Cruising the Bahamas

festivus · #1 12-05-2012

I am interested in possibly cruising the Bahamas for a winter, but am unsure how I would fair with a sailboat that has a 7' draft? Would there be too many places I could not go or be constantly moving based on the tides? Would like some feed back by some experienced Bahamas cruisers. Also, has hurricane Sandy had any detrimental effect on depths in certain areas?

denverd0n · #2 12-05-2012

7' is pretty deep for the Bahamas. There are some places you will not be able to go, some anchorages you will not be able to use.

On the other hand, it's not like you can't go anywhere. You will just have to be careful, and a little more aware of the water depth and the tides than someone with a shallower draft.

Haven't been there since Sandy, so I can't comment on that.

MarkofSeaLife · #3 12-05-2012

Earlier this year I saw some of the biggest super yachts in the world in the Exumahs. One was 280 feet! 87 meters! And a draft of 13 feet/4 meters. if you have a look on your chart from Georgetown and up north inside the fringing cays you will find there's plenty of depth, then from about Highborne Cay head due west till Toungue of the Ocean then up to Nassau.

If you have AIS you can track the super yachts and the local supply ships that run inside. And follow the magenta line

Capt.aaron · #4 12-05-2012

Mark is right. I was on a research vessel in the Bahama's that drew 8 and 1/2 feet. We were limited but not denied.