Abacos, June 2012

Here are some pics of my latest project, relocating the GPS, installing VHF, and configuring DSC between the two. I had originally mounted the GPS on it's gimbal mount up where the Compass was mounted, from the factory. I was hesitant to drill into the dash so pulled the compass out and made a cover for the compass hole that the GPS would mount to. Now that I am planning a real offshore trip, I wanted the compass back for quick reference and for backup if I had GPS issues. Here are a couple of pics of what I finished up yesterday. Wish I had taken "before" pics. The trim tab buttons were originally on the left side. I wanted the radio and GPS on the left side, so whomever was piloting the boat wasn't the only person that could operate the GPS and radio. In a bind, I may need someone else manning the radio and GPS.
BoatDashWide.jpg


BoatDashCloseup.jpg
 
Ah yea, nice work. I would recommend you learn to operate the gps by "feel". Meaning you know what button to push without looking at it. I also recommend you teach your wife to be able to look at it and read off lat and lon numbers.
Second on the gps, pre load the gps way points you need, before you head out.

Vhf, teach your wife how to use it. How to communicate with the Coast Guard. Get her comfortable with the operation. You need to be able to talk to Bahamian people and understand their slang and accents.

Ground tackle=full welded hi strength equipment. It sounds to me like your "slip shank" anchor is one of what I call lunch anchors and NOT one I would sleep on.
I carry a Danforth (the name brand) fluke Hi-Tensile 5lb 1200lb strength anchor as a stern or back up, and a Delta plow 14lb as a primary. I have 15ft of chain on it, with 200 ft of 8 plait 1/2" line. (On a windlass) The 8 plait is not necessary with out a windlass. But I would use (and do on the fluke) double braid anchor line. It stretches less and is better for abrasion. You'd be surprised how much a anchor line will stretch, under a load from high winds in a storm. Imagine if your boat broke loose at night and you were asleep. My idea is to give myself the best chance by having proper equipment. I gaurentee you will drag or break loose an anchor once during your trip. Unless you plan to be dock side every night, in that case nevermind! haha Oh, when anchoring for the night, I dive on and manually set/check my anchors! It's to easy not to.

A little story, I had all the best equipment for anchoring, but one of the friends of the family boats that came along wanted to be the center boat. No problem, he set anchor, we dove on the anchors to check set. I/we rafted to him. All was great, in the middle of the night, I "felt" my boat break loose. My boat was hung by the stern lines to his. Whew what tension the lines were under. I couldn't untie from him because the current was ripping and holding my boat at a 90 degree angle to his. I had to cut the lines, to break free. This all happened at 3 o'clock in the morning. The next morning I started checking the mooring lines and heck they looked like they were cut. (the ones that I thought broke, not the ones I cut) I was confused, untill I checked his cleats. They had very sharp edges from corosion and they simply cut thru the lines. Moral of the story, check your cleats, check your bits and any thing you put a line on.

Ok, running long again.
 
islandhopper00 said:
Ah yea, nice work. I would recommend you learn to operate the gps by "feel". Meaning you know what button to push without looking at it. I also recommend you teach your wife to be able to look at it and read off lat and lon numbers.
Second on the gps, pre load the gps way points you need, before you head out.

Vhf, teach your wife how to use it. How to communicate with the Coast Guard. Get her comfortable with the operation. You need to be able to talk to Bahamian people and understand their slang and accents.

Ground tackle=full welded hi strength equipment. It sounds to me like your "slip shank" anchor is one of what I call lunch anchors and NOT one I would sleep on.
I carry a Danforth (the name brand) fluke Hi-Tensile 5lb 1200lb strength anchor as a stern or back up, and a Delta plow 14lb as a primary. I have 15ft of chain on it, with 200 ft of 8 plait 1/2" line. (On a windlass) The 8 plait is not necessary with out a windlass. But I would use (and do on the fluke) double braid anchor line. It stretches less and is better for abrasion. You'd be surprised how much a anchor line will stretch, under a load from high winds in a storm. Imagine if your boat broke loose at night and you were asleep. My idea is to give myself the best chance by having proper equipment. I gaurentee you will drag or break loose an anchor once during your trip. Unless you plan to be dock side every night, in that case nevermind! haha Oh, when anchoring for the night, I dive on and manually set/check my anchors! It's to easy not to.

A little story, I had all the best equipment for anchoring, but one of the friends of the family boats that came along wanted to be the center boat. No problem, he set anchor, we dove on the anchors to check set. I/we rafted to him. All was great, in the middle of the night, I "felt" my boat break loose. My boat was hung by the stern lines to his. Whew what tension the lines were under. I couldn't untie from him because the current was ripping and holding my boat at a 90 degree angle to his. I had to cut the lines, to break free. This all happened at 3 o'clock in the morning. The next morning I started checking the mooring lines and heck they looked like they were cut. (the ones that I thought broke, not the ones I cut) I was confused, untill I checked his cleats. They had very sharp edges from corosion and they simply cut thru the lines. Moral of the story, check your cleats, check your bits and any thing you put a line on.

Ok, running long again.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's one of the things I told her a while back, that she needs to get more familiar with things around the boat. Inland, it's easy for her to just kick back and let me manage things. I told her she needed to be more familiar with things, in the event that I am sick, injured, or maybe even if I just need a break.


I have known from the beginning that I will need an additional anchor. I have been shopping for a plow and will be purchasing one soon. I have no issue with snorkeling down to check the set of the anchor. I am all about snorkeling.

Definitely, not planning on staying dockside every night. Hope to be on the hook most nights. Maybe dockside a couple of nights.

One other question. The old roller that you had on the front of your boat, before adding the windlass, did it hold an anchor? Not really wanting to go to a windlass just yet, but tired of the in and out from the anchor hatch. Was thinking it would be nice to at least have it hanging out front, especially with the anchor size increasing.
JP
 
No the old roller that Sea Ray made me use does not have enough length to hold an anchor. It basically was a.....roller for the line when you dropped or pulled up the anchor. It worked ok for that job, but nope not to hold an anchor. I have it somewhere around here if you want it. It is better than nothing. Not sure it will fit your 2000 though.
 
I wanted to ask if you know how to set a bahamas anchor/moor? Two anchors out, 180 degrees from each other, both anchor lines going to the bow, boat parellel with the tide current. The currents around some of the islands get to ripping pretty fast, and you don't want to trust your anchor to reset by itself. So if you line up with the current, put out the anchors, you'll hang off one while one is slack, then when the tide turns, your boat will flip around and hang off the other so there is no setting and resetting of the anchors at night.
 
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islandhopper00 said:
I wanted to ask if you know how to set a bahamas anchor/moor? Two anchors out, 180 degrees from each other, both anchor lines going to the bow, boat parellel with the tide current. The currents around some of the islands get to ripping pretty fast, and you don't want to trust your anchor to reset by itself. So if you line up with the current, put out the anchors, you'll hang off one while one is slack, then when the tide turns, your boat will flip around and hang off the other so there is no setting and resetting of the anchors at night.
Click to expand...

Yep, Cruising Guide to the Abacos covered that one pretty thouroughly. Makes a lot of sense. I have read that book, cover to cover, many times.

I'll probably wait and get a roller that will hold an anchor, at some later time.

Thanks,
JP
 
Good read, alot of good information in there.

Well I don't want to seem like I'm trying to big shot you, or over shadow your experience. It sounds like you have your act together, Ask me anything you need or feel, I'll give you an answer that I think fits.
There is ALOT of experience here as to going to the Bahamas by the Florida members, that haven't chimed in. Maybe some of them will add to the knowlege, so you have more than just my perspective.
 
Plans are coming together. Looks like we will be launching from either Phil Foster Park or Jim Barry Light Harbor Park in WPB. Truck and trailer storage will be a couple of miles away on W. Blue Heron Blvd. Hope to arrive early afternoon on Saturday, June 2. Launch that afternoon and sleep on the hook Sat night (location suggestions?). If weather permits, we will head out for West End early Sunday morning. Check in and re-fuel in West End and, if all conditions are favorable, continue on towards the Abacos. Maybe on the hook around Great Sale Cay, Sun night, or maybe continue on, depending on how things are going.

JP
 
If you are leaving from Lake Worth Inlet, Peanut Island is a great overnight anchorage. I generally anchor on the north side, on the sand flats. The inlet is very close.
 
You guys are killing me. I wont get to go this year. Island you are giving some great advice. I hope JP has the time of his life. Good Luck, JC
 
I don't know if you looked at the charts close enough to notice Double Breasted Cay next to Grand Cay, but it's very well worth the look.
It's my favorite place in the Abacos. The sand beach on the island, the proximity of Grand Cay and Rosies Place for "inhabited" stuff. You can make the run in your dingy if you wanted to. The anchorage is protected and with good holding. There is a reef just outside to the north of the barrier island. (spear fishing) There is alot of intestering areas to dingy around thru the marshes.

I have to stop there everytime I go to the Abacos. The next great place is Carters Cay. Same kind of situation. There is a great hurricane hole there that is fun exploring. I like to anchor in the area to the West of Carters but if the weather is from the south there is little protection. But that is rare from my prospective. I tuck back in the corner near the island, between the flats and the island.

Thoes are my must go places. Enjoy.
 
This is a picture of what I call the washing machine. It's on Tom Brown Cay next to Walkers Island. It's worth visiting if you stay at Double Breasted Cay. The washing machine is on the ocean side of the cay. I anchor the boat on the bank side and walk accross the island to it. It's fun to swim in when the ocean is not to ruff.
Everyone in the picture is looking at the hole the water rushes in from, when a wave breaks on the beach. It runs in thru an opening and causes the water to rush around.


19.jpg
 
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IslandHopper,
Thanks for all of that info! Keep it coming. I knew where Double Breasted was but may have just cruised right by it, without you pointing it out. Those will be definite stops for me, now.

JC,
Come on along!


JP
 
It's a long day on the helm, but you can cross, clear customs, top off the fuel at West End, GB. Then continue on to Double in one day.

Sale Cay is ok for an anchorage but to me it's more like a layover place. There isn't a nice reef, and the water in the cove doesn't seem as clear to me. It might be that I just haven't given it a honest try, because I am always in a hurry to get to the outislands. If you stop there I'll look forward to your review.

I wanted to add that Grand Cay is a good fuel top off spot also. Rosies Place. The next fuel is Spanish Cay, it costs more there but it's a nice harbor to stop and eat or unwind. I'd only use Fox Town accross the bank from Spanish if you have to. The docks are unprotected, and if there is any north wind the chop will kill your boat against the docks.

When you head east from Double Breasted, I usually stay close to the islands and run, at least past Strangers Cay. When you get to DB, watch how the locals run the islands. You can learn from them, but be careful, they know stuff we don't. Local knowlege is king. I happened accross a you tube video today, that showed how to enter Grand Cay. It might be worth finding and watching it.
 
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Come on Tritt21 and Odyssey....you guys know more than I do. Help me out, maybe I can learn something from you guys! haha

Heck all you Fla brothers need to help out!
 
On your return trip, do you plan to hit Port Lucaya?
The swimming pool at Port Lucaya Marina is fresh, and after being in the salt water for a week, it feels great to soak in it! Plus the marina is right next to Count Basie Square, in the middle of the straw market. There are alot of restraunts and bars to sit and drink Bahama Mammas too. If you have any money left over from gas, the Casino is accross the street to try your luck.

The best way to get there from the Abacos is the Grand Lucyan Waterway. It cuts accross Grand Bahamas in the middle of the island. The entrance is marked by gps way point Dover Sound. Your boat will make it no sweat draft wise. Just a thought.
 
islandhopper00 said:
On your return trip, do you plan to hit Port Lucaya?
The swimming pool at Port Lucaya Marina is fresh, and after being in the salt water for a week, it feels great to soak in it! Plus the marina is right next to Count Basie Square, in the middle of the straw market. There are alot of restraunts and bars to sit and drink Bahama Mammas too. If you have any money left over from gas, the Casino is accross the street to try your luck.

The best way to get there from the Abacos is the Grand Lucyan Waterway. It cuts accross Grand Bahamas in the middle of the island. The entrance is marked by gps way point Dover Sound. Your boat will make it no sweat draft wise. Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Hadn't planned on it, as everything I have read lately about the Freeport area has been negative. That just changed. Will keep it as an option on the way back. Sounds like a place the wife would enjoy, with the pool, Bahama Mammas, restaurants, and straw market.

JP
 
Just updated the original post. We are having to adjust our dates. We now plan to leave WPB no earlier that June 17 and return to WPB no later than June 30.


JP
 
Just wanted to update those that had been following this thread and those that had offered comments and info. My ex-wife passed away two weeks before our trip dates, last summer. Had to cancel the trip, as there was just no way I could leave the kids (21 and 11). The trip has been re-scheduled for this summer, May 24 - June 9, 2013. I will be starting a new thread.

JP
 
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