Another cruising guide - Bahamas question

[karenmccraw]

What do you prefer for a Bahamas cruising guide. We are taking a short bareboat trip from Rock Sound, Eleuthera.

I see several - Doziers, Yachtman's Guide, etc.

We've used the Waterway Guides in the Chesapeake and the Scott guides in the BVI's and Leewards.

Just wondering if they're all about the same?

[Waterway Guide]

We used the Waterway Guide Bahamas and the Explorer Charts. We had a few other guidebooks, but found that we didn't use them much. There are other charts available now from Waveyline but I haven't used them in practice...heard they are good. Hope you have a great trip!!

[JusDreaming]

I personally use the Steve Pavildis guides, good guides!!!!!!!!!!! THere are three I think, "Northern Bahamas", Southern Bahamas", and Exumas. ANd explorer charts are the best charts IMHO
https://www.bluewaterweb.com/Search.asp

[karenmccraw]

Well, I appreciate the idea that I could search the internet....but we'll be on the boat for 7 days and I certainly hope to leave Rock Sound! (I thought 7 days was probably a "short" cruise for this group).

Plus, I'm spending a whole bunch of $$ to do this trip and another $40-60 is just something I want to do (and will find extremely useful.) Just wanted to know which guide the majority thought was best.

[SunDevil]

It can also be a souvenir if you make notes in the book about where you went and what you did.

[Zydeco]

The Pavlidis cruising guides and the Explorer Charts are great! I could spend hours looking at the charts and reading about the areas we are headed to. And as someone else mentioned, they make great souvenirs if you don't mind spending the $$$ for a one week trip. For the most up to date information on anchorages, hazards, marinas, shoreside facilities and other information check out the Active Captain website.

[s/vPainkiller]

Just out of curiosity, who are you chartering from in Rock Sound? Didn't think there was any charter business there.

Eleuthera is not one of the better cruising areas, IMHO. There's Hatchet Bay, Governors Harbor, Glass Window. You're about 5-6 hours from Highborne Cay in the Exumas, but you need to make sure that the weather is settled because it's across Exuma Sound, and you don't want to get stuck over there. You can make it to Spanish Wells in a couple days.

Don't get me wrong, we liked RS. There is a nice grocery, new laundry, a couple restaurants. The people were very nice but the area is pretty depressed.

Scott

[karenmccraw]

The charter company is 360Yacht - they move some of their boats between the Keys and Rock Sound. We're on their 47' Leopard. One reason for choosing them is that we are all flying our own airplanes over - so we will land right there at the Rock Sound airport. After the week, we are going to get back in the airplanes and continue to tour via the air for a while. Should be a great time no matter where we end up and I agree, looks like provisioning will likely be fairly easy there.

[JusDreaming]

after sailing you may want to fly down to the Aklins/Crooked islands. Really nice area and great people. I agree that Eleuthera does not have a lot to offer except for Spanish Wells/ Harbor Island. I would try to get across to the northern Exumas if any way possible.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by JusDreaming

I personally use the Steve Pavildis guides, good guides!!!!!!!!!!! THere are three I think, "Northern Bahamas", Southern Bahamas", and Exumas. ANd explorer charts are the best charts IMHO
https://www.bluewaterweb.com/Search.asp

Originally Posted by Zydeco

The Pavlidis cruising guides and the Explorer Charts are great! ...

Indeed.

[AnchorageGuy]

the Explorer Chartbook will provide all of your needs but if you are looking for more info and background then a good guidebook will help. I sure hope we don't have to endure more rants on printed guides in this discussion. Steve Pavlidis' guide is excellent. My wife Susan was the Editor of the 2011 and 2012 Waterway Bahamas Guide and made excellent improvements to the book. But you probably don't need that much information or expense on the area you plan to sail. Steve Dodge also puts out a guide specifically for the Abacos and he lives there. Have fun and enjoy. Chuck

[Lowcountry]

Originally Posted by JusDreaming

I personally use the Steve Pavildis guides, good guides!!!!!!!!!!! THere are three I think, "Northern Bahamas", Southern Bahamas", and Exumas. ANd explorer charts are the best charts IMHO
https://www.bluewaterweb.com/Search.asp

Big 2nd. I found Pavlidis' guidebook to be very helpful. and the Explorer charts are indeed the best.