Headed to Bimini for 1st time- Advice?

[hd7345]

Headed to Bimini from Miami on a 38' Sea Ray Sundancer on July 19th. Planning on taking the kids. People say its an "easy" trip but I do not want to be overconfident. Please give me some advice! Thanks!
Also, if anybody is going that weekend, I would love to caravan!

[DotDun]

The weather will make or break that crossing. Don't try it in bad or questionable weather.

[Cheechako]

Generally us slow movers dont like to go in NE winds (wind against the gulf stream). In your case it'll take what ....2 hours? So, if there is not strong wind predicted and the water is currently flat...

[Waterway Guide]

What Cheechako said -- be flexible and not cross when you have even a 10 knot wind from NW through NE...and that goes for coming back across, too. Early morning is usually calmest.

[bahamarich]

The Bimini Sands Marina on South Bimini is a wonderful first stop in the Bahamas w/ no current and floating docks, great staff. This will be an easy trip start with a course more south than you think you need to and the Gulf Stream will compensate the angle. A Sea Ray under power will cross in about three hours. Enjoy, this is the beginning of many trips you will have over the years. Rich

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, hd7345.

Check out the Bahamas Summer Boating Flings, sponsored by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

➥ http://www.bahamas.com/node/728

[fishin4bogey]

I second Bimini Sands on south island. Watch the weather. Know a guy who stood a 38' Fountain on its transom on the way home. Definitely can be a scary ride in bad weather.

[Group9]

1. Fill up with gas.
2. Wait until it's flat with no north wind.
3. Haul ass.

Most of the problems with getting to Bimini are for sailboats that,
a. take 8-10 hours to get across, and can get caught by approaching bad weather,
b. draw 5 or more feet of water and have to be careful negotiating the screwed up entrance.

A cruiser doesn't have those problems. Just don't forget to take plenty of cash for the new fee, (and lots of grocery supplies to try and make up for paying the fee).