Year round living aboard in the Caribbean?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer

the safest in the entire Caribbean except for St Barts.

St Barths is safe for us because there's people much richer to rob

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

St Barths is safe for us because there's people much richer to rob

Just more sophisticated... they do it over the counter...

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer

Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are basically Dutch, 20-75 miles from Venezuela and certainly Bonaire is one of the safest places in the Caribbean. Big Dutch naval and Coast Guard presence.

From 5 yrs in the Caribbean we think Bonaire it is the safest in the entire Caribbean except for St Barts.

But you are correct Venezuela is better avoided.

Venezuela, Isla Margarita: Dutch sailor killed whilst resisting robbery on board - September 2013 — Noonsite

Thanks.

From my far away couch/armchair it looks so close as to be "close enough" to be afraid.

[jeremiason]

I forgot to mention in my last post...

There is a Yahoo Group for people cruising the Caribbean called the "Cruisers Network Online".

They share information and answer questions about Caribbean Sailing.

There are currently 1200 members.

It would be another resource for your search

Yahoo! Groups

[DoniLynn]

We're looking it up right now! Thanks

[Pieter]

Originally Posted by s/v Moondancer

We are in Bonaire for the third season...

Mostly south of the hurricanes.

Safe moorings for $10/day above a great snorkeling and diving reef.

Great restaurants and good supply chain for food

One of the best mechanic/electricians in the Caribbean

Very very little crime.

Heat and humidity not bad, we sleep under fans and rarely use the A/C

https://www.google.com/search?q=bonaire&client=firefox-a&hs=6QW&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=cF80UtyoK 5He8wSL6YGoBA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=665&dpr =1

Great answer... Currently in Grenada, but in a weeks time we are on our way to Bonaire...
Best rgds
Pieter and Dora
SV Onda Boa
Blog: www.sailingoceanofdreams.blogspot.com

[SaltyTanned]

There is no crime problem with the far offshore islands of Venezuela and the same is true of the ABC's. The are administrative difficulties with the Las Aves archipelagos and you are limited to two weeks at Los Roques, but you could stay many weeks at la Tortuga or la Blanquilla. Even Los Testigos are quite safe.

It's only that while sailing to these beautiful anchorages you could meet not so nice crews on penieros powered by two to four over 100hp outboards.

You can spend much time without any worries at Grenada. Though from August until end of October, Trinidad is a safer bet. You could remain at Grenada with an escape plan but it has been my experience that this type of plan can often be of little value. You could remain in Martinique at Le Marin at the marina. They have experienced a number of hurricanes during the past ten years with no damage to those at the marina. You could also stay at St Lucia at the Rodney Bay Marina also well protected in the lagoon and with safe floating docks very similar to those at Le Marin.

Since 1995 I have been living aboard on the Caribbean, usually returning to Canada by air, for a month or two every year. I have had to run from a hurricane once, Emily July 12th 2011.

[garyosborne]

I have been living aboard, mostly at anchor, for 8 years in the archipelago of Bocas Del Toro, Panama. High temps rarely get above the high eighties, lows around seventy two, I rely strictly on rain for my water. There are many dozens of protected anchorages, my current anchorage and where I spend most of my time is about a quarter mile square and currently has four boats anchored. A short dinghy ride and a half mile walk through the jungle on a well maintained trail with monkeys and parrots above brings me to a beautiful white sand beach and good surfing on a beach break. There are good reef breaks within a two mile dinghy ride.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, garyosborne.

[SaltyTanned]

Originally Posted by garyosborne

I have been living aboard, mostly at anchor, for 8 years in the archipelago of Bocas Del Toro, Panama. High temps rarely get above the high eighties, lows around seventy two, I rely strictly on rain for my water. There are many dozens of protected anchorages, my current anchorage and where I spend most of my time is about a quarter mile square and currently has four boats anchored. A short dinghy ride and a half mile walk through the jungle on a well maintained trail with monkeys and parrots above brings me to a beautiful white sand beach and good surfing on a beach break. There are good reef breaks within a two mile dinghy ride.

Are daily thunderstorms a problem where you are? I was told that from April to October thunder and lightning were a daily feature of the Panama coast.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by garyosborne

I have been living aboard, mostly at anchor, for 8 years in the archipelago of Bocas Del Toro, Panama. High temps rarely get above the high eighties, lows around seventy two, I rely strictly on rain for my water. There are many dozens of protected anchorages, my current anchorage and where I spend most of my time is about a quarter mile square and currently has four boats anchored. A short dinghy ride and a half mile walk through the jungle on a well maintained trail with monkeys and parrots above brings me to a beautiful white sand beach and good surfing on a beach break. There are good reef breaks within a two mile dinghy ride.

8yrs in one spot.

Wow.

[MBLittle]

Originally Posted by Therapy

8yrs in one spot. Wow.

Sometimes they just keep pushing back your transit date through the canal...

[John_ausm54]

Originally Posted by DoniLynn

We would like to know where year round live aboards can go to get out of the Caribbean hurricane season and humidity June - October and then return to the Caribbean? We have a 40 foot motorsailer.

Well Trinidad or Margarita Island Where I live Marina concord or marina Hilton

[LadyMarion]

I see all of the people here have boats, how I would like to get one. Can I ask what work you do, that you can take such long sailing trips like people around here.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by LadyMarion

I see all of the people here have boats, how I would like to get one. Can I ask what work you do, that you can take such long sailing trips like people around here.

some do none. did you know you can get boats for free sometimes?
free boat, plus $100 a month for food, and even if you only saved $5000 you could stay out for potentially 10 years, depending where, and how much fish you eat. seriously. get a 100# bag of rice, cooker fuel, and enjoy life. dont worry about big expensive boats.