Leaving boat in Bahamas for winter?

Team Mayhem

I'm thinking about shipping my boat over to the Bahamas for winter and was wondering if I could get some advice from fellow forum members. I've made numerous trips to Bimini and West End and but this will be my first time going to Abacos and Out Islands or leaving the boat without me being there.

The mission:
Get my first +100 pound wahoo.

The tentative plan:
I have a buddy who is getting a house in the Marsh Harbor area for two weeks in Dec/January. The idea I am kicking around is hiring someone to transport the boat to Marsh in the middle of December. Then I would fly over for those two weeks into January. Then hire someone to transport the boat down to Cat in late January. Fish the Hawks Nest Wahoo Tourney in early Feb. Come back again in late Feb or early March prior to hiring someone to transport the boat back to FL.

The questions:

• What should I expect to pay a professional captain for each of those legs of transit (Boat is a 35' Center Console)
• Recommendations on safe/affordable marinas where I could leave the boat for a couple of weeks at a time between my trips.
• I will definitely be talking with my insurance company, but would be open to any advice on nuances that I might want to look into regarding insurance policy?
• Other recommendations?

biminibrad

What is it powered with?

Angler_2600

My advice- Tracking System if you have Yamahas! Marsh has been hot the last 4 months. I wouldn't leave it unless you know you have 100% security!

My 2 cents
Steven

Team Mayhem

The boat has twin Verado's.

Compleat

Just a drive by suggestion... Big Game Club in Bimini has $500 a month program for winter dockage. Easy to get to. Wahoo fishing there gets off the charts good in winter and some real studs are accounted for each year with a couple busting that century mark. I'm certainly no wahoo pro and I had big fish to 60-70 as by catch looking for other critters. Does it have the number of slobs that some eastern places have? I can't say that but it us a much more practical and easy place to reach and stay.

Blue Zone

Have a look at Great Harbour Cay, my favorite place in the islands. Some of the best 'hoo grounds you'll find in Northern Bahamas is about 15mi due West just off the bank. Hole-In-The-Wall is an easy shot as well.

An alternative is to dry store at Bradford in Freeport Harbour.

Not to offend Compleat, but Bimini is in the middle of nowhere for where you want to go. May as well leave out of MIA.

Team Mayhem

Thanks for the response Paul. My crew and I have been fishing Bimini Wahoo for the past couple of years. We have always done well with the Wahoo fishing there and have a few fish that were in that 50-60 pound range. Given the fact my buddy already has the place in the Abaco's, and my desire to fish the Hawks Nest Tourney, I have my eye on taking the boat further east this season if at all possible/practical. BGC could be a nice plan B though and I appreciate you sharing the info regarding the winter rate.

Does anyone have any insight on pricing to have the boat transported?

Compleat

No offense taken... Qualified statement with "drive by" alternate idea. I really have lost touch with free lance rates for captains. i didn't accept pay island side so as not to step on native toes... I'm thinking 250 a day, fuel, hotel, meals and air fare/ taxi home would be around the norm... Figure two days to get her through customs then outside...

snookyj

Compleat wrote: »

No offense taken... Qualified statement with "drive by" alternate idea. I really have lost touch with free lance rates for captains. i didn't accept pay island side so as not to step on native toes... I'm thinking 250 a day, fuel, hotel, meals and air fare/ taxi home would be around the norm... Figure two days to get her through customs then outside...

I deliver boats over to the islands pretty often...the average charge is stated as above. Its generally around 250 to 300 a day plus fuel, hotel, meals and airfare. If you need some references on places to leave the boat in the outer islands i can help you out. I've been staying at the Sea Spray Marina in White Sound since i was a kid...its a really nice place with great security!!!

JC3

How is the security at Sea Spray Marina? Thanks, JC

dpdash

Seaspray is better than most BUT there have been lg center consoles stolen from every marina and every island over there.

snookyj

dpdash wrote: »

Seaspray is better than most BUT there have been lg center consoles stolen from every marina and every island over there.

This is true...i thinks its an awesome plan...but unless you have someone staying with the boat its pretty risky. Not only do these guys steal boats for engines, they also steal them for quick human/drug smuggling runs and tend to ditch them in the mangroves when there done or get chased by the CG or the BDF. I know a few bahamians over there that i feel like i could trust to watch the boat. But these days you can't really trust anyone unfortunately.

saltysenior

is this the start of insurance fraud ???

alacrity

saltysenior wrote: »

is this the start of insurance fraud ???

seems to be an inappropriate comment, dont you think?

pottydoc

What he said. ^

Why would you post something like that?

testerman28

when you go have a great time! watch the weather, make sure you take only what you need and make sure you have fun. I used to roll out of here around the first of the year all the time and go to Boat harbor Marina and we caught lots of fish. you will learn that some days you can fish out one inlet and come in another or just go sit on the boat and be happy island hopping. don't get mired down with thoughts of boat thieves you can always put a spot locator on her if you need to to have piece of mind. I can also carry her over and go get her if you need someone in a pinch. the wahoo fishing I found was awesome over there and me and Wille Rose used to go almost every day. have you tried talking to Kevie at boat harbor about a long term dockage?

Team Mayhem

Testerman- Thanks for the info- I received your PM and will give you a call to discuss and to get some contact information.

Brad- I received your PM too and will be in touch as the plan comes together.

sapeloson

We've kept a boat over there, off and on, for years. Keep it "on the hard" when you're not there.... no worries that way.... Marsh Harbor Boat Yard or Abaco Yacht Services on Green Turtle..... they will charge batts, clean and put overboard for your arrival.....Use a florida captain to take over, then a local capt to move around the islands....... or do it yourself.... loads of fun and what an adventure!

If you don't think you have time,,,,, make time,,,, life is short!

alacrity

sapeloson wrote: »

If you don't think you have time,,,,, make time,,,, life is short!

truer words have not been spoken on this forum.

beautiful picture also.

Wyn

Lighthouse Marina in Hopetown. You can dry dock it. Call them when you ready to come back over and they will have the boat clean and ready to go. They will also come to Marsh to pick you up if you don't want to take the ferry. I leave my boat there all the time. Craig and Linda are the owners and are good people.

dpdash

Actually storing it on the hard is an excellent idea and a good suggestion

Team Mayhem

Great ideas and advice everyone, Thank you! Storing the boat on land while I'm gone makes perfect sense and it's a whole lot more affordable.
I have one other question that is coming to mind as I put this plan together.... What airline(s) would you guys recommend for flying to-from Marsh, or over to Cat? I'm kind of hoping to avoid bahamas air or one of the other large commercial carriers.

vac

As mentioned already, storing on the hard is the safest thing to do for security. I have a friend with a house in Marsh and when they are not there, they put the put in dry storage. Before this their boat was stolen twice over the last 10 years. Now no more problems.

Once the boat is there you really should take the extra time to move it yourself and enjoy the experience - it's really unlike anything over here. Get a good cruising guide and you'll have no issues. Plus a lot of good experience on the board here for additional help.

Wyn

Silver Airlines flys from most areas in Florida. Usually $125 one way to Marsh. Not sure about flights to Cat.

dragon bait

Wyn wrote: »

Lighthouse Marina in Hopetown. You can dry dock it. Call them when you ready to come back over and they will have the boat clean and ready to go. They will also come to Marsh to pick you up if you don't want to take the ferry. I leave my boat there all the time. Craig and Linda are the owners and are good people.

we have left a boat at lighthouse for years ( a couple of moths at a time), great service and secure

C Skip R

If your staying on Marsh Harbor I would definitely recommend keeping the boat at Harborview Marina. The owner is Troy and he runs a very good marina. I have left my boat there before flying back and forth and never had a worry. IMO that's the only marina I would leave it at on MH. If your going to be at Hope Town then Sea Spray would be a good choice.

the other tom

Re reading your initial post indicates that you wanted to concentrate on some ultimate wahoo fishing in the winter months; Hawks Nest will get a lot of votes and I think you noted that you have fished there before. SW tip of Cat is a long way from Marsh Harbor and in any kind of weather it will be a hard run. 35' might be a little too big, but there are/were a handful of triple axle trailers laying around the marina at Hawk's Nest with a ramp right there, Might be worth a talk with them about storing it on the hard next to the fuel dock, there are a handful of CCs sittting on blocks at any given time. You can fly private into the airstrip there or take commercial into middle bight, it is about a 45 minute cab ride out to Hawks Nest. Last time one of our guys flew he took an Amercian code share from FLL.

Captain Dave

I have a great Capt for you to do the deliveries. He's ran boats to and from the islands for other friends of mine with high end CC's and is very experienced throughout the islands and also in wahoo fishing. Shoot me a PM if you'd like his info.

CrackerJack

I agree with C Skip R, Harbour View Marina in MH is the only place I feel comfortable leaving my boat. I have a 30' Jupiter with 4 stroke yamahas and I left it with Troy for 7 weeks this summer. The marina is protected and has security cameras. Easy access too when traveling back and forth from the states.

FWCSnook

Myself or several of my friends are more than qualified captains. 250 a day is about right. Only one day to Marsh from the states, so that's a plus. And easy to get to by air. But for BIG wahoo, Cat Island. Hawks Nest on the SW tip is a good place, very comfortable accomodations, and the size of the fish is amazing. 80w's or bigger down there as far as reels are concerned. And you can go heavy all the way to the lure, because those fish aren't shy AT ALL! You'll learn all about oceanic whitetips, as a bonus. That is a 2 day trip out, and only private flights out of Hawk's. Luckily, I'm a pilot, so I have plenty of connections that way, as well.

adrianstride

I am leaving out of Lighthouse Point Thanksgiving week on a one way trip to drop a boat off in Hopetown. You are welcome to follow.