Winter in the Bahamas

[KayakDan]

Well,after 9 years of planning,we're making the Bahamas run. We spent time in the Exumas for several years,kayaking and sailing Hobies,and we love the Bahamas. After a chance meeting with a liveaboard cruiser off Stocking Island in 2003,the plan was started. Not wanting to have to do the ditch(Intercoastal waterway) every year,we needed a fast,trailerable shallow draft sailboat with a standup galley,and storage. Sound familiar?
Then we have to take a barebones 26M and make it a Bahamas cruiser. The boat was less expensive than the add ons!
Here's some of the upgrades
130W of solar (2-65W stanchion mounted panels,MPPT controller,battery monitor)
roller furling w/protective cover
water bladders added forward and aft(50 gal. total capacity)Scandvik ss deck fittings
10 gal head with pumpout and vent.Scandvik ss deck fitting
VHF with remote mic on pedestal
Stainless steel drop in 2 burner stove "hardwired", to propane system. Force 10 ss barbeue grille,also "hardwired" to propane.
Propane system with Xintex control and detector wired to shutoff solenoid. Propane safety is an absolute neccessity! 2 stanchion mounted 6lb aluminum propane tanks,and 4 one lb propane cannisters for reserve supply.
Edgestar FP 430 fridge freezer
Pressure water system with ss sink
LED Davis Megalight mounted on the top of the mast
25lb Manson Supreme Anchor,30 ft 5/16 chain,custom ss bow roller and cleat.
Fortress FX 11 for stern anchor with 18 ft of 5/16 chain.
All interior light converted to LED with added LED strip lights,and LED cockpit lights
Sanyo stereo for tunes,Asus laptop for DVDs
Stern rail seats
Water taxi is a Brig Baltic with 5hp Honda towed on a sling from the mast holder for the crossing.
Signed up for SVRS with US Customs.

Then there is provisioning,documentation,spares,tools,charts,guidebooks,and a half million other little details.
We will be leaving Mid December,and end up in George Town, Exuma for the winter. Late April we will return through the Abacos,and jump across at West End to return to Indiantown

Anyone else Bahamas Bound this winter?

[fouz]

Sounds like a great set up!
Will you be checking in here while you are over there or keep a log of some sorts?
Really love reading about people's trips. Info!

One day soon I hope to do the same. Got alot to learn.

[fishheadbarandgrill]

You need to change your board name to "Dan The Man"!

[dlandersson]

Well, I for one am impressed.

[Chinook]

Sounds like you've got a great plan, and have set your boat up well for the cruise. Be sure of your weather in a December crossing. Those northers can really stack up, and you might be in for a bit of a wait. Once you get there, you'll find the water pretty chilly, especially during the winter months. Further south, around Georgetown, temps are a bit warmer. I'd suggest you enjoy as much of April as possible out there. In my book, April and May are the finest months, in terms of water temps, air temp, and sailing conditions. Enjoy, and keep us posted.

[markh1f]

Dan, sounds like a great plan, I think the may be the ideal boat for the Bahamas - just watch the weather. My only concern is -

Brig Baltic with 5hp Honda towed on a sling from the mast holder for the crossing.

I would definately consider deflating the dingy and storing it on deck for the crossing. The gulf stream can get nasty especially in a north wind. Once your in the Bahamas and island hopping towing should be fine but using a bridle and 2 tow lines(1 carrying the load, 1 as backup) attached to the two stern cleats.

Fair Winds,
Mark
s/v Allons-y!

[Sumner]

We've towed our dinghy everywhere with no problems and I'd tow it across also, but we would only make the crossing either way under very favorable conditions. I'd also be prepared to cut the dinghy loose if it was presenting a danger to the Mac. We also tow using a tow bar so the dingy is always held off the stern in such a way that it can't come forward into the boat or prop. Our Zodiac has a hard floor that would make it very hard to blow up and put together on the boat. You really need to be on land. I like the hard floor and would get another, but if someone is deflating and blowing the boat up out on the water then a high pressure air floor would be the ticket.

You have good anchors. We found our 22 lb. claw and 25 lb Manson to hold everywhere we went in Florida. We have never used our Fortress yet. I would not use the stern anchor at all if there was going to be any wind or current. We put down a Bahamian moor a lot and if you haven't done that I'd practice that. It is great for keeping the boat in one place. We use the claw and Manson though. If we have the room and are really worried about holding and a blow we put the two anchors off the bow at about 30 to 60 degrees from each other. Once practiced you can do any of the above anchoring with two anchors in less than 10 minutes and about the same to retrieve them. In our cast the two bow rollers and rode bags there really help in making anchoring simple and fast.

You guys have a great trip and be sure and do a log. Hopefully in another year or so we might be making that trip with the Endeavour, but I'd do it also with the Mac if that is what we had,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[KayakDan]

Dan, sounds like a great plan, I think the may be the ideal boat for the Bahamas - just watch the weather. My only concern is -

Brig Baltic with 5hp Honda towed on a sling from the mast holder for the crossing.

I would definately consider deflating the dingy and storing it on deck for the crossing. The gulf stream can get nasty especially in a north wind. Once your in the Bahamas and island hopping towing should be fine but using a bridle and 2 tow lines(1 carrying the load, 1 as backup) attached to the two stern cleats.

Fair Winds,
Mark
s/v Allons-y!

My preference would be to stow the dinghy on the deck,but as Sumner pointed out, the solid floor dinghy is a real trick to assemble on deck. The next best thing will be hanging the dinghy from a sling,with only the rear section of the tubes in the water,and the bow suspended over the Honda 50. The 5hp Honda will be mounted on the stern ladder.
Once we get across,we will tow the dinghy. We made a bridle with floats for the lines,and the lead of the bridle is a "Shockle",which cushions the boat from being yanked around underway. We will also have a secondary backup line attached. Love those shockles,we will also use one as a chain snubber.
For security at the dock,or overnight at anchor,I have installed brackets on the transom. A kayak lock (a 12 ft vinyl covered wire with swaged loops at each end) will lock the dinghy and the motor to a cleat on the stern,or to a dock post.


I have used stern anchoring in Maine,but I will be tryig a Bahamian moor. Looks relatively east to set up. If the tides are right,I might even beach the boat if it looks right. Should be interesting,as I plan to use the shallow draft route almost down to Barraterre,then cut outside,down to Conch Cut.

[KayakDan]

Sounds like you've got a great plan, and have set your boat up well for the cruise. Be sure of your weather in a December crossing. Those northers can really stack up, and you might be in for a bit of a wait. Once you get there, you'll find the water pretty chilly, especially during the winter months. Further south, around Georgetown, temps are a bit warmer. I'd suggest you enjoy as much of April as possible out there. In my book, April and May are the finest months, in terms of water temps, air temp, and sailing conditions. Enjoy, and keep us posted.

Plan is to leave Angelfish,cross to Bimini,then the Berry Islands,and New Providence ,and on to the Exumas. Once we get to the Exumas,we'll slow down to cruising mode,and spend some time heading to George Town. After the regatta in April,we'll head back up to the Abacos and do some exploring in the better April weather. We'll cross back from West End to the St. Lucie Inlet.

I'm sure we will be hanging around for a week or more until the weather is right to cross. I have no intentions of making the crossing into a high seas adventure!

[March]

Hi, Dan! Great plan!
Unless the weather REALLY cooperates, it is doubtful that you will get to cross the GulfStream under sail. You'll have to rely on the engine and get the heck out of the Stream asap--in which case. the dinghy may be stowed, inflated, under the mast--from stanchion to stanchion. It will not cut your visibility too much and will be available in a pinch (minus the motor) . We crossed the GulfStream to Bimini two summers ago and that's what we did. On the way back, we towed the dinghy but the winds were so benign that they didn't pose a problem; didn't help much either. In the islands, the dinghy was always on tow--no problem.
The motorized dinghy is going to be a real asset in the islands. The currents tend to be so strong that rowing to the shore is a major PITA. You can sometimes beach the boat with no problem, or still squeeze your way close to the beach, anchoring where other boats can never dream of anchoring.
Make sure you account for the 3 kts northwardly drift as you cross the gulfstream. It is really insidious and you have to apply corrections as early as possible. Easy does it.

[Sumner]

.... The 5hp Honda will be mounted on the stern ladder.
Once we get across,we will tow the dinghy......

I forgot to mention the outboard. Except for one day on Lake Powell we have never towed the dinghy with the outboard on. Also we now tow her....



...actually from the stern with the wide yellow strap shown above. It keeps the dinghy flatter on the water and takes all of the strain off of the bow rings on the dinghy (notice slack bow bridle). More about that here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... de-17.html

.... For security at the dock,or overnight at anchor,I have installed brackets on the transom. A kayak lock (a 12 ft vinyl covered wire with swaged loops at each end) will lock the dinghy and the motor to a cleat on the stern,or to a dock post....

The covered wire is a good idea. We had one made up in St. Pete for not too much. I think ours is 25 feet and we have used a lot of that at times. It locks the outboard and the dinghy and....



.... a locked bag that we leave in the dinghy with the safety gear you should have in the states and a handheld VHF and some clothing. The 12 might get a little short going from the back, through items, and to a piling or whatever.



Above you can see the white cable in the picture. We don't use if for the actually dock line.

Interested in what you are using for electronic/paper charts? Also can you dump the head yourself? From what I hear there isn't much in the way of pump-out facilities over there and a lot of people dump their tanks into the outgoing tide, (not sure I look forward to that ), something we would never do. Another reason to find anchorages where there aren't others. Most of the people who have boats in the yard where the Endeavour is go to the Bahamas every year and love it. Still haven't heard anything bad. You should have a great trip,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[DaveB]

First I would say this, I would not take a Mac.X/M to Georgetown. Distance is to long and you need to travel in open waters that can be dangerious for your boat and people aboard.
I have been thruout Bahamas in my 35ft. Alberg ,and traveling that far south in a Mac. is going to limit your time for cruiseing.
The good thing is you have shallow draft and can anchor were others can't.
This includes restricted harbors that are crowded with deep draft boats. Across Georgetown is a Island that has a Hurricane protective small bay thats full of cruisers.
You can slip in there with shallow draft.
Many other areas you can go to and anchor without useing a Bahiman Moor .
You will feel fatuige in your sail South as there are passages you anchor in 8 ft. of water 50 miles from your Port crossing the banks.
You will also find yourself against 6ft seas or more in the deeper waters.
I would plan a 3 mo. around trip for Georgetown with short layovers in a much larger boat...Even a Catilina 30.
I would just do Bimini,Cat Key for first trip.
Your Edgestar 43 quart will need a 75 watt inverter when your DC cable stops. You than need to use your AC cable with inverter.
Twin Group 30 house Batteries,pluse starting battery.
Have a way to collect rain water (canope over boom with spout) Water is around $.80 a gal. last time I heard.
Load the boat with beer, very costly their.
Dave

Well,after 9 years of planning,we're making the Bahamas run. We spent time in the Exumas for several years,kayaking and sailing Hobies,and we love the Bahamas. After a chance meeting with a liveaboard cruiser off Stocking Island in 2003,the plan was started. Not wanting to have to do the ditch(Intercoastal waterway) every year,we needed a fast,trailerable shallow draft sailboat with a standup galley,and storage. Sound familiar?
Then we have to take a barebones 26M and make it a Bahamas cruiser. The boat was less expensive than the add ons!
Here's some of the upgrades
130W of solar (2-65W stanchion mounted panels,MPPT controller,battery monitor)
roller furling w/protective cover
water bladders added forward and aft(50 gal. total capacity)Scandvik ss deck fittings
10 gal head with pumpout and vent.Scandvik ss deck fitting
VHF with remote mic on pedestal
Stainless steel drop in 2 burner stove "hardwired", to propane system. Force 10 ss barbeue grille,also "hardwired" to propane.
Propane system with Xintex control and detector wired to shutoff solenoid. Propane safety is an absolute neccessity! 2 stanchion mounted 6lb aluminum propane tanks,and 4 one lb propane cannisters for reserve supply.
Edgestar FP 430 fridge freezer
Pressure water system with ss sink
LED Davis Megalight mounted on the top of the mast
25lb Manson Supreme Anchor,30 ft 5/16 chain,custom ss bow roller and cleat.
Fortress FX 11 for stern anchor with 18 ft of 5/16 chain.
All interior light converted to LED with added LED strip lights,and LED cockpit lights
Sanyo stereo for tunes,Asus laptop for DVDs
Stern rail seats
Water taxi is a Brig Baltic with 5hp Honda towed on a sling from the mast holder for the crossing.
Signed up for SVRS with US Customs.

Then there is provisioning,documentation,spares,tools,charts,guidebooks,and a half million other little details.
We will be leaving Mid December,and end up in George Town, Exuma for the winter. Late April we will return through the Abacos,and jump across at West End to return to Indiantown

Anyone else Bahamas Bound this winter?

[Sumner]

.....Many other areas you can go to and anchor without using a Bahaman Moor .....

Good thoughts Dave. I often mention a Bahamian Moor, but we also don't use one but maybe 20% of the time or less. Most time it just isn't needed. One place it can be of help is when near others. Normally you want to be anchored similar to them, but still everyone doesn't swing on anchor in unison if they are 'sailing on anchor'.

Where we like it near others is in places that are crowded but there is room between others and shore. You can move in close to shore and use a Bahamian Moor to keep the boat from swinging either into the shore itself or out into the boats that are in deeper water. Some times it is also just nice to move in close to shore for the protection from winds and you are then assured you won't swing into the shore or shallow water if there is a wind change.

I really enjoy the challenge of figuring out the best way to anchor on a new to us anchorage. Having the 22 lb. claw and 25 lb. Manson and 30 feet of chain on each makes that a lot easier. For us one lone anchorage after another is one of the most special things of a trip. We really enjoy multiple days on an anchorage and think Dave's suggestion about not trying to do to much and go to far is a good one. At least it is what works well for us,

Sum

===================================
Our MacGregor 26-S

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[Ixneigh]

I took a v22.2 down to barratarry and had the time of my life with it. You'll be fine. Just watch the weather. ESP on the banks. Your boat sounds pretty loaded. I'd motor there and sail back instead of waiting on cold fronts to provide westerly and northerly winds. Those can turn out to be rougher then expected. I chose flat or mild stable easterly winds and used the motor.

[Chinook]

I agree with Ixneigh and respectfully disagree with DaveB regarding suitability of the Mac for cruising as far as Georgetown. I admit having felt rather far out on the limb when we made the cruise, however, I never felt the boat was inadequate. We hunkered down and waited for favorable conditions when necessary, and never got into situations which felt threatening. Lots of cruisers down there with info and help, if needed. Considering the winter timing of your trip, and the number of open water crossings necessary to reach Georgetown, you'll definitely need to hunker down and wait on some of them. Dave mentioned the hurricane hole across from Georgetown. We went in there, and were asked to leave. Anchoring there is no longer permitted, although, if you were caught in a bad storm, I'm sure you could shelter there. Most cruisers at Georgetown anchor across the sound, along the east side of Stocking Island. This area becomes the cruising social center of Georgetown, with daily volleyball games, crafts, and visiting. It's over a mile across to town, and can be wet and bumpy in the dinghy if a breeze is blowing. When it was windy and we needed to go to town, we went over in the Mac and anchored right out in front of the cut into the sheltered water where the dinghy dock is located. You'll need to transport portable gas cans by dinghy while there, since Georgetown has no fuel dock. They do have a handy potable water tap right at the dinghy dock, however. Some boats anchor on the town side, but that's more exposed to swell. I suggest you pick up a Yachtsman's Guide to the Bahamas. It's full of useful info. We used Explorer's Chartbook and electronic chart. They served well. I'd strongly recommend buying a single side band receiver. Portable units are available for under $200, and they're quite compact. With the SSB you can tune in daily to cruiser's net and local weather forecasts. In many places, such as the Berry's and the Exumas, you will not be able to get any weather info on either VHF or commercial AM/FM radio, and the SSB is your best source. Failing that, don't be bashful about radioing or dinghying over to bigger boats. If you're around others, you'll always be able to locate someone with good access to weather. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions about anchorages, marinas, etc. Good luck. You'll love it down there.