JetBoaters.net Bimini Fling June 19 to 25 2016

[robert843]

I was hoping to bring Elizabeth but due to my schedule I can't get back to the beach to get her for the trip and her mother cant go so she will miss out this year it appears unless something changes. Still trying to talk her Uncle or a Friend into bringing her down but doesn't look likely.

 

[Scuba_ref]

Yep, that's the plan - I used to have a 28-32 foot sea ray (depending on how it's measured) that I towed all over the northwest - but was too chicken, and ignorant to bring to Florida. This yamaha is light enough and easy enough to tow , combined with the group effort - to finally bring this dream within reach.

Anyone else from the NW want to caravan ?

I would love to go and talk it up to the family all the time. Not going to be able to do it this year but hoping to be able to go soon. I look forward to hearing how your trip goes and hopefully you will want to do it again and would be all over the caravan option.

 

[SFThoen]

Working on getting nav setup for the trip. What unit do you guys use and which map card?

 

[chris24]

Working on getting nav setup for the trip. What unit do you guys use and which map card?

I have a Garmin 640. It's touch screen and has all the maps on it. It is very small and mounts well on my Yamaha boat. I can also get tides from all over on it too.

 

[Bruce]

Working on getting nav setup for the trip. What unit do you guys use and which map card?

We have a Raymarine Dragonfly (6) which was the original model and use Navionics charts downloaded using their $99 annual Updates subscription.

 

[SFThoen]

Ill look into that unit. I like how i would be able to take it off after the trip since we don't need it at the lake. I also have a tablet with gps that I have navionics on and they make an external gps antenna for it. Has anyone had any luck running a tablet for the trip. I'm kinda on the fence with what option to go with because I really don't want a full time chart plotter/ fish finder taking up room in an already tight area

 

[robert843]

Ill look into that unit. I like how i would be able to take it off after the trip since we don't need it at the lake. I also have a tablet with gps that I have navionics on and they make an external gps antenna for it. Has anyone had any luck running a tablet for the trip. I'm kinda on the fence with what option to go with because I really don't want a full time chart plotter/ fish finder taking up room in an already tight area

I ran the navionics app on an Iphone a bit while there last year and it worked fine. The only problem with a tablet is they are usually not water proof and can break easily. Since you will likely be with the group on the crossing and return you could probably get away with just the tablet it just depends on how much you plan to wander on your own while there. If I was planning on doing the crossings solo or some extreme wondering solos (10 miles away from the group or more) at all I would want a dedicated GPS.

 

[Bruce]

I used a Nexus 7 with a suction cup mount to the windshield running Navionics for all of 2013 including 10 days in the Gulf of Mexico. It was great and I prefer the app to the plotter software except for that dark night in 3' chop when the mount failed and I needed three hands to hold the tablet, steer and operate the throttles. We take a tablet or phone as a backup to the plotter.

 

[javi]

What are you guys doing as far as driving down to FT. Lauderdale? We are trying to plan what day we want to get there.

We're leaving here early on the 18th and staying in Fort Pierce the evening of the 18th. Down to Ft Lauderdale on the 19th and staying at Hilton Ft Lauderdale Marina.

We might even leave Tega Cay and extra day early.... we'll see. Let us know if we can coordinate the drive down together. Strength in numbers!

 

[Bruce]

@javi, are you staying at the Hilton instead of Bahia Mar?

Will your boat be in the water? Will you be able to connect up with us for the 6 AM crossing?

 

[BigJay17]

I thinking of crossing on Friday the 24. If anybody else crossing let me know. I will be with another boat and 3 jetskis

 

[javi]

@javi, are you staying at the Hilton instead of Bahia Mar?

Will your boat be in the water? Will you be able to connect up with us for the 6 AM crossing?

Our boat will be at Bahia Mar Marina but there weren't any rooms available when I tried to book back in February so I made reservations at Hilton. We'll have everything ready the night before and it will just be a quick early morning walk. Yes, we'll be ready.

If you have the hook up or know of any cancellations I much rather stay at Bahia. Please let me know.

Thanks!
Javi

 

[robert843]

Our boat will be at Bahia Mar Marina but there weren't any rooms available when I tried to book back in February so I made reservations at Hilton. We'll have everything ready the night before and it will just be a quick early morning walk. Yes, we'll be ready.

If you have the hook up or know of any cancellations I much rather stay at Bahia. Please let me know.

Thanks!
Javi

@javi there are now rooms available at Bahia Mar for that weekend. The may have had a minimum day commitment back then but if they did it has been lifted

 

[javi]

@javi there are now rooms available at Bahia Mar for that weekend. The may have had a minimum day commitment back then but if they did it has been lifted

Booked!!! Thanks for the heads up! We won't have to walk 1.5 miles that morning. Making my kids very happy.

 

[robert843]

Booked!!! Thanks for the heads up! We won't have to walk 1.5 miles that morning. Making my kids very happy.

Great glad it worked out. @javi and @SFThoen you should consider doing the Charleston run with several of us in May most who are going on that run have done this trip and are doing it this year it would be a great shot for you to meet some members and get some insight and ocean experience. It's posted in the gatherings section.

 

[latitudeadjuster]

I cant wait!! WE CANT WAIT!!! Is it time to leave yet!!!

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Booked!!! Thanks for the heads up! We won't have to walk 1.5 miles that morning. Making my kids very happy.

Uber!!

 

[robert843]

Wow just went back to the first page and looked and there are a bunch of people registered. I counted 18 vessels with a firm commitment with rooms booked and another 16 that are registered and may join that is crazy going to be a great trip.

 

[robert843]

Every year there is a debate in this thread of where to get boat dropped so people do not have to drop their painted trailers. In case anyone is interested @bronze_10 just replaced his galvanized trailer with a new Aluminum one so if someone is looking a for a galvanized trailer I know he is looking to sell his not sure how much he wants.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/2008-mfi-galvanized-23-foot-trailer-for-sale.8610/#post-149301

 

[robert843]

Well I went ahead and filed my float plan with the Customs and Border Patrol's SVRS system tonight to try and get ahead of the game. For those who do not wish to have to check in at a customs office on arrival back to the states I would highly recommend going through the SVRS process. You can file your float plan at any time you just cant activate it until 24 hours before departure from your originating last foreign port before returning to the states. I recommend filing the plan before going to Bimini as with the shady internet over there it will be a lot easier to just have to go in and activate it instead of trying to fill out the whole thing and activate it while there.