Boats 30 feet or longer in length must pay an annual fee of 2750 for a border crossing. Planning and preparation for a trip across the Gulf Stream.
Black Grouper Fishing in the Florida Keys.
Crossing to the bahamas by boat. Keep a waterproof boat bag handy to hold your boat registration insurance papers and passports. Youll also want a good first-aid kit and you need to carry quarantine and Bahamas. Boaters who cruise across the Gulf Stream are treated to a tactically demanding but quick passage from Floridas Atlantic Coast to the nearest of The Bahamas islands.
Bimini and Grand Bahama specifically the town of West End. Crossing the Gulf Stream by Boat. Crossing the Gulf Stream from Florida is not to be underestimated.
Prepare for a Crossing to the Bahamas by Boat. Planning and preparation for a trip across the Gulf Stream. Where to Fish in October.
Where to Fish in August and September. Black Grouper Fishing in the Florida Keys. Published on March 8 2020.
Last updated on June 12 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock. Crossing the Gulf Stream by boat from Florida to the Bahamas takes more planning than most routes. Figuring where you should leave from how long the trip will take what course to steer and other details can seem overwhelming.
However if the traveller arrives at Bahamas Immigration on a single ticket the owneroperator of the boat must present himselfherself and the vessels cruising permit. A copy of the cruising permit will be permitted for crew members who may be arriving by plane and returning by boat as their names will appear on the manifest. According to the FWC about 50 recreational boats cross the Gulf Stream each day to reach the Bahamas.
Floridians set out from Miami West Palm Beach Fort Lauderdale and even the Keys. Apart from Floridians many anglers from the Carolinas trailer their vessels all the way to Florida then hit the water. Bahamas Customs and Immigration officials will come to your boat.
Everyone must have proof of citizenship and fill out an immigration card. US citizens must present a passport Required Cruising Fishing Permit Fees are 150 for boats up to 35 feet and 30000 for over 35 feet. Now its TIME for another hidden fee.
Crossing From Florida To The Bahamas In A Motorboat Or A Sailboat. You wont have any trouble making the crossing from Florida to the Bahamas whether you are in a motorboat or a sailboat. However the boat you choose can have some important ramifications on how big it needs to be.
Powerboats can generally go much faster than sailboats. You can gauge the weather and set out in your powerboat and be in the Bahamas. Even though you can sail to the Bahamas year-round the best time to sail to the Bahamas is between December and April.
The weather is warm there are no hurricanes and the waters are relatively calm to allow you to travel around 15 to 25 knots. Sailing to the Bahamas revolves around crossing the open Ocean and boating in the islands remote. The second consideration is your boat speed.
Crossing the Gulf Stream can be magical. This comes into play because the Gulf Streams flow averages roughly two knots on a trip across from Florida to the Bahamas and it needs to be accounted for. For example if your speed boat can cover the 50 miles separating the two countries in two hours then you are.
While speedboats can generally snake the passage in just a few hours those sailing to the Bahamas generally need to plan for a 6-10 hour journey depending on the destination and conditions. During your course its likely that you will cross paths with other boats. How to prepare for a cruising trip to the Bahamas Provisioning What should you take with you The best weather and strategies for the Gulf Stream crossing Our experience of the Gulf Stream crossing Arrival to Bimini How to check in to the Bahamas.
One thing that living on a boat is famous for. In conclusion taking your small boat or PWC across the gulf stream to the Bahamas is very possible in fact more and more people are doing it every year. If you are comfortable enough with your boating skills there is no reason not to go.
Coming by boat youll probably get your first impression of the Bahamas from its western boundary. Here the water and reefs are beautiful and there are some anchorages for settled weather as well as some marinas. Most of the small islands have rocky shores and lack good all-weather anchorages.
Im glad you had a good crossing and hope you enjoy your time in the Bahamas. I sent Mike the link to your blog posting. He is on a sailing adventure with two other guys.
Petersburg FL to Isla Mujeres MX now in Key West planning for crossing to Bahamas. Im looking for best way to cross to the Bahamas from Ft. Myers in late Janearly Feb.
My boat draws 5 feet wo load and has 50-foot stick from waterline From my research so far it looks like this makes the most sense. Ft Myers to Marco Island 2. To Little Shark River 3to Boot Key Harbor Marathon - cross under the bridge.
Florida to the Bahamas by Boat. Crossing the Ocean 100 miles to Bimini. October 5 2021 1 min read Team.
Find Avail Products at. Florida Florida boating florida boating videos florida keys florida to the bahamas by boat. With all the costs of running a boat and of running one to the Bahamas then to not take the precaution of the second crew member just seems like an unwise way to try to save money.
Its such a minor part of the cost of the trip. If I was a paid captain Id not run it single handed in the boat in question either. You are still technically required to have a permit for pets such as cats that wont leave the boat and one will definitely be required if you should have to fly out for any reason such as an emergency at home or medical issue that cant be treated in the Bahamas US Customs decal.
Boats 30 feet or longer in length must pay an annual fee of 2750 for a border crossing. Crossing to the Bahamas. Weve been prepping for this for over 5 years.
We purchased the boat almost a year ago. Lived aboard 8 months. Headed south from Brunswick 2 months ago.
Weve been in Lake Worth anchorage 2 weeks. Crossing was just under 18 hours wed planned 22 hours to the initial anchorage. Tips for Crossing the Gulf Stream.
A sailor recalls tips for crossing the gulf stream and its effects on his route. Mother Nature is a tough teacher. She usually gives the test before the lesson.
If she used a textbook the page for boaters would include a line that says Never cross the Gulf Stream in anything but a south wind. All boaters entering the Bahamas are required to pay an entry fee of 150 for boats up to 35 feet. Its 300 for larger boats.
Fees are subject to change.