Bimini 2018

[Bruce]

@D3nN1s, I have considered having a custom fuel bladder manufactured for the ski locker. Although any leak in there would go to the engine compartment and be likely to cause an explosion.

 

[D3nN1s]

Yea, there is always that... lol, would probably go for a 25 gallon and keep it on the floor

 

[Valerie]

so,@Betik
does this mean your in for 2018?

just seeing this 2018 thread!! yay! something to do while at work ......
cant wait till a date is determined!!!

 

[Betik]

so,@Betik
does this mean your in for 2018?

just seeing this 2018 thread!! yay! something to do while at work ......
cant wait till a date is determined!!!

2019 is way more likely.
2018 is highly unlikely as we are building a house which is supposed to be finished on June o 2018. So we might be busy moving and be stripped of cash. Some friend from LA asked to try Catalina Island, so we might do that .....

 

[Betik]

Here is my inreach data-
https://share.delorme.com/radianthope

has both the '16 and '17 Bimini data in it.
(as well as an adventure trip with my daughter to Paris, Normandy, London and Oxford

Use the filters (top left) to filter to just the data you are interested in.

2 'interesting' drifts in the '17 crossing data:

b/w 10:25 and :35, on July 10'17, ran out of fuel about 4 miles from the Sands.
You can see in the data that ~15 miles out, I picked up speed to improve range and ensure we ran out as close to Bimini as possible-

Just before 9AM on the 18th, we stopped at the mid-point for a 10 minute swim

thank you for the info. Since the fuel consumption is a bit out of topic here. I created a new thread. See below for the summary of your data. THANK YOU for contributing.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/bimini-crossing-fuel-speed-data-if-comfortable-please-contribute-data.15812/

 

[Berrie]

@Betik I watched your youtube video last night from your return this year. It looked faily smooth! Nice video!

 

[Water Girl]

@Betik as soon as we let off at the entrance of Bimini Sands, my boat started screaming. I was on fumes. Filled up to almost 50 gallons at the gas dock (however I don’t know how accurate that pump was lol)
I did not, however top it off after going from harbor towne to Bahia mar. Plus I followed the lovely rana a bit in the opposite direction when she picked up Bruce at the airport parking for some sightseeing lol. So I did burn a few gallons just doing that. I also carried an extra 5 with me. Tried all I could to just keep a constant RPM the whole time but I can’t say I was perfect with it due to smashing down into the waves, breaking my seat and yelling at waterman that we were going to either run out of gas or die hahaha[/QUOTE]

My post was not meant to be sale pitch for trim tabs. It was more of warning message for another "Betik" who thinks that he/she can buy a boat in November and go to Bimini in July. My ultimate point was the guy/gal on the helm is significant factor between making it with fuel to spare or running out of fuel. It is also worth noticing, that @Water Girl had significantly less damage on her boat than I did ( she has way more experience than me in boating). I am not sure about her fuel, but I do not recall her mentioning on the radio that she was beeping on fuel.

in regard to the trim tabs. Besides the $700, and 3 hours of installation labor, I do not see why not have them! They can be retracted to a point they are just dead weight and not touch the water at all, so in my book they are worth every penny. Knowing what I know today, I will still install them. The only difference is that I would get @swatski control not the oval. The oval is good enough, but it needs attention to keep the tabs synched.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Am I going to get shit from you guys if I come on a prop for 2018 ?

 

[Amar Nanduri]

No need for extra fuel on a properly function boat.
Unfortunately, I do not have enough data to be 100% certain .
If I were to go, I will bring 10 to 15 gallons (just as a piece of mind and just in case we have a 192 in our group). I personally tern to over compensate. For example, if I were to go again, I will probably have 2 fixed VHF and 2 GPS units. The Bermuda triangle is real .....

How was that for a straight forward answer? LOL

I was using navionics on 2 mobile phones and a fixed gps. I trusted the navionics more than the Garmin

 

[robert843]

Am I going to get shit from you guys if I come on a prop for 2018 ?

All depends on how nice the prop boat is there could be envy!

 

[Berrie]

Am I going to get shit from you guys if I come on a prop for 2018 ?

@Amar Nanduri Not from me....

 

[Glen]

Am I going to get shit from you guys if I come on a prop for 2018 ?

Devastatingly!

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Devastatingly!

you guys love me

 

[DieselCamel]

Am I going to get shit from you guys if I come on a prop for 2018 ?

Most sane people only makes that crossing in a jet boat once in so-so conditions.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Most sane people only makes that crossing in a jet boat once in so-so conditions.

I would prefer a jetboat for the crossing anyday if by myself. With family wanting to make the crossing (with a set of terms and conditions thrown in) I am planning for a prop now.

 

[Drift Away]

All this talk about gas and Bimini is kicking my PTSD into high gear lol

 

[Bruce]

What on Earth Season 4 Episode 2 features some of Bimini's wonders.

https://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/what-on-earth/full-episodes/fountain-of-youth-found

 

[tim h]

Am I going to get shit from you guys if I come on a prop for 2018 ?

NOPE !

 

[tim h]

All this talk about gas and Bimini is kicking my PTSD into high gear lol

That's funny right there...

 

[Berrie]

All this talk about gas and Bimini is kicking my PTSD into high gear lol

If crossing to Bimini gave you PTSD, you crossed on the wrong day !