bahamas harbours

[chuckg5]

heading to the bahamas next week. we have 2 guide books and a garmin gps that show headings to the island but does not show harbour entrances. going to green turtle first to check in but do not have a good chart for the channel. what does everyone else have that gives them the confidence to enter an unknown channel?
thank you
chuck & mayta

[Mundinho]

I you do not mention which guidebooks you have, but a great set of guide / charts are "explorer chartbooks" for Bahamas. Buy them new and sell them once you leave from Bahamas. You do not need to have anything else, no need for chart plotter etc. GPS + these explorer chart booklets you have anything you need to cruise without worries in Bahamas.

[Swifty]

Will you be in the Abacos? If so, there is a great cruising guide by Steve Dodge that provides detailed maps of the islands and harbors, along with suggested routes through the Sea of Abaco.

[Kettlewell]

For the Abacos check out the guides and charts from White Sound Press.

[Tingum]

Entrances to both White and Black Sounds are well marked. To clear customs you will most likely anchor off the freight dock then dingy in to the dinghy dock located to the left of the main dock. Just walk past the liquor store to the center of New Plymouth. Customs is just past the museum on the right at the end of the long porch after the post office. Have a good visit.

[onestepcsy37]

the 'explorer' charts are the bible for the bahamas, but for the abacos i give a very slight edge to steve dodges 'cruising guide to the abacos'. it shows every good anchorage and entrance to harbors in the abacos in some detail.

the entrance to black sound on green turtle cay is clearly shown in the dodge guide, including three pictures. at low tide you can barely get five feet in to black sound. if you go in there you can anchor or take a mooring ball for $10 a day at black sound marina. from there just dinghy ashore and walk over to the customs house, about a ten minute walk. anybody you see will tell you where it is. DO NOT take the detour to pineapples bar; save that for after you check in.

white sound is a bit larger and more 'anchor friendly' but you can't easily walk to the customs house from there. would have to dinghy back in to town or rent a golf cart.

or, like tingum said, just anchor off the settlement, dinghy in, walk to customs house. you are in an open roadstead so weather could be a factor.

see you there in a few weeks....

[chuckg5]

Many thanks for your replies. Just got the last G2 bahamas chip for my 'antique' 3206 gps by Garmin. shows clear routes an harbour entrances. i'll still look for the steve's guide.
your a big help
smooth sailing !
chuck