Crazy Idea

[SpcAlan1]

Novice lake sailer
1979 Islander 30ft

Reading a lot about how 'easy' it is to sail from Miami to Bahamas.
Has anyone done this trip before?

This would be a vacation to remember, but is it even feasible?
I would have to pay someone to de-mast, pack, and ship my boat to Miami - from Lake Lanier, Georgia - cost about $ 3000 round trip.

[MarkCK]

If the boat is in good shape and the weather window looks good it is very doable. The question I have to ask is; is this a vacation of a several month long adventure. If it is just a week long I would take the $3000 + the incidental money you have for the trip and just charter a boat that is already down there. If you are going to be down there for a long while then I would go ahead and ship a boat you already own and know.

[SpcAlan1]

Good idea.
This would be a 2 week vacation.

If I wanted to charter a boat and then sail from Miami to Bahamas. I would need to get certified correct ? Through ASA?

[night0wl]

The trip over is about 12 hours, the trip back is 10 hours. And thats to Bimini.

Its an easy motorsail but can get very dangerous if winds out of the north above 20 knots.

[MarkCK]

I am not sure about the certification. I got certified, but I also heard that if you can prove you have adequate experience they will charter you the boat regardless. They are in it to make money so they want to charter you the boat. On the other hand they don't want to damage the boat either.

[delite]

Typically in my area you dont need certification in order to charter if you can demonstrate experience. Then again these are relatively protected seas, not the open ocean.

[EJO]

all is possible, for 2 weeks I would charter. as said B-4 they'll rent to anybody even if you don't know the difference between SB & Port, as long as you sign your life away, all is well.
The main thing here you should worry about is weather window.

[MarkCK]

or charter the boat in the area that is your destination. then you can forget about the weather window.

i don't want to talk you out of the trip. it sounds fun to me. if you reserve the boat a couple of months in advance you don't know if it is going to be 80 degrees with a 15 knot breeze or if a hurricane is supposed to hit.

[RobGallagher]

Originally Posted by MarkCK

or charter the boat in the area that is your destination. then you can forget about the weather window.

i don't want to talk you out of the trip. it sounds fun to me. if you reserve the boat a couple of months in advance you don't know if it is going to be 80 degrees with a 15 knot breeze or if a hurricane is supposed to hit.

Ditto.

[Minnewaska]

Charter for sure, with that limited window. Why the attraction to that particular passage? If its your first ocean voyage, I highly recommend cruising the British Virgin Islands instead. Unless your heart is set on a reasonable passage.