I need some help finding a marina to sail out of for a 3 month trip to the bahamas. Here's my situation. I live in Montana and in January of '07 I'm going to trailer my boat to Florida and make the crossing. It looks like Hillsboro would be a great place to depart from. Is there a marina in that area that could help me step my mast and splash me? I would also need a place to store my truck and trailer for a 3 month period. Thanks in advance. Any ideas would be appreciated. Bob
Florida to Bahamas
- Thread starter MtHawk
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Not Hillsboro
that's a pretty treacherous inlet. It's usually listed as local knowledge only, meaning "watch out". Stuart farther north is the typical jumping off point with more marinas, etc., and a lot less stressful and crowded than farther south. Depending on what suggestions you get here, you might also look into Indiantown Marina, which is up the canal from Stuart. Very low key place where you could probably arrange to park your truck. City of Miami/Dade County also has some good marinas, including one down in Homestead. Not sure if they can step a mast, but they might be a good place to talk to for advice. Let us know what you come up with as this is an often asked question.
that's a pretty treacherous inlet. It's usually listed as local knowledge only, meaning "watch out". Stuart farther north is the typical jumping off point with more marinas, etc., and a lot less stressful and crowded than farther south. Depending on what suggestions you get here, you might also look into Indiantown Marina, which is up the canal from Stuart. Very low key place where you could probably arrange to park your truck. City of Miami/Dade County also has some good marinas, including one down in Homestead. Not sure if they can step a mast, but they might be a good place to talk to for advice. Let us know what you come up with as this is an often asked question.
In the dark...
I would reinforce Don's comment about choosing your inlet carefully. The thing to keep in mind is that you want to arrive at the Bahamas in daylight. In January, that almost certainly means you'll be departing from Florida at night: Either late night, to arrive in the morning, or pre-dawn, to arrive in mid-afternoon. Either way, you'll be negotiating your chosen inlet in the dark...choose an easy one!
I would reinforce Don's comment about choosing your inlet carefully. The thing to keep in mind is that you want to arrive at the Bahamas in daylight. In January, that almost certainly means you'll be departing from Florida at night: Either late night, to arrive in the morning, or pre-dawn, to arrive in mid-afternoon. Either way, you'll be negotiating your chosen inlet in the dark...choose an easy one!
Good advice
Thanks Don and Colin. Hillsboro just looked good because of angle to cross the gulf stream. I will look farther north. Any suggestions on marinas at Stuart or Jupiter? If leaving from that far north it would seem to make sense to head south for a while before crossing stream. Does that sound correct? Bob
Thanks Don and Colin. Hillsboro just looked good because of angle to cross the gulf stream. I will look farther north. Any suggestions on marinas at Stuart or Jupiter? If leaving from that far north it would seem to make sense to head south for a while before crossing stream. Does that sound correct? Bob
What size boat do you have?
Your size and speed really determine how you do this crossing, north, south or whatever. I think that the shortest crossing is Palm Beach over (55 mi?), although lots of boats go all the way down to Miami and wait for a weather window to head over from there. Are you familiar with So Florida? It's incredible, the home of megayachts docked like cars in a Walmart parking lot, but not so friendly for smaller craft. Money and attitude rule. Many folks leave farther north to avoid all of the headache associated with SO Fl. Like NYC, great place but you gotta have a tough skin. Do you have any of the cruising guides for Bahamas? The crossing is considered one of, if not THE, riskiest part of a Bahamas trip. I really encourage you to get the guides and read carefully on all your options. This isn't a trip to take lightly. Word of mouth is good, but IMHO you need a lot of background information before even asking the questions.
Your size and speed really determine how you do this crossing, north, south or whatever. I think that the shortest crossing is Palm Beach over (55 mi?), although lots of boats go all the way down to Miami and wait for a weather window to head over from there. Are you familiar with So Florida? It's incredible, the home of megayachts docked like cars in a Walmart parking lot, but not so friendly for smaller craft. Money and attitude rule. Many folks leave farther north to avoid all of the headache associated with SO Fl. Like NYC, great place but you gotta have a tough skin. Do you have any of the cruising guides for Bahamas? The crossing is considered one of, if not THE, riskiest part of a Bahamas trip. I really encourage you to get the guides and read carefully on all your options. This isn't a trip to take lightly. Word of mouth is good, but IMHO you need a lot of background information before even asking the questions.
Want to avoid NYC atmoshere
Thanks, Don, I'm not familiar with south Florida, and I do want to avoid the metropolitan scene. I have a Catalina 320 and I have the Steve Dodge guide and have read a lot of info online. I agree the crossing, both ways, is the major thing with the gulf stream and weather conditions. I would like to find that remote marina as far south as possible. I'm sure those two things are hard to put together. I looked for the Indiantown marina online, but can't find a phone # or web address. That is probably a good thing. Any ideas on connecting with Indiantown? Thanks again Bob
Thanks, Don, I'm not familiar with south Florida, and I do want to avoid the metropolitan scene. I have a Catalina 320 and I have the Steve Dodge guide and have read a lot of info online. I agree the crossing, both ways, is the major thing with the gulf stream and weather conditions. I would like to find that remote marina as far south as possible. I'm sure those two things are hard to put together. I looked for the Indiantown marina online, but can't find a phone # or web address. That is probably a good thing. Any ideas on connecting with Indiantown? Thanks again Bob
Leave from Miami
I have done this trip about 3 times. It is always best to leave from the Miami inlet as you are leaving at night and it is an easy inlet to go through at night. Also far enough south to allow for gulf stream. It is usually a very easy trip if you pick your weather. Where ever you put in just get as close to the inlet as possible and wait. I believe they allow you to anchor for up to 72 hours currently in this area. Good luck and you will have a nice trip to bimini
I have done this trip about 3 times. It is always best to leave from the Miami inlet as you are leaving at night and it is an easy inlet to go through at night. Also far enough south to allow for gulf stream. It is usually a very easy trip if you pick your weather. Where ever you put in just get as close to the inlet as possible and wait. I believe they allow you to anchor for up to 72 hours currently in this area. Good luck and you will have a nice trip to bimini
Indiantown
would be the farthest north place to start, and it's just a start for your search, link below. It's actually on the St. Luce canal that crosses Florida. Start there and look for other marinas farther south. It's something of a "working man's marina" and I suggest it because parking your truck and trailer for that period of time may be the hard part. With a 320 you're set to go from Stuart inlet or anywhere farther south that you choose via the ICW. Others will probably add more here in the coming days. Ever read Roger Mummah's online book about his first trip to the Bahamas on a H31? It's a great diary of how to's, what not to's and more. I'll look for the link and post later. Well worth the $14 it used to cost to download.
would be the farthest north place to start, and it's just a start for your search, link below. It's actually on the St. Luce canal that crosses Florida. Start there and look for other marinas farther south. It's something of a "working man's marina" and I suggest it because parking your truck and trailer for that period of time may be the hard part. With a 320 you're set to go from Stuart inlet or anywhere farther south that you choose via the ICW. Others will probably add more here in the coming days. Ever read Roger Mummah's online book about his first trip to the Bahamas on a H31? It's a great diary of how to's, what not to's and more. I'll look for the link and post later. Well worth the $14 it used to cost to download.
Mummah Book
is now avail in paperback on amazon. Before you could download it. It's really a good read for a first timer. Roger used to be a regular here at HOW, something of an engineer and written with a real engineer/tech slant to things.
is now avail in paperback on amazon. Before you could download it. It's really a good read for a first timer. Roger used to be a regular here at HOW, something of an engineer and written with a real engineer/tech slant to things.
Green Cove Springs
Green Cove Springs is on the St. John's River just a jump down from Jacksonville. It is very resaonable with a yard and lift and plenty of space to place your trailer. Its not far off the interstate, and allows you a trip thru Jacksonville and down the ICW where you can jump off for the Bahamas anywhere between Jacksonville and south Florida. Green Cove Springs is a sleepy little community and the marina was the site of the old Navy base that berthed the Atlantic Fleet before mothballed back in the 60's. There are roughly 7-8 concrete docks that go out for several hundred yards where one dock with associated lots is used as a marina both for liveaboards and do-it-yourself work transients. It might pay to check this place out for cost alone. Also try Port Salerno, just east of Stuart. A few repair yards and marina's are in this locale and might provide some attractive prices on parking your trailer and commissioning. Bob
Green Cove Springs is on the St. John's River just a jump down from Jacksonville. It is very resaonable with a yard and lift and plenty of space to place your trailer. Its not far off the interstate, and allows you a trip thru Jacksonville and down the ICW where you can jump off for the Bahamas anywhere between Jacksonville and south Florida. Green Cove Springs is a sleepy little community and the marina was the site of the old Navy base that berthed the Atlantic Fleet before mothballed back in the 60's. There are roughly 7-8 concrete docks that go out for several hundred yards where one dock with associated lots is used as a marina both for liveaboards and do-it-yourself work transients. It might pay to check this place out for cost alone. Also try Port Salerno, just east of Stuart. A few repair yards and marina's are in this locale and might provide some attractive prices on parking your trailer and commissioning. Bob
Please keep us informed.
Hi MtHawk, please keep us informed on what you learn? I am especially interested in the problem of finding a place to park your truck and trailer for three months. I am almost thinking you may want to find a storage type facility near where you put in at and do it that way. Seems to me that Indiantown is busy, I wanted to get a slip there a couple of years ago, it was a long waiting list. Somehow parking for a while could be a problem, don't know for sure. May want to look at Riviera Beach Marina in West Palm, then find a storage facility to park the rig. My two cents. Good luck buddy. Jack Hart Hickory, NC
Hi MtHawk, please keep us informed on what you learn? I am especially interested in the problem of finding a place to park your truck and trailer for three months. I am almost thinking you may want to find a storage type facility near where you put in at and do it that way. Seems to me that Indiantown is busy, I wanted to get a slip there a couple of years ago, it was a long waiting list. Somehow parking for a while could be a problem, don't know for sure. May want to look at Riviera Beach Marina in West Palm, then find a storage facility to park the rig. My two cents. Good luck buddy. Jack Hart Hickory, NC
You've made me think.
Thanks for all the responses. You have given me some things to think about. We may want to spend some time on the ICW. I have found a lot of good information about the different marinas you have suggested. I'll keep you posted and any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks again. Bob
Thanks for all the responses. You have given me some things to think about. We may want to spend some time on the ICW. I have found a lot of good information about the different marinas you have suggested. I'll keep you posted and any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks again. Bob
MtHawk
Get a Waterway guide to Fla. Look in it and find a marina/boatyard anywhere from Jax on South that gives you the best deal on what you want... then motor/sail down the ICW to No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne. Many people waiting to cross to the Bahamas stay there because its a nice protected anchorage that you can stay in (cheaply) until you get a good weather window.
Get a Waterway guide to Fla. Look in it and find a marina/boatyard anywhere from Jax on South that gives you the best deal on what you want... then motor/sail down the ICW to No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne. Many people waiting to cross to the Bahamas stay there because its a nice protected anchorage that you can stay in (cheaply) until you get a good weather window.
How about North Key Largo?
I did this trip several years ago in my Ranger 23, left from the cut between Key Largo and Elliot Key, forget the name of the cut. But anyway, as a couple people pointed out, leave at dark, around mid-night thereabouts. The ICW is well marked with day and night markers as are most of the channels leading out into the ocean. I am sure visible navigational aids have improved in number and reliablility since I last made the trip. As you approach Cat Cay, Gun Cay and Bimini and you see land on the horizon, I think there is a lighted marker on Gun Cay, maybe on the South end of the island. There is a little zig zag to the channel if I recal as you enter between Gun Cay and Cat Cay. Cat Cay is "private" but we entered the Bahamas officially via Cat Cay, the customs office or whatever it is called. From there, we went to Alicetown via the East side of Gun Cay. The East side of Cat Cay is a great anchorage spot. When you approach Bimini, you will freak out at the water clarity, especially if you draw much water. Have a great trip and remember to respect the local ettiquite....John B
I did this trip several years ago in my Ranger 23, left from the cut between Key Largo and Elliot Key, forget the name of the cut. But anyway, as a couple people pointed out, leave at dark, around mid-night thereabouts. The ICW is well marked with day and night markers as are most of the channels leading out into the ocean. I am sure visible navigational aids have improved in number and reliablility since I last made the trip. As you approach Cat Cay, Gun Cay and Bimini and you see land on the horizon, I think there is a lighted marker on Gun Cay, maybe on the South end of the island. There is a little zig zag to the channel if I recal as you enter between Gun Cay and Cat Cay. Cat Cay is "private" but we entered the Bahamas officially via Cat Cay, the customs office or whatever it is called. From there, we went to Alicetown via the East side of Gun Cay. The East side of Cat Cay is a great anchorage spot. When you approach Bimini, you will freak out at the water clarity, especially if you draw much water. Have a great trip and remember to respect the local ettiquite....John B
All the marinas and local info you want
Get a copy of Claiborne Young's Cruising Guide to Eastern Florida (West Marine/BoatUS). I've used it a few times and found the information to be accurate and current. Just about every working marina on the east coast of Florida, the entire St. Johns River and the Okeechobee Waterway is listed with phone numbers and good descriptions of available facilities. There are also excellent notes on all inlets, anchorages, aids to navigation, bridge opening times, supermarkets and other valuable local information. Although written more for the motor cruiser I still think it's the best guide covering the area and well worth the price. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
Get a copy of Claiborne Young's Cruising Guide to Eastern Florida (West Marine/BoatUS). I've used it a few times and found the information to be accurate and current. Just about every working marina on the east coast of Florida, the entire St. Johns River and the Okeechobee Waterway is listed with phone numbers and good descriptions of available facilities. There are also excellent notes on all inlets, anchorages, aids to navigation, bridge opening times, supermarkets and other valuable local information. Although written more for the motor cruiser I still think it's the best guide covering the area and well worth the price. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
Florida to the Bahamas
Hi Folks, We wrote "Cruising Endless Summer Exumas". If you ar3e in a slow sailboat, what determines where one departs Florida (for the Bahamas) is determined by where one wants to enter the Bahamas. You will not want to fight the Gulf Stream. It is a current of about 2-4 knots north bound so you will not want to plow into it with any south component in your course. Many folks who want to go to the Abacos (northern Bahamas) leave from Lake Worth Inlet (Palm Beach area). That puts you abeam to the Gulf Stream. We don't want to do that. There are other Gulf Stream safety issues to. You don't want any north component in the wind unless it is 5 knots or less (never happens). We leave from Ft Lauderdale to go to the Abacos. We go from Ft Lauderdale (Port Everglades) to West End, Grand Bahama Island and stay overnight at the Old Bahama Bay Marina, where we check-in with Bahamas Customs. The anchorage in Ft Lauderdale is Lake Sylvia and there is a 24 hour anchoring limit there. Once we were there for 5 days before they kicked us out. If you want to go to the Biminis, Andros Island, Nassau, the Berry Islands and/or the Exumas, then you need to leave from Miami or south of Miami. Miami Beach has just passed an anchoring limit. It's 7 days every 30 days. Not to worry! There are many anchorages in the area that are NOT in the Miami Beach city limits. No Name Harbor is one that has been mentioned. That is in the northern part of Biscayne Bay. There is also Hurricane Hole nearby. You can also leave from Angelfish Creek farther south. You can anchor at Pumpkin Key to wait for weather, if you want to do that. You can drop the hook anywhere you want in the beautiful Biscayne Bay. (Don't miss Boca Chita with it's lighthouse and protected basin.) Many leave from Rodrigues Key on the Ocean Side of Key Largo. The farther south your departure point is, the more boost from the Gulf Stream you will get, but the longer you will be in it. We left from Miami (Government Cut) and anchored north of Bimini. Then we slugged across the Great Bahama Banks to Chubb Cay in the Berrys. Then Nassau and then the Exumas. Awesome! There are marinas in Ft Lauderdale and Miami too. I can help you find them if you need help. The only place I know, where you can routinely leave a car for an extended period, and do boat stuff, is at the Indian Town Marina, Indiantown, Florida west of Stuart. We visited it by car recently and it is an impressive place. They have a small marina and acres of boats on-the-hard. They can step your mast and plop you in the water. That's how they make a living. It takes a couple of days to get From Indiantown to Ft Lauderdale or Miami, but unless you have private arangements for your car - that's the deal. About our book "Cruising Endless Summer Exumas" at amazon.com - it will cost you about 25 bucks (including shipping). We sell it, if we ship it, for 18 bucks. Of course it will be signed how ever you want it signed and we include a CD with all of our logs, cruise pictures (hundreds) and h31 project pictures (lots). If you are coming down the Atlantic ICW you might enjoy readung our 1996 ICW log from our trip from Norfolk, VA to South Florida. Feel free to contact us directly at remummah@worldnet.att.net We have friends who are Bahamas cruising veterans who have told us that our book is the "Rookies Guide to Cruising to the Bahamas". There are many issues about which we were unaware. Like having as a minimum, a single side band radio receiver and an ability to get weather info (weather fax's and SSB weather forecasts) aboard your vessel. Best case, you become an amateur radio person and/or get a good SSB tranceiver. Once outside the US, you are your own weather person. There is no weather channel or National Weather Service on the VHF weather. Our radio stuff aboard Endless Summer allows us to even send and receive emails any where in the world. Cool! If we can do it, anyone can! We hope to return to the Bahamas soon. Hurricanes held us up this year. We were supposed to leave Oct 1, 2005. Lets go! Hope this helps. Roger and Susie Mummah S/V Endless Summer 1983 h31 #58
Hi Folks, We wrote "Cruising Endless Summer Exumas". If you ar3e in a slow sailboat, what determines where one departs Florida (for the Bahamas) is determined by where one wants to enter the Bahamas. You will not want to fight the Gulf Stream. It is a current of about 2-4 knots north bound so you will not want to plow into it with any south component in your course. Many folks who want to go to the Abacos (northern Bahamas) leave from Lake Worth Inlet (Palm Beach area). That puts you abeam to the Gulf Stream. We don't want to do that. There are other Gulf Stream safety issues to. You don't want any north component in the wind unless it is 5 knots or less (never happens). We leave from Ft Lauderdale to go to the Abacos. We go from Ft Lauderdale (Port Everglades) to West End, Grand Bahama Island and stay overnight at the Old Bahama Bay Marina, where we check-in with Bahamas Customs. The anchorage in Ft Lauderdale is Lake Sylvia and there is a 24 hour anchoring limit there. Once we were there for 5 days before they kicked us out. If you want to go to the Biminis, Andros Island, Nassau, the Berry Islands and/or the Exumas, then you need to leave from Miami or south of Miami. Miami Beach has just passed an anchoring limit. It's 7 days every 30 days. Not to worry! There are many anchorages in the area that are NOT in the Miami Beach city limits. No Name Harbor is one that has been mentioned. That is in the northern part of Biscayne Bay. There is also Hurricane Hole nearby. You can also leave from Angelfish Creek farther south. You can anchor at Pumpkin Key to wait for weather, if you want to do that. You can drop the hook anywhere you want in the beautiful Biscayne Bay. (Don't miss Boca Chita with it's lighthouse and protected basin.) Many leave from Rodrigues Key on the Ocean Side of Key Largo. The farther south your departure point is, the more boost from the Gulf Stream you will get, but the longer you will be in it. We left from Miami (Government Cut) and anchored north of Bimini. Then we slugged across the Great Bahama Banks to Chubb Cay in the Berrys. Then Nassau and then the Exumas. Awesome! There are marinas in Ft Lauderdale and Miami too. I can help you find them if you need help. The only place I know, where you can routinely leave a car for an extended period, and do boat stuff, is at the Indian Town Marina, Indiantown, Florida west of Stuart. We visited it by car recently and it is an impressive place. They have a small marina and acres of boats on-the-hard. They can step your mast and plop you in the water. That's how they make a living. It takes a couple of days to get From Indiantown to Ft Lauderdale or Miami, but unless you have private arangements for your car - that's the deal. About our book "Cruising Endless Summer Exumas" at amazon.com - it will cost you about 25 bucks (including shipping). We sell it, if we ship it, for 18 bucks. Of course it will be signed how ever you want it signed and we include a CD with all of our logs, cruise pictures (hundreds) and h31 project pictures (lots). If you are coming down the Atlantic ICW you might enjoy readung our 1996 ICW log from our trip from Norfolk, VA to South Florida. Feel free to contact us directly at remummah@worldnet.att.net We have friends who are Bahamas cruising veterans who have told us that our book is the "Rookies Guide to Cruising to the Bahamas". There are many issues about which we were unaware. Like having as a minimum, a single side band radio receiver and an ability to get weather info (weather fax's and SSB weather forecasts) aboard your vessel. Best case, you become an amateur radio person and/or get a good SSB tranceiver. Once outside the US, you are your own weather person. There is no weather channel or National Weather Service on the VHF weather. Our radio stuff aboard Endless Summer allows us to even send and receive emails any where in the world. Cool! If we can do it, anyone can! We hope to return to the Bahamas soon. Hurricanes held us up this year. We were supposed to leave Oct 1, 2005. Lets go! Hope this helps. Roger and Susie Mummah S/V Endless Summer 1983 h31 #58
Thanks, thanks, and thanks.
This thread has been an amazing help to us in planning for the trip. Thanks to all. Over the last couple of days we had just decided it would be best to leave from Fort Lauderdale and head for West End. We will hold up at Sylvia Lake and wait for weather. We're still unsure of where to put in, but Indiantown is our next research project. I have been taking all the advice and finding locations on www.googleearth.com . What a fantastic tool to "see" all of these areas. Roger thank you for the post. It's an amazing coincidence. We just received your book in the mail today. My wife and I went out for pizza tonight and read parts of it together. You gave us inspiration and we loved your "Lessons Learned list." As you can tell we are excited about this trip and the planning is part of the fun. We will be contacting you for a "signed" copy of your book. We have some friends, also from Montana, that are planning to join us on this trip. We will pass the book we received today on to them and order another. We are still working on things needed for the boat. We still have many questions. We're considering the SSB receiver and wondered if the XM satellite radio weather (WxWorx)could take it's place along with a rented satellite phone. Saw the WX at the Seattle boat show and it seems like the ticket. Any Feedback? Also have checked into renting a satellite phone for three months. My father-in-law's health is a concern and an instant number to be able to be reached would be important. Thanks again to all. Bob
This thread has been an amazing help to us in planning for the trip. Thanks to all. Over the last couple of days we had just decided it would be best to leave from Fort Lauderdale and head for West End. We will hold up at Sylvia Lake and wait for weather. We're still unsure of where to put in, but Indiantown is our next research project. I have been taking all the advice and finding locations on www.googleearth.com . What a fantastic tool to "see" all of these areas. Roger thank you for the post. It's an amazing coincidence. We just received your book in the mail today. My wife and I went out for pizza tonight and read parts of it together. You gave us inspiration and we loved your "Lessons Learned list." As you can tell we are excited about this trip and the planning is part of the fun. We will be contacting you for a "signed" copy of your book. We have some friends, also from Montana, that are planning to join us on this trip. We will pass the book we received today on to them and order another. We are still working on things needed for the boat. We still have many questions. We're considering the SSB receiver and wondered if the XM satellite radio weather (WxWorx)could take it's place along with a rented satellite phone. Saw the WX at the Seattle boat show and it seems like the ticket. Any Feedback? Also have checked into renting a satellite phone for three months. My father-in-law's health is a concern and an instant number to be able to be reached would be important. Thanks again to all. Bob
Communications in the Bahamas
Hi All. On our first Bahama cruise we were totally WX stupid. We had a Sony World Band receiver and it was not even hooked up. I hooked it up in Chubb Cay and used a wire thrown over a spreader for an antenna. It worked fine for what it was. We had WeatherFax software and we were able to get Weather faxes on the laptop. We could listen-in, but knot talk. There is BASRA (Bahama Air Sea Rescue Association) weather at 0700 on 4003 KHZ (MSSB) and again at 0720 on 7096 or 3096 (ham). The weather for the US coast and Bahamas is also on the Waterway Net at 0745 on 7268 (ham). Cruise Himer comes on at 0730 on 8152. On the WW Net and Cruise Himer you can establish boat to boat communications and also provide position reports. Obviously one needs an HF transmitter to talk. We have an ICOM-796MKIIg all band tranceiver, an SCS PTCIIe Pactor III TNC (modem) and an ICOM AH-4 automatic antenna tuner. It all works great and it is very compact. It allows us to do all the normal communications and we can send and receive emails via the PTCIIe and software called WINLINK. WINLINK is free to use and one must be a ham general level. There are also lots of weather products that can be quickly downloaded using WINLINK and the PTCIIe and laptop. There is a Marine SSB side too which does not require a ham license. Seems like we had to get a FCC radio operators license that was 50 bucks for each of us. Email for it is called SailMail and it uses the same base software as WINLINK (airmail). Winlink has a station locator feature that is useful for the folks back home. You can up load your position into this locator, or even have it done automatically every time you connect. Then folks can go to the WINLINK site and poke-in your ham call sign (I am KI4CFC) and your position, on undetailed charts will be displayed. Cool! There are a few places where a "local" repeats Bahama weather on a VHF channel (the VHF channel varies). Thats Nassau (ch72 0715), Highborn Cay (northern Exumas ch 06 0730), Over Yonder Cay (central Exumas 0800 ch 14), Georgetown (southern Exumas 0800 VHF 68) and Marsh Harbor (central Abacos 0815 VHF 68). The SAT phone sounds like a good idea, but you may need to stay near a real airport. There are "bush pilot" charter flights all over the Bahamas but they are inconsistent at best. Good scheduled air service can be fount at Marsh Harbour Abaco, Nassau and Georgetown Great Exuma. If you feel you have a possibility to fly home quickly you might consider hanging out around Marsh Harbour or even S Florida (or the Keys). Hope this helps and that it has not bored folks who aren't interested. I can tell you more, but I don't know if this forum is the right place. Is it? Later. Roger and Admiral Susie Mummah
Hi All. On our first Bahama cruise we were totally WX stupid. We had a Sony World Band receiver and it was not even hooked up. I hooked it up in Chubb Cay and used a wire thrown over a spreader for an antenna. It worked fine for what it was. We had WeatherFax software and we were able to get Weather faxes on the laptop. We could listen-in, but knot talk. There is BASRA (Bahama Air Sea Rescue Association) weather at 0700 on 4003 KHZ (MSSB) and again at 0720 on 7096 or 3096 (ham). The weather for the US coast and Bahamas is also on the Waterway Net at 0745 on 7268 (ham). Cruise Himer comes on at 0730 on 8152. On the WW Net and Cruise Himer you can establish boat to boat communications and also provide position reports. Obviously one needs an HF transmitter to talk. We have an ICOM-796MKIIg all band tranceiver, an SCS PTCIIe Pactor III TNC (modem) and an ICOM AH-4 automatic antenna tuner. It all works great and it is very compact. It allows us to do all the normal communications and we can send and receive emails via the PTCIIe and software called WINLINK. WINLINK is free to use and one must be a ham general level. There are also lots of weather products that can be quickly downloaded using WINLINK and the PTCIIe and laptop. There is a Marine SSB side too which does not require a ham license. Seems like we had to get a FCC radio operators license that was 50 bucks for each of us. Email for it is called SailMail and it uses the same base software as WINLINK (airmail). Winlink has a station locator feature that is useful for the folks back home. You can up load your position into this locator, or even have it done automatically every time you connect. Then folks can go to the WINLINK site and poke-in your ham call sign (I am KI4CFC) and your position, on undetailed charts will be displayed. Cool! There are a few places where a "local" repeats Bahama weather on a VHF channel (the VHF channel varies). Thats Nassau (ch72 0715), Highborn Cay (northern Exumas ch 06 0730), Over Yonder Cay (central Exumas 0800 ch 14), Georgetown (southern Exumas 0800 VHF 68) and Marsh Harbor (central Abacos 0815 VHF 68). The SAT phone sounds like a good idea, but you may need to stay near a real airport. There are "bush pilot" charter flights all over the Bahamas but they are inconsistent at best. Good scheduled air service can be fount at Marsh Harbour Abaco, Nassau and Georgetown Great Exuma. If you feel you have a possibility to fly home quickly you might consider hanging out around Marsh Harbour or even S Florida (or the Keys). Hope this helps and that it has not bored folks who aren't interested. I can tell you more, but I don't know if this forum is the right place. Is it? Later. Roger and Admiral Susie Mummah
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