Bahamas trip anyone???

[CATmech945]

I know it's a little early to be planning for june but I'm trying to get a group of people together who want to run over to port lucaya june 22nd-25th....leave friday and come back monday. I hear the yellowfin fishing is off the charts that time of year!! It's about 90-100 miles total from stuart inlet and I planned on stopping in at west end to check in and then make the run southeast toward freeport. I have a single engine and don't want to go solo especially since this is my first time running my boat across. I was hoping some guys on the site would be interested. This seems like a great group of people to go with. If anyone is interested please let me know. I should probably add that those dates aren't set in stone, they're just the dates that I threw out there that currently work on my schedule. I can change them if someone needs to. Thanks!!

Aaron Vanderwerf

[seabob4]

That's a pretty tall order for what many would consider to be small boats.  Obviously doable, but weather is the key determining factor in the crossing.  When you plan to return could be subject to change, although things have calmed down somewhat in the June time frame...

Good luck!

[gran398]

CAT, what kind of boat is she?

[love2fish]

My parents live in Jensen Beach, several years ago we took their 35 Sea Ray from the St Lucie inlet to the West End and then down to Port Lacaya. I would highly recommend the night before going down to the Jupiter inlet and leaving from there. from the St. Lucie inlet, you're having to point just into the stream enough that it's usually a pretty rough crossing.
Leaving from anywhere south of there and you can pretty much head east and let the stream carry you north-ish to the west end.  
Having said that- there are usually groups that are pretty easy to team up with to make a crossing out of the manatee pocket area (several marina's in that area who can steer you towards a group).

Best of luck and keep us posted!. Hopefully you will run into calm water and light/no winds!  If you've never made a crossing, it's incredibly fun and a huge adventure. Hopefully you have a good fishfinder/chartplotter because watching the shelf drop off is pretty impressive. and the stuff you see floating out in the Gulf Stream is incredible- passing cruise ships, turtles everywhere, trash (refridgerators, channel bouys, a jet ski)

I think in the past few years they have really upgraded the West End Marina, when i was there last, it was a pretty basic outpost. Now it's a pretty sweet high end marina from the pictures I've seen.

The other thing is to keep your dates as flexible as possible. We had to stay an extra day because of the weather, it's big water and storms come up quickly.

[gran398]

Good thinking love2


I've been offshore a lot. Longest trip on one of my boats (twice) 86 miles one way from Wrightsville Beach to the Big Rock, ocean all the way...in a 24 foot boat.

Not a problem. Chose flat, fairly-calm days.

But twin engines are imperative. Anything can happen, and expect it. If you have to run a single, four strokes are nice....until they run along sweet and crap out with an injector alarm.

Go with the twins...or go with a group.

Either way, bring 700 feet of good rope.

 

[CATmech945]

Thanks for all the replies!! I probably should've been a little more detailed when I wrote the post. This isn't my first trip across to the bahamas at all.....just my first time going on a small boat with one engine, which is why I was trying to put a group together. I know better than to try and make that sort of trip with a single and no back up plan. Good to know that there are people willing to help a newbie out though. I work for Caterpillar as a marine diesel mechanic in West Palm Beach, FL, hence the user name CATmech. I go over often to do repairs and ride back over on the boats usually, so I'm fairly savvy with the Grand Bahama area. Also, I am keeping my schedule flexible since my boat is small and the ocean can change in a matter of minutes. I just thought that maybe I wasn't the only fool looking to cross but didn't yet have a partner to go with. Again, I appreciate the comments and suggestions. Lord knows they're always welcome especially when dealing with the "big ol blue". If anyone is interested though, give me a shout.

Thanks again,
Aaron

[RickK]

Back a few years we had a member rebuilding his 170 to have twins so he could cross over.  Said he'd done it in smaller boats.  
I guess it's ok if you are a dinghy to a large boat just in case there is a problem.

[CATmech945]

Wow!! 17 ft? And here I thought what I was doing was sketchy in a 23 footer. I'm just surprised I don't have any takers here locally. I assumed there would be a bunch of people wanting to make the run but in the same boat (no pun intended) as me, only having one engine. No biggie.....maybe some big yellowfin tuna pics will persuade some of you for next year.

Aaron

[vonkamp]

I may be interested. I've always wanted to make that trip but never found anyone else willing to go who has done that before. Definatley not something I would want to do solo. Safety in numbers...

[CATmech945]

Alrighty, we have a taker!!! Yes....safety in numbers for sure. P.M. me so we can chat and see what works time wise and all.

[T Race]

Cool Aaron, you guys are halfway there.  

Once you hit West End where will you head from there ?  

I'd go with you in a second.  

I'll be following your trip - keep us posted

Best wishes, Trace

[GoneFission]

A friend of mine just went across in his 40 foot trawler.  Waited 3 days for the weather/seas in order to make the trip.  They went with a group of 2 other boats.  You really don't want to make the trip alone.  Lauderdale to Bimini is only about 55 miles, but it can be a very long 55 miles if you have any problems.  

Read Waterway Guide - Southern edition if you are planning to go.  It is published annually and is available in most boat supply stores.  There are many pages on the net about Bimini and the Bahamas.

[wingtime]

What kind of "artillery" are you bringing along?  I have a Mossberg 500 12ga mariner that I sometimes bring out on my boat.

[Group W Bench]

Wingtime,

It's not worth bringing your gun to the Bahamas in my opinion. You have to declare every single round on your cruising permit and keep it in a locked compartment on your boat at all times. One issue is that you will be tied up at the customs dock staring at your Q flag for a long time simply because you are declaring a firearm. The bigger issue is the rampant boat theft that happens in the Bahamas. Some cruisers from Davis Island (Tampa) had their gun stolen from their sailboat among other items while in the Bahamas last year. It was a damn shame what they went through with the Bahamian po-po when they explained that their declared firearm was stolen. Basically, it was a week of hell to get everything sorted.

I have an old Mossberg 510 that I used to take on trips, but have since given it up due to the hassle factor. I just have some 12 gauge buckshot that looks like the 12 gauge flares in our flare gun cannister. You can fire any 12 gauge load out of a single shot breech load flare gun in a pinch. I reckon it might break your wrist, but in a pinch it will work.

[seabob4]

Wingtime,

It's not worth bringing your gun to the Bahamas in my opinion. You have to declare every single round on your cruising permit and keep it in a locked compartment on your boat at all times. One issue is that you will be tied up at the customs dock staring at your Q flag for a long time simply because you are declaring a firearm. The bigger issue is the rampant boat theft that happens in the Bahamas. Some cruisers from Davis Island (Tampa) had their gun stolen from their sailboat among other items while in the Bahamas last year. It was a damn shame what they went through with the Bahamian po-po when they explained that their declared firearm was stolen. Basically, it was a week of hell to get everything sorted.

I have an old Mossberg 510 that I used to take on trips, but have since given it up due to the hassle factor. I just have some 12 gauge buckshot that looks like the 12 gauge flares in our flare gun cannister. You can fire any 12 gauge load out of a single shot breech load flare gun in a pinch. I reckon it might break your wrist, but in a pinch it will work.

That's what I was talking about...declaration.  Here in FL, as has been stated, just answer the LEO's questions as to firearms onboard, where they are located, and stay away from them while they are onboard, and you're good to go.  Bahamas?  Different story, regardless of rampant theft and robbery that happens over there.  That's THEIR chit...