Question for the South East Florida Folks

[GradyX]

Hello all,

I will be making a run to Lucaya Bahamas over Labor day weekend. Instead of leaving from home port in Stuart, I would like to launch from somewhere a little further down south. Any suggestions as to where I can leave my boat and trailer in a secure location?

Thanks in advance

 

[ahill]

I live in Stuart as well but keep my boat at Homestead Bayfront Park Marina.
I'd email someone in Gulfstream Grady Group, West Palm Beach Fishing Club or ask the guys at Mariner Marine in Riviera Beach.
I know the area pretty well and nothing close to a ramp near Lakeworth Inlet comes to mind.
Maybe try offsite long term parking at PBIA.
Also local marinas.
Post your findings, others will be interested.

 

[Walkers Edge]

Haven't made it over this summer to Lucaya yet (just Treasure, Spanish, Marsh, Guana, Green Turtle......not on the 208) but stayed there many times. Usually we rent a private townhouse/condo if the group is big enough but with just a couple people for a few nights the Port Lucaya Resort & Marina is fine and inexpensive (~$100/night)

Also dont forget if you have twin yamaha 4-strokes you are a target. I personally know multiple people who have had there boats dissappear in this marina as well as other places off Bell Channel. This is no reason not to go, just make your boat as unappealing as possible. You can also try and get a hotel room that backs up to one of the peninsula slips. Bring Cables, Locks, Kill Switches, etc. With that said i'll be there later this summer....good times.......im pretty sure the casino is rigged, that or im a bad gambler.

 

[magicalbill]

This may be a stupid question, but I'm not sure I understand.
If you want to run to the Bahamas and launch further South than Stuart don't you mean you need a secure place for your TRUCK and trailer? You would be on board your boat and away from them.

What did I miss?

 

[Walkers Edge]

Two separate issues:
1. Your truck getting stolen at whatever ramp you leave it at in fl
2. your boat getting stolen in the bahamas and used for drug and human smuggling

But the Bahamas is sweet, I'm addicted thus the risk is worth the reward.

Ps yamahas can be started with no key, bahamians do it alll the time, verados have a chip and bahamians hardly know what a suzuki is

 

[ahill]

I've been told that no matter what you do to disable at the hem end can be thwarted by pulling the cowling unplugging wiring harness to helm, plug in a remote harness, key switch etc. and your in business. Shift and throttle are mechanical.
That is supposedly the thieves technique.

 

[wahoo33417]

GradyX: Lake Worth Inlet (a.k.a. Palm Beach Inlet) is a very good inlet and is closest (about 62 miles) to West End. Three boat ramps serve that inlet: Phil Foster Park and the newer Jim Barry Light Harbor are Palm Beach County boat ramps. Lake Park Marina is a city ramp. All three charge a fee and you can probably find out more on-line. I'd consider Lake Park to be the safest for your truck, followed by Phil Foster. I put Jim Barry as least safe.

A recommendation is to leave nothing of value in your truck. Leave it unlocked with a sign taped to both side windows stating that it is unlocked with nothing of value inside. Sounds kooky, but this was the advice from a cop after my truck window was busted out while I was in West End many years ago. This method seems to have worked since.

By the way, the Gulfstream Grady Group was just in West End last week. And we're going to Bimini next month. You might want to check us out at www.gulfstreamgradygroup.com.

Rob

 

[ahill]

Rob,
Great info.
I clicked on your link and it came back as invalid.

 

[NO REGRETS]

I would consider Boynton Beach's Boat ramp park.Clean new ramps and docks,directly across from the inlet,500 yards,and a pretty straight shot to west end.Secure, well anyone that thinks anything these days is secure must live in IOWA!! :lol: :? Look up boynton beach inlet on the web :wink:

 

[ahill]

THe shortest distance between two points is a line.
The shortest distance between two lines is a point.

 

[Gary M]

Go to Lowe's/Home Depot and ask for a Kryptonite cable and get a good/big ock for it. Then lock your boat to the dock and make sure the cable, etc is very visible. The bad guys want an easy boat and then usually cut the dock lines and then "swim" the boat out to an awaiting tow boat..... If they have to do extra work, they'll probably move on to another boat.

Gradys are not high on their list as they look for the big HP, fast center consoles mostly.

Also think about chaining your truck/trailer to a lamp post, fence, etc wherever you park it. Same thing, they want the easy score......

 

[wahoo33417]

Rob,
Great info.
I clicked on your link and it came back as invalid.

I'll try this again. Maybe I didn't catch a typo:

http://www.gulfstreamgradygroup.com/

 

[magicalbill]

Speaking of the truck and trailer.
If one has to post a sign in the window stating there's nothing of value inside and/or chain it to a post, then perhaps another alternative should be investigated.
Maybe a friend's backyard, a store-n-lock facility or a fenced-in marina backlot.

I would not enjoy a Bahamas cruise, or any cruise for that matter with the stakes being that high ashore.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Rob,
I cliced on the link and got a message stating it was not valid. It wont be this year, but if you guys routinely run to the Bahamas, someday I would like to trailer my boat down and join you guys.

 

[ahill]

We live with the threats daily in good ole S. FL. Never locked doors and went everywhere on my bike as a kid. Now nowhere is safe.
I agree a Cabin Grady is not a target. They prefer big center consoles with trips. Contender, Everglades, Sea Vee, Jupiter etc.
A local Contender dealer had a 3 boat trip to Hopetown in the Abacos, 2 new 33's and an older 31. The first night both 33's were stolen.

 

[Walkers Edge]

I know some believe the grady is not a target but.....

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/foru ... ght-lucaya

27' Grady CC with twin F150's was just stolen from Lucaya (not a cuddy, but not far from it)

I believe that thanks to the economy and less recreational boat traffic in the Bahamas the criminals are expanding their target boat demographic to basically include whatever can make it to the southern parts of the caribbean and back with 20 people or their equivalent weight in narcotics & fuel on board.