Bimini/or Port Luccaya

S

swaldrop2213@yahoo.com

New Member
Feb 10, 2011
71
florida
Boat Info
280 sundancer 2001
Engines
4.3 efis
Hello everyone, I'm new to the website and am trying to go w/a group of clubsearay folks to do my first trip to the bahamas. Anytime this spring or summer, I will be trailering down to west palm/miami for any trip. thankyou.....:smt024
 
swaldrop2213@yahoo.com said:
Hello everyone, I'm new to the website and am trying to go w/a group of clubsearay folks to do my first trip to the bahamas. Anytime this spring or summer, I will be trailering down to west palm/miami for any trip. thankyou.....:smt024
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That's exactly my plans! We will be ready to go this summer:smt038 I just hope these 4.3's will able to get on plane with all the load I have been adding:grin:. Where are you now?
 
i would love to do this trip as well. although who knows how much it would cost me to trailer my boat from nc to fl????

any ideas?
 
I will be bringing my boat down from St. Pete to West Palm in late April... then May 12-15 I am going to Old Bahama Bay in West End, Grand Bahama. May 28-June 4, I will be heading over to the Abacos. My neighbor in a 41EC will be joining me, and you are welcome to tag along to the West End trip. Maybe I will start another thread dedicated to these trips so other can join in.
 
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swaldrop2213@yahoo.com said:
Hello everyone, I'm new to the website and am trying to go w/a group of clubsearay folks to do my first trip to the bahamas. Anytime this spring or summer, I will be trailering down to west palm/miami for any trip. thankyou.....:smt024
Click to expand...

Where are you planning to stay?
 
I live in Leesburg, and will be trailering down south. Heck, I don't care where ya'll stay, i would just love to tag along on a trip w/you guys. Thanks!!:smt038
 
Some buddies and I are trailering my 260 down to Ft. Lauderdale from Charlotte the end of May and hope to make the run over to Bimini.

Been planning it for awhile...hope gas prices don't go crazy and that the weather is good.
 
A 280 will make either trip and as a matter of fact will make it to the Abacos as well. We did it when I owned my 280 and as a matter of fact we also had 2- 260's on that trip. Seas should be fairly flat when crossing which ours weren't but that is another story.

For any trip to the Bahamas you need spares. Never know what is going to happen and you obviously need someone that know how to troubleshoot and repair. Bahamas is not a place that is known for great Mercury service especially on the newer style engines with all that electronic crap which requires a computer to diagnose.

The Bahamas is a great place but currently GAS prices are about $5.50 and diesel about $5.00 (just a generalization since each area can vary widely).

Bahamas cruising is much different than cruising here as they have very few if any markers to mark channels. You need to read the water at times and rely on Abacos chart books or Explorer Charts to get you in and out of places you may want to visit. I don't think that really will be a problem in West End /Freeport area or that much in Bimini except the entrance channel in Bimini. Who knows if that is marked, sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't.

Be prepared, spares, spares spares. You never know what is needed although it is difficult to decide what to bring at times.
 
Thanks everyone!! Not sure when we will make the trip, wanted to do it MDW, but supposed to have company come down and do Silver Glen Spgs, but that could change. To the guy in S.C., I used to live there too, boated on lake wylie, bought 2 searays from lake wylie marine. Hung out at S. sandbar, in a searay, then a baja 212. Small world!!!
 
If anyone is interested, we have 4 boats leaving SE Florida (Hillsboro & Boca inlets) on June 30th and returning July 12th. We are heading to the Abacos with a mid-morning stop for those needing fuel in West End. Plans are to stay in Green Turtle, Marsh Harbor and Hope Town. We are also planning to be there for the famous Stranded Naked Party on July 1st. Google it if not familiar. It should be a great time and the more the merrier. Reply or PM me with questions or for more details.
 
How long from Miami to Bimini... Realistic.
 
ardeprint said:
How long from Miami to Bimini... Realistic.
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It's 51 statute miles from Port of Miami to Bimini Harbor. Wind and the Gulf Stream have little effect on a power boat's speed, only waves. The math is easy. How fast does your boat cruise in calm conditions? In not so calm conditions?

RB
 
swaldrop2213@yahoo.com said:
Thanks everyone!! Not sure when we will make the trip, wanted to do it MDW, but supposed to have company come down and do Silver Glen Spgs, but that could change. To the guy in S.C., I used to live there too, boated on lake wylie, bought 2 searays from lake wylie marine. Hung out at S. sandbar, in a searay, then a baja 212. Small world!!!
Click to expand...

Hey that's me! We anchor at the Little Allison Creek sandbar most weekends and end up with 4-6 boats tied to us. Two weekends ago it was 70 + so we went out and the whole crew showed up....good times. I've been on Lake Wylie since 1995 probably have waved at ya.

Let me know if you guys do get out on MDW as we plan to leave Ft. Lauderdale (Bahia Mar) Thursday morning 5/26/11 to head over to Bimini if the weather is nice. Plan to come back Monday 5/30/11. If the weather is not good for crossing (winds out of the North) we will just have to stay in Ft. Lauderdale.....bummer.....:huh:

My cruise speed in calm conditions should be similar to yours.

Happy Boating,

Kendall
 
Odyssey said:
It's 51 statute miles from Port of Miami to Bimini Harbor. Wind and the Gulf Stream have little effect on a power boat's speed, only waves. The math is easy. How fast does your boat cruise in calm conditions? In not so calm conditions?

RB
Click to expand...

My cruising speeds are;
23 knots calm seas
15 knots N/S calm

I don't like to push my vessel. Plus I rather save on fuel.

I am guessing about 2.5 hours on a good day. :huh:
 
I might be interested in this trip Mike, will start to make plans now, especially if you'll stop in west end for fuel. thanks, Lance
 
ardeprint said:
My cruising speeds are;
23 knots calm seas
15 knots N/S calm

I don't like to push my vessel. Plus I rather save on fuel.

I am guessing about 2.5 hours on a good day. :huh:
Click to expand...

That should be about right, 2.5 hours and you're in another world. Another factor is the boat you are traveling with, how fast does he go? Note - if you fish in Bahamas waters before checking in, you are taking a chance. The fishing license issued by the Bahamas is issued with the Customs/Immigration check in.
 
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Lance,

Yes, the plan is to stop in west end so one of the boats can fuel. Do you know how much fuel you carry and what your safe range is?

Where would your departure inlet/port be in Florida?

If we could only get Odyssey and his crew, along with our other regulars to join the trip, we'd be all set!! I'll just keep my fingers crossed, Randy!!

-mike
 
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