Relocating a vessel between Florida and the Bahamas is a short passage with a long list of conditions attached. The crossing itself is not the hard part — picking the day is, and so is the paperwork waiting at both ends.
The Gulf Stream runs north off the east coast of Florida at 2.5 to 5.0 knots. That current is the whole problem: a north wind blowing against it stacks the water up into a short, steep, genuinely unpleasant chop, and a crossing that would be comfortable on Tuesday can be miserable on Wednesday for no other reason.
Sea state is what we watch. You want less than two to four feet — and remember that significant wave height is an average, not a ceiling. Individual waves may be more than twice it.
Ships are the other consideration. The approaches are busy with commercial traffic moving faster than it looks, and a crossing plan has to account for where the shipping lanes are and when you will be in them.
Every vessel returning from a foreign port must report to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Routes
The usual crossings
Distances are approximate and depend on your departure marina and the day’s routing.
Fort Lauderdale or Miami to Bimini
About 60 miles. The short hop, and the one most often used as a staging leg for everything further east.
To Freeport or Marsh Harbour
About 160 miles. A longer day — or an overnight, depending on the boat’s speed and the window.
What the permit covers
The cruising permit fee includes the fishing permit, attendance and transportation fees for both Bahamas Customs and Immigration officers, and re-entry within 90 days. Expect a customs officer travel fee of roughly $20–50 at some ports of entry.
