Bimini Excursion
 

Hey All

Being in the heart of winter here in the NorthEast has got my mind wondering and daydreaming A buddy and I have been feeling adventurous and been tossing around the idea of hauling our boats down to Miami and doing a trip to Bimini in a year maybe 2. Have never been but think it would be a pretty cool vacation. To be on your own boat in the Bahamas for a week, why not right.

We are really at the beginning stages of attempting to plan out this trip. Really just testing the waters, trying to price things out to see when and where the best deals are and really see what others recommend. Also if any others may be interested. So please post away.

We'd like to do 5-7 days. Was leaning towards staying at Bimini Sands, but open to other suggestions based off prior experiences/knowledge. As mentioned we'd be leaving from Miami area. Being our first time making the crossing would like to potentially tag along with another group if possible. However, pretty confident we'd be able to make it on our own.

Any recommendations or info on the following are greatly appreciated

- Safe and Secure Park & Launch
- Best time for gulf stream crossing
- Customs Check in/out
- Preferred Marinas/Resorts in Bimini (Any all inclusives?)
- Places to go/things to do while in Bimini
- Fuel prices in Bimini
- How much beer to pack
- What SPF # to use?

Go with Florida Powerboat club on their Bahamas Poker Run in June/July.......great run! It's only 42 miles offshore. Kids do it on jet skis! Search YouTube for videos.

$150 Bahamas entry fee ($300 if over 35 ft), you need a passport and your boat needs a $25 sticker from US Customs

Bimini Sands is nice but casino/nightlife is on North Bimini on the other side of the channel.

Fuel runs $1-1.50 a gallon more than USA dockside price.

Even though it is not very far from what I understand you do not want to try it during the winter,
That's why the powerboat club goes during June or July

Bimini Sands is my favorite place to stay, you get on/off plane 1 minute from the dock, on north Bimini it can be 15min+ Now if you want to do the casino thing (please don't give these Genting aholes any money) you can take the water taxi to get over there. The food is also much better at the Bimini Sands restaurants than at other places I have been to in North Bimini. My favorite part about Bimini is exploring around the area diving/fishing ect, I can get all the nightlife I want here in Miami.

I recommend you avoid it like the plague on any holiday weekends, unless you like crowds of noisy Cubans everywhere you go. The weather window is middle of May until middle of September. Of course this past summer was $hit the whole time.

For Customs there are 3 options,
Cat Cay, you have to buy $150 fuel or pay $100, but no riff raff, and you can have a nice lunch after you check in, this is my first choice.
Bimini Sands will have customs officers at the marina if they have a fishing tournament or it is a busy weekend, if not you need to take a taxi to the airport to check in ($10) no big deal just takes a few minutes extra
Government dock on N Bimini, close to the channel entrance but I have never checked in there, also that ferry is checking in the passengers there now so if you arrive at the wrong time it could be crowded.

There are no "secure" public ramps here, if you want that have Grove Harbour put your boats in and store your truck, trailers.

If you want pm me your number and I can answer more questions.

Thanks for the info. We are really at the beginning stages of this, I'll keep you in mind as we dig deeper and start finalizing plans.

How are the crowds mid-may and mid-september? This is usually the start and end of our season up North for us, so this time would really be ideal for us. A great way to either kick off the summer or end the summer.

We are very laid back people, we really enjoy just spending the day on our boats anchored somewhere. Being the loacation we'll be in i'm sure whether it's cruising to places around the island or just anchored swimming in the water it will be exactly what we were looking and hoping for.

Lots of variables.......Fishing tournaments being a huge one, holiday weekends being another (Memorial Day/Labor Day/4th of July).

I would recommend hitting Bimini Monday-Thursday and then hit the Florida Keys the other few days.......make the most of your week, see a couple areas. In Bimini you can see everything in just a couple days (island is like 7 miles long). It will make your Bimini stay the cheapest (weekdays) and the least crowded. By getting back to into Florida it won't delay your trip home (staying in Bahamas and planning a return/hit the road to go home could easily get delayed due to weather).

Also consider advanced planning (1 to 2 years) can be a waste, a decent category 3 hurricane would cripple Bimini for years.......In the case of Walkers Cay they never re-opened (a huge boating destination for years, hurricane wrecked it and the family that owns it decided to just let it rot).

Here are a few videos shot in Bimini recently: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30HDdocMyAk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7ke76G4GQ8

I to am wanting to make the run, but from all my readings Bimini is not the best. Go north to the grand Bahamas so you can come down and play in the abco islands

Bimini is great, I was just there last summer......Check the crime on Grand Bahama and get back to us! GB is a tourist ghetto!

Abacos are nice but not exactly close to the USA.

My wife and I went to GB last summer and the place is dead not much to see, and not many places to go we were disappointed. Abacos are amazing lots of little islands but its a 6 hour ride from Miami. I would Great Harbour Cay before the Abacos. You can easily keep yourself busy in Bimini and the surrounding area for a week even longer if you care to do any fishing. They have dive tours at Bimini Sands you can do, visit the Shark research lab and have a tour and swim with them, SUP tours of the flats, the Sapona wreck, honeymoon harbour, cat cay, hanging out on a desolate beach all day having a nice fire at sunset, ect ect ect. Drinking, drinking, drinking...

Hmm I was told once you make it to bimini your kinda out of pleaces to see?

and going over to the grand then you island hope down?

Everything I read says for firsttimers do bimini, so that's the plan.

I see the Bimini Sands is offering a winter all inclusive package. Do they offer anything for summer? Obviously it's going to be a bit more $$$$ being the busy season.

Could anyone recommend booking directly through Bimini Sands/Big Game Club/etc. or would getting a place off VRBO or homeaway be the smarter way to go?

Book directly with the resort.....Bimini Sands is a condo where owners can rent them through the Property Association or rent them themselves (VRBO type deal) but if something is wrong when you arrive and the owners are in America you are going to be frustrated. If you rented direct from the resort then they can fix whatever is wrong.
Big Game is simply a resort, no individual owners. Resorts Worldwide (formerly Bimini Bay) is a resort but the units are owned like Bimini Sands so you can rent through the resort or from individual owners.

You really just should plan to do the Poker Run with FPC.....easy trip and Stu and Jackie know all the good spots in the Bahamas!

Another option is to fly to Great Abaco, Marsh Harbor. Then rent a boat, we rented a 23' for about $200 or so per day. Book a resort and do all your own exploring. We stayed at Lubbers Landing and loved it. Hope Town looks very nice as well. There are small islands all over the place. We are going to try Exuma this year.

For me, it's about taking my boat across the stream to another country. Too cool. Bimini has been my choice.
Don't care if we sleep on the boats.
Only 50mi. and no big deal to those who do it but I haven't and want to.
Gotta get our passports... sux you have to pay to be able to get back home.

Watch the 10 part You tube video of the guys that did what you are talking about on a small jet boat and a wave runner. seems like they even camped all or most of it.450 miles or so for the total trip to Bimini to Exuma and back.

I would be staying on my boat as well. Weather on the hook some, and a marina night or too as well. So what is your plan once you make the corssing?

I want to make the crossing to say i have dont it, not just fly over.

you don't have to pay anything to reenter the US, and also good to see other parts of the world!

Got a/c? No a/c then forget staying on the boat especially during the summer! The thing you will treasure the most is a hotel room after a long day in the sun.

If you are worried about theft, forget about it the Bahamians don't want loud, go fasts. They prefer Yamaha powered center consoles with lots of fishing gear aboard. I left my boat at West End for 2 days while I was staying in Grand Bahama (45 mins. away by cab)and never even checked on the boat..... Everything was fine when I returned.

Passports are always good to have and they are good for 10 years so amortize the cost over a decade!

I always rent directly from owners and have had good luck that way cheaper also than direct from the resort in my experience, the unit we usually rent sleeps 6 although 2 people sleep in a loft bedroom but I've done it and its fine. If anyone wants the ladys number PM me. Also you can just rent a slip from Bimini sands, they have showers and laundry and pools.

The crossing is not as big of a deal as some of you are making it out to be. In my boat going 40 it takes 1:40 dock to dock, for most of you cruising at 60 its just over an hour, as long as you don't go on a day that is windy it is a piece of cake.

I agree 100% also at Bimini Sands most people leave all the fishing rods in the boat overnight no problems over there.

My buddy stayed at Bimini Bay a couple years back on a diesel motor yacht. He always stays on the boat due to his dog. He ended up leaving early because of the black flies (they bite and were tormenting the dog). Dog was confined to the engine room on the last day just to get away from the flies!

Good info guys. Good to know that bimini sands has those other amenties for those just renting dock space. I really appreciate all this

I don't have AC on my 292. Have thrown around the idea of installing it as I love the boat. It's mint, plus perfect for what we do. I know I can get a portable unit, but I really don't want to have to lug that unit around with me everywhere and have it just take up space. A small 3000 or 5000 BTU unit i could install and hide under the sink area. Don't need it to be an icebox, just enough to sleep comfortably. A weekend I'd consider "roughing it" on my boat. A full week I just don't have enough room on my boat for things and I hate my boat being cluttered. I do like the idea of camping out. Find a secluded island somewhere and just hang out all day and night.

I'll keep an eye out on the FL Poker Run. I checked their page and they didn't have dates selected yet for their bimini runs.

We got black flies and green heads (horse flies) up here too, nothing we are not used to. Green heads hurt when they bite. Leave a nasty welt and itch for days. We've also have had a jellyfish investation over the past few years up here.

Here is a video (commercial) for Bimini Sands: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhTXms5Bpi4

Here is a nut that went over in a 15 Whaler (great boat, I have one but I'm not heading to Bimini in it!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPWC7HzlfEw

Read the description below this video: Planned to camp, heat/sun were exhausting but everything was booked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiWZTy0brf0

Bimini Sands has a great restaurant near by - don't walk at night, they have a shuttle or take a golf cart. I prefer the Abacos, but if you go to Bimini & stay at the Sands, it's good if you get a nice unit / condo.

Don't cross the Gulf if there is North Winds.

Don't walk ever........it is far especially if you get lost! The seafood pizza is ridiculously good (think it was $35 though)and the sushi excellent.

.

The FL Powerboat Club may have a minimum boat length requirement in order to make the crossing with them.

Also, check your insurance coverage on your boat for leaving the US waters.

I'd do it regardless :)


sounds like fun!



.

FPC only requires two + engines - just in case one goes, you have a second one to limp back with. No minimum length requirements.

Going with a buddy so we won't be making the trip solo, but would like to run with a group if possible that knows the way. Maybe even contact Formula to see when they'll be doing their photo shoot and follow them across as I believe they stay at the Sands too.

Does anyone know the minimum length? It sounds like an awesome trip!

.

the 2013 event says 35 feet minimum, but it may have changed. Am I on the right website?

http://www.flpowerboat.com/bahamas-poker-run.html

The Bahamas Poker Run is the oldest and longest running event in the history of Florida Powerboat Club, having first launched from Sunny Isles Marina in summer 1992. This event is open to all boats in the FPC membership with a minimum of 35 feet and twin engines. Participants have the option of a four-day or six-day Bahamas excursion.


Then under Mandatory Entry Requirements in fine print it says:

2. Registered boats may be approximately 25-80 feet in length, and must be fully insured with liability coverages. A proof of insurance must be submitted in the form of a declaration page. (Detailed and accurate engine data, horesepower and performance specifications must also be submitted to company officials.)


Perhaps Jackie can clarify.





will be fun to bring along some underwater camera too!


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If you were jsut looking for a group to head over with and kinda lead the way you could just tag along and not "officially" be registered in the poker run. You just have to make your own plans and accomodations thats all.

An underwater camera would be nice but how bout something like this, its a DJI Phantom Quadcopter!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30HDdocMyAk

We really just require two + engines. But let's be honest, bigger is better in some cases! You can't plan or predict the weather and a boat under 30 ft would be more likely to have issues in unexpected weather.

I would suggest a boat that is 20-30 ft just enjoy a trip to the keys rather than crossing the gulf.

Yes, I have genny, and AC, and vacuflush... so I plan to sleep on the boat. I stay on it a lot actually.

The only problem is a gas genny, and letting it run all night. Normally i run it till midnight or so, to cool and dehumidify the cabin, then crack the hatches, and run a fan biring in the night air.

If on shore power its 68 degrees all night long! ha.

It is a straight shot across, Bimini Sands entrance is at N25 42.637 W79 18.367, but if you start at Gov cut you can do it with a compass. I recommend an on board plotter of some sort the built in maps are helpful in the shallow areas over there and get a back up waterproof GPS floating DSC VHF, that way if your main plotter dies you can use the waypoints in the VHF and if you sink you can call for help with the DSC radio. a compass is also good to have for backup. Also you have to register the DSC radio which is easy to do online, I have this one: http://www.icomamerica.com/en/produc...d/default.aspx

As long as the wind is not blowing over 10 from the N or E or over 15 from the S or W it will be pretty flat out there. Also it can be rougher closer to Miami depending on tides and other factors sometimes it gets better about 10 miles out. Leave early in the morning and it will be calmer, 7:30 is early enough since customs won't be open if you get there to early.

Here is a near ideal crossing done coming back on Sep 1st
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmsqh...ature=youtu.be

And another one in May 2010. 110 degrees @ 65 MPH. Haulover Inlet to Bimini = 45 minutes.

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4138/4...745a37ec_b.jpg
IMG_2894 by bobthebuilder707, on Flickr

Maybe this pic belongs in the flattest water thread. LOL

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4140/4...d4c558ea_b.jpg
IMG_2895 by bobthebuilder707, on Flickr

Bob, any pictures of the trip back in Nov. in the new boat, you said it was bad?

We are taking a couple Nor-techs over to bimini next week. I can't wait. I've had my fill of the polar vortex.