bahamas / 7 ft. draft

[rlogan2]

leaving next week from key west or maby cuba on 7 ft. draft sailboat. looking for recomendations of route and locations that can safely handle 7 ft. in bahamas. also, good place to leave boat on the hard in bahamas?

[eagleswings458]

I have a 6''4" draft and have spent a total of about 9 months cruising the Bahamas. My recommendation is to skip Bimini, go for the deep water to the north, anchor out overnight on the banks and check in at Nassau. Going south to Georgetown, use the Exuma sound south of Staniel Cay. Stay out of the Abacos, unless you want to deal with only traveling at high tide. Whatever you do, don''t try to get back to the States north of the Abacos...you won''t make it even at high tide.

[halyardz]

Do you mean just north of the Abacos returning to the States? Or is it OK to go
"very" north and outside?

[schoonerman]

With a draft of 7'', you couldn''t make it across the Little Bahama Bank without scraping here and there, but any draft boat can sail on the ocean side of Abaco, as long as you get beyond the reefs.