Bahamas Crossing Summer 2021

[roman An]

Good day everyone. I am waiting on my seray 340. In your experience is this a good boat to take from south florida to Bahamas and if so do you ever plan joined crossings which I may join?

 

[ttmott]

Good day everyone. I am waiting on my seray 340. In your experience is this a good boat to take from south florida to Bahamas and if so do you ever plan joined crossings which I may join?

From an OEM design aspect the boat absolutely is capable; do it and have fun. From a condition aspect - possibly. From a captain and crew aspect - possibly.

 

[Ididntdoit]

Good day everyone. I am waiting on my seray 340. In your experience is this a good boat to take from south florida to Bahamas and if so do you ever plan joined crossings which I may join?

You will see people cross in flats boats and jet skis in the summer......cross to Bimini a couple of times before venturing further - summer is the best time - avoid crossing in any north winds - have an epirb or PLB with you - best places to stay on Bimini are resorts world or bimini cove - study the requirements for entry and exit as well as checking back in to the US via ROAM

 

[ocgrant]

Good day everyone. I am waiting on my seray 340. In your experience is this a good boat to take from south florida to Bahamas and if so do you ever plan joined crossings which I may join?

As TTMOT said yes the boat is designed and more than capable. Question is the condition of the boat and gear as well as your capabilities. It is a 2 hour run in open ocean so you want to make sure your boat is well maintained and ready for a 2+ hour continuous run. Start prepping by doing all the required maintenance and getting comfortable with small day trips close to your home port. Once you master that then I would recommend a trip from Miami to the middle keys or Miami to Palm Beach so you can get the 2+ hour run but you are near shore just in case. Once you are confident in your equipment and your boating skills then you are ready to make the run. Yes there are plenty of groups that run to Bimini in floatillias so you can join one or just post on this list as there are a few of us here that live in SoFLo and go to Binini. I usually make the trip at least once a month starting in June until the Summer ends and the easterlys start blowing in the fall.

 

[JayhawkCurtis]

Man that sounds like fun, would have to trailer my 240 SD all the way to florida, and I see boats have to be 22' or longer, but I might be a little nervous about taking a boat that small across there,

 

[ocgrant]

Well leaving on Friday for the weekend and first trip there since Pre-Covid. Doing the new "Click 2 Clear" customs clearing system. I have to say with all the covid testing requirements, forms and duplicate info it is a pain in the ass. I hope to be pre-cleared but not sure if this new system is worth all the pain vs fill out the forms and go stand in line. I guess time will tell.... I guess at the end of the day paradise cost $$$ just take my money and open the door and let me in.

 

[cod]

Well…. we cleared customs and immigration in North Bimini. “Click to Clear” didn’t seem to make things that much quicker other than being able to pay the fee online. Still need to go to immigration first and fill out their form, answer a bunch of questions, get it stamped and bring it to Customs. If you had all the paper forms filled out and ready for customs in the past, it’s basically the same process. Next stop, Chub and then to Harbour Island and the Abacos…

 

[ocgrant]

Well…. we cleared customs and immigration in North Bimini. “Click to Clear” didn’t seem to make things that much quicker other than being able to pay the fee online. Still need to go to immigration first and fill out their form, answer a bunch of questions, get it stamped and bring it to Customs. If you had all the paper forms filled out and ready for customs in the past, it’s basically the same process. Next stop, Chub and then to Harbour Island and the Abacos…

You got that right... Took 2 hours to get there and 3 hours to clear. Total BS in resorts world marina, ended up going to big game and waited at immigration for 1 hour to get passports stamped. Then click to clear took 10 minutes for customs. Now filling out click to clear to me 3 hours and 27 uploads for my party of 6. I guess this is just the price you pay to enter paradise. I made the mistake of leaving later than usual on Friday so I got there at noon instead of 8 am. I paid for that... but still paradise.
I think I saw you in Honeymoon on Sunday anchored up? I was out playing on my wave runner and then I saw Rick on his 48 and shot over to say hi to him.

 

[ocgrant]

 

[cod]

Yup! That was me… I pulled into Honeymoon harbour and then decided to move to the east (leeward side) You can also see MOJO (Blue hull) in your pic……You should have come over and introduced yourself….

 

[ocgrant]

Yea, I screwed up I saw Rick and went to see him as I was looking for him the night before in Bimini and turns out he stayed right there on the hook all night. How long are you in the Bahamas this trip? I am going back the 8th - 18th hitting Bimini, Cape Eleuthera, Ramora Bay and then Chub.

 

[cod]

Yea, I screwed up I saw Rick and went to see him as I was looking for him the night before in Bimini and turns out he stayed right there on the hook all night. How long are you in the Bahamas this trip? I am going back the 8th - 18th hitting Bimini, Cape Eleuthera, Ramora Bay and then Chub.

No worries……We are at Chub now. We will be in the Bahamas until approx. July 7th. We will head to Valentines tomorrow and spend 5 days there. Then we head to the Abacos for the remaining time.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Did my first crossing with COD and having a fantastic time.
That was me anchored with him on Honeymoon
Too bad we missed you.

 

[ocgrant]

Did my first crossing with COD and having a fantastic time.
That was me anchored with him on Honeymoon
Too bad we missed you.

I know bummer I would have loved to meet you CSR legends. Glad you had a great crossing, have a great trip and hope to meet both of you soon.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Couple of pics of the boats.

 

[Dani-Lu]

Beautiful!

 

[techmitch]

Couple of pics of the boats.

So, just like that, you post 4 calendar pics. You guys are crushing it! Fair seas.

 

[JC3]

Really nice pictures! Would love to see more as trip progresses!!! GOD speed JC

 

[swaterhouse]

Did my first crossing with COD and having a fantastic time.
That was me anchored with him on Honeymoon
Too bad we missed you.

Had we known well in advance we would have our boat in Ft Lauderdale for a week we could have planned to meet you guys out there for a few days.

Super Jealous!

 

[ocgrant]

Here is a video my son put together