best sailboat for the bahamas

Gliding along the aqua blue water and witnessing the sensational Schooner Cay with your own eyes and perhaps anchoring for an alfresco breakfast in paradise. It does well in both light and heavy air, accelerates easily and due to its fin keel, maneuvers well in close quarters. That’s where all the sand, dirty feet marks, and salt water congregates. Very surprised CopperCoat hasn’t worked! What's the best anchor for a cruising sailboat? About 100 of the Sabre 38 MK I hulls were built before it evolved into the MK II that put another 115 hulls into production. Since the hulls stayed mostly the same, the models differed throughout the years by the options and conveniences that were offered, such as folding props and shoal draft keels. How To. Sailing in the Bahamas and the Abacos A holiday aboard a rented sailboat in the Bahamas means relaxation and warm winds, blue water and spectacular scenery. 2. 32ft O’Day Sailboat This 32ft O’Day Sailboat features 2 cabins and 1 bathroom, two water tanks, a 45 gallon, and a 55 gallon. They were a smart purchase for us. Is there additional hardware? When we went to have the whole boat redone (CC supplied the product for free but did not pay for labour costs) and we went back to square one. This Belize 43 is one of the last and most mature boats in this … In fact, they wound up spending eight full years sailing the Caribbean on their own boat, without any major problems, and spent only $1,000 a month to do it – all in first-class style. A teak caprail topped the hull-to-deck joint. They are rarely stronger unless a powerful wind is blowing from the north in the winter months. The next leg of your voyage should be 100 miles taking you to the Green Turtle Cay. This vessel offers the best and most panoramic picture of underwater life off the coast of Grand Bahama — a view most often reserved for scuba divers. Sun avoidance becomes a daily chore. My verdict on Coppercoat is – a very easy product for DIY application (just don’t be scared to try it), and it works extremely well. Alan Gurney’s objective in the design of the I36 was to create a “36-foot yacht that would be a competitive machine but also could cruise a family comfortably.” Since Gurney was also responsible for go fast classics like Windward Passage, Guinevere and Great Britain II, the I36 racing pedigree was guaranteed. Furthermore, on some Caribbean islands water is not only expensive but sometimes you can’t even drink it. United Yacht Sales is the brokerage firm that gives you the personal attention you need. Thank you for sharing your story. Sailboat cruising in the Caribbean, or anywhere along the Tropics, presents its own set of challenges unique to the region. Extra tip: the Bimini and spray hood are hugely important but not at the detriment of being able to see forward. Instead of having to go into marina’s every couple weeks or carrying bladders of water to and from a water station it’s nice to just flip a switch. We kept scrupulous notes on our expenses from the Bahamas, now it's time to share! your privacy. The nav station is just forward of the quarter berth (which forms the nav seat) to starboard. Safety at Sea: Dragging Anchor. Aft of the anchor locker is a comfortable v-berth followed by a head and shower combination to port with a hanging locker to starboard. In the Caribbean, substantial seasonal winds come and go and each island creates a situation of interesting wind patterns that can often be gusty and erratic. Interestingly there’s one paint that’s made in America but it’s illegal to buy there so you can get it elsewhere. Show sailboats located in: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania … Regarding the amount of chain to have, we usually never anchor in any depth over 10 meters or about 30’ but on a few occasions we have had to go up to 15 meters or 45’. Docking and maneuvering is easy due to the spade rudder and narrow fin keel. Coverage area: can I get internet in some of the more remote anchorages? Flexible cancellation or date changes up to 15 days before check in is allowed on selected boats. If you would like to earn a commission on promoting our t-shirts, guides, club or experience, join our affiliate program. Ultimately it will provide you with a clearer perspective about some of the issues involved with buying a boat and transitioning to a life on the sea. These anchors are much better than the older generation anchors at digging in and holding tight in a variety of seabed types. Some 365 hulls were produced, primarily between 1979 and 1989. Whatever boat you’re looking at make sure you can comfortably sit or stand at the helm and see forward. We have anchored for many thousands of nights and have ridden out some serious gales at anchor. Albin Vega 27. These are seaworthy boats that tend to travel. Sailboat Rental Bahamas While visitors keep on coming in almost all the seasons here in the Bahamas but by far, the best season is the winters. Depending on how you like to cruise, these designs offer options. When sailing along the islands the gusts of winds coming off the land can be severe and in-between the islands the waters get rather turbulent and the winds blow stronger. Having to go on deck during a storm is not fun. From the bustle of vibrant island towns to the peaceful isolation of uninhabited cays, the Bahamas offer an entirely unique, customizable vacation experience for the sailing enthusiasts. Islander 36 They just have to lather up and rinse with fresh water. This catamaran has high speed potential, is easy to sail and very stable. In the salon, there are two straight settees to port and starboard separated with a table that folds up to the bulkhead to create a feeling of spaciousness. That being said, you’ll want the cockpit to be comfortable while sailing and when stationary. It does well in both light and heavy air, accelerates easily and due to its fin keel, maneuvers well in close quarters. The finish was quite nice with plenty of room for a couple and guests for the weekend. The only area we really had to take it slow was the Bahamas. Another timeless design is the Sabre 38, which takes it up a notch both in terms of quality and price. The rest of the Caribbean is rather deep. That means that you’ll want furling headsail(s) and a furling main from the boom or the mast. Planning a cruise to the Bahamas? Smiles, Kim. Latest. We now have extremely expensive antifoul paint that doesn’t work. Ericson 38 When newcomers first start cruising many of them underestimate the time longer-term cruisers spend avoiding the sun. Customer service 7. I applied mine a couple of years ago, and was initially concerned with its performance, but now i’m delighted with it. In theory, you are supposed to be able to put it on and not have to touch your hull for five to eight years. Sabre 38 Someone that is wet with sea water that walks through the boat leaves a trail of salt water. If you schedule a winter in the Bahamas, as your final destination or as an island that hops down the tricky path to the Caribbean, you would probably want to cross the eastern coast sometime during November. Especially now that rainy season is here… Thanks for commenting Tom Kim. We bought PortVisors for our windows. These five sailboats have what it takes to go the distance, and though they’re older and smaller than some others, that’s what makes them affordable. We’ll never recoop our costs… And it’s not just us that this has happened to. Great advice! Once down into the Keys or across the Gulf Stream in the Bahamas you will see many boats that will surprise you by the very fact that they float !. The Bahamas is an archipelago of about 700 islands and about 2,000 cays. The majority of time spent sailing in the Caribbean you’ll be close hauled or on a reach. Boats that fail to have forward facing windows, good vents and fans to circulate become hot boxes. It’s important to make sure that there’s ample amount of space in the cockpit to be out of the elements but not a full enclosure as fresh air is required to keep the temperature to an acceptable level. Browse all available Catalina boats for sale. This area is perhaps one of the best in the Bahamas as it offers numerous treats of civilization than most areas in the Bahamas including museums, shopping, and restaurants. Sailboat cruising in the Caribbean, or anywhere along the Tropics, presents its own set of challenges unique to the region. 6. You can then sail … During our 2018 sailing season, the number one biggest reason for newcomers to have a less than desirable cruising experience came down to having bad anchors and/or not enough chain. How To. Totally agree with everything mentioned. The keel-stepped, double spreader, high aspect ratio rig and fine entry made the 38 extremely fast to weather and able to outpoint many competitors of its time. An Oceanis 393 lists for $80,000 for the older models and well over $100,000 for models from six to eight years ago. I know people that have paid good money for non-potable water! The good news is that when anchored or on a mooring ball in the Tropics a boat will always be facing the wind. Below, the MK II evolved into a more comfortable layout with an aft cabin rather than a quarterberth, and a U-shaped settee. Either way, you’ll be looking at a fast, easily-managed boat that will cruise in style. Bahamas Tourism, bahamas.com. One thing Coppercoat may not have told you is that it may take a couple of years for it to really start working. Salt water corrodes everything and it stinks terribly. The temperature is hot, humidity is always high and when the rains come it’s very wet. Sorry iPhone/iPad users, we are still waiting on Apple. The deck-stepped masthead rig has two sets of aft-swept spreaders and a split backstay so it’s easy to board from the stern. This catamaran has high speed potential, is easy to sail and very stable. If you’re interested in getting more information about how to choose the right sailboat, check out our Sailboat Buying Guide. The wind direction is east to southeast during the summer and more northeasterly in winter. Select the sailing area, base, yacht type and parameters of the boat, and of course, the period. Interested in cruising sailboats with longer legs and a bit more capability? Our cockpit has very long side benches with memory foam cushions, a beanbag and loads of pillows. Apparently, none of the ablative paints (slowly wear off) are good for the environment so it’s a matter of finding a paint that does the job and is something you feel okay about. We don’t get any rain in the windows at all! Am doing over a full year catch up. The best thing you can do is determine where you’ll spend most of your time and ask around other boaties to see what works the best in that particular area. Many of our Catamaran friends complain that their biggest issue is not having good air flow. Sailboat Buying Guide For Cruisers - Digital, I'd Rather Be Sailing women's short sleeve t-shirt, This error message is only visible to WordPress admins, https://veronaleslie.com/yes-a-sailboat/what-we-added/portvisors/, Sailing St Martin – The Best Anchorage Is…, How To Make A Rubber Gasket For A Boat Engine, 8 Reasons Why Christmas Is Better Spent On Your Sailboat. The good news is, Gary and Julie discovered that learning how to sail, buying a sailboat, and cruising from island to island isn’t as difficult – or expensive – as they once believed. The construction of the 38-200 includes a solid fiberglass hull and half-inch balsa and plywood reinforcement in the deck. In 1984, Gene Kohlmann of San Francisco began building the Ericson 38 and the design morphed into the 381 and then the 38-200, the last of which were built into the early 90s when Pacific Seacraft purchased the molds. There are a variety of paints. The area around our cockpit table is narrow so there’s no large empty space in the cockpit to fall around when on a steep heel. We help people to take the exciting leap from living on land to becoming full time live-aboard sailors. The saloon follows with a U-shaped settee to port and a straight settee to starboard. Catalina 38 We currently offer 12 charters available with or without captain, ready for amazing fun trips; sailboat rentals are popular in many yachting locations around the world, providing extraordinary experiences for both boating enthusiasts and skilled sailors. If, however, you want to do the entire island chain any draft will work. Registered in Bahamas and duty paid. Not many small steel sailboats boats were built, but the Van De Stadt is definitely one of the most seaworthy ones. The 38-200 is easily recognizable due to its moderate overhangs, low freeboard and subtle cabin trunk. I know you had problems initially, but I would have expected those problems to have been resolved. There are secluded areas and then some of the busiest areas in the Bahamas throughout this voyage. If you would like to get in touch or having any questions, here are our details. Improve the quality of your sleep with better boat bed technology. The features that are important to me might not be the same as for you. It has toured the Med, crossed the Atlantic and cruised most of the Caribbean and Bahamas. Search for sailboats, catamarans, motorboats and more in the Bahamas and/or in the world. Status Not open for further replies. The master cabin forward has a vanity with a sink. Hopefully your Coppercoat will now start working successfully due to it being on a couple of seasons. If you’re going to include the Bahamas as part of the Caribbean having a low draft or lifting keel is ideal. Navtours, navtours.com:-Bases in George Town, Grand Exuma Island (south) and Nassau, New Providence (north)-Prices start at $3,500 per week for a 39ft monohull with three cabins (six people maximum) Eric Vohr and Michaela Urban have a travel website and blog at travelintense.com. Check out Classic Plastic: 10 Affordable Used Sailboats for Cruising. How To. Around 160 boats of this type were built. The Breeze Booster has rigid supports and has worked very well. The layout below begins with a sizeable v-berth and a head/shower combination to port. The aft-facing nav station is just ahead of the large head to starboard. Today, this classic cruiser commands a price around $50,000 depending on condition and equipment. Catalina 38’s typically range in price from $35,000 to $55,000. More Destinations. We accept PayPal and all major credit cards including Staniel Cay Yacht Club, stanielcay.com. 4. Now if we could just have a way to keep the rain out with it up we would be happy. The 45 gallons of fuel is a bit light but will get you to the Bahamas without needing to tank up. The app is searchable in the Google Play Store under Sailboat Owners. Located in the Abacos to the east of Grand Bahamas Island, Treasure Cay Marina is part of the larger Treasure Cay Resort, so you have the option to stay on or off the boat. Tankage is 60 gallons of water and 56 of fuel. Sailboat Charter Bahamas- For a dreamy Caribbean experience Have you ever thought about sailing around the Caribbean Islands?Well, consider The Bahamas with its white (and pink!) The rudder is a balanced spade, foam cored with a fiberglass skin on a stainless-steel stock. The best 5 small sailboats for sailing around the world. To be comfortable I need to lay down quite a bit of the time when we’re sailing (I get seasick – that’s nuts, isn’t it?). Consider yourself fortunate. 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