Abacos island family getaway

[Dulcesuenos]

Just to tag onto this thread is 2 weeks enough time to cruise and enjoy the abacos departing from and returning to Key Largo? Clearing in bimini stop for the night etc? Thanks

[Amapola]

There are beautiful uncrowded beaches all around the area. Our favorites are Man-O-War and HopeTown.

[cheoah]

My family really enjoyed Treasure Cay. Great snorkling off Guana and others, should be listed in your book. Consider renting a house if you can. The heat never bothers me too much but my teenagers don't get too excited about living on a boat with no AC or showers. I plan differently to make a trip work for the family, but not sure how old yours are. Making it work for them will keep them coming back for more. Treasure Cay is a good base for trips to Green Turtle, etc

[onestepcsy37]

dulcesuenos - i think it would be a pretty tight schedule, particularly if you had to wait for weather for a crossing.

with no weather problems you might do -

key largo to west end and check in, figure two days.
west end to green turtle, two days.
grand tour of the sea of abaco, no less than six days.
back to west end, two days.
back to florida coast, say west palm beach, one day.
make your way back down to key largo, two days.

but you'd be constantly on the move, hoping for good weather.
might be ok for you but the family would probably be stressed out.

[Victor75]

Guys, what safety equipment do I have to have on my 26ft power boat to comply with USCG crossing gulf/cruising Bahamas.

Thanks alot,
Victor

[nautical62]

I second boat Boatpoaker's recommendation for Manjack. Many long beaches, often with nobody on them and only a few miles from New Plymouth on Green Turtle.



A4 is a popular anchorage. I've often had A1 to myself. (It's not where you want to be if a cold front come through!) A2 is fairly good in all weather conditions if you have the draft to get into the bay a ways, and has easy access to the trails to all beaches.

No Name Cay just south of Green Turtle is also uninhabited, but the anchorage is more exposed, and gets more boat traffic, including day trippers that stop by to feed the family of pigs. (That recently had piglets) They like apples if you stop by.

Anchored at both Manjack and No Name just last week.

Have crossed the gulf stream several times in 26-footers. I agree that the conditions matter more than the boat.

Other places in the Abacos I often have a beach or anchorage to myself:

Joe's Cay and Jack Cay in the Carter's Group.
Fish Cay (middle)
Umbrella Cay.
Allan's Pensacola - Ocean side bay.
Powell.
No Name
Whale
Spoil
Snake/Deep Sea Cays
Spencer's Bight.

[Victor75]

Hi. Can anyone suggest a safe place to park my truck and boat trailer in Fort Lauderdale to leave to west end and Abacos for 2 weeks in June? It does not have to be very close to the ramp ( any ramp ) from where we would cross the gulf stream.
Thanks
Victor.

[Victor75]

Guys, is there service and fuel stations somewhere in the middle between West End and Abacos ? My fuel tank is 70 gal. 2gal/mile, 20-25 mph 10 gal/hr from West End to GTC something like 110 mi. I would have to refuel to feel more comfortable.
Any suggestions? Comments?

Thanks
Victor

[onestepcsy37]

there's fuel available at cedar harbor on little abaco island. that's about 30 miles or so from gtc. past that is spanish cay, about 15 miles from gtc. both places are on your route across the banks, although cedar harbor would require going off the course for a few miles, while spanish cay is right along the way.

have you bought your steve dodge cruising guide to the abacos yet? this information is in there....

[Tingum]

Also Fox Town, and if you stop there you must eat lunch at Da Valley. The little yellow seafood hut next door has the freshes and cheapest stone crabs in Abaco.

[onestepcsy37]

tingum, you know the abacos a whole lot better than me. i totally forgot fox town.

[Victor75]

This is all I needed guys ! So here I'm not only learning about great places to stay but also great places to eat.


Reading Steve dodges guide. A ton of great info there. Now I can't imagine going to Abacos without going thru it first.

Thanks!
Victor.

[onestepcsy37]

and if you get to marsh harbor, stop at junovia's for lunch. great bahamian food at reasonable prices. on green
turtle cay, we like mcintosh's.

[jkangas]

Check morainekey.com. You can rent the house and use it as your base. Nice little dock for your boat, great reefs around the island. I always spend a few days anchored there when I'm cruising the Abacos.

[C Skip R]

Originally Posted by Tingum

Also Fox Town, and if you stop there you must eat lunch at Da Valley. The little yellow seafood hut next door has the freshes and cheapest stone crabs in Abaco.

I haven't stopped by Foxtown in a few years. Do they have a fuel dock now? It was destroyed by the hurricane a few years ago and I had heard they never rebuilt it. Will have to try the stonecrabs at Da Valley.