Miami to Bimini Alice Town

[freedom12]

Want other opinions. thinking leave Miami Sun 8ish AM t cross over to Alice Town.
many conflicting weather reports and wave heights


ave is winds 5-10 mph from NE, waves 2-3 feet


mate is concerned, will be to rough being from the north


we ave 8 mph s abut 6 hour trip


any input, experience with this?


or would you suggest a different time window

[Cheechako]

A couple things.
-Don't forget to allow for time getting out and on your way. Some departure points can be 1-1.5 hours to really get started on the 50 mile trip.
- Leave plenty of extra time so you dont arrive when it gets dark.
-IMO any wind from the E or NE this time of year better be very low. 5-10 should be ok. 15-20 can be a very rough ride.
-I'm not expert but done it maybe 3 times each way.

[freedom12]

we have a 8 ' draft will i have a problem getting into Alice town harbor?

[Cheechako]

Boy, I dont know if you can get in there. I went in with 6.5 draft and bumped twice. Maybe someone else will chime in. Where are you actually headed to?

[freedom12]

enter at Alice town and make way t Marsh Harbor

[billknny]

Originally Posted by freedom12

enter at Alice town and make way t Marsh Harbor

Marsh harbor? With an 8 foot draft? Have you looked at a chart???

[freedom12]

thinking high tide, where else to clear customs in bimini with 8 foot draft?

[freedom12]

do i need to declare plastic flare gun and flares? as a gun

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by freedom12

do i need to declare plastic flare gun and flares? as a gun

no, that's only a gun in the movies

but if you have a question like this to ask, ask it at check in,they want to let you in and collect your money

[Cheechako]

Skip Bimini and enter after you get further on... Chub Cay..

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by billknny

Marsh harbor? With an 8 foot draft? Have you looked at a chart???

Yeah, you might want to research the Bahamas a bit more before you make the jump...8' draft is gonna be a challenge.

Its been a while since Ive entered at Alice Town, but unless they have deepened it by dredging I think you will have a problem...and once you do get in your gonna be pretty limited as much of the area is shallow.

Just looked at CMAP for there and found recent comments online...both inidicate areas of 2 meters or less in the channel entrace and markers off station.

Maybe someone has been in recently who can update?

[freedom12]

just spoke with a marina there and they said 8 ft n problem?

[sailorboy1]

The Dodge guide for cruising the Abacos has a whole section on how to cruise it with a 9' draft.

[Aquadome]

Any winds from the north over 5 is a rough go

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by freedom12

just spoke with a marina there and they said 8 ft n problem?

Maybe its OK these days, its been shallower in years past...the sand bars shift, but the markers dont get moved. Last time I was there, many years ago, a cat drawing about 4' bumped bottom.

This makes it a bit of a tricky entrance, I watched a 50' Hatteras try to come in once in bad conditions (bad idea)...they got it wrong and the boat was turned into salvage.

So, get a known good chart, like Explorer Charts, maybe some current local knowledge (more than just yeah its ok) from the marina or a recent cruiser and take the approach very slowly...no shame in doing a quick 180 if it starts to get too skinny for you.