Bahama Fuel Stops?
 

So in planning a trip, I am curious about fuel stops? I know Bob the builder is Diesel, and its easier to find in bad locations. Let alone he can carry alot more and run farther then myself.

So, is there a map of fuel stops? is it possible to make it to Big Major Cay / Pig beach in a 34 footer twin gas motors? 150 gallon boat? or is this just to remote to justify?

If you make the Run to Bimini, would you run out of places to see in a 1-2 weeks time frame? or would going to Grand Bahamas, and then to the Aboco's give you more of the experience?.

I am not staying in a resort, this will be a trip of 1/2 the time on the hook, and the other 1/2 paying for a slip with power (boat has Genny, AC and Vacuflush so should not be to bad.)

also My boat cant dump holding tank over board, is there pump outs pretty common in these waters?

I know a lot of questions, but feel free to answer what you know.

Awesome. Let us know how it goes.

From Fort Lauderdale to Big Majors is over 250 miles. That is a long run without a stop. You would probably be better off running to Nassau, clearing customs and fueling then continuing on your way. If you want to go towards the pigs at Staniel Cay, you should look into stopping in Compass Cay about 15 miles north west and petting the sharks. Compass Cay is probably my favorite marina I have ever visited down there.

Good luck with the trip!

I am not sure where you are leaving from. If miami head to Bimini for two days then head to west end for two more then head to abaco, green turtle, then marsh harbor. From there you can island hop. I would stay at abaco beach marina. Final stop Eleuthera. Then on the way back Nassau, Bimini and home. Get the Bahamas cruising guide it better then any charts or gps it will tell you all the ways to go and places to see. Gas on that cruise is available on most all islands. Texico used to produce a chart with all their places. But you shouldn't have a problem except for the cost. Have a good trip.

Get on https://activecaptain.com/X.php they have all the latest reviews on marinas and other facilities you might need

Skip West End......nothing there! Most just use it as a check in to clear customs but there is nothing there but Old Bahama Bay and it is more Palm Beach than Bahamian!
http://www.oldbahambay.com/home.aspx

Two restaurants, two bars (both are sloooowwwww on service and high on price). Nothing to do there outside of the resort, Grand Bahama is on the other side of the island.

good info from all but this is possibly what we may do... Any thoughts as to how the water is after you make it to nassua? i know its another open water crossing but its not crossing the stream so easier?

It truthfully all depends on the day. It can be really nice and calm, or a descent chop. Just remember, once you are there, it is shallow. Really shallow, so it can kick up pretty easily. However, once you get in between the islands, they do break it up. once you make it down to exuma, there are islands everywhere with little marinas and restaurants all within a reasonable cruise. You can always set up shop in one location and go on awesome day trips. Within a short distance of Staniel cay there is compass cay where you can pet sharks. Allen cay has Iguanas that you can feed. Thunderball cave to snorkel. Lots of empty beachs to go anchor off us and have a beach lunch. The options are really endless. Just make sure you have a good GPS and up to date charts because once you get near exuma there are shoals that you can run right up on and all of a sudden you are in a foot of water.

Great information and spot on. As I read it, it brought back many great memories of nice travels south of Nassau through the Exumas etc. As has been mentioned there are lots of fuel stops throughout the Islands and you will not have any difficulty finding fuel. En route to Nassau I have fuelled at Bimini ( north or south ), North Cat Cay, Chub Cay in the Berry's and of coarse Nassau. Beyond that Highborne Cay near Allen's Cay where the iguanas are and then Staniel Cay near the piggy island, Big Major Cay. The Active Captain link that Wobble posted will a great help but don't cut it too close in refuelling as marinas can be closed if out of fuel or someone decides to go fishing or take a day off. LOL While I did get out to Bimini 3 times this season I was disappointed time did not allow me to go further. Enjoy the trip Mittens, you will love it.

Bob

awesome on the info. Fuel was my concern. as I have 2 weeks, total so 7-10 days there I would think we can make our way to some awesome places, and back. Just did not know if a 34 footer with 150 gallons would make it, but just fill it up at every stop, and keep working my way down.

I took my 32 w/95 gallons capacity to the Bahamas twice without an issue (small blocks burned 60 gallons an hour WFO). Bring spares (belts/fuel filters/extra fluids) and you will be fine.

I plan on bringnig spares for sure. Only problem would be a impeller change... I could do it floating if it was not for the amount of water coming in the hose from the drive... I cant move it above the water line like I could on a single engine.

As far as pump outs, can only speak for Abacos and Port Lucaya as we went there on friends Hatteras last year and going again for 12 days this June/July. Our stops were Spanish Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana, Elbow Cay, Marsh Harbor, Treasure Cay, and finally Port Lucaya and none of the marinas we stayed at had pump outs. What a great place The Abacos is. Although its considered the Bahamas, doesn't even compare to Nassau or Freeport/Port Lucaya.

Well that is going to be a problem... My boat has 15 gallons of waste, and No way to dump over board.. only pump out..... hmm

Of course his has bigger tanks, but he can't dump overboard either. We just used the marina facilities while slipped at each place as most had nice ones. Well, except for P. Lucaya!

This year our stops are Spanish Cay, Great Guana, Elbow, Green Turtle, and finish up at West End before crossing back over to Ft. Pierce.

This I can see being a madjor problem. I plan to stay on the boat, with only a few marina nights... so at least its 2 people, 10 days, 20 poops? ha in 15 gallons.....

this may sound gross but bring a 5 gallon bucket and do your thing...plenty of water to wash up..

Get a plug for the hose, once disconnected, slide plug in. Tapered dowel if can't find plug.

Sounds like a cool trip. Where y'all leaving from?

Forget staying on the boat.....get a room. The sun/heat is brutal and sleeping in an a/c room with a shower and amenities is priceless over sleeping in a 8ft wide go fast. Look at these videos, young kids were getting beat to death and the idea of beach camping quickly went out the window!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiWZTy0brf0 Originally when we planned the trip we were planning to camp for at least two days. Heat, salt, and exhaustion made camping seem like less of a good idea once we reached the Bahamas. So we spent much of day 5 on a satellite phone attempting to call the few villas available for rent in the Exumas; All of them were booked solid. With no other options available, we headed North to the Warderick Wells region to setup a camp site. We were officially "homeless in the Bahamas". We decided to camp on a small secluded island called "Paradise Island", with a nice protected beach. Unfortunately we soon realized that Jeff forgot the tent poles. So Jeff and I headed to the Exumas Land & Sea Park Headquarters in hopes of borrowing some supplies. The park rangers were awesome and they set us up with poles from 3 different tents. We were able to rig together a makeshift tent but we couldn't secure the rain proof cover.

Not sure yet still planning all depends if we are going to go all the way to pig island or stay around bimini or something.


I am not sleeping in a tent. Boat has genny, AC, and Vacuflush head. I sleep in the boat ALOT. its ICE cold with the AC running. 65 degrees, and dark if i want it to be. with a temperpedic V birth.

It sleeps great... Not worried about that. I have ruffed it on a 17 foot bow rider with a family of 4 with just camper tops for 6-7 days. 10 days with just me and the girl in a 34 foot, AC, Genny, boat is not a problem.. BUT running out of a holding tank will be.

Wonder if I could make a make shift hand vacume pump to empty the tank when out to sea. Nasty but only a 1-2 time thing and solve my problem.

Or maybe have a port a potty as reserve and empty that tank when out at sea.

Install an inline ball valve! Between the drive and the strainer or raw pump.
Just make sure it has a locking lever to keep it from bouncing closed!

In my bildge its litterally all i can do to reach the hose clamp on the back of the pump. ha

I only posted that as a reference (kids thought they could rough it, when they couldn't they were in a jam looking for hotels).

I have lived in Florida since 1975, I work outside daily and I am telling you some of the hottest, most sunburnt adventures I have had were boating in the Bahamas!

Went on vacation to Freeport some years back in April. 80 degrees with a cool Ocean breeze. I don't know if it's the lack of air pollution, angle of the Sun or reflection of it off the water, but it's a frying pan!

x2 Great chum too!

On average how long does it take to clear customs in Bimini?

We would like to make this our day trip destination but have heard it can take hours to clear. That would not be worth it on a day trip.

Clearing with a 6-8 boat poker run probably took an hour. Bimini Sands sometimes has a custom agent on premises but if not you dock at big game area and walk to the pink customs building. They don't want to waste your time or theirs, they just want the $150-300

I cleared at the airport with 7 people in about 90 seconds.....took longer than that to load the bags!

I'm trying to resurrect the Bimini discussion without starting a new thread.

Our goal is to leave from Miami and spend the day in Bimini and return. We will be taking a 38' Statement with 300s.

Is it worth staying for the day?

Is it enough better than the Keys to mess with?

Obviously weather would be strongly considered and would not risk it if it was iffy on any given day.

The boat will have a captain so I would assume I could fly back in a pinch if we needed to leave but the weather was too much to risk for the boat.

You should plan to stay a couple days, you'll see why when you get there. Stay at the Hilton, place is unreal. Have a look online. Want to snorkel a sunken ship or swim with stingrays, that's your place. Not to mention the water, can't even describe it.

Following- also interested in making the trip. What is the best time of year?

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witajcie. jestem nowy :). Jeli pomyliem dzia prosze o zmiane.