Cruising the Bahamas in a Mac 26M

[Divecoz]

I found this site for entry to the Bahamas:
http://www.bahamas-travel.info/ports_of_entry.htm
I will assume you hoist the Q FLAG on the Fore stay?
You are then Required to Fly the Bahamian Flag as well as the USA Stars and Stripes. How are you and where do you fly these two flags?
Allow ,me to add another question, I at least find of great importance!
Storing your Truck and Boat trailer on te Florida coast for this adventure. WHERE? How much? What was left of it when you got back

[Chinook]

Hi Divecoz,

Been off line for a few days, out visiting family in Hawaii. As stated by others, water was really no problem. We were able to fill at marinas and small towns along the way. We did get a little low while stuck for a week at Allens-Pensacola Cay. A local told us about a cistern on the island, which we hiked over to and found. The water looked pretty nasty, and was probably brackish, but we did haul a 5 gallon collapsible jug back to the boat, which we used to fill the solar shower. It served well that way. Another thing we did was transfer our ice chest melt water to the solar shower. Ice was also regularly available,although usually in cube form. I recall buying a bag at Spanish Cay. The guy brought it over to the boat, dripping a steady stream all the way. I think the volume of ice reduced by1/3 in transit to the boat.

[Chip Hindes]

Etiquette says you fly the Q flag from the right spreader until you have cleared customs.

You then replace the Q flag with the Bahamian flag. Actually, you are not required to fly the Bahamiam flag, it is merely a courtesy, though one I would recommend in the interest of not being considered an American jerk. I'm not sure where you fly it if you don't have a spreader flag halyard; maybe tie it to the right shroud.

I have added flag halyards to both my spreaders and to the mast top, but that's just me as I like flying as many different burgees and pennants as I can. There are kits specifically designed for this which contain everything you need including a special shroud cleat, but they are overpriced and I make mine from a small block, strap to bolt it to the spar, a length of line and a cleat on the mast.

[James V]

No body complians about where you put the "Q" flag of even if you have one, just clean in as soon as you can. It is best if you put up a Bahamas flag and the locals will treat you better, again, nobody complains as long as you are spending money and not breaking the law.

I have mine on the spreader and no USA flag.

[Divecoz]

Thanks Guys one and all. I for one will be putting this all togehter for a file folder . We have since we quit the other non-sences addressed a lot issues as of late. Thanks again.
Charts and stuff. Who has the best Quality ? Up to Date ? Price ?
I am being told by my Insurance Guy there will need to be a rider written if want the vessel covered for this trip.

[James V]

Charts, Explorer are the best. Most of the GPS Map are using them now as well. However, do not relly on these as sometimes they are not updated or just wrong. This is not the USA. Get a set, around $ 70 and there is 3 fot the Bahamas.


Insurance. Always check with your insurance if you are leaving your home port. I have been told that you cannot get insurance during hurricane season in the Bahamas and that is why so many marinas are empty here.

[Chip Hindes]

Insurance depends completely on the company. I have an offshore rider on my USAA policy that covers me for the entire Caribean except (interestngly) Mexico. Only costs a few bucks per year so I keep it on all the time even if I'm not sure I'l use it in a given year.

When we went to Bimini two years ago with the Conch cruisers, some of those with BoatUS policies were about to be slapped with as I recall about $500 in additional charges and riders for a 10-day trip. I know at least one who owned his boat (as opposed to the bank) chose to skip it altogether. Not sure what liability implications that would have in the Bahamas. Others switched to other insurers whose rates were more reasonable.

[James V]

I have been told that the reason why the marinas are empty is because people cannot get insurance during hurricane season. This is a change this year.

[Chinook]

Responding to Divecoz about launching and parking. We started at West Palm Beach. Launch was at a nice County Park on an island crossing over to West Palm Beach. No long term parking available there. We moored at Sailfish Marina, very close to Lake Worth Inlet (1/4 mile north). They had long term parking for our truck at the Marina, and had a secure satellite lot about 5 miles away for the trailer. I don't recall the cost, but think it was in the$200 range for the 2 months we were out. I compared with some other storage facilities in the area, and their price was best. Caution about Sailfish Marina. Currents through there are wicked, 3 to 4 knots right across the slip area. Very hard to get in or out between slack tides. When we departed, we arranged to move out of our finger slip at slack on the evening prior to departure, and tied up at the Tee dock, where it was much easier to get underway.

[James V]

The immigrations and customs forms are easy and you should do them the first chance you get. The smaller island may not have immigration so check before you go.

Trailer and truck storage. Pleanty of RV places around that you can store at a cost. Check for security. Most will do nothing for you inside their storage.

Flag halyard - Just buy the kit from west marine (replace the line) and put it about 1 foot from the mast on the spreader. If you want to fly the American flag you will need 2 more clips. Buy the "Q" flag so that you can make the spacing. I have had to adjust mine already.

Windy here for the next week and in the 60's.

[Chinook]

Regarding insurance, when we went to the Bahamas, we were able to expand our Boat US coverage to include those waters plus Florida, but premium was about $1000, well above the $200 we were paying for Pacific Northwest. Boat US wouldn't insure a boat under 28 feet fo Souhtheast Alaska, so we switched to Safeco, which covers all of lower 48 plus SE AK for about $250/yr. Neither they nor Boat US will cover Mexico however. Lots of companies will provide the mandatory liability only boat policy for Mexico, however, general boat coverage for Mexico is hard to come by. I finally found coverage through Lewis and Lewis Insurance, who got me a quote o $1200/yr through Lloyds of London. It all gets pretty expensive, and we may opt for liability only in Mexico.

[Love MACs]

You all have my mouth watering and I haven't even ordered my MAC yet ( two more months), let alone sailed on it . This was the trip my wife and I had in mind years ago when we retired and bought "our sailboat". NOW, I see that it is a distinct possibility that dream could come true sooner than I had expected. I will need some time to get adjusted to the MAC but you all make it sound...well achievable! And most if not all of my questions have been answered in this thread. God I love this site! Thanks for all your experience and information!

[DAVEWVU86]

Hurry up and buy it. I want company for the trip to the Bahamas I'm tryin to plan for April!!!

Buying the Mac was one of the best thing's I've done for myself. I bought mine on 1/20 of last year it's almost our 1 year anniversary I've loved every minute of it.

[James V]

Put your boat here -
http://f02-f03.mypicturetown.com:80/P2P ... .JPG?rot=1

Man of War Cay, in the background is Great Abaco Island and MArsh Harbor some 7 miles away.

[James V]

There is a lot of boats under 30 feet here and quite a few wooden boats as they are made here, Here is one -



Traffic jam -



I am in Man of War Cay now, A dry cay that builds boats. Small and quite.


Harbor entrance -





sunrise (most of the harbor has mooring balls/bouy's, There is 2 feet of water in the north that one can anchor, room enough for 3 boats) -