Anyone taken a Seadoo challenger to Bimini from Miami?

[Seadoo challenger 180]

Thinking of going on Sun and returning Mon. Experience with gas mileage? Reserves? Any buddy boats want to join? Any other advice? Forecast below:

 

[Julian]

You don't want to be looking at the North Bimini waves and winds you want to be looking at the mid channel forecast or if you can't find that, the Miami near shore. The wind typically comes from the SE, so the Bimini forecast is showing in the lee of the island. Anything over 10mph is going to be an unpleasant crossing-something I avoid!

 

[Julian]

I use the Windy app and look at "Bahamas-gulf stream (fort lauderdale/bimini" and "Gulf stream Miami-bimini". The Ft lauderdale one is showing 1.7 to 1.8 at 4 seconds with 12mph winds....not ideal, but doable. The 4 second interval isn't good. Your forecast shows much higher winds (14-16mph) which means over 2 footers from my experience.

My primary concern is the Sunday morning forecast for heavy rain. You do NOT want to be out there in a thunderstorm!!!! EVER. You want to be going around-away from storms. Never drive through one unless you are already heading to the ER with someone and its life or death. Lightening is a very real danger than will fry your boat....and you in it!

Monday return looks ok.

Just not sure I'd ever cross for less than 2-3 nights min. One night....never.

 

[Julian]

Regarding the "Reserves?" question....yes, you always want reserve fuel capacity. You never know when you might have to detour around a storm, or the wind picks up and you end up pounding waves for hours-reducing your gas mileage. We always take 3 five gallon cans with us.

A fixed mount VHF radio with tallest antenna you can get is a MUST! You don't want to be out of range of the coast guard. If crossing alone, and EPIRB would be advisable as well.

 

[Seadoo challenger 180]

Thanks so much for all of this great advice Julian! Yes we have reserves, were planning on 10 gallons but was just curious if anyone had done this trip with their challenger and their experience with reserves. We have the vhf and plb with gps and were going to head out after the rains. Will likely hold off this weekend though for better weather.

 

[Julian]

Will likely hold off this weekend though for better weather.

Good plan.

The reason the jetboaters groups go in early summer is to reduce the risk of storms. Hope you find a good window!

 

[rkim808]

Like @Julian said watching the forecasts is very very important. I personally have the Windy, WIND, and PredictWIND apps and I watch all 3. I never plan long or far outings without knowing all the potential conditions(winds, surf, tides, rain, etc). Make sure u have all ur safety equipment, double check and then triple check everything. Good luck, boat safe, have a great time.??

 

[Julian]

Like @Julian said watching the forecasts is very very important. I personally have the Windy, WIND, and PredictWIND apps and I watch all 3. I never plan long or far outings without knowing all the potential conditions(winds, surf, tides, rain, etc). Make sure u have all ur safety equipment, double check and then triple check everything. Good luck, boat safe, have a great time.??

And not only that you HAVE the equipment, but you know how to operate it WELL. For example:

• Do you know how to quickly replot your course on your gps (you will be stopping to pull weeds....no point in going back to your old line if you've just drifted a ways in the current).
• Do you know how to operate the squelch on your handheld emergency radio? (we had someone this year who'd just bought his and didn't know how....took me a while to figure it out on mine!)
• Have you tried refueling your boat in the ocean? Do your cans have vents and speed fill nozzles?
• Have you tested your VHF? Automated radio check
• Do you know how to remove weeds from your pumps? (there is a ton of sargassum weeds in between Bimini and the US)

Every time I go, I improve our preparedness a little in some regard.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Be careful as we are starting to see storms popping up quickly from the tropical air is rushing west. Its now August and prime tropical storm weather conditions are in effect.

 

[the MfM]

Have you tried refueling your boat in the ocean? Do your cans have vents and speed fill nozzles?

These make refueling simple.

The Original Safety Siphon®

The Original Safety Siphon

safetysiphon.net

 

[Julian]

These make refueling simple.

The Original Safety Siphon®

The Original Safety Siphon

safetysiphon.net

I prefer a speed nozzle with vent.....I can dump a can into the boat in under 60 seconds. I tie a docking line to the handle on the side of the can and don't even need to lean out over the boat. Stick the flexible nozzle in the fill tube, raise the can, hold the rope. (I have a siphon....prefer the speed nozzle)

Whatever works for you....but try it first BEFORE you do it on the open ocean!

 

[Seadoo challenger 180]

Yes, we have refueled on the water before and we have smart fill gas cans that look similar to this. Fortunately, our gas tank is very easy to access while on board. Briggs & Stratton Smart-Fill 2+ Gallon Gas Can Amazon.com: Briggs & Stratton Smart-Fill 2+ Gallon Gas Can: Garden & Outdoor

 

[suke]

whole series of these people doing it.