I want to go to Bimini 2017

[2nazt]

Myself and a friend Rob (check out his yamaha DIY maintenance youtube Channel) have book a house on south Bimini the 10th through the 14th of July. This will be our first trip 2 Bimini. We both live in Central Florida and are used to Rough Waters in the gulf anyone have any pointers for first timers. We looked into going with the larger group from the Forum in June but it's just not going to work with everyone's work schedule.

The dates for 2017 are not set yet, even with rough water experience you need to watch forecast as it gets closer. High winds and the direction they can come will decide your trip. Same with the return. Read the other posts about crossing. Do you have VHF, some sort of tracker like InReach, SPOT, etc? . Check you insurance. Just be prepared and know what to do in an emergency. Post as it gets closer since other members might tag along too.

 

[robert843]

Myself and a friend Rob (check out his yamaha DIY maintenance youtube Channel) have book a house on south Bimini the 10th through the 14th of July. This will be our first trip 2 Bimini. We both live in Central Florida and are used to Rough Waters in the gulf anyone have any pointers for first timers. We looked into going with the larger group from the Forum in June but it's just not going to work with everyone's work schedule.

Welcome aboard the first post in the below linked thread has a doc attached with a bunch of great info and tips on the Bimini trip.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/preparing-for-bimini.3800/

 

[DieselCamel]

Myself and a friend Rob (check out his yamaha DIY maintenance youtube Channel) have book a house on south Bimini the 10th through the 14th of July. This will be our first trip 2 Bimini. We both live in Central Florida and are used to Rough Waters in the gulf anyone have any pointers for first timers. We looked into going with the larger group from the Forum in June but it's just not going to work with everyone's work schedule.

We rented a house on S. Bimini this year. The house was great dock was awesome. But the dam no-see-ums wouldn't let you sit outside in the evenings. Something to think about Bimini Sands has a truck that sprays everyday while its not perfect over either it was much better.

 

[Bruce]

We looked into going with the larger group from the Forum in June but it's just not going to work with everyone's work schedule.

Register at https://jetboaters.net/threads/jetboaters-net-bimini-fling-dates-tbd-2017.11966/ so you can get the dates that work for you into the mix.

Going with a group is always safer.

 

[Drift Away]

We rented a house on S. Bimini this year. The house was great dock was awesome. But the dam no-see-ums wouldn't let you sit outside in the evenings. Something to think about Bimini Sands has a truck that sprays everyday while its not perfect over either it was much better.

Yeah I read quite a bit about those it sounds like they get pretty bad. Might have to buy stock in bug spray company before we go.

 

[Drift Away]

Welcome aboard the first post in the below linked thread has a doc attached with a bunch of great info and tips on the Bimini trip.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/preparing-for-bimini.3800/

That's a great post we looked at that before we even really got serious about the trip.

 

[Drift Away]

The dates for 2017 are not set yet, even with rough water experience you need to watch forecast as it gets closer. High winds and the direction they can come will decide your trip. Same with the return. Read the other posts about crossing. Do you have VHF, some sort of tracker like InReach, SPOT, etc? . Check you insurance. Just be prepared and know what to do in an emergency. Post as it gets closer since other members might tag along too.

We have a pretty large checklist already started extra fuel, extra spark plugs, maintenance stuff, radios, location beacons and a whole lot of other stuff just trying to figure out which GPS or plotter is the best for the money. definitely not something I want to go cheap on but I also don't want a bunch of extra junk on the thing that I'm not going to use.

 

[Drift Away]

Register at https://jetboaters.net/threads/jetboaters-net-bimini-fling-dates-tbd-2017.11966/ so you can get the dates that work for you into the mix.

Going with a group is always safer.

Just filled out the registration form with all of our information. Not sure where everybody stays when they go we've already paid for and booked a house on South Bimimi through Airbnb. we booked it from the 9th through the 14th. We are definitely looking forward to going over and a larger group with people who have made their run before.

 

[DieselCamel]

Yeah I read quite a bit about those it sounds like they get pretty bad. Might have to buy stock in bug spray company before we go.

We used this almost 100% Deet. Gives babies in California a 3 head to be honest really didn't help much. Just something to think about we were all about trying to save a dime as it is cheaper to rent a house but in the end the savings wasn't worth it. We have stayed at the Sands before as well. Definitely was a better experience. Not trying to sway you just posting my experience as i'm sure many people have rented houses and have been happy.

 

[DieselCamel]

We have a pretty large checklist already started extra fuel, extra spark plugs, maintenance stuff, radios, location beacons and a whole lot of other stuff just trying to figure out which GPS or plotter is the best for the money. definitely not something I want to go cheap on but I also don't want a bunch of extra junk on the thing that I'm not going to use.

as far as a plotter goes you could use an iPad or phone with navionics could work well. i would defiantly have a backup wether that be another phone or a small hand held unit.

 

[Bruce]

Just filled out the registration form with all of our information. Not sure where everybody stays when they go we've already paid for and booked a house on South Bimimi through Airbnb. we booked it from the 9th through the 14th. We are definitely looking forward to going over and a larger group with people who have made their run before.

Is that the 9th through 14th of July?

Can you get out of your reservation?

As @DieselCamel says it is much more pleasant to stay at Bimini Sands. We had some bites in 2014 but I do not remember any in 2015 or 2016. Additionally being at the same facility provides greater opportunity to get in on group activities and hang out around the pool.

 

[Drift Away]

Is that the 9th through 14th of July?

Can you get out of your reservation?

As @DieselCamel says it is much more pleasant to stay at Bimini Sands. We had some bites in 2014 but I do not remember any in 2015 or 2016. Additionally being at the same facility provides greater opportunity to get in on group activities and hang out around the pool.

Yes it's July. We have until April 1st before we lose all the down payment money. So I guess once the dates are set we can try to adjust one way or another

 

[2nazt]

You could go as simple as a handheld unit if not used much like a Garmin GPSMap 78sc. I would recommend using a plug in charger from the boat and a RAM mount. I used this set up on my boat in the keys and my jet ski and is good for just navigation.

 

[Bruce]

@Drift Away, @DieselCamel. @2nazt, I used Navionics on a Nexus 7 with phones as a backup in 2013. I loved the setup and still prefer the Navionics app to any plotter software I have seen. But while making an 11 mile trip from a barrier island back to shore at night in 3+ foot chop the mount I was using failed. This left me trying to hold a tablet while controlling a steering wheel and two throttles. I do not want to have that experience again.

 

[Drift Away]

@Drift Away, @DieselCamel. @2nazt, I used Navionics on a Nexus 7 with phones as a backup in 2013. I loved the setup and still prefer the Navionics app to any plotter software I have seen. But while making an 11 mile trip from a barrier island back to shore at night in 3+ foot chop the mount I was using failed. This left me trying to hold a tablet while controlling a steering wheel and two throttles. I do not want to have that experience again.

Yea that sounds like the ingredients for a really bad night. Any suggestions on a mounting location on a 2016 Yamaha 24 footer

 

[Bruce]

Yea that sounds like the ingredients for a really bad night. Any suggestions on a mounting location on a 2016 Yamaha 24 footer

The cup holder left of the steering wheel.

 

[2nazt]

I do agree a fix mounted secured plotter is the way to go. On my ski I have a mount on the ski itself so it not suctioned on. You lock it in with adjustments. I have rolled the ski and it stayed in place. The ball mount is secured to the ski and I use a three piece adapted to get the position I like and it then the mount secures on the to GPS and snaps in place

 

[MrMoose]

We have a pretty large checklist already started extra fuel, extra spark plugs, maintenance stuff, radios, location beacons and a whole lot of other stuff just trying to figure out which GPS or plotter is the best for the money. definitely not something I want to go cheap on but I also don't want a bunch of extra junk on the thing that I'm not going to use.

@Drift Away , I installed a 5" Garmin chart plotter in a way that, other than the base of the ram mount, completely uninstalls in 2 minutes. To uninstall it, I loosen the Ram mount and unscrew the power cord from the back. The power cord slides back through the mounting hole in the cavity located to the right of the helm, forward of the throttle levers, which is where the Ram mount base is also mounted... totally out of the way. I've only used my chart plotter for the Bimini trips, and I also didn't want a bunch of extra equipment in the way when I didn't need it. The Ram mount system works well for orienting the chart plotter to my viewing position (sitting or standing). It's also mounted to the right of the helm instrumentation and does not block the view of the Connext.

 

[Andy S]

Yea that sounds like the ingredients for a really bad night. Any suggestions on a mounting location on a 2016 Yamaha 24 footer

90% of our boating I don't need a GPS so I didn't want a permanent mount solution, so I copied what @waterboy did for a non-permanent but rock solid mount, https://jetboaters.net/threads/mounted-my-ray-marine-dragonfly-with-ram-mounts-today.1644/page-2 , my install is on page 3. I have used the sea sucker suction cup and ram mount for a trip to Bimini in my Yamaha and a trip to Exuma in my new boat and both trips the mount work flawlessly. On my new boat I wasn't able to mount the suction cup to the sidewall, the only place available was to mounted the suction cup to the windshield. I was unsure of this mount location but after our trip to Exuma and it working perfectly it will go back there for our next trip. I don't have a close up picture of the mount on the windshield, the only picture that I do have you have to use a little imagination to get the idea. The suction cup is mounted so that the RAM mount never touches the top of the dash. For power I have a cable connected under the dash and when it is needed I route it up the side of the dash to the GPS unit and when not is use it hides under the dash for a clean look.

 

[Drift Away]

@Drift Away , I installed a 5" Garmin chart plotter in a way that, other than the base of the ram mount, completely uninstalls in 2 minutes. To uninstall it, I loosen the Ram mount and unscrew the power cord from the back. The power cord slides back through the mounting hole in the cavity located to the right of the helm, forward of the throttle levers, which is where the Ram mount base is also mounted... totally out of the way. I've only used my chart plotter for the Bimini trips, and I also didn't want a bunch of extra equipment in the way when I didn't need it. The Ram mount system works well for orienting the chart plotter to my viewing position (sitting or standing). It's also mounted to the right of the helm instrumentation and does not block the view of the Connext.
View attachment 49002

That's exactly where I was thinking would probably be the best place for it to go. My big concern was it blocking the gauges or The Connext system