Keep The Boat In The Bahamas

rnbenton

rnbenton

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With the price of fuel as it is, and where it is headed (up), I am considering and researching the idea of taking the boat to the Bahamas (West End, Lucaya, Nassau, Bimini, wherever) at the beginning of "my" boating season and leaving it there. The plan being to fly down, boat for 2-3 weeks, put it back in the slip and fly home. End of the season, bring the boat back home for the "winter".

I've been making 2-3 trips a year to the islands and plan to continue doing so. But the price of fuel being what it is, it's probably time to look at another strategy since I can fly from FLL for $200 - $300 round trip.

So, for those of you more versed than I, what about it? What are the issues to consider? i.e. slip cost, electric, storm protection, maintenance and service, etc. Security would be a big issue as well since I would leave all of my stuff, dingy and motor on the boat.

Bob
 
quote:
Originally posted by Radioactive

""my" boating season "

Does this overlap hurricane season?

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Yes. Would probably take the boat down late May and bring it back home October.

Bob
 
Bob, I guess living in FL you probably only carry liability, right? So insurance isn't an issue. And you're talking about staying less than 6-months, so you can get a cruising permit for that length of time and get the boat back home before you'd have to pay duty on it (now 10% regardless of size). I would think the issue would come with a question of whether or not you'd save any money. How expensive would fuel have to get before you'd spend more on fuel for a few trips across the stream than you would for dockage? Especially, that is, at a marina that's safe from storms, has good security, and has easy airport access?
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

Bob, I guess living in FL you probably only carry liability, right? So insurance isn't an issue. And you're talking about staying less than 6-months, so you can get a cruising permit for that length of time and get the boat back home before you'd have to pay duty on it (now 10% regardless of size). I would think the issue would come with a question of whether or not you'd save any money. How expensive would fuel have to get before you'd spend more on fuel for a few trips across the stream than you would for dockage? Especially, that is, at a marina that's safe from storms, has good security, and has easy airport access?
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Those are all the questions I'm researching, first of all dockage fees and other costs as opposed to fuel costs for the round trips.If the analysts are right fuel is going to go WAY up over then next few years. Right now just gathering information and exploring possibilities. I'm not going to give up going so I want to find the best way to go about it.

I'm not too concerned with air service. I can drive down to FLL and fly from there so getting to many different islands is no problem.

Like I said, so far this is simply an intellectual exercise to see if it is feasable.

Bob
 
Purely personal, and not specifically Bahamas related, but having had to deal with a boat that was not nearby during hurricane season is, for me, undesirable.

In my case the boat was at Port Eads ( 20 mi south of Venice La , I was in New Orleans) and accessible via only boat or float plane. It makes for very difficult decisions and logistics. YMMV.
 
I'm thinking there are too many unknowns at this point. Example: If fuel does increase to the rates you're hearing about, what marinas will still be in business over there? Sure, fuel won't hurt the sailors very much, but they're typically not the ones staying at marinas.
 
Sell the boat and charter when ever you feel the need. Fixed cost and some other Joe has all the worries.
 
quote:
Originally posted by L. Keith

Sell the boat and charter when ever you feel the need. Fixed cost and some other Joe has all the worries.

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I do a lot of "local area" boating during the Florida winter, so selling it isn't an option. Plus, I dearly love my little Carver. :)

Bob
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

I'm thinking there are too many unknowns at this point. Example: If fuel does increase to the rates you're hearing about, what marinas will still be in business over there?
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Very good point. Lots of them are already in trouble and, from what I hear and read, this summer's business could be dismal for them.

As a side note, the North Bound Boat Parade so far this year has been all but non-existant. Still a fair number of sailboats but power boat traffic seems to be way off from a couple of years ago.

Bob
 
People have been asking me why I think business in the Bahamas is down so much. My theory is that while the cost of fuel for power boats makes cruising expensive, that doesn't explain the past few years where business has still been down, but fuel prices weren't that high. My theory is that after the market crash of a few years ago, those who were early retired lost most of their disposable retirement income and thus can no longer afford this hobby/lifestyle. This impacts the 60/gph sport fish boats the most, but also hits the 3gph trawlers as well as the 0gph sailors. That's my theory, I could be wrong. :-)
 
I would look into keeping your boat on the hard. Nassau is fairly centrally located with cheap flights.

Bimini on the other hand is close if you had to bring in back because of a hurricane.
 
I think you would miss the easy access for doing work on the boat. An occasional layover might be OK but if your baby doesn’t get frequent attention she will be unhappy.
 
Bob people do that here, and I get varying information in their stories. For example, BoatUS requires you to be on the boat. You cannot store here. Perhaps that is not a unilateral deal because I know at least one boat with BoatUS that does it! Two of us were told we could not. But we have power boats. So insurance will be an issue to contend with.

Storing your boat is the next issue. I will also recommend being on the hard just be careful where. Protection is key but this is true regardless of where you store on the hard. Florida can be just as bad, maybe worse. How many times do the hurricanes land on the Bahamas vs. Florida? I don't know but perhaps the odds favor one or the other. Certainly being closer to it makes a difference since you can react faster. I like Bill's suggestion of Nassau for cheap flights, but perhaps the Abacos is not so bad except for the logistics of a cheap stay while prepping the boat. Check into the marinas in Black Sound on Green Turtle if the Abacos suit you. IMHO it's more protected than the one in Marsh.
Alternatively can you hitch a ride on one of the booze cruises that come over to Freeport? However I nave not looked into storage there. There are power boats over here, but indeed the traffic is off quite a bit. I don't think they are all storing over here though.
Cruising permits can be obtained once a year, but after three you have to leave and re-enter. I'm thinking you will want to leave for maintenance as someone told me how expensive it was for a bottom job.
Given your consumption, I'd summarize the cost increase in fuel vs. the extra expense of storing here. After all, you have your own dock right? I'm thinking you are going to shell out a couple grand extra for the "priveledge" of storing here. As one parts dealer expressed the sentiment of paying for a pump to me, "You'll be proud to pay this price". I have a feeling it will apply here as well. :D

The CG sounds busy today! They are all over VHF 16 now, and we are picking up Key West, Miami and Ft. Pierce. We must be getting a good signal bounce.
 
What Bruce said.

I'll keep her here behind the house. The fuel costs will be what the fuel costs will be. But, having her here to fondle affectionately on a regular basis is worth it. :)

Bob
 
I think it's the best call unless you intend to spend several contiguous months over here. If you are going to be in and out, I think the haul, block and relaunches alone will offset the cost of fuel.
 
Yup, I think so. What I may do though is leave it there for the month of July. I'm planning my June trip (4 weeks)then home. Back in August. So, keeping it somewhere for a month sould be OK and save me time and fuel for the round trip.

Bob
 
That makes sense. Pick up a mooring ball or tie it up in a secure marina. Even then, the cost of the airfare may still be competitive with the fuel.
I know it's what, 200 miles to Hope Town? That's a conservative estimate based on ducking spouts this year and diverting to Lucaya to boot. At 2 nmpg what are we talking about if fuel doubles in price? Another thousand bucks additional round trip? And that's for us and I think you can do much better than we can!
I'm also thinking this is worst case at this point.
 
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