Anyone ever make a run to Bimini?

[Keyv20]

Me and my dad have ran over there out of port everglades with a 248 sportsman. it was a good run exactly 48 miles from the port. We would go every few months for a weekend, but havent been in about 5 years.

[Destroyer]

I'd love to try, but it's a hella run for me... first aprox 1400 mile trailer, then the 48 mile run etc. But in my younger days I've been out to the Sunken Texas tower in my first V, and that's about 63 miles off the coast of Long Island, so a run of 48 miles certainly seems feasible. The overriding concern of course would be the weather and sea conditions. I would not even consider a run like that unless the sea was calm and the weather for the next week was forecast to be mild with no storms on the horizon.

[phatdaddy]

Didn't we have a member from Miami/lauderdale area that talked about making that run.

[inaforty]

Interesting comments from everyone.
Thanks for every members comments
I think I would feel safe with twins running that far.
However I thought i read that Tow boat US was extending coverage to Bimini.

[phatdaddy]

I worked at fort jefferson in the dry tortugas in the mid 80's. that was a 70 mile run one way due west of key west. we did it in shrimp boats and aluminum crew boats. boss's son brought a 17 ft chapparal out there. he took off from key west, but knew we were behind him in a back up boat. Water was usually flat calm and only about 25-50 foot deep most of the way.

[bradford]

Lesterus has run to Bimini as well as to Cuba I believe.

One of the biggest concerns on the Bimini run is wind direction against the Stream. A lot of cruisers will hole up for weeks sometimes waiting to cross.

Some good square grouper drops near Fort Jefferson.

[phatdaddy]

thanks B, couldn't remember his name. used to enjoy his post.

[SkunkBoat]

Originally Posted by bradford

One of the biggest concerns on the Bimini run is wind direction against the Stream. A lot of cruisers will hole up for weeks sometimes waiting to cross.

That's the problem. You might get there and not get back. Wing against the stream makes ugly fast. My brother has taken his 29 Aquasport from Pompano to the Bahamas for overnighters many times and there have been a few white knuckle returns.

Theyv'e made daytrips in 24 CCs in good weather. You need a boat with some weight that can run 40+ mph.

Its kind of like here in NJ running my V20 60 miles to Chicken Canyon...you gotta know 99.9% positive that the afternoon wind will not kickup.

If I had my V in Pompano I wouldn't run it to Bahamas. There is so much great fishing 3 to 15 miles from the inlet. And if you want you to change it up, you can trailer down to the Keys.