Florida to Bimini or to Grand Bahamas ?

[Québec 1]

Howdy,
I will be going crossing around the 10th of march and will probably , as this is my first cross over, stay at marinas at least half the time. Which would be the most fun and the less work? The cheapest comfortable marinas are of course my choice but being able to gunk hole in quiet sandy bays, protected from the wind, would be closer to my dream.
Q1

[Chinook]

It all depends on your preferences, and your budget. Marina rates, especially in areas close to popular tourist destinations (Bimini, West End, Lucaya, Nassau) are quite high, and often with minumum charges which penalize smaller boats like ours. You will definitely need to be prepared with ground tackle suitable to the area, and ready to use it. The Macgregor's shallow draft is an incredible asset for cruising in the Bahamas. You can poke into shallow bays, coves and inlets, as well as onto soft coral sand beaches, that the bigger keel boats can't get close to. This all speaks well for anchoring out in some of those idyllic places. We like to anchor out most of the time, and then treat ourselves to a night or two in a marina for showers, internet, provisioning, and sightseeing.

[beene]

Sounds like a dream come true.

Can't wait for retirement....

I would need that kind of time to make this a reality for me.

Good luck on your trip

G

[Québec 1]

Sounds like a dream come true.

Can't wait for retirement....

I would need that kind of time to make this a reality for me.

Good luck on your trip

G

A dream come true....5 years ago if you would have told me I would be sailing my own yacht in the Bahamas any time in the future, I would have said you were crazy. Can do it only because the Mac is trailerable and relatively inexpensive.
Q1

[James V]

Go to Bimini and stay at one of the marina's. Arrive about 10am. Then ??? There are a lot of morrings that can be had cheep. Highly recommended. You will need 2 anchors 20 to 30 pounds. 30 feet of 5/16 chain on each. One or both mounted on the stern. Careful about anchoring in shallow water. Not much there to hold you. I perfer a mooring than anchoring out due to this. PM me if you need data on the Abacos area.

get 30+ gal water on board.

Fair winds, James

[Love MACs]

With Great respect for James V and all his experience...Chinook, what type/weight and number of anchors did you use


Allan

[Chinook]

On our cruise to the Abacos, in the northern Bahamas, we carried two anchors. Neither were very heavy, but were rated for boats 26 to 30 feet in length. Our primary anchor was a plow style anchor called a hydrobubble. This anchor is supposed to have very good setting characteristics in sand bottoms like those encountered in the Bahamas, and we found that to be the case. It was rigged to 20 feet of 3/8" chain and 200 feet of nylon rode. Our other anchor was a Fortress Guardian (FX-11), which weighs 7 lbs, and is supposed to equate to 13 lb danforth style anchors. We found that it set better than the hydrobubble in very fine silts like those encountered on the southern portions of the ICW, down around Georgia. This anchor is rigged to 15 feet of 3/8 inch chain and 150 feet of nylon. These anchors served well in the Bahamas, and I frequently set both, Bahamian style, with rodes tied off to the bow. I usually dove down and visually inspected the set. We anchored out in windy conditions on several occasions, but in locations offering good shelter. During some of the windiest periods, we were tied up in marinas.

We did drag anchor once, under odd circumstances. We were headed for Walker Cay, where we planned on staying at the marina. We couldn't raise the marina by VHF when we were 5 miles out, but they radioed us when we were entering the breakwater. They said the marina was closed and we couldn't stay. This was disturbing because we needed fuel, and also a squall was bearing down on us. They did sell us gas, but then told us they were closed to moorage and we had to leave. I should have insisted on staying, with the squall closing in, but didn't try to force the issue. I didn't have a good course worked out to Grand Cay, the nearest sheltered anchorage. We had the option of going way out, broad side to wind and seas, or staying in close to Walker Cay, over some shallow banks which the cruising guides didn't recommend, due to shifting sand bars. We opted for the shallow route (love that shallow draft Mac), and made it ok to Grand Cay. Needless to say, I was very tired by the time we entered the sheltered channel where boats were anchored. I tried several times to anchor, but the bottom was hard and I couldn't get the anchor to set. A local fisherman, seeing I was having trouble, called to me and suggested a spot over near his boat. I moved there and set the anchor, and we turned in. During the night the wind shifted and blew hard down the channel. We ended up dragging, despite having 2 anchors out. I think the currents running through the channel at Grand Cay resulted in very little bottom material for setting anchor. It got a little chaotic, in the middle of the night, getting the 2 anchors up, untangled, and motoring over to a different spot where we held well for the rest of the night.

Having said all this, I do feel that anchor weight and chain length/weight is important, but so is anchor design, choice of anchorage, and proper setting technique. Heavier ground tackle equate to larger stowage requirements and harder work when manually raising them. I tend to rely on manufacturers recommendations regarding suitable boat size, and select at the top of the range or if close, the next size up. I also like having a variety of anchor styles, to fit different bottom conditions. I like the fortress for very fine silt, the hydrobubble for sand bottom, and the claw (Bruce) for harder to cobbly bottoms. I also pay careful attention to the potential of reversing wind/and or current, and plan my anchoring strategy accordingly. Incidentally, we gave the Bruce a good test in the Sea of Cortez, where a very strong wind (30 knot range) blew all night while we were anchored in a broad bay. We started out in the corner of the bay with most shelter, but the wind shifted during the night, allowing refracted swells to beat us up pretty good. I got up for anchor checks every hour or so, but the Bruce never budged. At first light we moved to the opposite corner of the bay, which offered better protection.

[DaveB]

Chinook,
Thru out the Carribean and Bahamas I carried all chain 3/8 bbb chain and never draged ! (Alberg 35)
On a Mac. I would carry 1/4 coil proof chain min. 75 ft.
The reason is a lot of areas have only 6 inches or so sand over coral rock and you need to use the chain as a anchor as well.
With proof coil the links are longer that can hold sand compared to BBB chain that has shorter links and every link is tested. The 1/4 chain also will be lighter to carry on board and is longer in length than BBB chain.
The all chain also will allow a shorter scoop in crowded harbors for less swing room and most of the time is good enough so you don't need a second anchor for a Bahamian Moor. The 1/4 chain is also much easier to retrieve is 15 ft. or so water.
Dave

On our cruise to the Abacos, in the northern Bahamas, we carried two anchors. Neither were very heavy, but were rated for boats 26 to 30 feet in length. Our primary anchor was a plow style anchor called a hydrobubble. This anchor is supposed to have very good setting characteristics in sand bottoms like those encountered in the Bahamas, and we found that to be the case. It was rigged to 20 feet of 3/8" chain and 200 feet of nylon rode. Our other anchor was a Fortress Guardian (FX-11), which weighs 7 lbs, and is supposed to equate to 13 lb danforth style anchors. We found that it set better than the hydrobubble in very fine silts like those encountered on the southern portions of the ICW, down around Georgia. This anchor is rigged to 15 feet of 3/8 inch chain and 150 feet of nylon. These anchors served well in the Bahamas, and I frequently set both, Bahamian style, with rodes tied off to the bow. I usually dove down and visually inspected the set. We anchored out in windy conditions on several occasions, but in locations offering good shelter. During some of the windiest periods, we were tied up in marinas.

We did drag anchor once, under odd circumstances. We were headed for Walker Cay, where we planned on staying at the marina. We couldn't raise the marina by VHF when we were 5 miles out, but they radioed us when we were entering the breakwater. They said the marina was closed and we couldn't stay. This was disturbing because we needed fuel, and also a squall was bearing down on us. They did sell us gas, but then told us they were closed to moorage and we had to leave. I should have insisted on staying, with the squall closing in, but didn't try to force the issue. I didn't have a good course worked out to Grand Cay, the nearest sheltered anchorage. We had the option of going way out, broad side to wind and seas, or staying in close to Walker Cay, over some shallow banks which the cruising guides didn't recommend, due to shifting sand bars. We opted for the shallow route (love that shallow draft Mac), and made it ok to Grand Cay. Needless to say, I was very tired by the time we entered the sheltered channel where boats were anchored. I tried several times to anchor, but the bottom was hard and I couldn't get the anchor to set. A local fisherman, seeing I was having trouble, called to me and suggested a spot over near his boat. I moved there and set the anchor, and we turned in. During the night the wind shifted and blew hard down the channel. We ended up dragging, despite having 2 anchors out. I think the currents running through the channel at Grand Cay resulted in very little bottom material for setting anchor. It got a little chaotic, in the middle of the night, getting the 2 anchors up, untangled, and motoring over to a different spot where we held well for the rest of the night.

Having said all this, I do feel that anchor weight and chain length/weight is important, but so is anchor design, choice of anchorage, and proper setting technique. Heavier ground tackle equate to larger stowage requirements and harder work when manually raising them. I tend to rely on manufacturers recommendations regarding suitable boat size, and select at the top of the range or if close, the next size up. I also like having a variety of anchor styles, to fit different bottom conditions. I like the fortress for very fine silt, the hydrobubble for sand bottom, and the claw (Bruce) for harder to cobbly bottoms. I also pay careful attention to the potential of reversing wind/and or current, and plan my anchoring strategy accordingly. Incidentally, we gave the Bruce a good test in the Sea of Cortez, where a very strong wind (30 knot range) blew all night while we were anchored in a broad bay. We started out in the corner of the bay with most shelter, but the wind shifted during the night, allowing refracted swells to beat us up pretty good. I got up for anchor checks every hour or so, but the Bruce never budged. At first light we moved to the opposite corner of the bay, which offered better protection.

[Québec 1]

Don't play this video if its windy,cold and snowing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jQ4gmDtnp8&hd=1

anchors,chain,rode,dinghy,kicker,30 gallons water,30 gallons gaz,first aid kit,charts, looks like its going to be worth it!
Q1

[Chinook]

Good points, Dave. My comments were not in the form of recommendations, but merely how I was set up for our first trip over there. We were quite new with the boat at the time. I may well add more chain for our return, as you recommend. Dragging in the middle of the night is one experience I don't care to repeat.

[beene]

Don't play this video if its windy,cold and snowing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jQ4gmDtnp8&hd=1

anchors,chain,rode,dinghy,kicker,30 gallons water,30 gallons gaz,first aid kit,charts, looks like its going to be worth it!
Q1

Ahhhhhhhhhh crap!

I did not read the fine print b4 watching that vid....

You just made me want to quit my job, hook up my Durango to my M and head south.....

Snowing, blowing, and cold outside my window....

Thanks Q1

G

[Rick Westlake]

Ditto here - Washington, DC may get as much as 30" of snow. That would be an all-time record.

Previous record was the "Knickerbocker" storm of 1922, which was 28 inches - and the roof of the Knickerbocker Theater collapsed, killing quite a few people.

Glad to say my power hasn't gone off ... yet ....

[Kelly Hanson East]

Batten the hatches Rich, its going to be a big one. Wish we could send you some our equipment down there - I know 30 inches of snow is well outside the range of capabilities of DOT...

[KayakDan]

Don't play this video if its windy,cold and snowing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jQ4gmDtnp8&hd=1

anchors,chain,rode,dinghy,kicker,30 gallons water,30 gallons gaz,first aid kit,charts, looks like its going to be worth it!
Q1

I can personally vouch for Stocking Island.

Yes...it IS "Better in the Bahamas"

Dec 2010...tick...tick..tick...