Florida to Bimini Bahamas

[Québec 1]

Where would be the best start point from Florida to go to the Bimini islands? The most common answer I get is as far south as possible. But does anyone know of a good jump off point where I could wait out the weather in Florida?

Seems to me Boca Chita Key south of Miami might be okay!

http://www.miami-florida.com/article_biscayne_keys.htm

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[Chinook]

I'm interested in the responses to this inquiry, since I hope to be making this same crossing in spring 2011. For me, balancing the variables of marina cost (assuming the need to hang around for a few days waiting for the right weather), location sufficiently far south, ease of night time navigation through the inlet to open ocean, availability of launch ramp, and access to suitable long term vehicle/trailer parking (emphasis on security and cost, in that order). Also, proximity to US Customs for rentry into the US at the conclusion of the trip needs to enter into the equation. Given the popularity of Bimini as a destination, I'm hopeful that a launch point exists which does a reasonable job with these criteria.

[uanhanlouee]

Biscayne BAy is the place.

The current moves you 2 to 3 knots North once you are in Gulfstream which generally is around 8 miles offshore.

No name harbor on the pit is a protected harbor with no marina located on a park with a restaurant on the water.

There is a ramp about 2 miles from No Name harbor in key biscayen.

[Québec 1]

Thanks for the heads up uanhanlouee,
No Name Harbor has served as a refuge for pirates, smugglers, and sailors..... sounds like the safest place in the USA
Checked it out and it looks great. Seems a bunch of other people used this as a starting point. Seems to be me I would be fighting the gulf stream all the way tho. Maybe its just the way the map doesn't curve the earth. I'll check out the latitudes and longitudes to see.
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[jimmy alonso]

Hi; For US citizens I recommend everyone going with you stop by Customs before you leave and get a LBO (Local Boater Option) card you take your passport and boat registration to Customs get signed up an when you return most likely all you have to do is call and check in. Google Customs LBO and check it out .

[Québec 1]

Jimmy,
Sounds like a wonderful idea!
I Bookmarked the site and copied the info to my hard drive!
Bertrand

[DaveB]

You want to be South of Miami. Places I have Launched with excellent ramps and facilities are Homestead Marina and Pennicamp State Park. I have also heard from many that Black Point is also very good.
Pennikamp cost me $30 a day for a slip includeing elect. and has a parking area out back were you can make a deal for storage for truck and Trailer for around $10 day,while at the slip the storage is free.
Homestead was around $12 (think it went to $15) a day to launch and keep your truck and trailer their.
These prices were 2 years ago and may have climbed up a couple of dollars or maybe during hard times declined.
Make a deal with the dock master for extended trips leaving your Trailer and truck their, they will work with you in both places.
Another place further down is a private Marina on left side past Pennicamp around 15 miles and was $5 a day but I don't recall the name .
Comeing back you can always do the Intercoastal Waterway in calm waters thru Biscane bay if the winds are not in your favor and land at Miami.
You may also do a trip to Gun or Cat Key S. of Bimini for trip back.
Dave

Where would be the best start point from Florida to go to the Bimini islands? The most common answer I get is as far south as possible. But does anyone know of a good jump off point where I could wait out the weather in Florida?

Seems to me Boca Chita Key south of Miami might be okay!

http://www.miami-florida.com/article_biscayne_keys.htm

Q1

[Captain Jim]

Q1,

Check this web site as a reference in planning your trip and during your trip to the Bahamas. You may find it quite useful.
We are now in the early planning stages for our trip to the Bahamas in 2012. So, we will be watching your posts and KayakDan's as well!


http://www.activecaptain.com/X.php

Fair winds,

Jim
S/V BOLD VENTURE

[Québec 1]

Dave, Thanks for the input i checked it all out and Homestead area seems right. Do you go down a bit and cross at hurricane creek or up by keyhole?
Jim, I'm now a member of Active Captain but can't figure own how to plot a course on it. i will be getting seaclear for the pc (10$)in a few days and the explorer chart book should be arriving soon so things are coming together.

Next week end 21srt the tarp comes of the boat and I will shovel her out then tow her to the garage on 25th for a trailer and car check up. My buddy owns the garage so he will let me work on the boat all night. Now if my wife would just come back from Alberta so somebody can do the laundry and release me from dishwashing duties I could start getting ready. Tried out my new-old (ebay deal) garmin gps chip and it works.

I'm getting a bit nervous, but I'm used to long car trips with the camper so it's not that bad! With the boat I feel like I'm going on a big adventure...crossing the Atlantic he,he,he...never been 6 hours out of the site of land before. After looking at the Yachts in Miami on the internet my boat looks really small. Out here it's mid sized, in Miami its it's going to look like a pea pod.
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[KayakDan]

Bertrand,here's a website that will put in perspective for you.
http://www.microcruising.com/lc1.htm

Keep in mind that we are sort of "on the way" if you need anything on the drive down.

[Sumner]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this place or not, but it might be a possibility.
Herbert Hoover Marina .............

http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/parks/ho ... marina.asp

.... it is almost straight across the bay from Boca Chita Key, which to me looks like a good place to wait if you have to before you cross. I talked to Mike (dock master) there about leaving a vehicle and rates. He said that it is $12 to launch and day parking isn't that cheap, but they will put your tow vehicle and trailer into what they call "dry storage" for $214.00 a month. That isn't real bad at a little over $7.00 a day. Their slip rates also aren't that bad at $1.25 per foot a day or $2.00/ft. with electricity.

I would probably put in at South Dade Marina.....

http://southdademarina.com/

as their parking rates are less per day, but they are also further from going out. They are $5.00 day or $120 a month for vehicle and trailer.

Good luck and have fun,

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to..

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

[Québec 1]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this place or not, but it might be a possibility.
Herbert Hoover Marina .............

http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/parks/ho ... marina.asp

.... it is almost straight across the bay from Boca Chita Key, which to me looks like a good place to wait if you have to before you cross. I talked to Mike (dock master) there about leaving a vehicle and rates. He said that it is $12 to launch and day parking isn't that cheap, but they will put your tow vehicle and trailer into what they call "dry storage" for $214.00 a month. That isn't real bad at a little over $7.00 a day. Their slip rates also aren't that bad at $1.25 per foot a day or $2.00/ft. with electricity.

I would probably put in at South Dade Marina.....

http://southdademarina.com/

as their parking rates are less per day, but they are also further from going out. They are $5.00 day or $120 a month for vehicle and trailer.

Good luck and have fun,

Sum and Ruth

Our Trips to..

Our Mac Pages

Mac Links

Thanks for the excellent referral. I talked to a number of people in the Bahamas recently in my quest for information and I am once again looking to go to West End instead of Bimini. Two of the reasons mentioned which influenced me is that there is less golf stream to cross from Florida to West End because you are out of the golf Stream a bit before you get to Grand Bahamas and once on Grand Bahamas you are an easy days sail to way more places. Still don't know where I will be staying in Florida, but I have a friend with a condo in Fort Lauderale so I might park the boat and car North of Fort Lauderdale and take a few days to sail/motor up to Fort Lauderdale.
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leaving in 8 days.

[uanhanlouee]

If you are going to stay at No name harbor in key Biscayne you can launch at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne. I had forgotten the name. I would suggest motoring across as fast as possible. You don't want to stay in the Gulfstream more than necessary. It has a tendency to get nasty. You can sail to your hearts content when you got to the other side.