JetBoaters.net Bimini Fling July 10th to 15th 2017

[Bruce]

@Drift Away, I believe the issue is that your PLB can only be registered in the US and any reported emergency would be reported to US authorities. @MrMoose, did you register yours and can you confirm?

Personally I prefer the greater functionality of the inReach products to single use PLBs.

 

[robert843]

So i may or may not have just messes up. I got on amazon and got the remaining things needed for the trip ( at least the major purchases radio, Garmin plotter in a few other things). I got the ACR ResQLink Plus 406. I shot @wallacerb the link so he could start looking at then himself and he noticed that it said it doesn't work outside of the US. Anyone have any experiences with these and is that a good buy? Some of the reviews say it will work but I just want to make sure.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006JXY0CQ/ref=ya_st_dp_summary#

I agree with @Bruce unless you do a lot of offshore fishing by your self or do runs to the Bahamas solo I would skip this item and get an inreach. The inreach is a lot more functional it allows friends and family to track you on your journey and send communications if in need of help or assistance or just communicate with family or others on the Bimini trip in general. Not knocking the ACR device as it is a life saving device but in this situation you closest help is going to be from the group and it will not contact someone for a non emergency situation such as a break down and you need a tow as the inreach will do.

 

[Drift Away]

@Drift Away, I believe the issue is that your PLB can only be registered in the US and any reported emergency would be reported to US authorities. @MrMoose, did you register yours and can you confirm?

Personally I prefer the greater functionality of the inReach products to single use PLBs.

Good deal ill check them out. Got a model you recommend

 

[MrMoose]

@Drift Away, I believe the issue is that your PLB can only be registered in the US and any reported emergency would be reported to US authorities. @MrMoose, did you register yours and can you confirm?

Personally I prefer the greater functionality of the inReach products to single use PLBs.

@Bruce and @Drift Away, it's my interpretation that the PLB works wherever there is coverage, worldwide. Buying one is market-specific, in that I can't buy one in Australia and register it here in the US. This is different than the MMSI/DSC system that many of our VHF radios are equipped with, which only works with the US Coast Guard if registered in the US.
I carry both a plb and a Delorme. The PLB's purpose is for the "Holy %&$" scenario where all I or my crew are capable of doing is releasing an antenna and pushing a button when Coast Guard rescue is the only option. It helps knowing that it's a fully sealed unit and that I don't have to worry about charging a battery. It's just always there if I need it. The Delorme is for anything else, where we have time to type a message and request specific assistance, like a tow when out of VHF range. I have two different units for these reasons, in addition to redundancy. It's cheap life insurance. It's overkill until the day I need to use it.

 

[Bill D]

@Drift Away there are two models of the Inreach. The orange one (Explorer) offers navigation, where the yellow one does not. There are updated models of both coming out this year, but everything I've seen shows that it is just an updated look, and there is no new functionality. The new models are listed at $449. I bought mine from www.thegpsstore.com for $305, but it looks like they have gone up a little bit and are currently listed at $320 and $265.

 

[GMAN2015]

You can also rent the Delorme InReach. Something I am considering given how often we would use it. Price tag I saw to own it was $450. Rent it for 10 days was $120. The one with the topo map started at $75. And u can adjust your data plan too. Something to think about. I guess the only risk is dependability as it's not yours nor is it new. But something to think about.

 

[Bruce]

You can also rent the Delorme InReach. Something I am considering given how often we would use it. Price tag I saw to own it was $450. Rent it for 10 days was $120. The one with the topo map started at $75. And u can adjust your data plan too. Something to think about. I guess the only risk is dependability as it's not yours nor is it new. But something to think about.

The InReach SE was on sale for $225 last May.

Here is one for $238 shipped http://www.ebay.com/itm/DeLorme-inR...197545?hash=item33c7030b29:g:tKwAAOSwLEtYf8UJ

I expect to see the old models discounted as the new models become available.

 

[Drift Away]

@Drift Away there are two models of the Inreach. The orange one (Explorer) offers navigation, where the yellow one does not. There are updated models of both coming out this year, but everything I've seen shows that it is just an updated look, and there is no new functionality. The new models are listed at $449. I bought mine from www.thegpsstore.com for $305, but it looks like they have gone up a little bit and are currently listed at $320 and $265.

So i cancel the order for my Garmin on Amazon and ordered it from www.thegpsstore.com that is an awesome site. It is about $100 cheaper for the exact same one. I owe @Bill D a drink in Bimini!

 

[Speedling]

The stuff is coming in! Too bad my boat is in storage.

Still need to install my seadek and the gps on my main vhf radio and of course put my tower back on.

 

[Bruce]

For those looking for VHF radios for the trip Standard Horizon is offering $20 to $40 rebates on many radios including the GX1700 with built in GPS and DSC.

TheGPSStore.com often has the best prices.

I would recommend that every boat and condo have at least a handheld and if possible a fixed VHF on the boat. During the crossing VHF radios will be our only method of communication. Once in Bimini we will have morning calls on the VHF to discuss activities and the weather. It is illegal to use marine radios on land in the US but in Bimini we will be able to use them to call for taxis and other local services.

 

[Bruce]

. This is different than the MMSI/DSC system that many of our VHF radios are equipped with, which only works with the US Coast Guard if registered in the US.

DSC (Digital Selective-Calling) works anywhere that you are in range of another radio capable of receiving the signal. What is limited is that the IMEI numbers that most of us register with BoatUS only appear in the US system. So if your radio made a DSC call in another country they would not have the description of your boat that is attached to your IMEI registration. They will still receive the distress call.

 

[Speedling]

Food thoughts:
I understand there is a bunch of mosquito and stuff at night. So we are figuring out how to schedule the food so we are efficient when down there.
I was thinking that breakfast was in condo, lunch we would eat out, and dinner in condo. Is this pretty much correct? Also, I assume there is an oven for my pizza? LOL I'm from Chicago people, cmon here!
I guess part of it depends on what you guys typically do during the days and such as well. Wasn't there a pig roast or something once? I totally know this is early as most of us don't have confirmations and such yet, but we're making the plans. Heck, I have like 20+ hours to drive down there so I bet I'll have a great plan by then!

 

[Bruce]

@Speedling,

1. Mosquitos were bad after dark in 2014. They have not been a problem since and I have reassurance from the board that the 2016 extermination program is an improvement of 2015 & 2106.

2. You will want to be prepared to eat lunch on the boat most days. We have breakfast in the condo, lunch on the boat and most dinners in the condo eating out for the remainder.

3. The condos have ovens.

4. We will have a pot luck meal on a nice water day early in the trip at a very nice sand bar. I will bring Arkansas ham. Most groups bring something special to their area or family to share.

5. There is an approximate schedule in the first post of this thread.

6. Glad you are excited!

 

[robert843]

Food thoughts:
I understand there is a bunch of mosquito and stuff at night. So we are figuring out how to schedule the food so we are efficient when down there.
I was thinking that breakfast was in condo, lunch we would eat out, and dinner in condo. Is this pretty much correct? Also, I assume there is an oven for my pizza? LOL I'm from Chicago people, cmon here!
I guess part of it depends on what you guys typically do during the days and such as well. Wasn't there a pig roast or something once? I totally know this is early as most of us don't have confirmations and such yet, but we're making the plans. Heck, I have like 20+ hours to drive down there so I bet I'll have a great plan by then!

I would plan on eating lunch on the water almost every day. Breakfast at the condo and maybe a few dinners out if the petite conch is open it was reasonable prior to new management. I would just have a few diners there or even order to go and bring it back to the condo. I may save a night for when one of the locals comes through the marina trying to sell summer crabs

 

[Speedling]

So when you guys go out for dinner you can't just go take the boat to say, Big Game club or something because you would be boating back in the dark, right?

 

[Speedling]

Clicking on your link on page one:
http://www.bahamas.com/faq/entering-exiting-policies
it appears the pdf file for customs is not there. Or perhaps it's just my computer?

 

[Valerie]

I checked out getting an plb, when I was researching them I decided to rent one because the cost to change the battery was so much (imo) and I would only use it once a year at best.
Also there is a ferry to take you across to big game it was minimal and then we took the Hilton shuttle to go to the casino which was free
There is a great pizza place/bar pretty close to the sands
We also rented golf carts, we negotiated the price best we could and the are serious about locking them up, one of ours had an attempt made on it while we were across the inlet which left it inoperable

 

[robert843]

So when you guys go out for dinner you can't just go take the boat to say, Big Game club or something because you would be boating back in the dark, right?

Yes you can just use caution and you will be fine. We were out in the boat every night last year whether it was fishing or going to diner.

 

[Bruce]

So when you guys go out for dinner you can't just go take the boat to say, Big Game club or something because you would be boating back in the dark, right?

If the bus is running on South Bimini then I would likely take it to the water taxi to North Bimini to go to Big Game Club for dinner. If the free bus is not running there is a paid taxi option or it is about a mile walk.

Boating to Big Game Club is an option with two caveats. There are rocks around the inlet to North Bimini so you will need to follow a plotter in and out. The docks at Big Game Club are fixed height and built for much larger boats. You will have to tie your boat with slack to allow for the tide to rise and fall. Your bumpers may bot be able to be placed in useful positions. When the tide was low I have lifted the kids onto the dock then climbed from the the console onto the dock.

 

[Bruce]

There is a great pizza place/bar pretty close to the sands

Bimini Twist and Mackeys (pizza) have closed. The entire South Bimini Beach Club facility is for sale. There are offers that include reopening by May. Hopefully that will happen and the pizza will return before we do.