Virgin Bahamas Trip / Ft Lauderdale Marina Help

[Mike Trautwein]

In Late May, we are having the 38 Fountain shipped to Ft Lauderdale for a Bahamas trip into Bimini, then to Chub Cay area.

I need advice on a trucking company from Houston, Tx to Ft Lauderdale (no trailer).

What is a good marina in Ft Lauderdale that can unload the boat, store it for a couple of days and then put it in the water when we arrive?

On the return trip, we will drop the boat with the Marina in Ft Lauderdale and let them store it again until the truck arrives to be loaded?

We have a Marina in Chub Cay booked with a slip and lodging, but nothing yet in Bimini for one night?

Thanks in advance for any information. This is our first Bahamas trip. I have been doing alot of research, but I would love to hear some first hand experience.

Thanks,

Mike

[UrbanRenewal]

Mike,

Post the same questions on the FLSportsman SE Forum here: http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zeroforum?id=7 and you will reach a bunch of guys from that area who call Ft. Lauderdale & the Bahamas 'home'.

Tom

[EODContender]

This ia a full service boat yard/marina that can handle unlaoding your boat and have a nice slip available for you. The waterways are well marked and easily navigable from the Dania Cutoff Canal to Port Everglades. It should be roughly a 15 minute ride to the inlet (idle speed).

Harbour Town Marina
801 N. E. Third Street
Dania FL 33004
(954)926-0300

http://www.vantagepointguides.com/ma...wne_marina.htm


As far as Bimini is concerned, I would skip it and head straight across the bank to Chub. If you're dead set on Bimini, you could stay at the Bimini Big Game Club if you want to experience some tradition and have night life at your finger tips. If not, go for the Bimini Sands. Very nice marina and accomodations, but you have to take a ferry ride accross the channel to have a night out and hit the bars.

http://www.biminisands.com/index.html
http://www.biminibiggame.com/


I live right down the street from Harbortown and have numerous trips to the Bahamas, out to Harbour Island and pretty much everything in between. If you have any further questions, please feel free to PM me and I will try and gather an answere for you.

[oceanluvr30]

I second EODContender's recommendation to skip Bimini and head for Chub. The ride across will take you 10 minutes in your Fountain ..... LOL

[spearfish3]

I second Harbour Town as a great place to base out of. Every time I have been there the people were friendly and the facilities were first class . If you are there at day break bring some bug spray. I got killed one morning while loading the boat, but a quick spray solved the problem.

[Mike Trautwein]

I talked to Bobby at 1st performance Marine. He was the first one that responded "yes we can unload your boat and take care of your needs" Has anyone dealt with them? He said he is a stones throw from the inlet.

I will consider the Harbour Town as well. 15 minute idle doesn't sound bad. Is that to the same inlet 1st Performance.

We thought about just crossing into Bimini to check in with authorities, fuel up, maybe bottom fish a little that afternoon, sleep at Big Game and head to Chub the next day.

One more ? Weapons? I read that they must be under lock and key. Would the authorities get upset if we had an AR-15, shotgun and a pistol in a locked gun case in the cabin? Or do they have to be in a locked cabinet? I don't want any trouble with authorities, but I don't want to be unarmed either.

Mike

[Boattrash1]

+1 for Harbourtown. They offloaded and stored the boss's Intrepid while I returned home and brought the Viking down. Did the reverse for us when we returned from the islands.
As for weapons, have serial numbers ready and an exact count of rounds for each. The locked gun case may be sufficient but a locked cabinet may be prefferred. Consider a plastic coated chain to secure the case inside the cabin. Having said that....I've never had a problem and I'm armed a little heavier than you plan to be. Also, get a CBP Form 4457 for each weapon, fill it out and get the customs office in Lauderdale (or Houston)to stamp it for you. You will have to take your weapons into the office to get the forms stamped. LET THEM KNOW BEFORE TAKING THEM INTO THE OFFICE. This form will take care of any questions about importing weapons into the states when you return.

[Mike Trautwein]

Harbour Town it is. I secured a reservation with them. Thanks for the advise. Looks a lot closer to the airport too.

[passingas]

Mike, Siunds like you are getting some first class advice. Sounds like an awesome trip. Don't forget to take lots of pics and show us here when you return. Have Fun...

Ben