What's the scoop on Old Bahama Bay?

[z28jimi]

Planning our first trip on our own boat to Abacos this spring. Plan was West Palm to West End, clear customs, refuel and spend the night, then on to Great Sale the next night, then to Green Turtle. I had an email from OBB confirming a slip for the night, but now I'm hearing all sorts of things about the place shuttering the docks, and I get zero response from any of the OBB email addresses I have. From what I understand, Customs clearance is still possible, but I need to know if fuel is or will be available, and whether there will be any transient dockage available. I'm assuming my "confirmed" slip now isn't, but can't seem to get anyone over there to return an email to tell me what my options are. Fallback is to run straight to Great Sale, then on to Green Turtle, but that might be stretching my fuel tanks a bit more than I'd like. Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge of what's going on over there?

 

[Dan Mapes]

Things are all balled up.

https://www.thehulltruth.com/florida-georgia/979879-old-bahama-bay-marina-issues-3.html

 

[Dan Mapes]

A member of the Royal Marsh harbour Yacht Club called and received this status;

• the marina is closed except 2 slips on the western wall.
• The gas dock is open
• the customs office is open
• i was not able to obtain any information as to when or if the marina will reopen. “ It depends on the new owners”. I should call back to see if there are any updates


I have always found the comraderie afforded by membership in the yacht club worthwhile.

WWW.RMHYC.COM

 

[BOATER BOB]

Its about 210 km from West Palm to Marsh that's not very far what kind of range does your boat have?
Bob

 

[Dan Mapes]

https://thenassauguardian.com/2019/...g-to-temporarily-close-its-marina-operations/

 

[tomrealest]

Go to Lucaya. Nice place. Casino, shopping for the wife. Adds to the trip to Great Sale but worth it. Call Fabian, 1-242-439-1306 for dockage and any help you need.

 

[motoryacht lover]

Go to Lucaya. Nice place. Casino, shopping for the wife. Adds to the trip to Great Sale but worth it. Call Fabian, 1-242-439-1306 for dockage and any help you need.

I am pretty sure I stayed in Lucaya a couple of years ago and it and Freeport we didn’t care for it at all. Kind of like Nassau for us go there for fuel or cause you have to stop. Things may have changed since then, I don’t know. Also I would be more vigilant crime wise in Freeport. Lucaya (if my memory is right) was pretty run down and in dire need of some updating. ONce again things my have changed since 5 years ago.

 

[Dan Mapes]

If you plan to run the Grand Lucayan Canal, bridge clearance is a consideration. Not only that, coming out of the canal on the North end the channel is narrow and shallow.
Lucaya is going the way of Bimini and well, not a place to stop for much other than fuel and a break to wait for tide to line up with exiting the North end of the canal.

 

[Mike36c]

Last year we stopped in Lucaya from the Berry’s, yes a little run down but a few nice restaurants and fuel. I didn’t have or hear of any trouble theft wise but one does get a whiff of Nassau. The next day winds were 15-20 out of the ESE so we ran the canal hoping to find calmer seas on the north side of the island, then onto West End. A nice local recommended we plan high tide for the north side exit which was good advise. We draw 4.5’ and didn’t see less than 6’, was flat calm all the way to Indian Cay and a happy Admiral.