Question for Bimini vets

[Troy JK]

I’ve made the trip on jet skis, but plan to take the new jet boat next summer. On the crossing over to Bimini, the seas at times were as high as 6-8ft according to the reports we found later. That trip has me thinking that it might be a good idea to cover the bow to reduce the possibility of being swamped. one option is snap on bow cover but I’m not thrilled to drill snaps in my new boat. Another idea is to buy another factory Yamaha cover and have it cut and altered. This cover wraps down and under the bow and that may hold it in place. It would be cut at the bottom of the windshield of course. The sewn in strap can wrap behind the mid cleat then over to the other side. A removable PVC support down the middle would also be needed.
You might be wondering why would anyone cross in those conditions. for one, you really don’t know until you’re out a few miles from the marina we launched from. Two, we did postpone one day due to conditions and by the time we realized how bad it had become, we decided to stay with it. All made it ok and it turned out to be a great trip. Once there we had some of the best conditions of any trip I’ve heard of. we rode around and hit many other islands over those 5 days. So we’re anxious to get back!!!
so, have any of you wished you had a bow cover when crossing? Or do you think it isn’t needed?

 

[Bruce]

Many have installed bow covers for the crossing.

Personally I prefer to let the scupper do its job on the rare occurrence that it is needed.

Do not try to cross the stream in 6 to 8. That is a recipe for disaster. 2’ seas and / or 12 mph wind will be a beating. Widely spaced large waves are uncommon in the stream.

 

[Troy JK]

Many have installed bow covers for the crossing.

Personally I prefer to let the scupper do its job on the rare occurrence that it is needed.

Do not try to cross the stream in 6 to 8. That is a recipe for disaster. 2’ seas and / or 12 mph wind will be a beating. Widely spaced large waves are uncommon in the stream.

no reports/forecasts that we found were predicting 6-8. And as we know conditions change, so there is no way to reliably know exactly what conditions you will go through until you’re there. All we can do it hope the reports are close. This is why I’m asking for opinions of those with experience. after our trip, I can see where the scupper may not be enough. ?
Because we were all on jet skis, it’s hard to say for sure if my boat would have taken water over the bow, or how much.

 

[Bruce]

@Troy JK, conditions in the stream can change rapidly however it is common for people to feel that the waves they were in were much larger than actual measurements would find.

I have a friend whose 62’ Ocean took $50K of damage trying to cross the stream on a day with a 5’ forecast. I have seen two Yamaha boats swamped on a day with a 1.8’ forecast.

Large waves are manageable when widely spaced. That is rare when crossing to Bimini where 2’ to 3’ tightly packed waves are brutal to small boats.

 

[anmut]

You guys have big brass balls for doing those trips - I'm not one to take a trip on the great lakes with my 21' boat, let alone go offshore in the ocean with one!

 

[Betik]

I had the bow cover during the 2017 crossing and I am not sure it will serve what you are hopping for. The weight of the water it will collapse the cover.
I am sure it helps especially with small spray but I will not count on it to keep waves out.

As matter of fact we had a couple of waves go over the windshield and one them it literally came over our heads.

 

[Troy JK]

You guys have big brass balls for doing those trips - I'm not one to take a trip on the great lakes with my 21' boat, let alone go offshore in the ocean with one!

Its risky no doubt, but once there it’s worth it. We rode from Bimini to Issac Kay (26mi I think). We could see the bottom and everything between for the whole ride there and back. Incredible.

 

[Troy JK]

I had the bow cover during the 2017 crossing and I am not sure it will serve what you are hopping for. The weight of the water it will collapse the cover.
I am sure it helps especially with small spray but I will not count on it to keep waves out.

As matter of fact we had a couple of waves go over the windshield and one them it literally came over our heads.

thanks, this is what I’m looking for.
did it collapse your cover? And did you have any additional support down the middle to help the water roll off the sides?

when In 17’? We crossed on the skis on may 5th And returned on the 12th.

 

[Bruce]

when In 17’? We crossed on the skis on may 5th And returned on the 12th.

July 10th to 15th. It was a rough crossing. I hear more reports of problems with bow covers than without. I bet you find many such reports if you read the thread. Keep in mind that the forecast was less than 2’ and the reality was not much more.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/jetboaters-net-bimini-fling-july-10th-to-15th-2017.11966/

 

[Troy JK]

July 10th to 15th. It was a rough crossing. I hear more reports of problems with bow covers than without. I bet you find many such reports if you read the thread. Keep in mind that the forecast was less than 2’ and the reality was not much more.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/jetboaters-net-bimini-fling-july-10th-to-15th-2017.11966/

There was 16 of us and it was my first So I was following the leaders. pretty sure the reports that morning were 3-5. Once over there we were told it was up to 6-8. no way to know exactly but I can tell you this, at times when I was in the trough I couldn’t see anyone else, not even the the rider nearest me. Once over there were shocked when we told them when we crossed. Still turned out great because the seas calmed to near perfect conditions for the rest of the trip.
no doubt we should have waited one more day but these things happen when your time is limited and you’re crossing with many others.

 

[thefortunes]

Our return crossing had 4-6' waves.

I had a bow cover with all our luggage up front supporting the cover (had the bow filler cushion in place).

When we turned out from between North and South Bimini I didn't see the first wave and it came totally over the boat. The bow cover shed that portion of the wave and the scupper did the rest.

I would highly recommend a bow cover.

P.S. kept our luggage dry too

 

[Troy JK]

Our return crossing had 4-6' waves.

I had a bow cover with all our luggage up front supporting the cover (had the bow filler cushion in place).

When we turned out from between North and South Bimini I didn't see the first wave and it came totally over the boat. The bow cover shed that portion of the wave and the scupper did the rest.

I would highly recommend a bow cover.

P.S. kept our luggage dry too

What kind over cover? A snap-on? Pics would be awesome.

 

[Betik]

https://jetboaters.net/threads/looking-for-2017-bimini-trip-photos.24560/page-2#post-411277

for pics look post #22, or scroll until you see my end of septembear post ( the one with the pictures ).
my camera was mounted as high as it gets on the stbd windshield. You can see water coming over and part bow cover collapsed. You can all see in one the pictures that I have the pole in the middle and the bow cover is so wet that ithas started to pool. By the time we where in Bimini half of my bow cover was completely unsnapped and actining more like a flag than a cover.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

https://jetboaters.net/threads/looking-for-2017-bimini-trip-photos.24560/page-2#post-411277

for pics look post #22, or scroll until you see my end of septembear post ( the one with the pictures ).
my camera was mounted as high as it gets on the stbd windshield. You can see water coming over and part bow cover collapsed. You can all see in one the pictures that I have the pole in the middle and the bow cover is so wet that ithas started to pool. By the time we where in Bimini half of my bow cover was completely unsnapped and actining more like a flag than a cover.

If you are looking for a foul weather bow cover, it must be supported fully from port to starboarb with multiple bows and a tent pole. It must be tight and have slope from middle to edge....most prefab bow covers are for storage and will not suffice when you dump 30 gallons of water on them in 2 seconds.

 

[Betik]

Our return crossing had 4-6' waves.

I had a bow cover with all our luggage up front supporting the cover (had the bow filler cushion in place).

When we turned out from between North and South Bimini I didn't see the first wave and it came totally over the boat. The bow cover shed that portion of the wave and the scupper did the rest.

I would highly recommend a bow cover.

P.S. kept our luggage dry too

You must a lucky person , skilled captain, better vessel, wrong forecast or something that I do not get.
I am not sure how you managed to keep anything dry Escepcially on the bow. Everything single item in our boat that was not in vacumum sealed bags it was wet. Ski locker: check, bow storage: check, cockpit storage: check . Head: head. My under wear: check ( note here that later analysis showed there was salt not just urine).
the buckle of my forward battery totally rusted too, not the rear one. I did not bother to check while in Bimini but we re back inTexas I noticed.

further more the insulation under the engine hatch was wet up to the fire extinguisher access hole.

we got water over the windshield and at some point over 6 inches of water in the cockpit area. Dispute the bow cover and windshield closed ( which is a but idea to begin with).

if I had to guess I would say that going back to Florida is more like following seas and can make for a smooth ride.
I understand forecats Can be wrong but at 5am I remember vividly telling my mom “ it just dropped to 1.9, it will be an easy crossing”

as per having soupport underneath is a good idea. It will provide support from the water weight and in theory deflect more water. Ady I think used to use a tube for that purpose.
for me putting anything there will risk damage to the cushions and repairing a cushion is far more of a challenge that dealing with water overboard.


noteworthy footnote here. A lot of my drama was a direct consecucse of me being a newbe. But if this is someone’s first time change are there will screw up more like that’s the average Joe.

 

[Betik]

As per the statement “it is all worth it when you are there”. I beieleve the jury is still out. I have made the crossing 3 times and will do again by 2025, however a lot of us think that it is worth it, not because it is but because we need to justify our actions.

one week in Bimini is a $10,000 trip for us. one week in Panama city is $1,500. The added value of being in Bimini vs Panama City it is not worth $8,500 for us ( me, wify, boy 7, girl 9). The only thing we miss from bi in is the other Jetboaters which we rather tow the Ski to hot springs Bruce and Scott or for that matter drug our as**es to NJ now that Captain Pilothouse in the east coat.

will go again to Bimini and beyond with at The risk of getting a diaper rush or getting ride on USCG heli, Yes we will. do we think it is all worthy, probably not and mostly a justification for the irrationality of our actions

 

[Bruce]

Our return crossing had 4-6' waves.

Where and when was this?

 

[thefortunes]

Where and when was this?

The very first Bimini sponsored crossing in 2011. As I mentioned, it was the return crossing and I got blasted when I turned out from the protection of the two islands. We had rented a house in what is now the Hilton Resort and the leeward side of North Bimini gave zero indication of what was to come.

We were the pioneers along with Andy, Upperdeck (don't remember his name) and others.

To make it even more interesting, I had 8 adults in my boat.

 

[thefortunes]

To follow up, I believe a bow cover is necessary (assuming properly supported).

As I said, it shed the water that would have come in the bow for the first two waves that engulfed us when we turned out from the protected area.

After that I was able to get the cadence of the waves and we were substantially dry the rest of the way.