BVI, not Bahamas

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millsan1

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This is the only place I could think to put this question, so here it goes.

There may be a scenario where I would be able to move the boat to the BVI.

In researching this, it seems you are not allowed to live aboard in the BVI and that getting there on a transport might be a bit tough.

I could see getting her there on her hull, but with a 200 mile range, it would be tight in some spots.

All that being said, does anyone have any experience taking a boat from the US to BVI?

Thanks
 
Several companies transport to that area from the states. St. Thomas (USVI) is an extremely popular spot for vessel transport companies to pick up / drop off. The BVIs are only a few miles East.

You CAN live on your boat in the US and British Virgin Islands.

I have taken boats from the US to the BVIs. With the right weather windows, fuel stops, & planning it's possible to make this trip. The longest jump between fuel stops is only about 100 miles. There is always the possibility of taking a fuel bladder for extra piece of mind.
 
I got a price to move mine to St. Thomas from Miami on the Mearsk transport. The quote was $13,000!!! I was going to put it in the rental fleet and get a new boat for home. Changed my mind pretty quick. As mentioned above, there are plenty of fuel hops within 100 miles of each other on the way down. There's book published by a respected sailor that plots this trip. He has the traveler sailing at 6 knots each day and a port for each night. I just can't recall the name of it :-( If I find it, I'll post it here.
 
Gentleman's Guide to Passages South is the "bible" for this run.
 
I have sailed a 22 foot and a 26 foot sail boat from Ft. Lauderdale to Grenada a long time ago with Compass and VHF, long before GPS and during the winter. The Christmas winds that time of year are about 25 knots. Now with GPS many boats go to the Bahamas that would have never gone there if it were not for GPS, probably from lack of navigation skills. BVI is now full of small power boats where years ago, before GPS, there were few and most were shipped. Now days it is much easier with many habours with Marinas, fuel, water ATM's and showers. that are short hops between. Weather forecasts are more accurate in local areas. SSB on 6501, 8764, and 13089 Khz USB (Upper Side Band) has regular voice (Perfect Paul) weather forcasts that can be heard thousand of miles away with a cheap HF portable raidio. I use a Sony ICF-2010 or my Icom IC-7000 or Icom IC-M700PRO. It can be done.

If you prefer shipping there are many ships that sail up and down Central American waters that will deliver your boat layed on deck or in a container if the boat will fit.
 
Is there a risk of encountering "The Pirates of the Caribbean"? ( ref: Captain Ron )
 
Yes. Through the years of cruising we have been robbed a number of times. Once in St. Kitts when we left the boat on an anchor in Basseterre and took a hotel and rented a car to tour the Island. The dinghy and engine were put in the trunk of the car. We had filled the bilge with real French Champaige (Brut) that we puchased in Sint Maartin and stayed up drinking several bottles. We went to bed around 3:00AM, I rolled over during the night and thought I saw someone in the room but just fell asleep. Shortly before that my wife asked if it would be safe to open the sliding door to the balcony and agreed. In the morning we found our wallets and personal things we brought from the boat missing. The credit cards had to be canceled. Our dinghy was stolen a few years after in St. Lucia with a new Yamaha. Along with a few more miner thefts we had no pesonal injuries.

Strange but in St. Kitts later that morning the police found and returned our stolen goods including a $20.00 Canadian bill. Guess they just wanted American money but not my wifes clean underwear. Our cards were still canceled so we went to the Amercan Express office and they cashed a check for $1000.00.
 
Tropical shipping out of riviera beach is the big name to the caribean. I ve shipped a ton of things with them in 80'and 90s like cars, 25' boat, containers etc. Not sure if they can handle a boat your size since it s not going to fit on a flat bed

You should drive it there yourself just slow down and your range at 8kts will double. It s a nice trip thru the Bahamas although you may have to wait for weather in a couple of spots incl from the Turks to the DR

Plenty of live aboards in the bvis, afaik
 
I know this thread caught the S.O.'s eye. We'll see if we make it to the Exumas first.
 
Absolutely going to do Exuma's next June. would LOVE to to a BVI trip.

Bob
 
We had some friends trying to talk us into running from Key West to Isle de Mujeres. Heck it's only 300 miles non-stop. At 385 gallons of diesel not knowing what the true usable is, I'm thinking no way!
 
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum

We had some friends trying to talk us into running from Key West to Isle de Mujeres. Heck it's only 300 miles non-stop. At 385 gallons of diesel not knowing what the true usable is, I'm thinking no way!

Click to expand...


Can't you just pull into Cuba and fill up half way there? :-) If you do get me some cigars will you? :-)

Bob
 
Thanks for all the responses. I have been away for a bit.

I did get a quote. Drumroll please.................$35K!

Not worth it at that price, have to map it out and see if it is worth doing on the hull, or sell her and buy down there.

I appreciate all the responses for sure. The fact that there are lots of 100 mile hops is good info. That alleviates any concerns about range. Like Pascal said, 8 knots (actually closer to 7 for me) is best hull speed and I would have a usable 250 mile range with plenty of reserve at that speed.
 
well down there you will pay a premium since boats are harder to find, but it's worth a look. my concern would be more about getting the right weather windows than range.. it about 1000NM altogether, so if you figure about 1NMPG on aveage between mostly hull speed and a few faster stint, you're looking at about 1000USG but at a premium price the in bahamas... about a dollard more than in the US... still worth it but they key is not to be in a rush in case the weather is iffy.

winter with the stronger trade winds is probably the best time of the year, spring is probably best
 
Most of the hops are, or at least can be, under 100 miles. Your biggest open water stretch (as in out of sight of land) would be from say Salt Cay in the Turks & Caicos to Luperon or Ocean World Marina in the DR. And that is only 90-100 miles.
 
Pascal, the boats are going as cheap down in the BVI as they are in the U.S.A. maybe less from what I have experienced since my boat is there and I go down frequently and I like to keep in touch with selling prices. They have the same down turn in their economy.

Boat yards down their are full of boats for sale and do sell fast.
 
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