Silly questions from a rookie

Jay2 · #1 02-12-2009

I am new with a large interest. I could go buy a boat today but that would be disaster I am sure with no experience. From time to time I have silly questions in my head. I would like to post them here and get your experienced responses.

I just read a story of someone unhappy with marine charges.

Can't you just anchor offshore somewhere for free?

Could you anchor and then take your dinghy in?

Can you go on to ANY island in the Bahamas? If not how do you know which ones?

scottyt · #2 02-12-2009

as for anchoring, yes if you find a spot that allows it. my boat is anchored for free next to a marina that charges about 4 k a month, so it can be done. the trick is to find an anchorage on the charts and see if anyone has jurisdiction over it. lucky me the one i am in is a mile from my house and my boat it never more than a 100 yards out. i use a small inflatable dingy that i row out, but i can deflate it and throw it in the trunk so it does not get stolen. but its a small one so i drive the boat over to get the wife she wont get in the pool toy as she calls it.

BTW where do you live?
what size boat are you looking for?
etc ?

mrwuffles · #3 02-12-2009

Like scotty said as long as it is an anchorage and not a channel.....you wouldnt believe what we've seen, the only thing like that that may cost money is a mooring which is a seasonal anchor you dont have to pull up and you store your boat on it. But you can by one yourself and throw it out there and it wont cost as much as renting a mooring or dockspace.

Jay2 · #4 02-12-2009

I live in the middle of the prairies. I would buy a 20' boat for lakes to begin with and then once I can get some experience on that for a few years I would probably try a 28 to 32. I am trying to find a boat to crew on for about 3 weeks in the bahamas that would end with a passage back to Florida through the gulf stream.

sailingfool · #5 02-12-2009

leaving an anchored boat unattended has some risk...I've done it once or twice for a short period. You do it daily for a season, you need to ask yourself each day "Do you feel lucky today?".

Some day you'll go down there and find your boat on the shore. If you're lucky, it'll only cost a big bundle to get it off, if you are not lucky, she'll be a total lost.

sailingfool · #6 02-13-2009

Just happened to read this story, seems relevant to my last posting:

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