best places to leave boat at anchor - Polynesia

[ryantrollip]

Hey Sailors

Looking for some advice.

Wondering if there are good places to leave a boat at anchor or affordable mooring in French Polynesia / Marquesas that have airports to fly out to PPT. Boat is too wide for most marinas.

Will have to fly out a couple times for a few weeks at a time.

Thanks
Ryan

[Paul L]

You can check with yachtservicesnukuhiva if you want someone to watch the boat while left in Nuka Hiva.

[ryantrollip]

Thanks Paul!

Originally Posted by Paul L

You can check with Home if you want someone to watch the boat while left in Nuka Hiva.

[ryantrollip]

I hear there is some theft in Tahiti, wondering if it's the same on the smaller islands?

[captmikem]

Morrea, cooks bay is safe and secure, or deep in Opunohu bay boats anchor and tie to the trees ashore.

[oceane]

maybe consider marina Taina, next to the papeete airport (saves an expansive plane ticket)..mooring balls are about $200a month, or just anchor in front of the intercontinental hotel for free...there's Adrian the hongarian mechanic, who looks after boat, he does a physical inspection with photos every Wednesday...many boat unattended here with no issues...if not , bay of Phaeton/taravao, very protected and rainy anchorage, and you can get someone from the boatyard to keep an eye....but marina taina is best from my point of view, been here for a 3rd year, left my boat for 4 months... all good...

[jmschmidt]

Air fares between the islands of FP are pretty high. There is only one airline and it is government owned. No surprise there. You can pay as much from Nuku Hiva RT to PPT as you would from LA or Honolulu to PPT.

If you are on the hook or ball I would look for something in PPT where you could hire a reliable boat-watcher or the nearest island to PPT which is Moorea (lowest air fare) at Cooks Bay. You also take a fast ferry to Moorea cheap.

Raiatea has two marinas which can handle big cats and it has a good yard with haulout services. But I have paid up to $350US RT between Raiatea and PPT. That price wobbles between $250US and $350US depending on the value of the CPF (French Pacific Francs) which is depending on the USD/Euro exchange rate.

[Cool Hand Luke]

Sorry to thread jack and please delete if I'm not allowed to ask, but... what do you guys do about batteries when on anchor or mooring ball for weeks or months at a time? Does everyone have solar or do you disconnect everything and the batteries just discharge themselves very slowly?

As for Tahiti... please see above posts or if someone else can chime in. I've never been but will definitely visit in the future. It's on my bucket list

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand Luke

Sorry to thread jack and please delete if I'm not allowed to ask, but... what do you guys do about batteries when on anchor or mooring ball for weeks or months at a time? Does everyone have solar or do you disconnect everything and the batteries just discharge themselves very slowly?

As for Tahiti... please see above posts or if someone else can chime in. I've never been but will definitely visit in the future. It's on my bucket list

Solar can keep the batteries topped up (make sure it feeds ALL your batteries). If you plan time away from shore power then you want enough solar to cover your base loads.

But you also want someone to check your boat weekly or at least fortnightly and to run your engine(s) for 15 minutes or so.

Tahiti is on the way when crossing the Pacific, if that’s in your plans. Alternatively, charter Raiatea. It’s relatively expensive, but puts you into the middle of an amazing cultural and natural place.

[chouliha]

Originally Posted by ryantrollip

Hey Sailors



Looking for some advice.



Wondering if there are good places to leave a boat at anchor or affordable mooring in French Polynesia / Marquesas that have airports to fly out to PPT. Boat is too wide for most marinas.



Will have to fly out a couple times for a few weeks at a time.



Thanks

Ryan

We have been in FP for the past 4 years now.

Marquesas - Nuku Hiva as mentioned. Kevin at NHYS will keep an eye on her. But for some reason the bottom is very corrosive and we have met 4 boats that have had to have chain replaced after spending 4-6 months anchored there. You can order a length of chain from Tahiti and just trash it when departing thus saving your good chain. Bottom is mud and very good holding

Tuamotus - Fakarava Pakakota Yacht Services has moorings and Mathew can watch your boat. Moorings are in excellent condition and inspected. Boats are on moorings under Mathews care only during the winter and NOT summer cyclone season

Apataki has a dry storage yard and regularly hauls out good size monos and cats there.

Tahiti- Port phaeton You can anchor there and a French yachtie has a business watching vessels.

Papeete - Marina Tania has numerous moorings and there is a good boat watcher available. But you need to book months(6) in advance to get one. Inside the marina is another option but maintenance is being down inside the marina and slips have been reduced during this phase. Again book Way early.

Suggestions to leave boat anchored in Cooks Bay could work if you hire someone as a caretaker. New anchor restrictions for Mo’orea are now under consideration and no one knows what the end results will be.

Other options for hauling out depend on the size of your vessel

What is the size of your vessel?

Would suggest downloading the Soggy Paws Compendiums on Marquesas, Tuamotus and Societies for more information on various places. Google Soggy Paws files

Chuck
Jacaranda
Fakarava, French Polynesia

[chouliha]

Originally Posted by Cool Hand Luke

Sorry to thread jack and please delete if I'm not allowed to ask, but... what do you guys do about batteries when on anchor or mooring ball for weeks or months at a time? Does everyone have solar or do you disconnect everything and the batteries just discharge themselves very slowly?

As for Tahiti... please see above posts or if someone else can chime in. I've never been but will definitely visit in the future. It's on my bucket list

Just curious why you didn’t start a new thread?

[ryantrollip]

Thanks for all the responses, appreciate the info!

[ryantrollip]

Thanks Chuck
Lots of great info!!!

Ended up getting a morning near the airport ppt
But will use your other suggestions as I head west.
Boat is 50 foot long and 31 wide (trimaran)

Originally Posted by chouliha

We have been in FP for the past 4 years now.

Marquesas - Nuku Hiva as mentioned. Kevin at NHYS will keep an eye on her. But for some reason the bottom is very corrosive and we have met 4 boats that have had to have chain replaced after spending 4-6 months anchored there. You can order a length of chain from Tahiti and just trash it when departing thus saving your good chain. Bottom is mud and very good holding

Tuamotus - Fakarava Pakakota Yacht Services has moorings and Mathew can watch your boat. Moorings are in excellent condition and inspected. Boats are on moorings under Mathews care only during the winter and NOT summer cyclone season

Apataki has a dry storage yard and regularly hauls out good size monos and cats there.

Tahiti- Port phaeton You can anchor there and a French yachtie has a business watching vessels.

Papeete - Marina Tania has numerous moorings and there is a good boat watcher available. But you need to book months(6) in advance to get one. Inside the marina is another option but maintenance is being down inside the marina and slips have been reduced during this phase. Again book Way early.

Suggestions to leave boat anchored in Cooks Bay could work if you hire someone as a caretaker. New anchor restrictions for Mo’orea are now under consideration and no one knows what the end results will be.

Other options for hauling out depend on the size of your vessel

What is the size of your vessel?

Would suggest downloading the Soggy Paws Compendiums on Marquesas, Tuamotus and Societies for more information on various places. Google Soggy Paws files

Chuck
Jacaranda
Fakarava, French Polynesia

[ryantrollip]

Fantastic info thanks Chuck

Originally Posted by chouliha

We have been in FP for the past 4 years now.

Marquesas - Nuku Hiva as mentioned. Kevin at NHYS will keep an eye on her. But for some reason the bottom is very corrosive and we have met 4 boats that have had to have chain replaced after spending 4-6 months anchored there. You can order a length of chain from Tahiti and just trash it when departing thus saving your good chain. Bottom is mud and very good holding

Tuamotus - Fakarava Pakakota Yacht Services has moorings and Mathew can watch your boat. Moorings are in excellent condition and inspected. Boats are on moorings under Mathews care only during the winter and NOT summer cyclone season

Apataki has a dry storage yard and regularly hauls out good size monos and cats there.

Tahiti- Port phaeton You can anchor there and a French yachtie has a business watching vessels.

Papeete - Marina Tania has numerous moorings and there is a good boat watcher available. But you need to book months(6) in advance to get one. Inside the marina is another option but maintenance is being down inside the marina and slips have been reduced during this phase. Again book Way early.

Suggestions to leave boat anchored in Cooks Bay could work if you hire someone as a caretaker. New anchor restrictions for Mo’orea are now under consideration and no one knows what the end results will be.

Other options for hauling out depend on the size of your vessel

What is the size of your vessel?

Would suggest downloading the Soggy Paws Compendiums on Marquesas, Tuamotus and Societies for more information on various places. Google Soggy Paws files

Chuck
Jacaranda
Fakarava, French Polynesia

[DefinitelyMe]

Mangareva is also a viable option. Boats sometimes get left there for months at a time, anchored in the harbour.