2018 Bimini June trip (June 24th - June 30th)

[Hector]

So spparently the cpb just came out with a new app to schedule your float plan and check back in on arrival back into the country I just downloaded it but have not had a chance to play with it yet to see if it’s active and functioning yet. Could save hours of on hold time on return.
View attachment 70841

Good find, thanks

 

[robert843]

So spparently the cpb just came out with a new app to schedule your float plan and check back in on arrival back into the country I just downloaded it but have not had a chance to play with it yet to see if it’s active and functioning yet. Could save hours of on hold time on return.
View attachment 70841

So I finally had a minute to sit down and play with the cbp roam app and it does says it’s the pilot version and is limited on ports of entry and country coming from at this time. Right now this is only good if your coming from Canada to the US. I did read that the Bahamas will be added soon but will have to wait and see if it’s added before our trip if not I will be calling the Svrs line as usual

 

[Rod5]

Can anyone recommend which Garmin chip to purchase for the Bahamas? There seems to be several at different price points. I just bought an echomap 54cv

 

[vanmurray]

View attachment 70883 Can anyone recommend which Garmin chip to purchase for the Bahamas? There seems to be several at different price points. I just bought an echomap 54cv View attachment 70882

Did you get preloaded bluechart g2 or lakevu? I got the same unit with bluechart but have not checked for Bimini. @robert843 just put one in I think and @AndyD.

 

[robert843]

Did you get preloaded bluechart g2 or lakevu? I got the same unit with bluechart but have not checked for Bimini. @robert843 just put one in I think and @AndyD.

A couple years back bluechart G2 did come with the Bahamas preloaded it no longer does I checked my unit after install and there was no detail information. I think you can buy the upgraded coastal charts
HXUS604X for around $200 and that includes the Bahamas Explorer charts I think please confirm with garmin before purchasing and chart VUS513L is a good one it will cover most of the east coast of Florida as well

 

[Elio195HOI]

I've been wanting to make this run for several years now. I'm just not 100% confident in a 19' boat, Any suggestion? It would just be me and my wife this time around to play it safe.

 

[swatski]

I've been wanting to make this run for several years now. I'm just not 100% confident in a 19' boat, Any suggestion? It would just be me and my wife this time around to play it safe.

Do you guys have a prenup?


(just kidding of course!)

--

 

[AndyD]

Did you get preloaded bluechart g2 or lakevu? I got the same unit with bluechart but have not checked for Bimini. @robert843 just put one in I think and @AndyD.

My 53dv came with lakevu. I had to but the g2 charts separate but they do include the Bahamas.

 

[robert843]

My 53dv came with lakevu. I had to but the g2 charts separate but they do include the Bahamas.

Correct the Additional G2 Charts you can buy come with the Bahamas the ones preloaded right now do not. Crazy part is my little GPSMAP 78SC has the Bahamas Charts preloaded and that unit goes on sale for $150 all the time which is less then buying the chart that includes it.

 

[Rod5]

Did you get preloaded bluechart g2 or lakevu? I got the same unit with bluechart but have not checked for Bimini. @robert843 just put one in I think and @AndyD.

I got the one with ocean shore/coastal charts for our Bimini trip, but there not as much detail as I was hoping for. I powered it up last night for the first time and discovered because it's the coastal version there are no lake details so I think it will be useless where I live in GA without also purchasing some basic lake package too...

 

[swatski]

I got the one with ocean shore/coastal charts for our Bimini trip, but there not as much detail as I was hoping for. I powered it up last night for the first time and discovered because it's the coastal version there are no lake details so I think it will be useless where I live in GA without also purchasing some basic lake package too...

Makes me like my lowly Raymarine Drgonfly which came with Navionics+ covering the Bahamas, and local, no bs.
The Navionics app on iPhone is actually not too shabby if you can get over some annoying features, which I would think may be an option ONCE YOU ARE THERE. I would not use a phone only for crossing.

--

 

[Rod5]

Yeah I almost went with your dragonfly, but the guy at West Marine showed me side by side how much easier to use and user intuitive the Garmin was. Plus I don't think the dragonfly can plot MMSI contacts from a VHF. Please correct me if I'm mistaken on the MMSI plotting...

 

[justason]

So I think I may have found my antenna bracket that won't require any drilling into the tower but I can't remember the diameter of teh tubing does anyone know what the tube size if on the AR240?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Boat-Folding-Universal-Antenna-Plate-Bracket-for-T-Tops/112601207687?var=413016041255&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=1&asc=20140131123730&meid=78d078522eb34e5696005bcb80fc66d2&pid=100167&rk=1&rkt=15&sd=112601207687&itm=413016041255&_trksid=p5411.c100167.m2940

i'M WAY BEHIND CATCHING UP ON EVERYTHING HERE........I copied @kthrash for an antenna mount for my 212x
https://jetboaters.net/threads/my-vhf-antenna-install.4710/#post-79408

 

[ThatJeepGirl]

I was planning to arrange for customs to be at Bimini Sands, the fuel dock to be well stocked and maybe even the summer bug boats to show up............

PLEASE send help with the bugs! I’d like my tan to actually LOOK like a tan this year

 

[ThatJeepGirl]

@Christie Moore

Awesome !
Any chance of you sharing fishing/lobstering techniques with me ??

Tim, Christine is in the group that is coming with us. We can barter, your Bimini fishing tips for her lobstering tips

 

[ThatJeepGirl]

I've been wanting to make this run for several years now. I'm just not 100% confident in a 19' boat, Any suggestion? It would just be me and my wife this time around to play it safe.

Just do it! We took our 19’ two years ago and it was great. I will say, you need to be prepared to run it wide open to keep up with the larger boats. @ThatJeepGuy can give you more advice if you need it.

Actually, after last years crossing I kind of missed the 19’

 

[swatski]

Actually, after last years crossing I kind of missed the 19’

Hell, YEAH!!!! I feel the same way here, lol.

--

 

[swatski]

Yeah I almost went with your dragonfly, but the guy at West Marine showed me side by side how much easier to use and user intuitive the Garmin was. Plus I don't think the dragonfly can plot MMSI contacts from a VHF. Please correct me if I'm mistaken on the MMSI plotting...

The dragonfly I have is great for Navionics, and great for simple, simple, simple way to operate.
But -
NOT simple to program. It would drive you crazy.

It feels like they used the 70s electronics' technology for data input, something like strait out of my father's East German made Trabant car, lol.

--

 

[Rod5]

Does anyone have pictures of how and where they installed backup bilge pump in these newer 242's? I see the factory pump between the engines in a cutout hole thru the sub-floor. Thinking of putting the second one just in front of it with a float switch but not drill a 3 inch hole into the lower bilge. I don't want to make this a big project, looking for the easiest and fastest install location.

 

[AndyD]

Does anyone have pictures of how and where they installed backup bilge pump in these newer 242's? I see the factory pump between the engines in a cutout hole thru the sub-floor. Thinking of putting the second one just in front of it with a float switch but not drill a 3 inch hole into the lower bilge. I don't want to make this a big project, looking for the easiest and fastest install location.

I had a hell of a time trying to find a place to mount mine as well. I wanted to go in the rear bilge and access it via the clean out hatch but couldn’t make it work that way. Ended up going in the engine compartment where the factory bilge is but set it up on the finish level versus drilling through to the lower bilge. It sits about a half inch higher than the factory and works as a true backup. I mounted it on the back side of the engine compartment (opposite side of the engine mount from the factory one). I drilled and 5200’ed it to a piece of plastic cutting board and then 5200’ed the board to the bottom of the bilge so I didn’t have to drill through the bottom of the engine bay.