Leaving a Boat in The Bahamas Long Term

[FUNTOO]

Anyone tried mooring your boat somewhere in the Bahamas then flying over throughout the year to sail her?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome board the CF, FUNTOO.
Yes, it's not uncommon to leave a boat in the Bahamas, when you fly out. Usually one has a custodian [cruiser or local], to watch over her, whilst you're away.
I'd think it much less common, to leave an anchored/moored boat, over seasonal time frames.

[FUNTOO]

Seems like that would be the way to go.

We have a few years left before retirement, but part of the plan is to arrange things during that time. A few flights out to a desired Bahamian port then networking with locals I figure may render a local that can put something together for us.

I read here that non Bahamians can leave vessel up to 2 years but then must clear out after that or pay a tax. Sounds reasonable.

[redneckrob]

You will want to check your insurance, it is usually hard and or very expensive to get that over the summer if your boat is in the Bahamas.

[MicHughV]

I have left my boat in the B'mas....but generally find a slip somewhere, where there is someone to keep an eye on it all the time.
Might cost a bit more....but it provides me peace of mind

[FUNTOO]

Insurance factor certainly important. What if you leave your boat then a storm sweeps it inland? In the US, you are liable for damages and removal and I would assume the same in Bahamas. One strategy might be to invest minimally in the boat itself, then get a liability only policy just in case.

[Roniszoro]

One option is to leave it in a slip on New Providence Island from November to the end of June and fly in to go sailing as frequently as you can. But it will cost you. It is about $2,300 per month for my 37 footer. Then sail the boat to Ft. Pierce in late June and haul it at the Safe Harbor facility there for the 4 months of hurricane season. Your insurance company will be happy and the boat will be as safe as it can be in Florida.

[FUNTOO]

Finding an islander to oversee her sounds ideal. I'd think that after Dorians mess, jobs there would still be scarce and one may even help a guy there get by. Especially on the northern bank somewhere like Grand or along the abaco chain. Of course, air travel access would need to be considered.

Didn't realize how expensive dockage in NP was! But then again, there you have plenty of facilities and provisions at hand and can't beat the central location.

Perhaps placing a classified in a local publication may produce a "Shepard"?

[redneckrob]

Originally Posted by FUNTOO

Finding an islander to oversee her sounds ideal. I'd think that after Dorians mess, jobs there would still be scarce and one may even help a guy there get by. Especially on the northern bank somewhere like Grand or along the abaco chain. Of course, air travel access would need to be considered.

Didn't realize how expensive dockage in NP was! But then again, there you have plenty of facilities and provisions at hand and can't beat the central location.

Perhaps placing a classified in a local publication may produce a "Shepard"?

The locals in the Abacos at least are all working as much as they possibly want doing rebuilding, I know several people routinely working 70 hour weeks. Much of the low cost migrant Haitian labor went away when the shanty towns were destroyed by Dorian and were not allowed to be rebuilt (or destroyed by the government in some cases), and literally everything needed to be rebuilt, so there is a pretty significant labor shortage at the moment.

Also, getting to the Abacos isn't trivial. Delta just started flying to Marsh Harbour from Atlanta which might help, but the MIA/FLL to Marsh Harbour flights are often full and never cheap since they started post-Dorian. I would plan out several dummy trips over the next several weeks to get an idea of cost and availability to avoid unpleasant surprises here. Much easier if you have your own airplane, otherwise that last 80 miles is a lot harder than one might think.

I would highly recommend you spend a few days on a trip to the areas you're considering before you make any decisions. First, you'll be able to experience first-hand what things are like today, which I think would be of great benefit to you. Second, most arrangements of this type are made through meeting a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy and you can only find that by actually talking to folks there in-person.