Now that many of you are in southern waters and maybe headed for the Bahamas, don’t miss this opportunity to link with the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!
Are you planning to cruise to the Bahamas? Come spend some time in the Abacos with the Royal March Harbour Yacht Club. It’s an easy 60 mile crossing to Little Bahama Bank and then hundreds of miles of cruising amid protected islands and harbours with lots to explore.
Here are just some of the benefits of joining Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club.
Affordable initiation fee and annual dues
Discounts at marinas throughout the Bahamas
Discounts at restaurants and stores, particularly in the Marsh Harbour area
Friendly boating community with fun activities
The best deal in the Bahamas!
For more information and to become a member, go to www.rmhyc.com.
Cruisers Net is honored to be able to work with this five-star, customer-focused, family owned and operated organization. Watermakers Air and Staniel Cay Yacht Club have been synonymous to so many over the past years. Success is the driving element to its expanded service to the Bahamas and to its re-branding as Makers Air. Take a look at what you may do to add to your Bahamas experience. Can you say…” Wow !!” Staniel Cay Yacht Club, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!
There’s Something New in the Blue Skies Over the Bahamas
Watermakers Air has Re-Branded to
Makers Air
Still Providing an Unparalleled Travel Experience with A New Look
The story behind this story is filled with the passion of an enterprising gentleman, Joe Hocher, the developer of what we all know as the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Exumas, Bahamas, and Watermakers, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, a manufacturing company dedicated to the design, manufacture, and service of reverse osmosis desalination equipment. In the earlier years, Mr. Hocher flew around the islands in his Piper Cherokee Six, installing and servicing his desalination equipment; he affectionately became known as “Watermakers Air”.
Then, in 2002, Watermakers Air was officially launched in response to demand for reliable air service to the Out Islands of the Bahamas, operating as a Part 135-Charter for the specific purpose of flying passengers and freight.
For the past seventeen years Watermakers Air has been the preferred air service to the Bahamas from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Growing from its initial operations servicing mostly Staniel Cay, Exumas, Makers Air is today’s premier air service to many of the Out Islands of the Bahamas.
Now you can make your island dreams come true…
Makers Air enhances your experience of travel by bringing back what it means to fly – the excitement of the great escape, togetherness with family or friends, and helping you relax as yesterday’s concerns fade into the inviting, crystal blue waters of the Bahamas.
The Makers Air “difference” runs deep. What resulted from Joe Hocher’s passion became a family-owned, strategically grown, premiere boutique airline, that believes in the value of the passenger’s experience and safety. Makers Air understands that the destination is not your only adventure – it’s also the exciting journey to get you there.
See these beautifully scattered cays from a “Makers” point of view
Sparkling blue waters dotted with small cays … So much to see, do, and enjoy.
And the flight over and back becomes so much of the total experience… and memory.
Today, Makers Air, a certificated On-Demand / Commuter Air Carrier, has taken its brand promise to the next level by creating a tailored passenger experience that is focused on customer service and connecting passengers to paradise. The company has grown to a family of 30+ employees with dedicated Scheduled Service, Charter, and Freight Departments, with a fleet of 4 Cessna Grand Caravans.
Makers Air proudly carries an Argus Gold Rating on its fleet of Cessna Grand Caravans. With various seating configurations, including an Oasis Executive Interior, they will make your travel as memorable as your destination.
Makers Air is based out of a private hangar at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport, convenient to all South Florida international airports. They offer a spacious, comfortable lobby with TV & WiFi, including the private, upscale Makers Club departure lounge for charter customers. You will enjoy complimentary snacks & beverages while also enjoying the lack of long security and baggage lines!
Reservations and freight offices are open 7 days a week and Makers Air is also pet-friendly!
Whether you are looking to take a vacation, fly to or from your boat, fly guests in or out, transport crew or parts or supplies, Makers Air is ready to provide you with exemplary service.
It is an honor to be able to work with such a customer-focused organization as Makers Air and the all the wonderful people of Staniel Cay Yacht Club.
Ready to kick back and start finding that one particular harbor…?
If you are in the Bahamas – Lucky You! – don’t miss the opportunity to link with the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!. Our thanks to Greg Allard for this on-site report and the very latest news from Old Bahama Bay Marina, including the fact that the marina is now fully open.
Bahamas Update on Old Bahama Bay/West End on Grand Bahama
There has been much discussion about the status of the facilities at Old Bahama Bay, especially since it is
a common place to “make land” for Bahamian bound cruisers, and also a convenient location to clear Customs and
Immigration.
I spoke with Jackie Carroll, the general manager for the Old Bahama Bay resort. We know her from our stops there over the years, and have always found her to be competent and customer friendly. She said their recent “troubles” are now over. Ms. Carroll advised that the marina is now fully open: all slips are available for occupancy with full electricity at each slip. Customs and Immigration (which never shut down) is running as usual. There is fuel available.
Two days ago, after crossing the Florida Straits (Gulf Stream) on our way from Lake Worth Inlet to Port Lucaya, we passed offshore of Old Bahama Bay; there was significant VHF traffic between cruising boats and the dockmaster of the marina, announcing arrivals and requesting slip assignments, all of which confirms that this popular and necessary destination is again available for cruisers.
Here are the contact numbers for Old Bahama Bay, if you need further information.
Now that many of you are in southern waters and maybe headed for the Bahamas, don’t miss this opportunity to link with the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR!. Our thanks to Jim Lund for sharing this update on Old Bahama Bay Marina.
Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Big Changes in Explorer Electronic Data Availability
February 2019 introduces some changes in the sources of data being used for electronic navigation in the Bahamas. If you have come to rely on the accuracy of the Explorer chart data, this is important information for you. If you are planning a trip to the Bahamas in the near future, you may need to make some changes right now to assure that you go with the best chart data.
One of the recent developments causing a shift is that Garmin has purchased Navionics.
Garmin has announced that its new g3 marine electronics offerings will contain only Navionics data for the Bahamas. With this February 2019 issue, Garmin will no longer make Explorer Bahamas data available to its customers. The g3 will be included in the g3 accessory cards and pre-loaded chart plotters.
The Explorer data is still available on g2 accessory cards (Garmin) and earlier pre-loaded chart plotters which may be in inventory for a few more weeks. Although the release of the new g3 material has already begun, customers desiring Explorer data still have an opportunity to upgrade their g2 cards.
If you haven’t upgraded your Garmin for awhile and don’t have the g2 data, we urge you to call Garmin or visit your marine electronics store to insure that you travel to the Bahamas with the tried and true Explorer chart data.
Other avenues for insuring Explorer-only data is to go with C-Map by Navico products and its affiliates SIMRAD, LOWRANCE, and B&G. Also, chart data through MapMedia, MaxSea, Nobeltec, Standard Horizon, RosePoint Coastal Explorer, and Furuno can be trusted to use Explorer vector and raster information. If you are using RayMarine hardware, please inquire of the company as Explorer data is available but not on all units.
There are also three new apps for phone/tablet that now include Explorer-only raster data. Check out AquaMap and iNavx. Links below:
If you are planning a crossing in June or July, please let us hear from you.
Good afternoon I’m interested in some information regarding any flotillas that you organize for a Bimini crossing from the east coast of Florida. Is that something that you typically do how would I get information regarding any flotillas scheduled for June or July 2019? Bill Muehling
Our thanks to Southern Boating Magazine for allowing Cruisers Net to share this delightful article and video with you. It’s the perfect solution to your winter blahs!
No-Wake zones, especially in mooring areas and anchorages, can make a huge difference in a crew’s safety and enjoyment of an area. Please heed the zones!
Elijah Sands posted in Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park. Some information on the new “No wake Zones” in the park,…See More Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park Notice: The increase of vessel traffic and vessels moored at Cambridge Cay – ECLSP has prompted the BNT to invoke special regulations for vessels transiting Cambridge Cay channel to the West of the Mooring Field. Increased usage and transiting boat traffic through this channel has created the need for a “Slow No Wake” zone. All vessels are required to reduce their speed between the three (3) “Slow No Wake” buoys in position at the BNT Cambridge Cay Channel. 5 mph (max) speed limits and other safe boating regulations are in place and will be enforced. The Wardens of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) have established this permanent “Slow No Wake” zone at the Cambridge Cay Channel and have marked this channel with (3) buoys. This new “Slow No Wake” area at Cambridge Cay Channel is effective from January 1st, 2019, and is permanent. The BNT wishes to remind boaters that there is a “Slow No Wake” regulation throughout ALL mooring fields located within the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. Please do abide by these regulations at all times. To seek further information about this and all other idle and no wake zones, contact the BNT Administrator via VHF channel 09, or through Bahamas National Trust – Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park Head Quarters at 242-601-7438. #WeareBNT Elijah Sands on Facebook
Our thanks to experienced cruiser and longtime contributor to Cruisers Net, Greg Allard, for this report and link from the Exumas, Bahamas.
Larry – At the time of our last cruise to the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park in the Bahamas, we noticed that maintenance on some of the moorings had been “deferred.” This was a disappointment, since traditionally the moorings in the Park had been excellent and well-maintained.
This article [link below] from the Bahamian National Trust which oversees the Park, is written by the new Park Warden, Brent Burrows II. For all Bahamian cruisers who consider the Park to be one of the absolute best places in the Bahamas, this is encouraging news about the refurbishment of the mooring systems.
When we visited the Park in May of 2018, we met Mr. Burrows as well as the overall Park Administrator Joe Ierna, Jr. Both of those individuals have brought a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to their positions, and this article reflects that.
Some cruisers were unhappy when the Park raised its mooring fees, and imposed a charge for anchoring. But the Park has a very limited budget, and the new fees help to improve this extraordinary facility. In my view, the value of what the Park provides far outweighs the cost. If you haven’s cruised there, it is an extraordinary experience.
We have been going there for 17 years but will pass by until they stop charging to anchor. We used to be members and donated and the park functioned fine with volunters brfore the current money hungry mgt. took over. The park is a natural wonder, just keep out the poachers. I wonder where all these fees are going? Terry
Come on, admit it…if you are locked in the snow and ice of the midwest and northeast, doesn’t this article make you drool!?! Our thanks to Southern Exposure for this delightful report.
Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
The town dock at New Plymouth Settlement at Green Turtle Cay is brand new. Unfortunately, at this time there are no ladders so getting from the dinghy is difficult. There is another dock by Curries Grocery which we used, don’t forget your stern anchor. As usual, the Customs Officer was really friendly and we cleared in with no fuss or bother.
Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
A new survey of dockage and fuel prices has been completed and posted showing most of the marinas offering these services in the Bahamas. Most fuel prices were up with a few exceptions that remained unchanged. A few marinas reduced dockage rates but none lowered fuel prices.
Please go to our website www.explorercharts.com under Fuel and Dockage Prices to check our latest findings. We will be updating continuously as we get new information.
Our thanks to good friend and frequent contributor to Cruisers Net, Greg Allard, for sharing this Facebook video.
Those of you who have cruised in the Bahamas, or are lucky enough to live there, and have enjoyed the extraordinary Exuma Land and Sea Park, will find this interesting. Don’t miss the video.
A longtime CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, Staniel Cay Yacht Club is a favorite destination for cruisers in the Exumas. A big thank you to our good friends at Waterway Guide for allowing us to share their excellent report on Staniel Cay with you.
Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
In a decision criticized by locals and environmentalists, the government of the Bahamas has given tentative approval to a plan by Disney Cruise Line to build a cruise port on the southern tip of Eleuthera.
The port would be part of a 746-acre development by the subsidiary of the Walt Disney Co. entertainment empire and would include a pier, shops, marina, restaurants and walkways through nearby forest and around salt ponds.
Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Last year we sent in our form and money for the import license for our dog and NEVER received it, even after several phone calls. They seem to be in total disorder in this department and they say the mail doesn’t even get to them. Anyone have any luck getting their import license? Any suggestions? Thank you, Kathi
Be the first to comment!