Bimini 2014-June 22

[BoaterGuy]

I am already booked in the building closest to the marina, not as far to drag my gear. There's a few tables we can drag together in the bar, that's what we did last year. People can mingle while the captains discuss. It will be a short meeting anyway!

Ok, no problem. I'll hold off on the group thing then.

Also I am going to wait until the beginning of May to book my room at the Bahia Mar, since there is only a 21 day cancellation policy and our trip is completely weather dependent. I don't know what I'm going to do if we cant go because of that...

 

[Bruce]

I found a new video with Yamahas in it! Looks like the Orlando Yamaha Jet Boat Club made the trip in 2012. We need to recruit these guys!

 

[Volffas]

I am looking forward to seeing your pictures and hearing your stories once again this year. It sounds like a fantastic trip and is on my bucket list for sure!!!

 

[xoomer]

@upperdeck what's the plan to keep the Bimini thread going--will it be here and on the YJB, or just here?

A couple of general questions too for the group--what do you have as a contingency plan if the weather doesn't permit a smooth crossing to Bimini? Wait a day in Florida if it looks like the weather might improve or immediately take the ferry to Bimini? Or, is it just "play it by ear"?

 

[Bruce]

@xoomer, the wave forecasts cover 5 days in advance but are about as accurate as any other weather forecast. We should have some idea what the water will be like several days before the 23rd and a prediction of whether or not it will be better on the 24th.

I am banned from yamahajetboaters.com so this is the only thread that I will be posting on.

 

[upperdeck]

Well, I have not been banned yet, so I'm on both sites. I am nervous about contact info missing from some people on yjb. I'm keeping an eye on both.

I don't have any contingency plans in place. I planned to play it by ear. I can't alter my start/stop place being Ft. Lauderdale since some of my crew is flying in.

 

[DieselCamel]

if Bimini ends up being a wash maybe head to the keys and hit up dry tortugas

 

[xoomer]

if Bimini ends up being a wash maybe head to the keys and hit up dry tortugas

I want to see the Dry Tortugas but I think I'll go by float plane--I'm told there is no fuel available there for boats.

We will probably just take the ferry over to Bimini if the cruise falls through since we have the hotel reservations.

 

[Bruce]

The reservations can be moved to a different date. They have a very flexible cancellation policy.

 

[DieselCamel]

Hopefully all will be well with the weather and waves.

 

[xoomer]

The reservations can be moved to a different date. They have a very flexible cancellation policy.

Yes, I believe they told me I could cancel without penalty up to two weeks before the 23rd and if it is within the two weeks I could use the deposit for up to 12 months in the future. I think it will come down to how bad the weather is if we can't go over in the boats. If it is going to be very bad for the week in Bimini, we will probably not go over at all, but if it is just a matter of not taking the boat over--but the weather looks good on the island--we will probably just hop on the ferry.

 

[waterboy]

Guys,

Well I was on vacation and travelling like a fool the past several weeks. Finally got around to joining so here is my first post to the board. I am in the group for the Bimini trip and have moved all my activity over to here going forward. Glad to be a part and getting involved over here!!!

Still catching up from vacation so I will make sure all my info is updated as needed. Drop me a note too if more info is needed.

Justason, I will be sending you an email to see if we can get a beer this coming week too.

Dave

 

[Bruce]

@waterboy, Thanks for joining us!

 

[upperdeck]

As far as I can tell, we have two missing captains from this thread.

Yaman
Tw00155

I will be PMing them shortly.

 

[gunnerson]

Add Gunnerson to the list, sorry it took me so long to get on this site.
Thanks again for everything you guys are doing to put this together!

 

[upperdeck]

Add Gunnerson to the list, sorry it took me so long to get on this site.
Thanks again for everything you guys are doing to put this together!

Welcome @gunnerson

 

[Bruce]

@gunnerson, Thanks for joining us!

 

[upperdeck]

Just throwing this out there as food for thought...

Has anyone considered BoatU.S. membership? I'm strongly leaning towards buying it. Gold unlimited membership is $180/year and covers 100% of a tow from Bimini.

Without it, a tow is about $400 an hour from the time they leave the dock to the time they return. That could easily be a $4000 tow bill for something like a catastrophic engine failure.

They will cover a boat that is borrowed, but not if the owner is present. In other words, if your boat fails, and I have a membership, MAYBE my membership would cover another's boat.

I'm thinking it might be a really good idea with such a large group...

#Bimini2014

 

[BoaterGuy]

Interesting thought. I need to check the tow limits of the insurance policy I dont have yet I'm switching to Allstate when I get closer to the trip. It's 100 bux more a year, but will cover my trip.

 

[justason]

Just throwing this out there as food for thought...

Has anyone considered BoatU.S. membership? I'm strongly leaning towards buying it. Gold unlimited membership is $180/year and covers 100% of a tow from Bimini.

Without it, a tow is about $400 an hour from the time they leave the dock to the time they return. That could easily be a $4000 tow bill for something like a catastrophic engine failure.

They will cover a boat that is borrowed, but not if the owner is present. In other words, if your boat fails, and I have a membership, MAYBE my membership would cover another's boat.

I'm thinking it might be a really good idea with such a large group...

#Bimini2014

Hi upperdeck.
My insurance (state farm) is up for renewal, I'll revisit BoatUS. Last year they were the only other option for insurance for me, for this trip. Tow insurance sounds like a decent safety net and I was right on the edge of getting it last year....will report back.


EDIT: Is this just a towing policy...or is towing an extension to the boat insurance ?