IMHO I would fly them over, but for a combination of different reasons:
a. water is fickle, you can play with the weather all you want but until you get into the stream you have no clue what that day is really dishing up
b. Bahamas customs process: it usually takes us several hours, confined to the boat and dock, waiting for someone in the Customs office to either come back from a break, decide to work again or sip the cold drink that you finally brought up to them. Kids will be less than happy after making the crossing and still having to sit still during the customs processes in a smaller boat
c. think about the return trip; weather info in the Bahamas is notoriously iffy, less reliable than the US. Round trip tickets may be the easiest way to keep the family happy and safe while you and your buddy get the boat safely back to the US and clear US customs.
Just my 2 cents but been there, done that, and flying is much easier on the captain until they get to be maybe middle teens....
a. water is fickle, you can play with the weather all you want but until you get into the stream you have no clue what that day is really dishing up
b. Bahamas customs process: it usually takes us several hours, confined to the boat and dock, waiting for someone in the Customs office to either come back from a break, decide to work again or sip the cold drink that you finally brought up to them. Kids will be less than happy after making the crossing and still having to sit still during the customs processes in a smaller boat
c. think about the return trip; weather info in the Bahamas is notoriously iffy, less reliable than the US. Round trip tickets may be the easiest way to keep the family happy and safe while you and your buddy get the boat safely back to the US and clear US customs.
Just my 2 cents but been there, done that, and flying is much easier on the captain until they get to be maybe middle teens....