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Bahamas trip observations

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by motoryachtlover, Jun 20, 2019.

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  1. motoryachtlover, Jun 20, 2019
    #1
    motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    Just got back from a 3 week Bahamas trip and thought I would share some observations. Had a nice stay at Palm Harbor Cay on New Providence. Kind of surprising for me in that I don’t like Nassau. Took the dinghy to Rose Island and found that very nice. Took a cab to Poop Deck and did not feel uncomfortable from a crime standpoint. Palm Cay Marina asked for my cruising permit number. That was a first for me. Marinas overall did not appear as busy. Got a slip on the fly at Highbourne. Staniel had a couple of open slips. Busiest island was Harbor Island. Valentines appears to have lost their mojo. It was half full and Romora Bay was almost full. I prefer Romora over Valentines. Harbor Island Club looks to be making a new marina. Don’t know what that will do to Valentines. Did notice that a fair amount of larger boats 70’ and over had anchor balls out when anchored. Also noticed the large amount of trash on the ocean side of most islands. Even found a bag of garbage that was left on small island near Staniel. I realize it is difficult to discard trash when anchored but Staniel will take it for a fee. Some of us seem to not want to pay to dispose of our waste. The Bahamas is expensive and seems to be getting more so, but it is beautiful and as long as I have it to spend I will keep going back. Not getting any younger.
  2. Norseman, Jun 20, 2019
    #2
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Ouch, headed to Harbour Island and Valentines in 2,5 weeks: Never been there before, what was da problem?
  3. olderboater, Jun 20, 2019
    #3
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Romora just is in better condition and provides better service than Valentines. We still eat at Valentines.
  4. Pascal, Jun 20, 2019
    #4
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Nassau isn’t the Bahamas. ... yuck. We only go there to pick up guests or provision. Rose island is Ok...

    Compass and Staniel are packed right now.

    Staniel has to put us on the fuel dock tonight...

    Highborne has never appealed to me... the marina is nice and well run but doesn’t have anything special to offer. I d rather spend another day on the hook somewhere else

    HH is ok... at least unlike most of the Bahamas it is clean and colorful. But again we re not big into marinas.. prefer anchoring out.
  5. motoryachtlover, Jun 21, 2019
    #5
    motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    The power is inconsistent. When I was at Romora and I talked to someone at Valentines and they lost power for the better part of a day whereas at Romora we had virtually no issues. I did notice a brown out of sorts on the boat that went on for about 20 minutes. The voltage is low throughout the Bahamas in my experience. 2 years ago when I was at Harbor Island Valentines had power issues then as well.
  6. Norseman, Jun 21, 2019
    #6
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Wow, good timing: Installed a solar panel on my hard top yesterday, it will keep me beer cold regardless of power outages..

    94D8F16E-4A3D-4109-8F78-C01A8A45A6D7.jpeg
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 23, 2019
  7. A captain, Jun 23, 2019
    #7
    A captain

    A captain New Member

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    Pretty much sounds like you missed the Bahamas all together if you spent all your time in marinas.
    Having adventured through the Bahamas since 1979, I've found the real Bahamas to be far removed from marine life. I'm sure you would have enjoyed marina living a lot more, doing the great circle or the AICW. Ah, those happy hours at the AICW marina bars.
  8. motoryachtlover, Jun 23, 2019
    #8
    motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    I agree with you somewhat. A couple of things that affect the marina vs anchoring out decision. We have dog that comes with us that it is easier to walk him at a marina vs anchoring. The main reason is that anchoring out is anxiety provoking for me. I usually end up sleeping on the flybridge to maintain a watch of sorts. A couple of years ago we drug our fortress at Cape Lookout, temporarily lost our whaler during a microburst and would have been blown aground had it not been for a little luck and I saw the black clouds coming and had the engines started. Since that time I updated to a 110lb Bruce and have an anchored out of couple of times but I associate anchoring out to not sleeping well. I realize I have to do it more to get more comfortable with it.
  9. Pascal, Jun 23, 2019
    #9
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    We spend a lot of time in the Exumas and 95% of that is on the hook. That s indeed what the Bahamas are all about.

    I value my sleep... here are a few tips for quality sleep on the hook

    - good anchor, as you already have realized. The FX has great holding power but doesn’t reset on a wind or tidal shift. It s a lousy anchor in the Bahamas. I m a big fan of Bruces. I hat size is your boat? I put an 176 lbs Bruce on the lazzara 84 I run...

    - all chain and lots of scope. I never use less than 8:1 unless I’m a crowded anchorage which we try to avoid.

    - Check the weather before going to bed. With 90% cell coverage in the Exumas and online weather radar there is no excuse to be caught with your pants down. Showers, squalls don’t pop up out of nowhere I also use our on board radar to check what’s coming, just urn iff rain attenuation. Depending on your radar you can track showers up to 72 or 96 miles

    - pick the right anchorage. Plenty of choices in the Exumas. It can be a little tricky in winter with fewer anchorages offering protection from brief westerlies but there are many. Avoid tidal anchorages until you build your confidence.

    - use an anchor alarm. I never go to sleep without an alarm running on either my phone or iPad. I like the anchor alarm built on Aquamap. Even below deck signal is strong enough

    - dinghy and toys come up before going to bed. I sleep much better this way...

    9 or 10 years ago we also dragged at cape Look out in a squall line. That was with a Bruce 110 on a 70 foot skylounge (high windage) it was a slow drag though, unlike when dragging with an FX which will skip on the bottom when pulled out. After that incident I upgraded to the 176.. no more issues. We even held firm during the Three Kings Day Exumas Derecho back in 2016, between the Majors. 70kts for 3 hours.

    Follow these simple tips... and enjoy the real Bahamas
  10. Pascal, Jun 23, 2019
    #10
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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  11. A captain, Jun 23, 2019
    #11
    A captain

    A captain New Member

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    First and foremost, your ground tackle is by far the most important equipment on your boat, and if you can't sleep comfortably at anchor, chances are, when you need to anchor to save your vessel, you will fail.
    I could find no indication as to what boat you are running, so I can't make any suggestions to help you.
    As for the dog, a nice clean sandy beach beats anyplace around a marina and would probably be preferable for both of you and your dog's mental health.
  12. motoryachtlover, Jun 23, 2019
    #12
    motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    Thank you both for your thoughts. The boat is a 54 Viking MY that weighs about 75,000 lbs with a fair amount of sail area. I have an all chain rode (3/8’s). I think I am more competent then I may sound. I am life long conservative boater and that has served me well as far as running aground and taking on inlets I don’t know, those type of things. I have run aground but I know i am in trouble and have slowed to idle speed. Have made plenty of mistakes but none major. Pascal, I am glad you like the Bruce as i think that is part of my issue. I don’t have enough confidence in my anchor. I am always wondering if I should have a Rocna but the roll bar would require a lot of mods to the pulpit. A lot is me. I am a pretty bad worry wart. So I need to buck up and just do it more often. Do you guys put out 2 anchors? I still have the fortress as a back up. The 2 anchor deal seems to have it’s own set of issues as well. Once again thank you both for your thoughts
  13. Pascal, Jun 23, 2019
    #13
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I never use two anchors. Never. Main reason is that if you need to move quickly for whatever reason it will take twice as long to get them up if they don’t get tangled up. If they do, it will take ten times as long.

    I d rather have an oversized anchor and a ton of chain than two anchors.

    I know many folks love Rocnas and just as many laugh at the price of the Bruce... but it just works.

    We’re anchored between Pipe Cay and Little Pipe Cay tonight, a tight spot with a fairly good amount of current. Nice sandy bottom. Earlier on a went for a swim and followed the chain. I couldn’t even see the 176lbs Bruce as it is buried deep in the sand. Sometimes, and tomorrow morning will be one of these, it feels like I m pulling a stump out of the ground ...
  14. A captain, Jun 23, 2019
    #14
    A captain

    A captain New Member

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    Some years back, I was captain of a 57' Viking sportfish, by the way. But we were purely a fishing boat and I can't remember ever anchoring her.
    Our boat weighs around 77,000 #. We use a Rocna 88# and 200 feet of ½" BBB chain. I didn't sleep very well in 3/8" chain either. Now I sleep very well.
    Unless you need a super light boat, I would highly recommend moving up to the bigger chain, and of course a good nylon snub line. Perhaps your windlass will accept the bigger gypsy, but for us, it was worth the price of a new windlass.
    I think there is a huge misconception about Bruce anchors. They were developed for the oil industry as anchors (pretty big ones) for stationary platforms in deep water. They are designed to be set and let dig in for a long time, not day to day anchoring. Plenty of folks swear by them, but IMO those that use them are just really lucky.
    The Fortress is a wonderful secondary anchor and works excellently with a length of chain and rope, but again mainly as a lunch hook or #2 anchor, should the weather indicate the need for one. We carry 5 complete set-ups, but we travel in hurricane areas, and an old salt told me when I was a teen, "Kid, any idiot can make a boat go, but it takes a real seaman to stop one.". I guess it stuck.
    I know what I am suggesting is expensive, but think how nice it would be to sit comfortably through a 60+ knot squall, on your bridge with a cup of hot coffee, and your only worry is the other boats dragging down on you. lol
  15. Pascal, Jun 23, 2019
    #15
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    10 years now with Bruce anchors... we spend about 100 nights a year on the hook and often anchor twice a day... I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times the Bruce failed to set on the first attempt. It has never dragged.

    3/8 chain on a high windage 84 footer. No issues. No worries. And yes we ve been thru some squalls, up to 70kts.
  16. timvail, Jun 24, 2019
    #16
    timvail

    timvail Senior Member

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    I agree. In our neck of the woods. The Bruce is the go to anchor. All chain and oversized Bruce equals a good nights sleep...
  17. Capt Ralph, Jun 24, 2019
    #17
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Near 17 years now on our Bertram. Started with a Danforth HT and it never stayed set.
    Went to a 85# Bruce the first year and never missed a good nights sleep while anchoring in everything.

    Last year we went to a new windlass and all chain. New 105# Bruce.
    Rocking in a crib..:D:D:D

    We still have spare FX85s and plenty of 1" nylon,,,, they have never been used.
  18. KoffeeCruising, Jun 27, 2019
    #18
    KoffeeCruising

    KoffeeCruising Member

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    Just made my “Apollo 8” circle of the Abacos in a week with just my pal/Captain to learn the route and Anchorage’s. Next time I’ll do the same route with wife and guests in a Month... or year.
    -West End-Old Bahama Bay was only marina. Nice first stop to clear customs and make sure everything is working. Good pool/ beach.
    - HopeTown. Mooring ball. Wow. Took tender to Cracker P’s, Nippers, snorkled. Awesome
    -Little Harbor. Mooring Ball. Pete’s Pub foundry. Tender to ATL side Very cool
    -Chub. Great anchorage Besides the resort not much going on. I’m not a fisherman but can see it would be awesome.

    -Abacos are accessible, protected ...
    -Diesel is expensive. Paid $2.88 in Delray, was $5.48 in Hopetown, topped off for $5.13 in Bimini
    - saw so many places to anchor
    -I love to cook so while each place had good dining /bars - they are limited, which was ok for me as we ate/drank really well grilling on the FB
    -entertainment was Spotify and I have a “bost guitar” so it’s like camping... in style
    -we had perfect cruising conditions

    Can’t wait to go back; next I’m looking foreward to exploring Exumas
  19. Pascal, Jun 27, 2019
    #19
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Abacos are probably a little less crowded at this time of the year but too busy for my taste compared to Exumas

    Instead of anchoring off Chub, try anchoring on the other side off Bird Cay. More room, same protection and a lot to Explore like the abandoned Francis Francis estate at the north end of bird (60s time capsule) and the Cays and sandbars to the north
  20. Capt Ralph, Jun 27, 2019
    #20
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Where are your pictures. Got to have pictures.
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