Caribbean Sailing Finances?

[ad_astra]

Originally Posted by saltyspringer

Rope/Chain/Fire Extinguishers/Flare kits etc. = $500
= $19850 USD

Sounds like you all are well on your way to having a great time! Keep us posted on how the adventure turns out!

The only thing I would ask is how many ropes there are on your boat? Because if the answer is more than zero, you might need to get in line at the sheets down the rode.

[slomotion]

For paper charts in the Bahamas I recommend the latest edition Explorer ChartBooks. If you can't find them at West Marine, you can order them online:

Explorer Chartbooks

The Explorer site will also give you a list of current fuel prices for various Bahamas locations:

Fuel Prices

Once you cast off, you're already there (shamelessly stolen from Paul Blais).

Fair Winds

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by saltyspringer

but we still want paper charts for every place we go.

You were sounding sensible till this....

Why in the world would you want paper charts? For everywhere you go you will need to sell one of the crew members!
Just buy a second hand cruising guide to where you are going with the drawings of anchorages, and use the free USA NOAA electronic charts.

By the time you are down the coast a bit I'm sure you will have found the electronic charts that the free OpenCpn program can use.


Mark

[marujo.sortudo]

ad_astra, Actually, boats have had and do have ropes on them. The myth of all "ropes" being lines is a recent one. Read "The Rudder Treasury" edited by Tom Davin, pg 18 if you don't believe me. Liked your line, though

Mark, how do you plan on navigating when your electrical systems fail? I plan on using paper charts, myself. Surely you don't believe that systems on a boat never fail???

[FSMike]

Salty Springer -
In addition to the Explorer charts for the Bahamas, Steve Pavilidis' guides for the Bahamas are invaluable.

[scook1]

Great to hear the update. hopefully you guys can find some way to document your adventures either with a camera or with consistent writing. Best of luck,
Spencer

[osirissail]

Actually the free downloads of NOAA charts covers only the USA coastal waters and island possessions like Puerto Rico and USVI. Offshore you will need other charts from other sources.
- - Guide books are your best bet for everywhere you want to go and need information about local harbor or gunkholes. Try to get as many as you can and the second hand ones are a lot less expensive than new ones. New cruising guides have more up to date information about services on shore, marinas, repair places, etc. But normally the "sketch charts" are the same ones used every since the cruising guide was first published. Obviously, new ones are the best but if your budget is limited then previous editions (older versions) are better than nothing.
- - For the Bahamas you really want the Explorer Charts - same thing - as new an edition as you can afford. You can simply ask other cruisers you meet or listen to the various cruiser "nets" to get local information on businesses, etc.
- - For the Turks and Caicos, get the Wavey Line Charts - they are the only charts that actually depict what is actually on the T&C banks and the routes.
- - For the Dominican Republic, get the Wavey Line Charts as they have the only reasonably up to date surveys of the major cruiser harbors/bays.
- - For Puerto Rico and the USVI - download the NOAA free charts for your lapbook.
- - For further "down island" try to get the old CYC Caribbean charts which are the best of the paper versions. I would recommend the Chris Doyle Guide books - Leeward Islands and Windward Islands as the minimal ones to get for this region.
- - A lot of "returning north" cruisers you will meet along the way will have cruising guides and charts that they will either give you or you can get at very economical prices.
- - Just make sure there is somebody up on the bow whenever you make landfall to spot good and bad things ahead. Also when crossing the banks have a good "lookout" stationed to spot hazards and shifting sand banks. When in doubt launch the dinghy and have someone go out ahead and "check it out" - weather and wave permitting. Don't hesitate to call on the VHF cruiser channels (usually 68) and ask for advice or help if things do not look right.