JetBoaters.net Bimini Fling July 9th to 14th 2018

[Bruce]

Did I miss a post about a JB 2018 Bimni swag offering? Would love to get some long sleeve rash/uv tech shirts for the fam. Perhaps boonie hats too. I imagine sun exposure is an issue to contend with.

Shirts are coming, @Ramblin Wreck is organizing them this year. I hope everyone will get one. They are great for avoiding sun burn to begin with and even more important if you get burned.

 

[Bruce]

ditto.
I would also like a JB.net flag that I could buy.

Flags can be ordered from https://jetboaters.net/forms/jetboaters-net-flag-preorder-form.3/respond

 

[Hector]

Flags can be orders from https://jetboaters.net/forms/jetboaters-net-flag-preorder-form.3/respond

Thanks

 

[Jack Bailey]

Looking to join in on the trip but none of my friends are interested in going. Its racing season, so all they care about is the dirt track. That being said, I really don't want to pay for a room for one person. Isanyone else in the situation or does anyone need one more person to help with the cost of the hotel?

I'm still looking to see if anyone has a spot open or needs to fill a spot from someone dropping out.

 

[Bruce]

Here is a short article with nice pictures of diving at Sugaf Reef

http://www.scubaverse.com/bimini-diving-reefs-and-wrecks/

 

[D3nN1s]

Looking into on the water tow options for the trip, sea tow is a better option for home over boat US, but what about for the Bimini trip? Anyone from the area or with experience have insight?

 

[Berrie]

Looking into on the water tow options for the trip, sea tow is a better option for home over boat US, but what about for the Bimini trip? Anyone from the area or with experience have insight?

There are a lot of threads on this, and opinions are plenty.
Both TowBoat US and SeaTow will pick you up as long as you're a few miles out of Bimini. Generally I have found that SeaTow is limited to 50 miles off the coast, whereas TowBoat US has varying ranges (the West Palm Beach provider will get you up to 172 miles out).

There is a major difference in how the franchises are paid though. SeaTow is paid a large provider fee, and very little per tow, so the providers get paid for not towing you.
TowBoat US is paid a minor provider fee, and gets paid a lot per tow. If they don't tow, they don't make money, so they are eager to tow.

On the other side, I have not heard of any major problems with either needing a tow from Bimini.

What is important to know is that you ONLY want a tow; you do NOT want them to pump water out of your boat. Once they do that, it now has become a salvage operation, which neither SeaTow nor TowBoat US cover. You will get stuck with a salvage fee of around 15% of the value of your boat - and that is value prior to it taking on water. So if your brand new $40k boat gets in trouble, and they run a pump, they will charge you $6,000 in salvage fee which YOU will have to pay.

 

[Water Girl]

@Water Girl, @steven rivera, @Ryuc14911, I believe you all have additional vessels coming with you. Please ask them to complete the registration form. https://jetboaters.net/forms/bimini-2018-registration-july-9th-to-14th.6/respond

I would like to start to get a handle on how many vessels we will have for the crossing. Currently we are sitting at 30 but your extras may push us up to 40.

Thanks @Bruce
I basically have 2 AR 240s that I don’t think registered on here I’ve asked them if they could.

 

[Lowstar]

@rsrlegends, @Pantelis, @JerseyYami, @Lowstar, @Patricia Mershon, @Erica Almond, @Joe c, @Tico-Rafael;

I have all of you registered but do not have condo unit numbers recorded for you. Could you let me know which condos you are in?

I use the condo registrations to track who is committed to going and they could be helpful in the event of an emergency.

Thank you

We are in 14b Bruce, you should have gotten the bill by now ?

 

[Patricia Mershon]

Unit 14J for the “Its About Time” crew. Patricia Mershon

 

[Mainah]

The June thread has had some good discussion on food. I have a specific question regarding that. My whole crew drinks protein shakes for breakfast. I will be bringing protein powder and my small ninja blender. This will require lots of milk for 6 people. Is milk readily available and relatively fresh at Bimini or should my wife use a large rolling cooler as luggage on the ferry?

This brings me to customs. Do they take issue with large quantities of beer and milk?

Way off this topic but my wife and kids want me to bring the wakeboards in the racks. Is there a calm enough place to even enjoy wakebording? I am also not sure I want my boards and racks to take the beating that the crossing may dish out either. Has any avid wakeboarders brought their boards before? Seems to me that this may be a great use case for a wake foil if it can make it there unscathed which means I may have to bite the bullet on the soon to be group buy.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

I say bring a board @Mainah

 

[Bruce]

@Mainah, bring your milk. I have never bought any milk in Bimini. We typically bring a couple of gallons. UHT would be easier since you would not have to cool it. Dollar Tree sells UHT on the shelf in boxes for $1. Horizon milk is said to be UHT as well. Once cooled it will taste like normal milk. UHT is very common in Europe.

Wake boarding would depend on conditions. Does your family enjoy wake boarding in salt water? It is rare for anyone to take a board to Bimini.

 

[Mainah]

@Mainah, bring your milk. I have never bought any milk in Bimini. We typically bring a couple of gallons. UHT would be easier since you would not have to cool it. Dollar Tree sells UHT on the shelf in boxes for $1. Horizon milk is said to be UHT as well. Once cooled it will taste like normal milk. UHT is very common in Europe.

Wake boarding would depend on conditions. Does your family enjoy wake boarding in salt water? It is rare for anyone to take a board to Bimini.

Had never heard of UHT (ultra high temperature) milk before. Learned something new before lunch . Taste won't be an issue in protein shakes anyway. Thanks for the recommendation that I am certainly going to use.

I have never wakeboarded in salt water before but I have skied on it. The whole family wants to give it a try on the clear blue seas. I know it won't be glass but we don't mind warm salt water. We are early rising high energy types. By 9am we will likely be pulling back in from wake boarding with some energy spent and then others will be able to tolerate us. I am the worst of the bunch with high functioning ADHD. We are also hoping to get some snaps of us wake boarding on the clear blue to put up on the walls of our house as canvas prints. I considered borrowing a kite from a friend but there is not enough time for lessons and proficiency to lessen the chance of a vacation ender from that thing with the wrong gust and inexperience.

My wife and daughter also want to SUP which they have done a few times before. Are there SUP for rent on the island somewhere?

 

[Betik]

This will require lots of milk for 6 people. Is milk readily available and relatively fresh at Bimini or should my wife use a large rolling cooler as luggage on the ferry?

UHT milk is fine, I grew up alternating between that and cow's mamaries. We brought 4 gallons of milks last year. No issues with customs.

In regard to the small ninja, I would consider putting it on vacuum sealed bag. Last year everything that was inside vacuum sealed bag was wet. Regardless of which compartment it was in.

In terms of the ferry. Please consider flying in the family. The ferry leaves from Miami and it takes for ever. The price difference is less than $100 per person and it is not worth the inconvenience.

In general I am big proponent of flying the family as it gives me a peace of mind that only my life is at stake. However, in your case you might want to consider them crossing with you. Or at the very least cross back with you. If you guys are the types that wake up in the morning and go out to play until 9am when the rest of us wake up, then I think the crossing will be an adventure for yall. You are also getting the tabs, so that will smooth the ride.

PS. I would not burden your wife with the large cooler. You can secure than in the cockpit and let her have peace of mind instead of dragging milk on the ferry. Especially, if your family is not riding with you, you should be light enough to bring the milk.

 

[Mainah]

Flights appear to have been sold out for some time. My concern is weight. 6 people totaling about 900 lbs plus food, clothing, etc. Perhaps I should just bring extra fuel but I was trying to avoid that.

 

[Bruce]

I would bring the family on your boat. If the wave forecast turns out to be really rough you can send them to the ferry. Personally
I feel safer with my family on our boat.

 

[Betik]

In regard to fuel, next time I am going @Julian 15 gallon style or complete bladder with plumbing etc. It is more of insurance policy, but me anticipating to need it. Needless, to say something else in the group might need it, so it will not hurt to have it.

I am sure you are more precise than me in this aspect but you will probably be at 70% capacity in terms of weight.

 

[Mainah]

Probably being over cautious. I will once again take the advice of Bimini crossing veterans. My crew weight is not too bad. It is the rest of the load out that will add up to a lot. Fixed VHF/Antenna, Trim tabs to be ordered in the next few days, UHT milk, whole family on the boat, extra fuel.... All great advice; thanks.

 

[Bruce]

For those looking for flights Bahamas Air is starting flights from Miami to Bimini
https://www.bahamasair.com/.