Sail Boat?

[cofc]

Over the past few years, I have visited Marsh Harbor and HopeTown on vacations and really enjoyed the area. Now, I am looking at a few more months until graduating from college, and then I will be out free. No more schedules, no more exams, no more papers. Because I realize that it was not that long ago that I was entering college, I feel it won't be that long until I become hounded by a 9 to 5 job, mortgage payment, car payment, ect. But until then, I would like to have some fun and do some of the things that I have always wanted to do. One of which is, and my friend is going in with me, buy a sail boat that could use a little work, fix it up, and keep it near HopeTown so we can have an excuse to come to the Abacos during long holidays, long weekends and whenever. Neither of us are big sailers, but we both have spent summers working at marinas and maintaining other peoples boats. Yes, I know that any kind of boat typicaly is not a wise investment, but we are looking into it because we are thinking that it may be about the only affordable way for us to stay in the Abacos for a week or two at a time(not to mention, have a view of the water). What I do not know much about is the cost of keeping a sail boat in the Abacos. If it is a US flagged vessel will I have to pay an entrance tax? Is it better to buy a Bahamain flagged boat? Are there any that may fall into me and my friends category that are for sale down there? Is it safe to keep a boat moored in a harbor or cove if it were to be left for a month or two? Is it difficult to find a local that would occasionaly go check on it if paid a reasonable amount? I know these are some really open ended questions, but I figured you all have probably seen this type of plan unfold for others who keep boats there yet live elsewhere. Any and all opinions/information/leads are welcome and appreciated.
Thanks, sheftall@bellsouth.net

[Agur's Wish]

Anything that gets you on the water and in the Abacos is a good investment. You should be able to find some bargains to fix up after all the hurricanes. US Auctions has a web site listing several boats. There is also some boats for sale down here listed on a thread on page 2 of this board. If you have a US flagged boat it is going to cost you $150 if your boat is less than 35 ft and $300 if more.Don't know about Bahamian boats but I think you would have to pay duty on it. There are moorings in Hope Town and Man of War where people leave their boats for long periods and you can arrange for someone to come out and check your boat and run your engine if necessary. I believe they usually cost around $200 per month. Some boaters anchor far up in the harbor in Marsh Harbor and leave their boats. Good luck in your search. And I say GO FOR IT!

[ncdd]

Let me first discuss the negatives of your idea. If the boat is a fixer upper you will be paying premium for parts while in Abaco. They will be hard to get and will become very frustrating. Because the rule of boats is that you fix one thing and break two other things while fixing the first:) . I don't know where you live but I would suggest keeping it close, so you can fix it up first then learn the ropes of sailing her, second. This may take a little time, but will serve you better in the long run. Second who wants to go all the way to the Abacos and be stuck working on the boat in a harbor sweating your butt off instaed of swimming and sailing! You will be doing this enough as it is! And remember BOAT stands for "bring out another thousand";) It has to be a labor of love!!!

Now for the good points, sailing in the Bahamas is absolutely the greatest. When you and your sweety are sailing along wind in your face, heading for a deserted beach or anchorage, it is the BEST! And yes there are lots of places to leave your boat, and you could not pick a safer place!
Check out the link for the other sailing board, they are kinda a crusty bunch but there is a wealth of knowledge;)
http://forum.cruisingworld.com/forums/genlmesg/

[steamboat]

I assume that "cofc" stands for College of Charleston? Grew up in the area and attended that fine institute for a few years so I'm just taking a stab at the association. If so, I hate to break the bubble for a soon to be graduate, but once you start the 9-5 (or more likely 7:00 to 6:30 after commute time and extra hours required by the company) which should happen very quickly after graduation, I think that you would be money ahead to just shelve the boat idea and just take off for the islands on a vacation every now and then. Unless you end up working in Florida, close to or within driving distance to a commuter point, airfare will cost more than you think, time off from work will be very limited until you build seniority and you'll have other expenses that require your hard earned dollars to pay for instead of trips to the boat or boat supplies. Not saying it can't be done and you've gotten good advice in the previous posts but you may loose a lot more money than you plan too if you start down this path and can't finish it or it cost more than you have available and you have to quit.

[ruthb]

We live in Florida and keep our boat in the Abacos. It can get quite expensive. The cost of mooring your boat - at least $250 a month and airfare alone are costly - about $300 round trip. There is an annual cruising permit fee of $150 if your boat is less than 35 ft and $300 if more. You could probably find someone to take care of your boat for about $100 a month. We have a 36ft sailboat which we keep at a dock. Dockage and extras runs about $500 a month. Parts and supplies are more expensive than US.
Good Luck!

[tho52mas]

I most heartily agree with getting a job, then vacationing on a boat. I have three sailboats. A 37' Irwin, a 19' paceship and a 12' Penguin. If I were to do it again, I would rather have the 19' trailer sailor to take anywhere, especially in shallow water (less than a foot of draft) than the big boat. Statistically, you sail 25% of the time, the rest is spent at the dock. SO why pay for the expense of the dock? Get a little bugger and have fun.
The 19' is a Mouette model, with small cabin and no potty or stove or fridge. But I take a cooler with ice, small stove, and 5 gallon bucket with plenty of plastic bags.
Best of luck with your adventures.

[mrbill]

this is also an idea I had a while back...

Questions: (for the board)

1) Assuming a 34' sailboat, the permit fee is 150, for 90 days, (correct?)
-does that mean the boat needs to leave bahamas after 90 days, or can the permit be extended? How long can it be extended?

2) what happes to abandoned vessels? (assuming the boat sinks at the mooring), is there personal liablity for the boat, environment, etc... or would it be considered abandoned and subject to salvage rights. (thus the loss is limited to the cost of boat)?


-does anyone keep their boat at boatharbor, AYS, etc... is it reasonable to store on the hard and splash when you arrive? (or, whats the in/out costs?)

thanx

[Agur's Wish]

Your boat's cruising permit lasts for one year not 90 days. After one year you can go in and renew your cruising permit without having to take the boat out of the Bahamas. The cost for this second renewal is $500 for a boat over 35 ft, I'm not sure about under 35 ft. I think you can do this for three years and then you have to pay duty or some additional fees. Not positive on this point. Your personal visa is usually for 90 days. Sometimes you can swing 120 days. You do not have to leave the Bahamas after your visa is up you just have to go renew it at immigrations at the port and it is automatically renewed when you fly out and then fly back in. Make sure you know when your visa is up because they do not take kindly to expired ones. The longest you (person) can stay in the Bahamas without leaving is 8 months. Sound confusing? It is!

[Hugh Coyle]

Cofo, My Name is Hugh Coyle and I live in Ohio. We have Power boats on Lake Erie and would like to do some sailing in the Abaco's. I do not know much about sailing, but sure want to learn. I'm looking for the same kind of boat you are looking for and we might be able to help each other. I already have a dock in the Abaco's and need some help with the boat idea. Hope to hear from you. Keep that dream alive. Hugh

[Alan Brown]

Hugh,

Sign up for some sailing lessons before you decide to buy a sailboat! As a former powerboater, used to going fast, switching to sail was quite an adjustment for me. (12 hrs. to cross the Gulf Stream on the sailboat vs 4hrs. on the powerboat, for example) It also brought with it a whole bunch of new things to learn.

There are enough sailing operations in the Abacos for you to arrange some sailing lessons with. Try things out. If you fall in love with "snailing", then think about buying something. You may also wish to charter a boat before buying, especially if you have limited vacation time. It's a lot cheaper to charter a boat than to own, dock, and maintain it for an entire year. Also, you can charter sailboats all over the world.

Good luck!

[steamboat]

If you guys are still serious about looking for bargain price boats, do a web search for Wellfound Yachts in Miami or Key Largo Florida and look in their Bargain basement boat section or look at any of the auction sites from the Florida hurricanes (Yacht Auction, US Auction, etc) and see what's available. If you don't mind moving the boat, also look at Lake Lanier Liquidators. Be very careful when looking at any of these boats since they are a "bargain" price wise for a reason and resale value will never be what you think it should be.

[capran]

You can't beat the Pardys advice. After 3 years with a Newport 17, and only limited "ocean" experience (San Juan Islands-hardly open ocean) I quit my job at Mental Health and flew to Florida. Lived in a chevy chavette for 2 weeks while looking. Had done my research and had some idea. Bought a Pearson 26, 1973 model, in St Pete, for 8,000. Single handed via Okeechoobee waterway to Maimi. Two friends joined me for the sail to West End and on to Marsh Harbor, single handed in the hub for a few months till my wife got off work and son out of school. Cruised the rest of the summer. Didn't buy my first ice until my wife came down. Fresh fish and warm beer is an interesting combination. This was in 1986, before GPS and many of the modern conveniences. I say this not to brag but to point out you don't need a ton of experience and you don't need a ton of Money. There are small well found boats that can gives you years of enjoyment and worry free cruising. (We cruised for 7 years aboard wings of wind.) The simplier the boat the less complicated. You can moor it or anchor it or go on the hard in several locations, most of which will still not be as expensive as stateside. Long term dockage will cost you. I have a friend that keeps his boat (Lochinvar) on a mooring in that little nook to the right as you enter HopeTown. Life is too short to put off your dreams. Do your research, get a sturdy boat ( I still liked my little Pearson 26, and I also thought very highly of my Newport 30MarkIII, and now I have a Catalina 34) and... GO FOR IT!

[It'lldo]

I like your style Capran.

[Tai Tai]

Each time you enter the Bahamas the immigration officer assigns a visa time limit. There is a place on the immigration form to indicate how long you intend to stay. Make sure you understand how long your visa is good for, and DO NOT wait until it expires to try to get it renewed locally. You likely will be asked to leave immediately if you overstay, and you may face a fine.

If you ask for a visa that is good for more than a typical vacation (1-2 weeks), be prepared to show evidence that you have a return ticket.



Your boat's cruising permit lasts for one year not 90 days. After one year you can go in and renew your cruising permit without having to take the boat out of the Bahamas. The cost for this second renewal is $500 for a boat over 35 ft, I'm not sure about under 35 ft. I think you can do this for three years and then you have to pay duty or some additional fees. Not positive on this point. Your personal visa is usually for 90 days. Sometimes you can swing 120 days. You do not have to leave the Bahamas after your visa is up you just have to go renew it at immigrations at the port and it is automatically renewed when you fly out and then fly back in. Make sure you know when your visa is up because they do not take kindly to expired ones. The longest you (person) can stay in the Bahamas without leaving is 8 months. Sound confusing? It is!

[Island Notes]

The best advice my father (a long time government employee) ever gave me was "go out and make some money, then you will be able to do whatever you like in the future".

That said, there is no reason not to enjoy sailing trips to Abaco in the meantime. Chartering a boat would be a sensible option that way you have very defined expenses instead of the unpredictable expenses of owning a depreciating asset.





I assume that "cofc" stands for College of Charleston? Grew up in the area and attended that fine institute for a few years so I'm just taking a stab at the association. If so, I hate to break the bubble for a soon to be graduate, but once you start the 9-5 (or more likely 7:00 to 6:30 after commute time and extra hours required by the company) which should happen very quickly after graduation, I think that you would be money ahead to just shelve the boat idea and just take off for the islands on a vacation every now and then. Unless you end up working in Florida, close to or within driving distance to a commuter point, airfare will cost more than you think, time off from work will be very limited until you build seniority and you'll have other expenses that require your hard earned dollars to pay for instead of trips to the boat or boat supplies. Not saying it can't be done and you've gotten good advice in the previous posts but you may loose a lot more money than you plan too if you start down this path and can't finish it or it cost more than you have available and you have to quit.

[Tai Tai]

It's expensive to keep a boat in Abaco. Until you get a wad in the bank consider chartering. As my Uncle used to say, if it floats, flies, or (blanks).....rent it!