Question for Snowbird Boaters

[bocaboater]

Anyone here use their boat to live on in the winters in Abaco? If so, where do you keep it. Looking at some of the marina web sites, the slip rental fees seem resonable, but they seem to charge a flat rate for elec/water that seems high.
Almost doubles the bill/month. Is this typical?

Thanks

[Kathrine]

We spent the winter of 2000-2001 in Abaco on our sailboat. Everyone pretty much anchors out most of the time, staying a week or two here and a week or two there. It's a great way to spend a winter! I think for the entire winter we spent maybe 4-5 nights in a marina and that was when we had guests.

We're returning for the first time since then, this time a land based trip on Lubbers, a week from Thursday!

[Alan Brown]

Most marinas in the Abacos meter your water and electric usage. So, you generally pay for what you use.

Winters in the Bahamas and the Florida Keys, both places I've spent the winter on my boat, are pretty mild. I've only encountered around 8 days when the temps dropped low enough that I ran my small electric heater off and on. having a good sleeping bag helped a lot. Warm clothes, like sweatsuits, were also good to have.

Expect most winter days to be in the 60's, although when the sun is shining (which is most days), it will feel much warmer. If you find yourself in a spot out of the wind, it will feel downright tropical!

Water temps will be cool, but I worked as a full-time dive instructor one winter, with only a 2 mil. shorty wet suit. That 3rd dive of the day was not all that enjoyable though.

All told, I wouldn't hesitate to hang out in the Abacos for the winter. It sure as heck will be a lot more peacefull that heading down to Georgetown and the Exumas.

Have fun!

[pelicanpete]

The Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club (rmhyc.com) have a lot of members who spend winters in the Abacos. I'm sure you could get some feedback if you contacted them.

[Windswept34]

We spent December, January and February on our boat last year in the Abacos, there were three very windy days 35 - 40 kts that we had found shelter in the Orchid Bay Marina, other than that it was perfect. We never needed a reservation for a slip at any marina. Slower pace than the summer season plus we never had to run the genset or a/c. We are going back in Feb through April this time.

[biggy]

I have been doing the same and keeping my boat at Seaspray,in White Sound for yhe past six years.A great place with great folks.BTW/if you are into golf,shopping or wild nightlife,it might not be the place for you.