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

[robert843]

@ThatJeepGuy has anyone ever been thoroughly checked for alcohol quantity at customs. I ain't running out of beer.

Yeah @ACrews got searched. I don't recall exactly what happened but I think they declared like $2000 worth of food on accident or something what ever it was it was enough to trigger a search. Also I just learned something new from @Girlfriend apparently there is a $18 per case duty per case of beer you import and claim. If I remember correctly you can't bring any fresh fruits or veggies with you either.

 

[Sbrown]

But we should refocus on rum.

Amen. My wife just got excited when she saw that receipt showing coconut rum availability and it's inexpensive to boot. She also found a new favorite song thanks to @Bruce.

 

[robert843]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a reasonably priced easy to use drone?

Just grab a DJI Phantom 3 they can probably be had fairly cheap with a little searching anymore. You can probably find cheaper drones but you will likely just break or loose it you may as well spend the couple extra bucks on a real one if your going to do it. I know of at least four drones already on this trip though I'm sure for adult beverages someone would gladly help you get some shots with one of theirs.

 

[ACrews]

@Gofish206, @ACrews is the only Cap’n that has ever had his boat checked. In his case there was a lot of bragging about all the steaks they brought that led to a boat inspection without any consequence. Officially the importation limit is $100 of food per person per week. The limits on alcohol are very low however I believe there may is a technical difference in ship stores which are temporarily imported and product taken ashore as a permanent import.

But we should refocus on rum. Beer is like rum but with way too much water.

@Gofish206 @Bruce. My not knowing they would ask for a dollar amount of groceries is what led to my inspection.

In casual conversation on trip to Ft Lauderdale, we had discussed the shopping trip my sister in law had made to Walmart the day before we left. The only dollar amount I heard was what she had spent total including some gift cards her daughter could use for gas while we were gone.

To sum it up, make sure your total for groceries is at most $100 per person, per day & you shouldn't have any issues. We had 24 pack of beer & 2 cartons of cigarettes between my brother & I. They didn't say anything about those 2 items.

For future reference tho...24 pack of beer is not enough beer! Haha
@robert843

 

[Valerie]

Did anyone get their GoPro with that discount code?

 

[robert843]

We had 24 pack of beer & 2 cartons of cigarettes between my brother & I. They didn't say anything about those 2 items.

For future reference tho...24 pack of beer is not enough beer! Haha
@robert843

I don't drink beer as it's to much work with not enough pay off I try to only consume adult beverages that are at least 80 proof. I quit smoking back in April so no longer need the second part of that either. Just to decide if I wan't to bring the Canadian whisky or buy it there.

 

[DieselCamel]

View attachment 76130
My buddy sent me this tonight. This is from our 2016 crossing. Our deal was he could only bring 5 twelve packs for himself. He brought 5 cases (24 packs) and still ran out. By Wednesday he was buying more. Beer prices are roughly double, plan accordingly everyone

LOL

This was @veedubtek 2016 cache

 

[robert843]

Did anyone get their GoPro with that discount code?

Yes it worked but I was then charged full price the very next day and wound up with $500 in charges from gopro on my credit card for two weeks. I just got it resolved yesterday and I believe the others who used the code had the same issue.

 

[Valerie]

View attachment 76141


LOL

This was @veedubtek 2016 cache

Holy crap

 

[Sbrown]

I don't drink beer as it's to much work with not enough pay off I try to only consume adult beverages that are at least 80 proof. I quit smoking back in April so no longer need the second part of that either. Just to decide if I wan't to bring the Canadian whisky or buy it there.

Planning on bringing some good scotch for drinking straight and some cheap scotch for Irish Coffee. Probably bring some Coronas so I can film a couple commercials and make my fortune.

 

[Julian]

GoPro didn't over charge me....but I only bought a drone battery and dive case

 

[robert843]

GoPro didn't over charge me....but I only bought a drone battery and dive case

I think what through it off was the hero 5 was on sale with an extra battery, 32gb memory card and a bag for $249 and I don't think it was supposed to allow an additional discount but it took it so I got all that for $223 after tax or something like that which was a steal when the camera by it self is supposed to be $299.

 

[Valerie]

I was looking at a refurbished 5 on the GoPro site for $219.99......
I kinda want one but lack the patience for editing

 

[robert843]

I was looking at a refurbished 5 on the GoPro site for $219.99......
I kinda want one but lack the patience for editing

If your just looking for one to kind play with I love the gopro session. You can find them new for $149 at Target or refurbished from multiple sources for around $99. No LCD screen but these things shoot wide if your pointing at something you should catch it. You will likely catching me using it more then the hero 5 or hero 3+ silver I have.

https://www.target.com/p/gopro-hero-session/-/A-21542494

 

[Speedling]

Yeah @ACrews got searched. I don't recall exactly what happened but I think they declared like $2000 worth of food on accident or something what ever it was it was enough to trigger a search. Also I just learned something new from @Girlfriend apparently there is a $18 per case duty per case of beer you import and claim. If I remember correctly you can't bring any fresh fruits or veggies with you either.

Hold up... no fruit or veggies? Canned? frozen? just a watermelon?

 

[Bruce]

Hold up... no fruit or veggies? Canned? frozen? just a watermelon?

In 2014 my family played by those rules and regretted it. Ever since we have taken plenty of fresh fruit and veg on the boat. However I would not try to fly or ferry it in.

 

[AndyD]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a reasonably priced easy to use drone?

As @robert843 mentioned you can pick up an older DJI Phantom fairly cheap but they’re not the most portable especially crossing on a ski. I would definitlely stick to a DJI brand as they are heads and tails above everybody else as far as quality and reliability. With that being said, they’re Spark model is very compact, affordable, and has a decent camera. Batteries don’t last as long but they’re cheap enough to get extras. I think I bought the combo back with two batteries, controller, drone, and carry case for $500 if I’m not mistaken.

 

[justason]

@Gofish206 @Bruce. My not knowing they would ask for a dollar amount of groceries is what led to my inspection.

In casual conversation on trip to Ft Lauderdale, we had discussed the shopping trip my sister in law had made to Walmart the day before we left. The only dollar amount I heard was what she had spent total including some gift cards her daughter could use for gas while we were gone.

To sum it up, make sure your total for groceries is at most $100 per person, per day & you shouldn't have any issues. We had 24 pack of beer & 2 cartons of cigarettes between my brother & I. They didn't say anything about those 2 items.

For future reference tho...24 pack of beer is not enough beer! Haha
@robert843

how big was your crew? your math for me would be $2400. Your $2000 triggered a search ?

 

[Bruce]

how big was your crew? your math for me would be $2400. Your $2000 triggered a search ?

Eric, I believe the $2,000 from another poster and the $100 per day are both mistakes.

The rarely enforced limit is $100 per person per week.

 

[ACrews]

how big was your crew? your math for me would be $2400. Your $2000 triggered a search ?

3. What triggered the inspection was me not being prepared for the questions the officer asked. I had put so much focus on having my paperwork in order, I didn't get the grocery total.

In casual conversation on trip to Ft Lauderdale, my sister in law had mentioned she had spent around $450 at Walmart the day before. So, when I was asked about a dollar amount of groceries for the time stated I'd be staying, it put me over the $100 per person per week limit.

The officer never said what was said that triggered the inspection till afterwards, so to say I was a bit nervous, was an understatement. When she checked our groceries & everything was good, then she explained while at the boat. My sister in law then realizing what the mixup was helped explain.

In her grocery shopping, had bought a couple gas cards, etc to leave for her daughter that was still in high school at the time. All of which was included in that price.

In the end, the officer done me a huge favor by inspecting what all we had & clearly seeing I didn't have as much as I had said. She could have easily just charged me the tax of the overages.