can signal with a flare should you single engine die on you. plan for the worst and you'll be ok should something take a turn for the worst!

Re: Bimini- who's done it by boat?
 

Made the trip to Lucaya twice in the last 3 years. Once in a 38 and this past June in a 44 Baja. Both trips were the first week of June and once like glass and the other time was 4-6 plus. I will do it again but make sure you allow plenty of time if the weather kicks up you can wait it out for a pleasant return. Lots to do and we paid under $3.50 per gal for the return.