Dolphin Beach Dock Fisher's Bay

[1Amigo]

We have rented a cottage at Dolphin Beach for a week this summer. The girls will by flying in and I will be bringing a new 25' center console over from Boynton Beach with my father-in-law. I have been over to the central Abaco's a number of times, but have always rented a boat, and have never stayed on Guana. (I have taken our former boat to Walkers/Grand Cay for a number of years).

Is the Dolphin Beach dock on Fishers Bay suitable for me to tie the boat up to for the week?

Is there fresh water available at the dock?

Has security for my kind of boat become a concern? I know it never used to be, but I recall a post by someone with a 30' Pursuit taken out of Green Turtle recently.

As an alternative, how far (how long a ride) is it by golf cart from dolphin beach to Orchid Bay? Anyone know the dockage rates?

Can't waint for our trip. Many thanks.

[1Amigo]

Anyone?

[John Sporck]

The dock is suitable, as long as you don't encounter a strong SW blow. Then you might want to be elsewhere. You didn't ask, but have you considered the following: costs - cruising permit, fuel, time; possibility of not being able to meet a schedule primarily because of weather - including maybe having to come back to retrieve the boat.

It's an easy walk to Orchid Bay - probably a mile +/-.

[steamboat]

Have you asked Dolphin Beach Resort about the condition of their dock and whether it has water? When I chatted with them last year about rentals information, they were very helpful and answered all questions. As to security, my family and I have have visited several times in our own boat or used rental boats and have never had a problem with theft. As a side story, on my last visit to Guana I lost my wallet (contained cash, credit cards, everything) while returning our rented golf cart. I searched frantically for it along my return path and came upon a very nice gentleman sitting on the curb at the ferry dock. He took one look at my face and smiled and said "I bet you lost a wallet". I said I had and did he happen to know who had it. He indicated that they had sent it to the Office Manager of Orchid Bay Marina to wait on the arrival of the owner. I looked frantically around for a quick way to get to the marina office and back since the last ferry of the day was getting ready to leave and my wife was sitting on the ferry wondering what in the world her crazy husband was doing. Another very nice gentleman gave me a ride to and from the Marina Office in a golf cart so I could retrieve my wallet, the ferry waited on me to get back despite being full and on a schedule and when I got on the ferry the pilot asked why I had gone to all that trouble, he would have taken me over in the ferry! Once all of us settled down and had a laugh about the lost wallet, my wife asked if I had looked in the wallet to make sure everything was there and I said NO since everyone on the dock knew what had transpired and someone had watched that wallet from the moment it was picked up to the minute I had it back. I never have worried about items getting stolen while in the Abacos. On the other hand, on the same trip, we saw a customer at Nipper's walk out without paying a $250+ bill (didn't realize it at the time). When the waitress noticed the problem, we joined in the discussion (it was a very noticeable individual) and within 30 minutes everyone from Marsh Harbor to Treasure Cay knew about the issue and were looking for that person. The moral of this story is that if you do something wrong in the Abacos, someone probably saw it happen and then everyone will know about it. And with VHF radios the word gets out quick and far. This doesn't mean theft can't or won't happen, but as always take prudent precautions and all should be OK (i.e., lock up whatever you think you should, don't leave valuables and the boat keys laying around overnight, etc.). As for how far Orchid Bay Marina is from Dolphin Beach Resort, it can be walked (I'd guess a half mile or so but again I'm not really good with distances) but a golf cart would be much easier and faster (Orchid Bay is on the oppisite side of the settlement harbor from the road to Dolphin Beach so straight line distance and traveled distance isn't the same). If you have a Dodge's Guide to the Abaco's there should be a chart for Guana Cay and an insert of Settlement Harbor which shows the relative location of Dolphin Beach to Orchid Bay. Hope this settles some of your worries.

[1Amigo]

Thanks for your reply. Yes I have Dodge's guide. It' the best. I have only been to Guana and Nippers once, about 6 years ago, so it was before the Dolphin Beach dock or Orchid Bay. When I have stayed at Bluff House and Abaco Inn, I don't think we even has keys to our room, and never worried about it.

[dive guana]

There are actually two docks at Fishers Bay that belong to Dolphin Beach. There is no fresh water at the dock. Water is a precious resource and the resort has a hard enough time keeping up the water for the resort usage. You can get fresh water at the orchid bay dock which is 5 minute ride away for a fee. Security is not a problem . The Dive Guana boat and rental fleet is right there and we have never had a problem.

The dock is fairly well protected from all winds with the exception of westerlies which are usually only prevalent in the winter months with strong cold fronts and they do not usually last long but if they forecast westerly winds make sure your boat is pointed into the wind and secured well. Summertime should not be a problem at all. The new dock has ladders but no poles to tie off to so you will have to drop your anchor out and then tie bow into the dock.

The docks have 6 foot of water and survived the hurricanes without a problem.

Golf cart ride to orchid bay is about a mile . 5 minutes in the cart.

As John mentioned bringing over a boat of this size is always iffy because of weather considerations especially for a short week. With the price of fuel, cruising permit etc sometimes renting a boat is cheaper and more convenient.