Bahamas 2024 prep

[Dan Mapes]

If you are new to those areas I would suggest avoiding Memorial Day Weekend. Peanut Island is a ZOO on that weekend and I doubt Bimini or West End are much better. If you do go out make sure you have reservations all along the way. We towed our dink back in West Palm Memorial Day and it was a bone headed move on my part. CC's were buzzing the dink and flipping us off.
As far as the Berry's vs. Abacos? I don't know what speed you cruise at but running from Bimini to the Berry's is a long ride at 8 or 9 knots. It's no better to run from West End to Spanish Cay in a day. If you want to break up the trip to the Abacos a nite on the hook at Great Sale Cay is easy enough provided the forecast is good. Get on up in there. Others we knew used Mangrove Cay to break up the run to Green Turtle etc.. Pensacola, and many other popular spots to anchor in along the way. See garmin active captain charts for ideas.

Once out on the bank on the way to the Berry's there isn't much (if anything) to duck into.



Generally 50A was available everywhere and you will pay for it. However we always had the 30A Smart Y.

 

[madhatter1]

Cruise ships at Gun Cay? Not sure about how they would do that as the water isn't all that deep on the East side.

We've anchored there and plan to use this as our stopover on the way to the Berries.

Plan to leave last few days of May, a few days in the Berries then on to the Exumas!!!

They do excursions there.

 

[Pascal]

It s about 70 nm from Bimini / Gun to Great Harbor so it’s an easy single day run on the bank even at 8 kts.

While you can anchor on the bank overnight, it is usually a little choppy and not the most comfortable. It s better to keep going even after dark, there is no coral to worry about.

We prefer to run longer days into the night to maximize time where it’s nice. Just like on this trip we ran straight to the Exumas, of course that s a little easier with a 11.5 kts hull speed .

Indeed Bimini is a zoo on holiday week end… forget Gun Cay / Honeymoon harbor! Even the Sapona, a great snorkel btw, is crowded and surrounded by anchored boats.

 

[rsmith]

We are starting out end of May. Wife still wants to go to Bimini for a couple days so maybe the Berries, and then West End after that.

That’s a lot of open water running. I subscribe to the Bahamas news. Stay away from GBI and New Providence murder rates have been through the roof. Two American women off a cruise ship in Nassau were drugged and raped in the middle of the day. Remember it’s a 3 world country not Disneyland.

 

[madhatter1]

So what would be a recommended route for safe passage? We want to hit Bimini for a few days just to see and also easy way for our sons to hook up via the ferry. Then after they head home we are free to roam. We like marinas, simple local restaurants, have electric scooters, and have our 2 Boston terriers. Rethinking spending the night on the hook and just looking for nearby (the marinas) a place to anchor for the day and sightsee with the dinghy plus hit a beach. Have the ability to sit and wait for better weather windows (thanks Starlink) so no need to run during iffy weather. I prefer to top off our main 520 gallon tank at every island we hit. So given first stop is Bimini and last stop is West End I am open to suggestions. Leaving the Abaco's to our second trip next year or the year after.

 

[bostonhatteras]

That’s a lot of open water running. I subscribe to the Bahamas news. Stay away from GBI and New Providence murder rates have been through the roof. Two American women off a cruise ship in Nassau were drugged and raped in the middle of the day. Remember it’s a 3 world country not Disneyland.

if one anchors out and takes inflatable to whichever island, how long is the boat safe before its boarded and looted? sounds like nothing can leave your sight

 

[Pascal]

I would do Bimini, then across the bank to the east side of Chub, anchoring in the lee of Bird Cay.

Bird cay has an abandoned estate which up until 4 years ago was well preserved, like a 1960s time capsule. Nearby Whale Cay is nice too, quick dinghy run form bird. Pigeon and Cat cays just to the north have great sandbars.

Then Chub Cay Marina for a night or two. Weather permitting go on the east side of the Berrys and anchor for a couple of night at White Cay. Very pretty anchorage, easy in and out. Short dinghy ride to Hoffmann’s Blue hole and beaches.

Then keep heading north on the east side of the Berrys and around the Stirups into Great Harbor Marina. Worth 3 or 4 days. Many day trips with a tender. Worth renting a golf cart too, the east side beaches are beautiful. A few caves too

Then head to west end and home.

So what would be a recommended route for safe passage? We want to hit Bimini for a few days just to see and also easy way for our sons to hook up via the ferry. Then after they head home we are free to roam. We like marinas, simple local restaurants, have electric scooters, and have our 2 Boston terriers. Rethinking spending the night on the hook and just looking for nearby (the marinas) a place to anchor for the day and sightsee with the dinghy plus hit a beach. Have the ability to sit and wait for better weather windows (thanks Starlink) so no need to run during iffy weather. I prefer to top off our main 520 gallon tank at every island we hit. So given first stop is Bimini and last stop is West End I am open to suggestions. Leaving the Abaco's to our second trip next year or the year after.

 

[Pascal]

if one anchors out and takes inflatable to whichever island, how long is the boat safe before its boarded and looted? sounds like nothing can leave your sight

It an only a problem in Nassau and Grand Bahamas. If we leave the boat around Nassau, we lock it. Anywhere else we don’t, never seen heard anything stolen in the Berrys or Exumas or Eleuthera. Bimini, I’d be a little careful too

 

[bostonhatteras]

Then the Pirates republic has remained alive and true to itself. Quite a brutal history the place has, Nassau / New Providence.

 

[madhatter1]

Does pew-pew help deter shenanigans? Will have more than I’m going to declare but still don’t want to need it.

 

[rsmith]

Does pew-pew help deter shenanigans? Will have more than I’m going to declare but still don’t want to need it.

I’ve had a small outboards shadowing me running across the flats one got close enough I could see they were waving pistols. The sight of a long gun sent them on their way. We’ve been going to the Bahamas since we bought the boat in 76. Seen everything from drug running to human smuggling. In the 70’s and 80’s every marina had posters of missing boats and entire families. After nafta drug smuggling shifted to the southern border and was replaced by human trafficking mostly Haitians. If they got to the Bahamas they were paying 7k per head to come to the states. Where these “impoverished” people got the money I never understood but the boat of choice for that was large center consoles. They became the popular boat to steal. Somewhere around 2010 all this stopped and tons of Haitians were stranded in the Bahamas. The Bahamians and Haitians even though the same color skin hate each other hence the reason for the current crime and murder waves. No matter what Pascal says crime spreads everywhere especially in a poor country with desperate people. To think otherwise is just being naive.
If you think a rich fat cat with an expensive boat anchored in a secluded area isn’t a target you’re a special kind of you know what.
Back to the question handguns are pretty much worthless on a boat. Better off with a stainless pistol grip shotgun and a long rifle. I’m not an AR fan as they are prone to jamming. Better off with a Ruger mini 30 in 7.62/39. A better round than the 223. And it’s available in stainless.

 

[rsmith]

As far as declaring I’ll share this. We cleared at west end one time and declared our fire arms and ammo. Customs guy says “mon you going to start a war?” I told him only if provoked. Guy scowled and passed my paperwork to the next guy to issue my cruising permit. Next people sit down and he asks about firearms. Wife say “oh no no no we don’t believe in guns.” Customs guy breaks into a big smile with these giant white teeth and nods his head. And I’m I’m wondering if his next call is to his boat thief buddy’s.

 

[Pascal]

Thankfully the 80s and 90s are over and the family islands are very safe. In over 15 years and multiple trips every year, we have never felt unsafe and felt like we needed weapons. Sometimes we ve spent 3 to 5 weeks on the hook in the Exumas often is remote anchorages. I have never heard of any incident involving boaters being victims of any crime. Again, talking Exumas, Berrys, Eleuthera etc. Not NP GB or to some extent marsh harbor

Problem with weapons in the Bahamas is that you have to declare them along with amount of ammunition coming in and the coming out. We ve done it a few times, it s a pita. It means an extra stop to clear on the way back. Not worth it.

 

[Boatsb]

Thankfully the 80s and 90s are over and the family islands are very safe. In over 15 years and multiple trips every year, we have never felt unsafe and felt like we needed weapons. Sometimes we ve spent 3 to 5 weeks on the hook in the Exumas often is remote anchorages. I have never heard of any incident involving boaters being victims of any crime. Again, talking Exumas, Berrys, Eleuthera etc. Not NP GB or to some extent marsh harbor

Problem with weapons in the Bahamas is that you have to declare them along with amount of ammunition coming in and the coming out. We ve done it a few times, it s a pita. It means an extra stop to clear on the way back. Not worth it.

Until it is.

 

[madhatter1]

Splashed today after much work. Port would not start of bridge button but did start off mechanics jumper button so ruled out batteries and starter. Then starboard would not go into gear. No pressure. But dang! Ran to the yard on this one engine and no issues. After all the exorcises mechanic was able to build pressure (high RPMS) and we could back out of the sling. Then after several miles on plane sudden loss of power on port. Then it stalled. Turned out fuel valve got moved with other activity in the ER. Ran the rest of the way trouble free and now the port starts off the button. It healed! Yes I need to look further into the button.

Also all the fuel came out of keel tank clean, crystal clear. Reason the starboard could not run off it was not a gooey bugger. A hose had been removed and capped. So now I can use the tank as aux fuel and the use engine as a transfer pump and get near empty when we won’t be using it. Will add the missing hose back.

We did great for starting out with an engine that would not start, tranny that would not go into gear, and a sudden loss of power with a stall.

 

[madhatter1]

Going to replace the starboard tranny pump with new. Take original off and rebuild to use as a spare.

 

[whoover]

I have had starter buttons fail. I couldn't believe it when I removed it and found I could take it apart, clean it up like new. It takes longer than replacing but its better than a newer sub standard button.

Walt Hoover

 

[Dan Mapes]

Thankfully the 80s and 90s are over and the family islands are very safe. In over 15 years and multiple trips every year, we have never felt unsafe and felt like we needed weapons. Sometimes we ve spent 3 to 5 weeks on the hook in the Exumas often is remote anchorages. I have never heard of any incident involving boaters being victims of any crime. Again, talking Exumas, Berrys, Eleuthera etc. Not NP GB or to some extent marsh harbor

Problem with weapons in the Bahamas is that you have to declare them along with amount of ammunition coming in and the coming out. We ve done it a few times, it s a pita. It means an extra stop to clear on the way back. Not worth it.

We were buzzed by CC's while on a mooring #9 at Warderick Wells. They pulled in and did some business at the park office and tore out afterwards. While we felt safe generally, it was best to keep your head on a swivel and your wits about you.

We never cleared on the way out of the Bahamas after declaring weapons. I think we did mail in the paperwork though.

And, I must have cleared with the same man at West End. It was Keystone comedy. I was challenged with the "gonna start a war" remark and I said no, like I said, we came from NYS and did not want to leave them at home. We only had a marine grade shotgun and three handguns. Yeah, "only" lol.

I was always very accurate about the reporting. If you get challenged and caught, it is BIG trouble.

 

[Pascal]

I have had starter buttons fail. I couldn't believe it when I removed it and found I could take it apart, clean it up like new. It takes longer than replacing but its better than a newer sub standard button.

Walt Hoover

Yeah better off rebuilding the old buttons than use the new Chinese crap, even if still “made” by the same manufacturer.

 

[Pascal]

Going to replace the starboard tranny pump with new. Take original off and rebuild to use as a spare.

Usually a loss of pressure on these is caused by a suction leak at the filter or fitting. They are VERY sensitive to air leaks. And oil level obviously.