West End is about 56 nautical miles from Palm Beach by water, roughly 64 statute miles or 104 kilometers across the Gulf Stream. A typical on-the-water routing runs about 60 nautical miles once you add the southerly ferry angle that the current demands. This is the shortest hop from South Florida into the Bahamas, which is exactly why West End is the classic first landfall for boats crossing from the Palm Beaches.
Palm Beach to West End distance
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Straight-line distance | 56 nautical miles |
| Statute miles | 64 miles |
| Kilometers | 104 km |
| Typical on-the-water routing | about 60 nautical miles |
The crossing leaves Palm Beach through the Lake Worth Inlet and runs almost due east across the open Gulf Stream to West End on Grand Bahama. The Stream sets hard to the north, so you steer a southerly ferry angle and let the current carry you back onto the rhumb line. Old Bahama Bay at West End is the usual clear-in marina, with fuel and a Customs and Immigration dock right there.
How long does it take, and how much fuel, by boat type
These are real numbers from the same engine that powers our boat fuel calculator, run over the 56 nautical mile crossing at a steady cruise. They assume one continuous run, so treat them as the underway total. Plug in your own boat in the calculator below to get your exact figure.
| Boat | Cruise | GPH | MPG | Trip time | Fuel | Fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 ft center console (twin 150s) | 28 mph | 17.2 | 1.6 | 2 hr 18 min | 40 gal | $178 |
| 38 ft express cruiser (twin gas) | 26 mph | 43.0 | 0.6 | 2 hr 29 min | 107 gal | $480 |
| 50 ft trawler (single diesel) | 10 mph | 21.7 | 0.5 | 6 hr 27 min | 140 gal | $628 |
Fuel cost assumes $4.50 per gallon. The Gulf Stream adds real fuel burn when you crab against it, so carry margin: this is a short crossing on paper but an open-ocean one in practice. Do not just scale from the table: run your own hull, load, and cruise speed.
Estimate the fuel for your own boat
The calculator below is pre-loaded with the Palm Beach to West End crossing. Change the engine, horsepower, load, cruise speed, and tank to match your boat and it recomputes the fuel, range, and time instantly.
Best season and weather for the crossing
Best window: late spring through early fall, when fronts are infrequent and the seas lay down.
Never cross the Gulf Stream in a north or northeast wind. A north wind against the north-setting current stacks short, steep seas that turn an easy 56 mile run into a beating. Wait for a south or southeast wind under 15 knots and a clean two to three day window so you are not trapped on the far side by a front.
Route notes
- Lake Worth Inlet (0 nm): the departure inlet out of Palm Beach. Time your exit for slack or fair current and clear the inlet traffic before you settle onto your heading.
- Gulf Stream axis (about 28 nm): the strongest north set sits mid-Stream. Hold a southerly ferry angle here and let the current set you back onto the line rather than fighting it.
- West End / Old Bahama Bay (56 nm): first Bahamas landfall. Clear in at the Customs and Immigration dock, top off fuel, and stage for the run down to the Abacos or across the bank.
Gear to sort before you go
- A fuel system you trust: clean filters, a known tank gauge, and a real reserve that accounts for crabbing against the Stream, not a flat-water guess.
- Ground tackle sized for the open anchorages and a settled hull you can rely on once you are committed to the crossing.
- A hull and gelcoat in good repair before any open-water run; fix the soft spots and chips at the dock, not in the middle of the Stream.
Need to get the boat crossing-ready first? See our fuel tanks and systems and marine gelcoats for the repair and maintenance supplies that keep an offshore hop uneventful.
Plan the rest of your trip
Palm Beach to West End: frequently asked questions
How far is West End, Bahamas from Palm Beach, FL?
West End, Bahamas is about 56 nautical miles from Palm Beach, FL, which is roughly 64 statute miles or 104 kilometers in a straight line. A typical on-the-water routing runs about 60 nautical miles.
How long does it take to get from Palm Beach, FL to West End, Bahamas by boat?
A 24 ft center console (twin 150s) cruising at about 28 mph covers the 56 nautical mile run in roughly 2 hours 18 minutes. A slower trawler takes much longer, and a fast express cruiser a little less. Use the fuel calculator on this page to plug in your own boat.
How much fuel does the Palm Beach, FL to West End, Bahamas trip use?
The 24 ft center console (twin 150s) burns about 40 gallons on the 56 nautical mile run at roughly 17.2 gallons per hour and 1.6 miles per gallon. Your number depends on horsepower, load, and cruise speed, so run your own boat through the calculator below.
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