Favorite Guide to the Bahamas

[lorenzo b]

We're thinking of swinging through the Bahamas and need a good guide book.
What's your favorite?
Thanx

[FSMike]

You need the Explorer charts and Steve Pavilidis' guides.
There are none better in either case.

[Intentional Drifter]

Steve Dodge for the Abacos. Pavlidis for the Exumas. Explorer charts are a definite gotta have and don't give in to anything less. (They post updates on their website by the way, Welcome to Explorer Chartbooks, naturally enough. And, do check them! All it takes is one good storm to change things and these folks are very good about making prompt updates.)

Oh, and don't for a minute believe a Navionics chip for the Bahamas. Mine were often way off, or just simply wrong.

Visual Navigation Rules definitely apply. (But, hey, that's part of the fun, right?)

ID

[Pblais]

Being there works.

[lorenzo b]

I ran aground just off Tarpon Bay at Sanibel following Navionics. It all looks so good on the screen and I think deep down you want to believe. Rude awakening. Took me 20 minutes of gently rocking back and forth to get off that shoal.

[doug86]

The Explorer charts are really all you need for navigation.

I also have the "Yachtsman's Guide to the Bahamas" Yachtsmans Guide - The Most Widely Read Bahamas and Virigin Islands Cruising Guide which I like, and I was impressed with a friend's recent copy of Dozier's Waterway Guide

[FSMike]

Some of the information in the Yachtsman's Guide, particularly as regards the out islands, hasn't been changed in decades. About the only thing that gets updated in that "guide" is the ads.
Caveat Emptor.

[Intentional Drifter]

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

I ran aground just off Tarpon Bay at Sanibel following Navionics. It all looks so good on the screen and I think deep down you want to believe. Rude awakening. Took me 20 minutes of gently rocking back and forth to get off that shoal.

And that's where you would think they would have good, easy data! Ft. Meyers, for Chrissakes. In the Bahamas, I've seen the Navionics chip have rather significant cays off by a nm, and the sounding data is just pitifully inadequate.

Glad you got off OK. The nice thing about the Bahamas, though, is that as long as you've got decent light and the sea state is reasonable, you can see your way through just about everywhere. The Explorer chart waypoints are quite reliable.

Have fun!

ID