Cruising the Bahamas in a Mac 26M

[KayakDan]

Seeing your Bahamas pictures is making me miss Exuma.First year in 7 that we haven't gone to George Town.

But I'll get over it. 3 days till Tortola!!

Captain Dan at the Helm of a Beneteau 363. Clear the Drake Channel-I'm comin' thru!!!!!!!

[James V]

don't know if the bahamas would survive a group of MACIACS Alice and Stew

It will never be the same. Just wait until a group of you get up to full speed around Marsh Harbor. You will need to call on the VHF on 16, 68 and 73 that you are OK and having fun.

[James V]

Anchoring in the Bahamas and Bottoms.

The floor of the Bahamas is rock covered by what some call "Sand"
This is just South of Manjack Cay-


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This is in Manjack Harbor which is too shallow to enter -





The Atlantic coast of Manjack Cay. The charts mark this as Beach and Numerous rocks.








The Cay just South of Manjack -



No Name cay Atlantic side -



There is really no sand in the Bahamas it is just ground up rock. Small and flat. There is also grass. I have not been able to set my anchor in the light sand and have seen boats drag and not be able to set the anchor. Always allow time to find another anchorage incase you cannot get a set. Also note that any major storm can change the bottom so that there is not "Sand" anymore. You also ned an anchor that will cut through grass. As far as I know this is a plow type.

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[James V]

Back to why I came -

Manjack Harbor. About 1.5 feet comming in and shallower throughout. Nice Dinghy trip -



Green Turtle Cay -



No Name Cay -







Green Turtle Cay -



Bluf House Marina and Resturant -

[KayakDan]

Anchoring in the Bahamas and Bottoms.

The floor of the Bahamas is rock covered by what some call "Sand"
This is just South of Manjack Cay-


[.

And wow is that stuff slippery!!!
Exuma does actually have some sand,but we also found a great spot in the Brigantines where you can sink up to your knees in muck that's almost impossible to get out of!

James,ya gotta stop the pictures-it's killin' me!

[jaguar496]

don't know if the bahamas would survive a group of MACIACS Alice and Stew

It will never be the same. Just wait until a group of you get up to full speed around Marsh Harbor. You will need to call on the VHF on 16, 68 and 73 that you are OK and having fun.

....................and if all these & turned to go to the "barn", it would be a MAC-ATTACK

"THE RESTLESS TWO"

[Frank C]

So James, considering those difficult bottom conditions . . . . .
what kind of anchors are you carrying?

[Catigale]

Great pictures James - thanks for sharing them.

Hopefully the last winter storm of the season jsut hitting Buffalo

[James V]

Anchors - I have 2 west marine 13 pound flukes and 2 Super Max 18 pound. I love the Super Max but they do not seam to be able to cut through the grass or hard packed sand. I am looking for a Plow type around 18 pounds or an alluminum fortress.

However, none will hold if the sand is very loose or only 1 foot deep. This is what I am running into the most.

Also, the major storms change the bottoms. What was good last week may not be good next week. I will start noteing bottom conditions and holding.

I should have noted that in No Name Cay, North end, Holding is not good but you have 3 feet of water within 30 feet of shore and trees 50 feet from that. It is best to tie up to the trees and put out a stern anchor. I don't beach because of fear of destroying bottom paint.

[nchogberg]

Holy smokes!

Anyone check out that guys blog lately. His mate was burned very badly from cooking oil. Scarry stuff. You should have a strong stomach cause there are some gruesome pics. Sounds like she will be ok though.

Got me to thinking. On our first overnighter I cooked sausage and eggs for breakfast. I have the coleman two burner and it was sitting on the galley. As I was cooking and looking at all of the grease it came to me that this was not a good idea. I have since then purchased the magma and do all meat cooking on the stern. Just coffee and veggies in the boat on the coleman.

[James V]

Not mine but I know them. That is too bad. I have 2 Force 10 Seacock stoves. double gimbled. Nice with all the bow wake motion in harbors. I also do not cook with only 1 or 2 teaspons of greese in an open pan. I believe that they was cooking in the cockpit and not below.

She is a strong spirited woman and should over come this.

[James V]

Green Turtle Cay was nice. I stayed at a marina that would credit your slip towards meals. Nice if you wanted to eat ashore for a while. Bluff House Marina is a little more lively than Green Turtle. It may change.

Here is a sunset from Green Turtle restaurant -


Coco Beach Green Turtle


Some new friends -


New Plymonth -

Nice little town way to many roosters for me. I was woken up in Man of War every morning with them and do not want to anchor in another town with them.

I am in Marsh Harbor now -
It is so crowded than it was in Nov. Starting peak season soon. Still places to anchor for me. Still the same problems and the paid internet - OII.net - is much worse. It took me over 1 hr to download these 4 photo's. This is the only town in the Abaco's with 24 hr poilice and their is no water police in the harbor. Everybody speeds. Here is one taken through my window -

As usual, I am anchored in 1 1/2 foot of water and, as usual, they come speeding by and about 2 a day break their props.

[bobmonroe]

James, If I had time, I would snorkel around the anchorage
with a lobster tickler or spear and probe the bottom, sometimes
you can find a deep hole in that coral floor to hand set your
anchor. Bob

[James V]

Marsh Harbor at dusk -


Marsh Harbor before sunrise -


Marsh Harbor is a nice anchorage but has gotten quite crowded and far too busy. There is no respect for the 5 MPH speed limit and power boats will come so close to you, one or two times an hour, to make it very dangerous. I suggest fishing when in Harbors. Most boats only have out 1 anchor out and when a major wind shift happens they drag, all anchorages. I was in 2 feet of water and was in no danger of being dragged into. There is also a noise problem. Dogs are barking all night long and there is a noisy bird. I wish I had brought a dog whistle. A lot of the Cays have birds making noise to wake you up and they do not care.
Hopeing these fronts will calm down I have taken a slip at Bluff House Marina in Green turtle Cay for a month. Quite here and not so much traffic.

Sea of Abaco looking North to Marsh Harbor -


Tilloo Bay, very good holding. Sea plane on the west side, please stay away. Open somewhat to the North. Really nice shallow anchorage with a few homes around. -


Why you need long dock lines and a lot, 4 - 50 foot and 2 - 30 foot -

[Divecoz]

James V can I ask why your not turned around the other way? Wouldnt Stern to Slip even on a M be easier to get into and out of ???
Great Pictures my friend thank You .