Scarab to Bimini?

[Bruce]

On the firearms question and as a daily carrier, you do not need a firearm in Bimini or for the trip to and from. If it makes you feel better bring a flare gun instead of tubular flares.

If you clear customs in Bimini they will send the police to your boat to collect your firearm. You will not be able to collect it when the group returns home at 06:00 on the following Saturday. So you will have to choose between leaving it behind or returning after the group.

If you are traveling further into the Bahamas and want to take a firearm then make your first stop somewhere other than Bimini to clear customs. The firearm must stay locked up on your boat. Anytime you interact with Bahamian LE they may count your ammunition. But much more importantly acquire sufficient experience to do so safely and take other friends on their own boats with similar experience that you trust with your life.

As for the lack of cleanout ports, in 2015 I would have had to continue on with clogged jets or might have been swamped when trying to pull the sea weeds out if I had not had cleanout ports. 2014 & 2016 would have been fine.

 

[SPCAS]

I like 702mireles already. He drives a Q5. I share one with my wife when she allows me to drive it. I tend to keep the cobwebs from forming anywhere in or around the car with my driving style. We have the TDI model..... Closest I could be to having a cummins in it. Its a lot more fun than my Dually but it won't pull the boat....I don't think anyway.

 

[702mireles]

On the firearms question and as a daily carrier, you do not need a firearm in Bimini or for the trip to and from. If it makes you feel better bring a flare gun instead of tubular flares.

If you clear customs in Bimini they will send the police to your boat to collect your firearm. You will not be able to collect it when the group returns home at 06:00 on the following Saturday. So you will have to choose between leaving it behind or returning after the group.

If you are traveling further into the Bahamas and want to take a firearm then make your first stop somewhere other than Bimini to clear customs. The firearm must stay locked up on your boat. Anytime you interact with Bahamian LE they may count your ammunition. But much more importantly acquire sufficient experience to do so safely and take other friends on their own boats with similar experience that you trust with your life.

As for the lack of cleanout ports, in 2015 I would have had to continue on with clogged jets or might have been swamped when trying to pull the sea weeds out if I had not had cleanout ports. 2014 & 2016 would have been fine.

Thank you for the gun tips. I live in Vegas, where gun laws are as good as Texas. Thank you for the info @Bruce

 

[robert843]

You can collect you guy at anytime at the police station it just may not be fast one of our group members went to the police station at 5am this year to get his gun and we were able to leave very close to 6am. He did say they had to wake the police chief up to come down and get the gun so it took sometime. All that said its not really needed in Bimini I would just leave it in the car or try checking into customs at Cat Cay and see if they let you keep it.

 

[702mireles]

I like 702mireles already. He drives a Q5. I share one with my wife when she allows me to drive it. I tend to keep the cobwebs from forming anywhere in or around the car with my driving style. We have the TDI model..... Closest I could be to having a cummins in it. Its a lot more fun than my Dually but it won't pull the boat....I don't think anyway.

Thank you for the kind words bud. My Q5 is beast! Its a 2015 3.0T SC tuned with APR. Im at 400whp and when I boat my 195 HOI i was definitely nervous about pulling it. Well I drove 6 hrs to pick it up at the dealer in Fresno, CA. towed it to Vegas. It sucked gas down...but the hills and freeway was so easy. It pulls like a champ! I inverted my drop down hitch (7" drop down) and the rig flattened out. surge brakes help of course... @SPCAS

 

[702mireles]

Just remember there is a HUGE difference between Guerillas and Gorillas

However, there are Pirates Of The Caribbean...

Im on the floor!!! hahahahah

 

[Bruce]

You can collect you guy at anytime at the police station it just may not be fast one of our group members went to the police station at 5am this year to get his gun and we were able to leave very close to 6am. He did say they had to wake the police chief up to come down and get the gun so it took sometime. All that said its not really needed in Bimini I would just leave it in the car or try checking into customs at Cat Cay and see if they let you keep it.

Another guy who crossed on his own had to wait around when he went to collect his at 07:00. So this may be a variable situation. Everything in Bimini happens on island time. There are no guarantees.

 

[702mireles]

Another guy who crossed on his own had to wait around when he went to collect his at 07:00. So this may be a variable situation. Everything in Bimini happens on island time. There are no guarantees.

I will only bring my side arm if I plan to go further... makes sense right?

 

[robert843]

I mentioned it in a earlier thread but @1948Isaac @JROD @Andy S @Ramblin Wreck and I went way further this year as went down to Exuma and met the main group back in Bimini. We had the same thought going further bring a firearm as @Bruce mentioned if you do that don't clear customs in Bimini and let them know you have the firearm they will take it like they did to us. Below is @1948Isaac video from the trip.

 

[702mireles]

I mentioned it in a earlier thread but @1948Isaac @JROD @Andy S @Ramblin Wreck and I went way further this year as went down to Exuma and met the main group back in Bimini. We had the same thought going further bring a firearm as @Bruce mentioned if you do that don't clear customs in Bimini and let them know you have the firearm they will take it like they did to us. Below is @1948Isaac video from the trip.

I watched this before...Looks great! Nice quality video also..

 

[Majorsmackdown]

I like 702mireles already. He drives a Q5. I share one with my wife when she allows me to drive it. I tend to keep the cobwebs from forming anywhere in or around the car with my driving style. We have the TDI model..... Closest I could be to having a cummins in it. Its a lot more fun than my Dually but it won't pull the boat....I don't think anyway.

I understand the diesel q5 has 5000 lbs tow capacity... Enough ?

 

[702mireles]

Mine is 4400lbs and does great. I think the TDI is the same towing amount but more torq. Keep in mind the Q5 transmission is the same one as the Q7

 

[SPCAS]

I'm sure it's capable but I think the wife would protest putting a tow hitch on it. She'd tell me that's what the trucks for. She does however let me drive it like I stole it. Best car I have ever owned other than my old TT.

I prefer my tow vehicles bigger anyway. I tend to tow fast as well. My Scarabs hit 90 before with those twin 200hp rotax....and Its possible
It will again on the tow trip to Bimini 2017!

 

[Majorsmackdown]

Mine is 4400lbs and does great. I think the TDI is the same towing amount but more torq. Keep in mind the Q5 transmission is the same one as the Q7

Oops. I thought yours was the diesel. A friend of mine has one and he claimed the 5k tow capacity. Sorry for any confusion or misinformation.

Several yamahas were towed with mid size suv's this year but if possible I'd prefer a pickup too for a long haul.

All this talk about bimini '17 is making me lose sleep !

Please do yourself a favor and get prepared and do this trip - it's got life altering potential !

 

[funbobby]

I can't believe I'm considering this trip. I hate you all.

 

[SPCAS]

My girls are bugging me now because they absolutely want to go......I'd rather just take mom but the pressure is growing.

 

[Bruce]

My girls are bugging me now because they absolutely want to go......I'd rather just take mom but the pressure is growing.

Have you looked at the Bimini 2016 thread?

https://jetboaters.net/threads/jetboaters-net-bimini-fling-june-19-to-25-2016.8074/

We will start planning 2017 near the end of 2016.

 

[SPCAS]

I've read through it a couple times. I'm too excited for it to be so far away

 

[Shane Scarab]

You can count me in, my 2016 scarab 255 twins chop seaweed with ease. No need for clean outs. I'm offshore quite a bit with it in NJ and have hit lots of seaweed. Biggest problem is at idle or no wake and then you reverse and gun it, they blow it out every time.

I am stoked about the prospects of 2017 and I think we may be the first Scarab jets to post after the trip ! I can't find anyone else with a scarab jet boat that's done it.

 

[Bruce]

I am not aware of any Scarabs that have made the trip. @ScarabMike has considered it a few times. We would be glad to have you guys join in.

I do not believe that anyone had seaweed issues in 2016. 2015 was a bad year for seaweed and swamping.