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

[Betik]

What date are they flying?

Monday July 10th.

 

[Betik]

@Ramblin Wreck I actually took the liberty of writing about the whole experience. The format is a non continues chronological dialogue between me and my inner demons. Currently it is standing at 7 pages and it spans from finding out about the forum, looking for a boat, preparing for Bimini and eventually will end our return to Texas in mid July. So literally it is going to be The Odyssey Of An Immature Captain.

Here is a sneak peak of the opening paragraph.

D164: Open your eyes, open them you got to type. Here it is okay 2 0 1 7 0 7. Refresh refresh, nope last post is the Boat Porn guy. Okay back to bed. No maybe no, got to go pee. What time is it anyway! 8:03am. Arkansas is central time zone, right! Yea, okay back to bed.

What is it now? 8:28am never mind, I cannot sleep. 2 0 1 7 0 7, refresh refresh. Oh for God’s sake Bruce! Think positively, you will see it first, call in first, you get the cheapest room.

9:37am, It is up it is up, 2 minute lag, not bad. Form, download, print, pen pen, this will do. oh shit.....

 

[Sea-Donkey]

I personally would NOT want the extra worry if there was a 2up ski in my group...
Too much can go wrong... This places extra (unnecesary) BURDEN on the rest of the group.

We are going over May 6th and have 1 ski going 2 up...but he has experience 2 up in the Gulf and she may weight 100 lbs. soaking wet.

Just curious, what are the lengths of the shorter boats you have going? I know Sea-Doo makes some pretty short ones.

 

[Bruce]

Unless the water is exceptionally calm, our group leaders will set a pace between 18 and 25 MPH to Bimini. That will likely increase 3 to 5 MPH for the return crossing. Those following will keep up or will go back. These are not unreasonable speeds. They are slower than experienced boaters would typically cross at to allow for the shock that will be experienced by those making their first crossing.

Adding to this, in 2015 we learned not to cross too slow which leads to a longer and rougher experience for the captain and crew as well as fuel problems. In 2016 we learned that we also need to avoid crossing too fast.

In 2016 I was the first out of Port Everglades and the last boat to depart Bimini. This allowed for my family to be the first to experience the water on the way there to make the decision of whether we should cross and to make sure everyone got home safely.

We had one boat and two skis in 2016 that turned back. If you become uncomfortable with the water conditions or mechanical issues you should let your group leader know and turn back within a few miles of Port Everglades.

@Sea-Donkey, there are days when tiny boats can cross if you have the luxury of picking optimal crossing dates. If you are planning in advance I would want to have the freeboard of a four stroke Yamaha or more. Jet skis have an advantage that they do not get swamped by waves. Small boats can be disabled quickly when the seas are up.

 

[OUT ON THE REEF]

Ya know, it's great that @OUT ON THE REEF shares his knowledge with the rest of us. The problem is that he makes me want to leave my family to pursue his adventures. If he doesn't join us this year in Bimini, I'm gonna buy myself a blue balaclava, a grey hat and some sunglasses and I'm gonna hang out at the infinity pool as an impersonator. It'll work as long as I keep my gut below the water level.

lol im sure you will get people confused that way and you will pull it off im sure ,you guys look like you will have a blast and that a big great group im sure you guys will do great without me but you never know i may just spear ,im always visiting bimini is like my second home.

 

[robert843]

Please post your experiences riding 2up as I've not spoken directly with anyone who has done that but would love to hear your perspective. I'm already looking forward to reading @Betik trip reflection.

I have talked to several people who have done the trip 2 up. All have basically said the same thing never again would they do that and they all crossed in near perfect conditions. They said it was not enjoyable for the rider or the driver at all and caused them to cross at speeds significantly slower then they would have riding solo. All said they would fly the second over before they did it again. If it was me this would be my secondary plan. I would plan to fly the rider over and if the morning of they were calling for flat perfect conditions tell them they could ride if it wasn't those conditions then stick with plan A and fly them across. Don't get me wrong this is a very achievable feat but may cause for a not so pleasant start of the trip and as mentioned just be prepared to basically cross solo there is no way 2 up you are keeping up with the boats even in ideal conditions. No matter what you will have a blast though!

 

[Bruce]

I am not an ocean crossing jet skier but I do not see how you would avoid banging heads on anything but the calmest conditions.

 

[Rob9550]

We are prepared, and originally planning, to cross as a pair. We definitely do not expect anyone to wait on us. PLB, dedicated GPS, hx870 with backup gps and mob, spare 5 gal fuel per ski. If there are others that travel at the speed waves permit for us great. If not I bet we enter the marina before customs finishes clearing everyone I too would find the trip easier not 2 up, just trying to keep peace in the house...

What are the ages of the kids and others going on the PWC? I don't want to speak for others but I am sure there will be enough room on a few boats to avoid you having to ride 2up.

 

[S Elgin]

What are the ages of the kids and others going on the PWC? I don't want to speak for others but I am sure there will be enough room on a few boats to avoid you having to ride 2up.

Rob. Thank you for the offer. The only potential 2up will be on my ski. The rest of the family is planning to fly/ferry over. I have been riding since the wet bike and 440 days. Still ride stand up regularly. Less about comfort and more about memories at this point. Anything over 4' seas is alreday decided no go for 2up. We will make another test run in June fully loaded with extra fuel, dry bags, etc. Happy to share our experience good or bad once in Bimini

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Rob. Thank you for the offer. The only potential 2up will be on my ski. The rest of the family is planning to fly/ferry over. I have been riding since the wet bike and 440 days. Still ride stand up regularly. Less about comfort and more about memories at this point. Anything over 4' seas is alreday decided no go for 2up. We will make another test run in June fully loaded with extra fuel, dry bags, etc. Happy to share our experience good or bad once in Bimini

I will mostly have space on my boat if you decide not to do a 2 up. You are welcome to it.

 

[hobineros]

Yeah. That's me. @Betik mentioned that his friends might be interested in crewing up if they decide to do the bimini crossing. My wife and kids will either fly into Bimini (or) take one of the ferries.

I plan to spend a couple of days on my boat sometime in March/April in the Florida Keys and get familiar with offshore boating. Any suggestions on this ?

Best
Amar

There is a free launch / unimproved ramp just past Mile Marker 77 on Islamorada. Puts you out in Gulf side -- 2 min later you can be exposed to wide open Atlantic. I can map it if you need a better set of directions I launch from Black Point Marina into Biscayne Bay -- Protected. You can be open water in about 30 min thou. Hit me up I will be out most every weekend. I saw about 5 jetboats sunday -- didn't see any hull names thou so I cant tell whose sneaking into my turf lol

3-6' waves this weekend, good testing water.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

There is a free launch / unimproved ramp just past Mile Marker 77 on Islamorada. Puts you out in Gulf side -- 2 min later you can be exposed to wide open Atlantic. I can map it if you need a better set of directions I launch from Black Point Marina into Biscayne Bay -- Protected. You can be open water in about 30 min thou. Hit me up I will be out most every weekend. I saw about 5 jetboats sunday -- didn't see any hull names thou so I cant tell whose sneaking into my turf lol

3-6' waves this weekend, good testing water.

I reside in Virginia Hobineros. I will ping you once I am in the Keys.

 

[hobineros]

Roger that, I used to live on / around Langley AFB when I was stationed there My buddy has a house on the Chesapeake in Yorktown. Mad nice area. Miss fishing the tunnels and bridges.

 

[fromrio]

Just got my email confirmation from Stephanie Fot with Bahia Mar Marina this morning. I also booked my room last night at the DoubleTree Hotel. Paid $119 ($132.09 w taxes) for a marina view room 2 dbl bds. The $109 bedrooms are gone! Very excited about the trip and at the same time nervous about getting everything ready for the trip and all my boat repair, maintenance and projects done before the trip during the busiest time of the year for my landscape company.

 

[fromrio]

Looking for a recommendation where to park my boat trailer (only) for 1 week between Miami and Ft Lauderdale. I'm staying another week in Miami when we get back from the Bimini and I'm renting a place in North Miami Beach at Bay Harbor Island which has a dock. I need to find a closed, secured, uncovered parking space for my 30' boat trailer to be parked for a week. Thanks

 

[Bruce]

@fromrio, HarborTowne is the best place I know of to leave trucks, trailers or boats parked. They have 24 hour security and are currently charging $15 per day.

 

[Amar Nanduri]

Monday July 10th.

We have tickets for Silver Airways # 126 departing at 3:55pm for my mother , my daughter (5), my son (3) and father in law. My FIL is a maybe as he actually lives in South Korea and will have to fly in just for the Bimini trip.
We choose the 3:55pm flight in order to make sure that my wife and I have arrived safely in Bimini before the rest of the family boards the plane.

In terms of return, we will all ride the boat. I hear return rides tend to be smoother and our boat should be a bit lighter in terms of groceries and other miscellaneous items that we plan to "abandon" in Bimini.

I just spoke to Silver Airlines. They said that I cannot purchase a one way ticket without showing proof that my family will return back. They will not be allowed to board the plane to bimini in the first place. What are you going to show as proof in order to board the plane on a one way ticket ?

 

[Betik]

I just spoke to Silver Airlines. They said that I cannot purchase a one way ticket without showing proof that my family will return back. They will not be allowed to board the plane to bimini in the first place. What are you going to show as proof in order to board the plane on a one way ticket ?

This is super crazy. I have to idea, I just bought them through Expedia and I did not see such claim. I will call in and find out. Thank you for the heads up

 

[Bruce]

@Amar Nanduri, @Betik, I would file a float plan for the return crossing in advance of the trip listing them as passengers and ask Silver if that is sufficient.

@veedubtek, how did you handle this with customs last year?

 

[veedubtek]

The question never even came up. Literally just called and booked 2 one way tickets 1 hour before departure time. They never questioned it.