Bimini 2018

[bronze_10]

As of now we are planning on attending bimini this year.. i already have a lot of mods to get started on... 2nd bilge pump, new steering cables... trim tabs in the spring... we will prob be flexable with either trip a or b..

 

[myblueheaven305]

@Speedling, @justason generally speaking June is a really busy month in Bimini. Being the the busiest month of the year it is hard to fit in a big group. There also is the likelihood of being there when the Whalers are or just after when fuel and food will be scarce.

I prefer to be there when we have more of the water and the islands to ourselves.

The most likely scenario for 2018 is that @Andy S will take a group in late June that will not work for Speedling and I or another 2017 leader will take a likely larger group in July.

I will go on both..

 

[justason]

As of now we are planning on attending bimini this year.. i already have a lot of mods to get started on... 2nd bilge pump, new steering cables... trim tabs in the spring... we will prob be flexable with either trip a or b..

I think customs charges dog entry by the pound...you might want to secure an extra $2k for the trip !!

 

[bronze_10]

lol

 

[D3nN1s]

any suggestions on what type of fuel cans/tanks? Anyone do a write-up on this yet?

 

[Bruce]

any suggestions on what type of fuel cans/tanks? Anyone do a write-up on this yet?

Something stored where any fumes will not enter the bilge in storage devices that do not leak fumes but without blocking access to the clean out ports. Becoming a fireball in the marina or on the water is way worse than running out of fuel.

I would look at a 24 gallon out board style tank with some sort of transfer pump.

 

[justason]

any suggestions on what type of fuel cans/tanks? Anyone do a write-up on this yet?

There were a couple folks in the 2014 crossing that had a 19ft, they made a system to refuel. Not just the gas cans need to be considered, but how to refuel without getting water into the system during rough conditions similar to 2015 and other years. you can thumb thru that thread I think it was @tim2808 that made the system.

the link is below. I'm not good at historical searches on this tool.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/bimini-2014-june-22.346/#post-3120

 

[Julian]

any suggestions on what type of fuel cans/tanks? Anyone do a write-up on this yet?

I just strapped 5 gallon jugs onto the lower swim deck. When I used them to fuel @barefoot Island I put a rope through the side handle to make holding them over the side easier....was rough water...but not hard, and didn't get any water into his tank. This is what I will do again next time we go. (KISS)

 

[Dan_NC]

My lady and I just upgraded to a 242X, from an AR192, to make this 2018 trip. I never made the Bimini trip in the 192 but had her in the ocean a few times (Myrtle Beach area). I just didn’t feel comfortable leaving sight of land. My advice, from very limited knowledge, travel light, with several boats, and have a back up emergency bilge pump. You will never know when a small leak and a failed pump swamp your boat, much like an unexpected swell. We hope to see a good group this year, as it is our dream vacation!

 

[justason]

My lady and I just upgraded to a 242X, from an AR192, to make this 2018 trip. I never made the Bimini trip in the 192 but had her in the ocean a few times (Myrtle Beach area). I just didn’t feel comfortable leaving sight of land. My advice, from very limited knowledge, travel light, with several boats, and have a back up emergency bilge pump. You will never know when a small leak and a failed pump swamp your boat, much like an unexpected swell. We hope to see a good group this year, as it is our dream vacation!

where you located @Dan_NC welcome to the forum

 

[D3nN1s]

Yeah looked into the trade up option when I took it to get winterized... dealer is saying 21k for a trade value with 26k msrp ... don’t think that is gonna be an option for me lol

 

[Dan_NC]

@justason Thank you for the welcome. We are located in Harnett county (near Lillington) and enjoy Jordan Lake often. I see you’re close to Kerr Lake, I have heard really good things about the water up there and have been meaning to give it a try. I am originally from the Concord, NC area and still make trips to Lake Norman, High Rock Lake, and Lake Tillery regularly as well. We hope to see some members on the water and really hope for an early spring.

 

[Julian]

@justason Thank you for the welcome. We are located in Harnett county (near Lillington) and enjoy Jordan Lake often. I see you’re close to Kerr Lake, I have heard really good things about the water up there and have been meaning to give it a try. I am originally from the Concord, NC area and still make trips to Lake Norman, High Rock Lake, and Lake Tillery regularly as well. We hope to see some members on the water and really hope for an early spring.

Cool...another NC member with a 242X! Welcome! Put your location in your profile so we can find each other later for local gatherings.

Also, don't forget to join the Bimini user group, or your local area group so you get notified if they are tagged in threads.

 

[Rod5]

@Julian do you have a pic of exactly how you secured your 3 cans. I'm imagining a ratchet strap across from cleat to cleat through the can handles?

 

[Berrie]

Hi,
I know this is a jet boaters forum, and I don't have one.
I also know that you do have a strong Bimini program.
This past summer I took our first crossing to West End, but was not able to secure a buddy boat.
Is the jet boaters group open to having a non-jet boat team up with you?
We have a Monterey 302, and can take on a passenger or two if it is rough for the smaller boats.
Berrie

 

[robert843]

Hi,
I know this is a jet boaters forum, and I don't have one.
I also know that you do have a strong Bimini program.
This past summer I took our first crossing to West End, but was not able to secure a buddy boat.
Is the jet boaters group open to having a non-jet boat team up with you?
We have a Monterey 302, and can take on a passenger or two if it is rough for the smaller boats.
Berrie

@Berrie we have had prop boats join the group every year we don't discriminate at all we are all boaters and all are welcome.

 

[tim h]

Hi,
I know this is a jet boaters forum, and I don't have one.
I also know that you do have a strong Bimini program.
This past summer I took our first crossing to West End, but was not able to secure a buddy boat.
Is the jet boaters group open to having a non-jet boat team up with you?
We have a Monterey 302, and can take on a passenger or two if it is rough for the smaller boats.
Berrie

They let me tag along...

@Berrie Do you post on THT ?

 

[Drift Away]

They let me tag along...

@Berrie Do you post on THT ?

I was just about to say @tim h has one of those spinning things on the back of his boat and we put up with him. Hell he even has 2 spinning things lol

 

[Julian]

@Julian do you have a pic of exactly how you secured your 3 cans. I'm imagining a ratchet strap across from cleat to cleat through the can handles?

I don't have a good picture of how I secured them. On my boat, there is a fixed handle on the lower swim step. I just lined up the cans behind the handle up against it with the nozzles facing forward, and the side handles towards the back. Then I took 3 different ratchet straps and looped them through the handle on the boat and then through all 3 handles on the cans and back to the handle on the boat. The cans didn't budge at all for the entire trip.

You can see them in this quick video of our crossing:

 

[Bruce]

Those spinning things are dangerous. My kids run away from them.

But we are always happy to help @tim h in and out of the skinny water.

Interestingly the successful crossing rate was higher amongst the jet boats than the big propped boats in 2017.

@Berrie, how large is your fuel tank?