Securing firearms onboard in the Bahamas

z28jimi

Member
Feb 10, 2017
69
Daytona Beach
Boat Info
2006 44' Sea Ray Sedan Bridge, Highfield dinghy, 2006 22' Pathfinder
Engines
Cummins
Reading all I can find on this subject, I've concluded that when clearing customs, in addition to accurately describing each firearm onboard and the amount of ammunition, the firearms themselves need to be in a "locked compartment". On my '06 44 DB, I have no such compartment. None of the hanging lockers are lockable, and I don't see any way to make them lockable without adding an ugly hasp and padlock. Those of you with this same boat model, how do you address this issue? My intent is to have my Mossberg and a handgun aboard. I could get a handgun safe and bolt it down somewhere and I think that would suffice, but the shotgun poses a bit more of an issue. Any suggestions and especially first-hand solutions would be appreciated.
 
I understood the "locked compartment" to be the cabin - people that i have heard of having trouble were those that were in center consoles - even large ones with heads or storage under the console, for some reason Bahamian officials do not recognize those as cabins......THT has a wealth of information on this topic too - just make sure to disclose ALL guns and ammo - they will take your boat and throw you in jail
 
Would a “shot gun” lock similar to the rack installed in police patrol cars be seen as “locked”? You could have it standing in the hanging closet.
 
Do you have storage under the bed, our 47db you could lift the mattress and there was a storage compartment. There are long gun cases that you could secure with a lockable lid.
 
What is the definition of compartment? Is it living space?, part of the physical structure of the boat?, or would a locked hard sided case work? Something like a Pelican, or Negrini shotgun case. The Negrini with locks and the Pelican with padlocks meet TSA’s requirements for checked baggage. I know that might not mean much to Bahamian officialdom, but it is an indication of its effectiveness. A case could be cable locked inside a locker with a minor amount of modifications to the boat.
 
Going to try to get in touch directly with Bahamian authorities to get an answer. Some friends that have been there say their locked cabin was considered the "locked compartment". If I get a definitive answer, I'll post it.
 
Good luck with bahamian authorities - the "laws" are interpreted differently from island to island - and what you are told today, may not be ok tomorrow - like i said above, you need to have a full cabin that locks - a case or box as suggested above is common sense too - again, THT has a lot more people with bahamas experience that bring weapons over frequently
 
Check out the Tufloc small shotgun lock on Galls.com.
 
Good luck with bahamian authorities - the "laws" are interpreted differently from island to island - and what you are told today, may not be ok tomorrow - like i said above, you need to have a full cabin that locks - a case or box as suggested above is common sense too - again, THT has a lot more people with bahamas experience that bring weapons over frequently
From experience?
We have been to the Bahamas clearing in at many different customs locations over the last six or seven years and have found all to be very consistent so I'm curious where you are finding differences. The only time things were a bit different was last year when we cleared in at Grand and the official wanted to verify the weapon's S/N; apparently they had an incident and were required to verify but that was unique.
I keep a handgun on the boat; it is locked in a portable Liberty vault where I also keep the travel cash, important docs, and valuables. The vault is small and portable but secured with a cable and lock. Typically it gets secured to the boat in a discrete location with the cable and lock when we raise the quarantine flag then after clearing in it goes in the ditch bag located in an easily accessible place. When we leave the boat and the boat's security is unmonitored the vault gets secured to the boat again. I don't know why a shotgun would be any different but if on my boat would stay locked up. Why someone
would want a shotgun on a small boat in the Bahamas is beyond me but, whatever.....​
 
I've done several trips by boat and agree with ttmott. This past July they did ask for the serial number but other than that, keeping it on the boat was a non event.

I don't have a gun safe on the boat.

When I fly over, obviously the guns stay home...
 
Sorry, I was not talking specifically about firearms as I do not bring them over - My remarks relate more to fishing regs (second hand from friends), leaving a boat there for extended periods of time and checking in after hours - In my experience, it is very difficult to get a straight consistent answer from Bahamian "authorities" For example, when I was there this past July, I needed parts for my boat....One suggestion was I have a friend deliver them to the airport and "flown over" on a commuter flight - I got 3 different answers on taxes due as well as well as if it could be done.....one even suggested that I fly there and get them and fly back......In the end a forum member that was crossing over brought me the parts. Don't get me wrong, its a minor inconvenience, but to say they have their act together from an administrative point of view is wrong - Love the place, but it is what it is
 
My biggest fear is someone getting their hands on one of my weapons. I wouldn't trust the people at the desk not to tell someone there where guns onboard my boat.
I'm guessing you can't remove the weapons and take them on land while there?
 

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