Best Bahamas Publications

Four Suns

Four Suns

Not a pot stirrer
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 4, 2006
10,533
Williamsburg, VA
Boat Info
2003 480 DB
Engines
QSM-11 Diesels
Any comments/suggestions on the best publications for The Bahamas? I have the new MapTech Chart Books and Steve Dodge's "The Cruising Guide to Abaco 2007" (that's where we plan to go).

My family has not been much help. My wife wants "How to Survive for More than a Week in a Life Raft" and my sons want "Where the Babes Are: Bahamas 2007 Guide"...
 
GARY, Do you have an area of intrest? Abacos, Bimini, Berrys, Nausa
exumas, etc...? JC
 
The general concept we have right now is to try and combine some remote/small town type things along with some busy place/touristy type of things over the course of 3 weeks. So I was thinking to cut across the stream and hit the north end of the Bahamas and go through the Abacos and then head down to Nassau then over to Bimini and back to Florida. We would then take a 4th week and head up back to Virginia and stop and Charleston and Beufort/Moorehead City. That's the general plan but there are a lot of holes to fill in. The trip will take place from the 3 week of June to the 3rd week of July. I am moving the boat down to Florida in May... assuming the freezing weather here doesn't sink it.
 
GARY, Sounds like a good plan. The weather should be calming down by then(wind) and we have crossed twice during that time frame. Just for a thought and for the sake of your sanity(children) you might want to consider this route. The kids are going to love ATLANTIS(NOT THE GAMBLING PART :smt018 :smt018 ) But the slide, rides and beach, etc...So that being said maybe (Gov Cut, Bimini Sands, Chub Cay, Nassua(atlantis), Allens Cay, Staniel Cay
back up thru eluthras, then go north thru Abacos, then back across all this dependent on weather and time. Many reasons i like this route(ESP WITH CHILDREN). If weather and time get to be a problem i would suggest doing either abacos on this trip then the banks and exumas on another trip or vise versa. Thats the way we have done it so far(3 trips, going this spring/summer again) and we have tended to get pressed by weather and time. We are going Abacos mid may for about 3 weeks then back home for 4 weeks of work and back to exumas for about 9 weeks, give or take a little. Iam going to put the medical, mechanical and general check list we use on a coming Bahamas tread and will include the charts, guides and aieral pictures we use. Hope i gave you some thoughts? :cool: JC
 
The only advice that I can give you, having never been to the Bahamas by water, is to study every page of the manual your boys want, and know it like th eback of your hand.

Leave the wife's manual handy on the bridge someplace. :thumbsup:
 
I have taken many cruises to the Bahamas and have heard that getting in and out of Nassau can be a little tricky a times. As for your boys the cruise ship terminal areas are their best bet.
 
You have to request permission to enter the harbor. They will take you from ch16 to another one, get some info and grant you perm to enter. Very painless, but if you donot get or announce your arrival they will "DRESS YOU DOWN PRETTY GOOD". You will see cruise ships from miles away and have plenty of time to adjust. Nassau harbor is busy and you do have to stay on your toes but overall its no big deal.
 
3 week Bahamas trip

A suggested trip....

First stop - Old Bahama Bay which is located in West End, Grand Bahama Island, in the NW area of the Bahamas. A nice spot to check in and a nice resort. You could stay a couple of days there before heading out.

Second stop - Double Breasted Cay. About 65 miles from West End. An absolutely beautiful, remote, pristine anchorage in the northern Abaco Islands. Stay at least overnight on the hook. The water and location is what you are going to the Bahamas to see.

Third stop - Green Turtle Club in Green Turtle Cay. A nice marina with a nice restaurant and store. There is a "town" on the cay where you can re-stock as well as a boat yard and travel lift (if necessary). While in the bar at GTC, look for the dollar bill that says "Odyssey" on it (mine).

Fourth stop - Marsh Harbor. There are a few different marinas that you can stay at. This location is the central hub of the Abaco Islands and plenty to do. It's the largest city in the Abacos.

Fifth stop - jump over to Eleuthera, go through the Devils Backbone and stay at the Harbor Island Marina. This is one of the most beautiful spots in the main Bahamas Islands. A run of about 65 miles and well worth it.

Sixth stop - Nassau. Easy and quick to get to from Eleuthra and home of the Atlantis Resort. Expensive to stay but a full service, crowded, resort.

Last stop - Bimini. I would pass up Chub and go straight to Bimini. From there you can head back to the states and back to reality.

I have allot more information including web sites and contact numbers if you're interested.

Good luck!!!

Randy
 
Randy, that indeed is a great trip and route. Makes me start dreaming of those warm summer days and lazy nites. Softens up these ole bones when its 21f right now. :cool: JC
 
JC3 said:
Randy, that indeed is a great trip and route. Makes me start dreaming of those warm summer days and lazy nites. Softens up these ole bones when its 21f right now. :cool: JC
Click to expand...

It was fun recounting my previous trips and looking at the charts. Each location has its own story and memories. Last June we did an Exuma trip which was awesome and different from the Abaco thing. That is a trip we'll be doing again soon.

Randy
 
I've been spending my Saturday looking over all these charts and the Dodges book I have and taking notes and sketching out a rough plan (and watching really bad movie reruns from the 80's on TV). Thanks a bunch for the suggestions.

Did you pilot your boat through the Devils Backbone Reef yourself? The entrance there looks pretty narrow and volitile (like I would know) and there is a note on the chart that says: "Pilot Note: Hail a pilot on VHF Ch 16 between Spanish Wells and Harbour Island along the Devils Backbone Reef." and another that says "Caution: Perfect conditions, local knowledge and expert eyeball navigation required to transit the reefs north of Eleuthera."

You know... not that I am an experienced "eyeball navigator" from all the east coast and Ches. Bay travels where you can see a good 12 inches in the water on a good day... and then the thought of sitting out in the ocean on Ch. 16 going "Anyone willing to come out here and drive a 50 foot boat in for me?" just seems strange. And who the heck shows up? Some 16 year old dope-smokin' bahama native going "I'll drive this baby in... watch me!". How did you do this? How many props did you go through?

Is there a publication like the Dodge book for the Abacos for this area?
 
Gary - there are at least 4 competent guides to help you get through he Backbone. All the boats use them. Some boats record their track on their plotter then go in and out by themselves after the first time but I don't know anyone who does it themselves the first time. Even the professional captains use the guides.

Sometimes they tie their skiff up to your boat and pilot your vessel, sometimes they lead you through piloting their own boat. Sometimes there's 3-5 boats all following one guide. It can be a real adventure depending on the seas. If your lucky, the seas will be calm and you'll enjoy the process. The Backbone is an amazing thing. It on takes a few minutes from Spanish Wells and even less if you approach from the East. I found it interesting that my chart plotter software's suggested route was right on the money.

A1 (my last guide) did a great job, effortlessly steering my 44EB just where it needed to go. It costs $60 - $75 and like I said all the captains do it. It is a small price to pay to get your vessel in to Harbor Island. If you happen to get in a line of boats following the guide, be prepared to pay for his services. That's the way it works.

There is ocean access south of the marina that we used while we were there. Allot closer than the Backbone and easy to get in and out. Be careful about that one too. There is a certain route to take just to get to the inlet! I prefer Harbor Island Marina over Valintines but they're both great.

If you make it to Eleuthra, make sure you go into Dunmore and visit the small road side shack right on the bay that makes fresh conch salad. Order it hot and while she's making it, walk across the street and get a couple of ice cold Kalik Golds. Sit at one of the outside table and watch the sunset across the bay while having the best conch salad ever. It's really special.

If I can help with anything else, let me know.

Randy
 
Randy is exactly right. You will like your time on harbor Island. Another person that can help you in is WOODY. Will cost about $75 but it is well worth it. Woody will meet you out in his little WOODY boat. You will think at first that that ole coral head and rocky shore is going to get you, but with a locals help you will be fine. JC
 
I guess we could have these discussions privately but what the heck... someone else may find them useful.

What route did you take from Harbour Island to Naussa? Did you just get back out in Providence Channel by Devils Backbone or did you have the "pilot" take you down through Spanish Wells and cut through by Meeks Patch and such and then hit Providence Channel?
 
I went back to Spanish Wells, then a 10 mile run south to Current Rock. Current Rock is an interesting cut which will bring you south of the Island and then you can run "inside" all the way to the East entry of the harbor. That way is especially good if the seas are rough because the channel can get sloppy.

Randy
 
When you went to the Double Breasted Rocks, which anchorage did you go to? Did you go to the one on the east end between Double Breasted Cays and Double Breasted Roacks or did you go to the one up by Sand Cay on the west end? The one by Sand Cay looks tricky to get into.... just curious...

Gary
 
Double Breasted Cay

Here is a pic of the chart that shows Double Breasted and where the anchorage is (black X). The purple line shows the suggested route into the Cay which is right on the money. If you can time it so you get there at slack tide, it will be easier.

The place is awesome!

DoubleBreastedchart.jpg
 
Something about crawling around in these anchorages in a 4 foot draft boat in 5 feet of water makes me nervous...
 
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