We are getting ready to leave in a couple of weeks for a cruise to the
Abacos. The plan is to leave from either Port St Lucie or Ft Pierce
on the FL east coast, cross the stream at night weather permitting,
and check in the next day at Walkers Cay. From there we plan to work
our way south along the northern rim of Great Abaco, ending up at
Marsh Harbor and beyond.

The return leg is still open ended but time and weather permitting we
might continue south to Nassau and then swing back to the states via
the Berry Islands and Miami.

Does anyone have any good information to share on "must see" places in
the Abacos, favorite towns/marinas, or other good information to pass
on? Our boat is a Grand Banks 49 trawler drawing a bit over 5 feet,
typically cruising between 8 and 10 kts.

We already have just about every cruising guide that I've been able to
locate, plus both paper and electronic versions of the Explorer
charts.

Any comments regarding accuracy of the Explorer charts, or lack
thereof, would be welcome.

Thanks in advance.

On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 17:35:39 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

We are getting ready to leave in a couple of weeks for a cruise to the
Abacos. The plan is to leave from either Port St Lucie or Ft Pierce
on the FL east coast, cross the stream at night weather permitting,
and check in the next day at Walkers Cay. From there we plan to work
our way south along the northern rim of Great Abaco, ending up at
Marsh Harbor and beyond.

The Abacos are great for cruising, or were the last time I was there.
I heard recently that you could no longer check in at Walkers Cay.
You should find out for certain on this before your trip. Have a
great cruise. We are all envious. :-)

Lee Huddleston
s/v Truelove
on the hard at Bock Marine
Beaufort, NC

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
We are getting ready to leave in a couple of weeks for a cruise to the
Abacos. The plan is to leave from either Port St Lucie or Ft Pierce
on the FL east coast, cross the stream at night weather permitting,
and check in the next day at Walkers Cay. From there we plan to work
our way south along the northern rim of Great Abaco, ending up at
Marsh Harbor and beyond.

The return leg is still open ended but time and weather permitting we
might continue south to Nassau and then swing back to the states via
the Berry Islands and Miami.

Does anyone have any good information to share on "must see" places in
the Abacos, favorite towns/marinas, or other good information to pass
on? Our boat is a Grand Banks 49 trawler drawing a bit over 5 feet,
typically cruising between 8 and 10 kts.

We already have just about every cruising guide that I've been able to
locate, plus both paper and electronic versions of the Explorer
charts.

Any comments regarding accuracy of the Explorer charts, or lack
thereof, would be welcome.

Thanks in advance.



Sounds like a fantastic trip, wish I were there!
You cross over on Lake Okeechobee? No draft problems? I thought about it
once when we had the Navigator in Jupiter, but I chickened out.

RCE

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
We are getting ready to leave in a couple of weeks for a cruise to the
Abacos. The plan is to leave from either Port St Lucie or Ft Pierce
on the FL east coast, cross the stream at night weather permitting,
and check in the next day at Walkers Cay. From there we plan to work
our way south along the northern rim of Great Abaco, ending up at
Marsh Harbor and beyond.

The return leg is still open ended but time and weather permitting we
might continue south to Nassau and then swing back to the states via
the Berry Islands and Miami.

Does anyone have any good information to share on "must see" places in
the Abacos, favorite towns/marinas, or other good information to pass
on? Our boat is a Grand Banks 49 trawler drawing a bit over 5 feet,
typically cruising between 8 and 10 kts.

We already have just about every cruising guide that I've been able to
locate, plus both paper and electronic versions of the Explorer
charts.


Wayne:

After Marsh Harbour, a must do is Hopetown, Elbow Cay. a very short hop just
east of Marsh Harbour. One of the most picturesque anchorages anywhere. Be
sure and go to the top of the lighthouse to take photos of your boat on the
hook. Once, when we were there, a local came to our boat and asked if his
wife could cook a Bahamian dinner for us to be delivered to the boat. We
happily agreed, and it was an event I'll never forget. The best conch
salad, conch fritters, and fresh grouper imaginable. And, a little
specialty of the island, was served as a garnish. These were little bitsy
yellow peppers that would bring tears to your eyes. Hottest damn things
I've ever eaten anywhere.

Since it looks like you might be headed south, I can also recommend Spanish
Wells, on the north end of Eleuthera. This was a very long time ago, but we
hired a local guide for the day, and he took us out on his skiff to do some
conch diving and bottom fishing for grouper. It was a great day.

Chub Cay is a great spot if you like sportfishing. It's one of the premier
sportfishing places anywhere, and there are plenty of charters available.

Of course Nassau and Paradise Island is always worth a stop if you've never
been. The last time I was there, it was pre-Atlantis.

I'll see if I can drag out some old photos, scan them and post them "over
there".

Russ

I'll see if I can drag out some old photos, scan them and post them "over
there".


Some pics over there.

I've got 6 feet and no problems in the ditch or ICW on either side. The
rumors of stuff in the way from wilma is true but just cut across the
lake. You will be fine unless you do the rim. There are loads of mobil
homes that are now fish hotels.

West end is where you want to be but DO NOT show up until about 9 am or
you will be charged overtime. You are in international waters 3 miles
off any island. Don't let them intimidate you.

There is a great reef off man=o=war and guana cay's. Nassau has some
forts. Walk over to the queen’s staircase and go up the water tower
next to the old fort. You might want to check out the aquarium on
paradise too.
I prefer to leave Miami and check in at Bimini. Gun cay use to be a
nice stop but the beach is not 2 feet of water. If you go to Bimini
first and then across to west end it is a pretty long day but there is
some good fish along the ridge to Isaac. Either way, if you go onto the
banks anywhere in the abacos this time of year, be sure to check the
tides. You can get minus tides that will drop the control down to 5
feet. It’s a soft stop but you might not like the feeling of being
stuck so far from everything. The good news is that you won’t be the
first person to get stuck there☺

West end is where you want to be but DO NOT show up until about 9 am or
you will be charged overtime. You are in international waters 3 miles
off any island. Don't let them intimidate you.

There is a great reef off man=o=war and guana cay's. Nassau has some
forts. Walk over to the queen’s staircase and go up the water tower
next to the old fort. You might want to check out the aquarium on
paradise too.
I prefer to leave Miami and check in at Bimini. Gun cay use to be a
nice stop but the beach is not 2 feet of water. If you go to Bimini
first and then across to west end it is a pretty long day but there is
some good fish along the ridge to Isaac. Either way, if you go onto the
banks anywhere in the abacos this time of year, be sure to check the
tides. You can get minus tides that will drop the control down to 5
feet. It’s a soft stop but you might not like the feeling of being
stuck so far from everything. The good news is that you won’t be the
first person to get stuck there☺

West end is where you want to be but DO NOT show up until about 9 am or
you will be charged overtime. You are in international waters 3 miles
off any island. Don't let them intimidate you.

There is a great reef off man=o=war and guana cay's. Nassau has some
forts. Walk over to the queen’s staircase and go up the water tower
next to the old fort. You might want to check out the aquarium on
paradise too.
I prefer to leave Miami and check in at Bimini. Gun cay use to be a
nice stop but the beach is not 2 feet of water. If you go to Bimini
first and then across to west end it is a pretty long day but there is
some good fish along the ridge to Isaac. Either way, if you go onto the
banks anywhere in the abacos this time of year, be sure to check the
tides. You can get minus tides that will drop the control down to 5
feet. It’s a soft stop but you might not like the feeling of being
stuck so far from everything. The good news is that you won’t be the
first person to get stuck there☺

On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 19:55:26 -0500, "RCE" wrote:

Sounds like a fantastic trip, wish I were there!
You cross over on Lake Okeechobee? No draft problems? I thought about it
once when we had the Navigator in Jupiter, but I chickened out.

Come on down and join us for a few days, lots of room on the boat.

We crossed Lake O twice last year with no issues. The trip across FL
is not terribly exciting after you've done it once or twice but it is
several hundred miles shorter than going south through the Keys, and
the scenery on the southern edge of Lake Okeechobee is quite unique.