Ideal Draft for Bahamas Cruising

[nautical62]

It all depends on where you want to go, how close in you want to get and how willing you are to wait for tide. If your desire is mostly to hit the popular spots and you don't mind waiting for tide from time to time, you'll be fine. If you like to gunkhole out of the way places when you want, you'll find a draft of over 5 feet limiting.

In the Abacos, places like Little Harbour, Green Turtle, the don't Rock Passage, the Lubber's Quarter Pass, etc can only be done at high tide with your draft. A cat with a draft of less than 3 could do those anytime. With a draft of 4-3, I can barely get into the bay on Manjack. Cats can get in much farther. Same with some of the places in the Carter's Cays.

Personally, for continued Bahamas cruising, I hope to get a boat with even less draft than my 4'-3" Hunter, but that's not to say one can't enjoy the Bahamas with deeper draft boats. I've seen many boaters enjoying the Bahamas with drafts of around 6 feet.

[mjwarner]

Seriously, Guys.... The OP is from 2004! Restless (the OP) has either gone and was fine, has been stuck on the shifting sands of the Bahamas for the last few years, or has sold his boat and moved to an RV. You are all basically talking to yourselves at this point! LOL

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by mjwarner

Seriously, Guys.... The OP is from 2004! Restless (the OP) has either gone and was fine, has been stuck on the shifting sands of the Bahamas for the last few years, or has sold his boat and moved to an RV. You are all basically talking to yourselves at this point! LOL

I'm listening

[capn_billl]

Originally Posted by mjwarner

Seriously, Guys.... The OP is from 2004! Restless (the OP) has either gone and was fine, has been stuck on the shifting sands of the Bahamas for the last few years, or has sold his boat and moved to an RV. You are all basically talking to yourselves at this point! LOL

Me too, I needed to know this, Thanks.

[mjwarner]

You guys are too funny! LOL!

[Geoduck]

My old boat drew 6'6" but she was tender. So, all I had to do was sail around on my ear everywhere I went. If you aint been aground, you arent a member of my club! (not recomended in Alaska)

[Canibul]

of COURSE I talk to myself. Nobody else out there would listen to me, anyhow.


and there are two types of sailors down here. those who have survived running aground already, and those who haven't.


A six foot draft would let you get into any of the three main marinas on Providenciales. But want to be able to scrunch up behind a small cay in a storm? forget it.

[casual]

All over the Bahamas with 6 ft no problems in most places.Little Harbor in the Abacos,no go,traveling south from the Hub of The Abacos inside a little trickyaround Snake cay.White Sound Greentrutle on the tide only.You will enjoy your stay and sharpen your water reading skills.

[Cheechako]

Zero draft is best But 5'-6" will work. Did it with 6'-5" once. Prefer not to do that again though.... too many places I wanted to go but couldnt. (Going toward Cuba from Georgetown bumping through the shifting sand bottom was one of them.... stories of unlimited conch and lobsters clustered around coral heads by the droves.....)

[Keegan]

IMO the ideal draft for the Bahamas is the little mini kegs of a nice lager beer such as Heineken draft that you can get in Florida before you leave, emmmm