Checking out the Bahamas

I was surprised by a few things while on the trip here. First, I had this vision that all the little islands scattered around the Sea of Abaco had sand beaches around them. You know... just pull up, drop the hook, no one around, go swimming, eat lunch, etc etc.. What little I saw around Guana and Hope Town and Marsh Harbour, the islands are all basically rocks... The beaches appear to be on the ocean side of the world. Is that true all over the Abacos?

The other thing I was surprised at, and I'm not sure why, is how close everything is. Going from Guana to Marsh Harbour is a 30 minute ride.. It reminded me of the northern Chesapeake in that you could see everything (albeit a tad cleaner).

Seeing the actual bottom all the time is just creepy...

So.. I asked around at the marina about pump outs and water. Water is a rip off... and the guy looked at me and just smiled about the pump out thing. I take it people are just dumping their crap overboard? That's not lawful... Would one of the new fangled Type II MSD waste treatment things be the way to go? I talked to some sail boaters at Nippers (from what I remember) and they take on fuel about once a season. Other than that, they are moored out... you ain't going to tell me they are not dumping overboard.

On the water front, it appears that some of these places use water cisterns and collect rain water... seems you could really screw up a water tank with all kinds of nasty growing creatures. Who uses a watermaker?

One other comment is the lack of security coming home. No metal detectors... no luggage check... just show the woman your ticket and out to the plane you go. Pretty scary if you ask me.
 
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Gary...Great read as always.....If/when you go back, what island were you most impressed with for the natural beauty, beaches, lack of big hotels, casinos, costs and old time carribean flair......
 
I'm not an expert on where to go after just a 5 days... I think one could spend a few years down here exploring all the different island chains with the Abacos just being one of many...

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We are actually thinking of selling/trading Four Suns (480 DB) and trying a different boat that is more conducive to longer cruising/stays... we shall see...

Plus.. I need new material for another book. The Bahamas needs some "Reality Show" writing...
 
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Hey Gary, in the islands you noticed it is made of rocks. So where do you think they would "dig" and install a septic system. Most of the larger islands treat their waste but small communities...
What I do is run out into the ocean and dump. Three miles of course.
As far as the water clarity, now you begin to understand why I run a small boat. The average water depth is maybe about 10-15 feet. Looks like 5 feet. Big boats have to stay in known "channels". I like to wander, and some of the most beautiful anchorages, in my opinion, are not easy to find your way into.
Now you have the fever and there is no explaining the feeling you get/have when your in the islands on your own boat, captain!
 
Four Suns said:
So.. I asked around at the marina about pump outs and water. Water is a rip off... and the guy looked at me and just smiled about the pump out thing. I take it people are just dumping their crap overboard? That's not lawful... Would one of the new fangled Type II MSD waste treatment things be the way to go? I talked to some sail boaters at Nippers (from what I remember) and they take on fuel about once a season. Other than that, they are moored out... you ain't going to tell me they are not dumping overboard.
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Not lawful? You're kidding, right?

Take a look at the waste treatment plants on these islands some time. . .

Four Suns said:
One other comment is the lack of security coming home. No metal detectors... no luggage check... just show the woman your ticket and out to the plane you go. Pretty scary if you ask me.
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You gotta love the islands mahn! We can have a discussion about the TSSA some other time. . .
 
Yeah... not sure there are too many laws down there. Probably not allowed to kill anyone though.

When we contemplated taking a boat to Guana Cay/Nippers, the owner of the rental place kept saying "There is NO DUI in the Bahamas!!!" I was concerned about going over there and then getting home with a few in me... so we took the ferry... I'm sure all the other people leaving Nippers in their center consoles were sober... really...
 
Four Suns said:
Yeah... not sure there are too many laws down there. Probably not allowed to kill anyone though.
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A friend tells a story about being stopped by a cop in the BVI's while driving. It was nothing major - he didn't get a ticket or anything.

He said that while drunk driving is illegal, drinking a pina colada while chatting with the cop that pulled you over is not illegal.
 
Sounds kinda like Aruba. Last time I was there we were piss drunk and driving around just following traffic, at a blazing 5mph. Everyone down there was drunk and driving so they all go 5mph. In Nassua earlier this year, I witnesssed 3 people on rental mopeds get run over. I don't think the cabbies that hit them were drunk, yet, just drive like idiots. Those people can't drive.
 
Gary, you might just be surprized to learn the rest of the world think we nuts for such regs as holding tank pump out . You go to places in the world that dump their waste into the sluce running down the center of the mud street and they are going to care and get all excited about your crap in their water?

The DM at green turtle many years ago commented to me on pump out facilities with "when you put diapers on fish". Reply. Pump outs are a uniquely American Insanity.
 
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