Checking in and out of the Bahamas with Guns Aboard

[SilentOption]

Also a great choice I do like revolvers I have a few Rugers of various caliber. I see CSY in your name..we just sold our 44WO in December
I really loved that boat.

[SilentOption]

Another friend who has been a fixture in the Bahamas for a long time concurs..They have never checked out. I guess your round count only matters if they have reason to come aboard. If you don't give them a reason it won't matter.

[Robert Freeby]

Bill i thought there was a zero tolerance policy with weapons just about every where. But the responses to your query suggests otherwise.


Rob Freeby


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[JK n Smitty]

If there are some that don't mind sharing, I would also be really interested in seeing how people are storing their shotguns. I have some thoughts on how and where but wouldn't mind getting some ideas from others.

Our plan is to sail through the Bahamas and the Caribbean. I have been back and forth so many times on weather to bring a firearm or not. I have ruled out handguns due to the laws in some of the countries we plan to visit. But I am really thinking about carrying something like a Mossberg Mariner 500. So any real world experience throughout the Caribbean would be great to hear.

Thanks,

Jesse

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by SilentOption

How about somebody with a cruising permit in hand tell us what it says

Bahamas — Noonsite

This coincides with what's on the cruising permit.

[BZT54]

Originally Posted by DotDun

Bahamas — Noonsite

This coincides with what's on the cruising permit.

According to the permit both hand guns and shotguns are permitted if they are kept under lock and key. Does this mean a locked case or would trigger locks be acceptable?

BZT

[Travis McGee]

Originally Posted by SilentOption

Has anyone recently checked into the Bahamas with a weapon onboard?

Thanks

Bill Hellman
S/V Silent Option

I am a retired SEAL if any Tm guys read this send me a private message.

I cleared into the Bahamas on March 31 at Spanish Cay, the lady who did the paperwork never set foot on my boat. I listed two pistols (a 9mm and a .22) by serial number and model, and gave a count of the ammo. Very straight forward, no problems or hassles. A shotgun would be even less of a worry than a pistol.

FWIW, you need a weapon a lot less in the Bahamas than you would, say, transiting down the ICW to your jumping off point. We staged for the crossing in North Lake Worth, and the dinghy landing was full of signs warning of rampant theft. Every dinghy needed to be securely locked at all times. In Marsh Harbour and around the Abacos, nobody (well, 99%) of cruisers never locked their dinghies, either on their yachts overnight or at the public docks during the day, and I never heard of any thefts. I felt safer walking around Marsh Harbour by day or night than I would in downtown Palm Beach, for example.

I'm also a former team guy, class 105/1979.

[Travis McGee]

Originally Posted by DotDun

Checkout via mail, unless you need a zarpe.

Never been boarded over there, hence never a physical counting of 'rounds'.

One of my buddies did get boarded in Nassau, and they did count every last round. He had an AR-15 and a lot of ammo, so maybe they thought he was up to something. They clearly knew he had the rifle from his paperwork, they came to his anchored boat and immediately demanded to see the weapons and ammo. So it can happen. (A lot more likely in Nassau than in the Abacos, for example, IMHO.)

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by Travis McGee

----
FWIW, you need a weapon a lot less in the Bahamas than you would, say, transiting down the ICW to your jumping off point. ----

Yep. Only place I worry about crime in the Bahamas is Nassau, and that's a big city like any other.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by BZT54

Being armed in the Bahamas and Down Island is a no brainer. Those who venture off without that strategic piece of equipment are irresponsible.

Well if we continue that line of thinking a shotgun and pistol is irresponsible. You need something beyond what the bad guys can get and the bad guy could be other cruisers as they seem to be the most armed.

Maybe twin 100mm chain guns

[SilentOption]

Hey Rob!
I didn't know you were on here.
I'm going to send out some inquiries on the subject and post my findings

Hope alls well there!


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[Andrew B.]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

Well if we continue that line of thinking a shotgun and pistol is irresponsible. You need something beyond what the bad guys can get and the bad guy could be other cruisers as they seem to be the most armed.

Maybe twin 100mm chain guns

The first shot in getting this this otherwise sensible, and civil thread closed has now been fired.

[Agape39]

To the OP, weapons in the Bahamas are considered part of the boat's systems. DO NOT leave the boat with your weapon! Rounds need to be counted and claimed at check in, also Sn# and caliper. If you are boarded these items will be checked closely. They are more worried that your weapons will find themselves in the hands of the locals. This is why you are required to keep them locked up. Makes perfect sense! Unless my weapon is on me it is always locked up wether in the car or at home. as far as checking out, unless you need a Zarpe for your next port of call you are instructed to leave your immigration papers at the last marina you visit, they will pass it along to immigration. Or if your living on the hook just leave. I've always just left because I wanted to have my papers with me in case I got boarded at the border as some have.

[Sailor_Hutch]

I'm a big fan of empirical data. I'll leave the generalized statistics and the flawed doctoral studies to those folks who need to demonize coffee for causing cancer.

So, I am curious. For all those who responded, could you please give us the (approximate) number of years you've been sailing the waters about which we speak (Bahamas, ICW) - and match it with the number of times you've needed to use or threaten to use your weapons?

Thanks in advance.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Andrew B.

The first shot in getting this this otherwise sensible, and civil thread closed has now been fired.

yeah, saying that it is irresponsible to go cruising unarmed is pretty sensible and civil