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N4061

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Here is a question for those fortunate to boat in the SE. As we watch TV shows about Island Life and think about building a second home on some island we think it would make so much sense to use our boat to visit all the islands off Florida and southeast.

What am I missing about this thought and how often do Florida and SE boaters really travel to these beautiful places?

A little planning and dreaming taking place here.

John
 
Which Islands did you have in mind? Some are much nicer than others depending on your interests.

Ted
 
Consider that the time spent on your boat is time the other homes are not being used and vice versa. If the boat is big enough, why not take it to wherever.
 
Island Life

O C Diver said:
Which Islands did you have in mind? Some are much nicer than others depending on your interests.

Ted, thanks for reaching out to us. We would likely start with he Bahama's and if we like it continue east / southeast to the US Virgin Islands and then who knows. We know some Nordhavn folks who spent their early years cruising the islands in small catamaran and had a blast. We hear about island hoping within a days trip and then either finding a marina or anchoring for a few days. It sound like boating at its best so we are curious why we don't hear more about it? What are we missing? Thanks

John T.
Click to expand...
 
Living Aboard

High Wire said:
Consider that the time spent on your boat is time the other homes are not being used and vice versa. If the boat is big enough, why not take it to wherever.
Click to expand...

When we first got aboard our Nordhavn we thought for awhile we could ditch the house, buy a bigger boat and live aboard full time. After awhile we realized we are not cut out to be "full time live aboards", that just us. We love living aboard a few days a week and when I retire weeks or months aboard sounds good but we need a land base home to return to. Our current home is too big so we will likely downsize in the future and possibly buy a place in Cabo San Lucas as another land base to visit and maybe leave the boat. Dreamer is great since it doesn't cost anything (yet).

John
 
If you are thinking of the Abacos/Bahamas you need to research build time, product import taxes, and overall frustration of dealing with local laid back contractors.

If you are patient, it is very worthwhile. If you want things to move along, avoid the Bahamas! :)

And look up insurance costs re storms!
 
N4061 said:
O C Diver said:
Ted, thanks for reaching out to us. We would likely start with he Bahama's and if we like it continue east / southeast to the US Virgin Islands and then who knows. We know some Nordhavn folks who spent their early years cruising the islands in small catamaran and had a blast. We hear about island hoping within a days trip and then either finding a marina or anchoring for a few days. It sound like boating at its best so we are curious why we don't hear more about it? What are we missing? Thanks

John T.
Click to expand...

From cruising friends that spent months in the Bahamas, it's great their but quickly you focus on the stuff that's not as readily available as in the USA. Food, fresh fruits and vegetables, and meat have been routinely mentioned. For those that have made several extended trips, it's all about provisioning for what's not readily available, fresh, inexpensive. This is very different than owning a house there. IMO, it would be important to see the short comings before committing to a home there.

My plan is extended visits and head back to the states whenever the fun meter started to drop.

Ted
Click to expand...
 
It kind of sounds like you have lived in nice, dry, temperate southern California most of your life. Let me pop your bubble a little bit. From mid June to mid October, Florida and most of the islands are hot, sticky, humid and generally unbearable. There are trade winds but having winds and 100% humidity still isn't fun for many retirees. Air conditioning? Well, power rates in the islands and outside the US in general are high and higher and service not too reliable. If you ever watched HGTV programs on Caribbean living, you will notice AC is relegated to split systems located in bedrooms. Central AC is almost unheard of.

Yesterday, my wife showed me an article from AARP magazine about the "experts in your life" titled "What They Know That You Don't". A doctor pointed out that moving to a new place can be really hard. Lots of retirees from up north sell the farm and move to Florida. Many of these couples end up moving back. The islands are probably not much different. In the town I live in, almost 50% of the homes are owned by snowbirds that live here 3-5 months in the winter.

You really got it great in San Diego and the grass isn't greener on the other side of the continent.
 
Donsan said:
A doctor pointed out that moving to a new place can be really hard. Lots of retirees from up north sell the farm and move to Florida. Many of these couples end up moving back. The islands are probably not much different. In the town I live in, almost 50% of the homes are owned by snowbirds that live here 3-5 months in the winter.

You really got it great in San Diego and the grass isn't greener on the other side of the continent.
Click to expand...

I'm sort of in that situation but took a different approach. While it certainly can be hard picking up and moving, there is a more gradual approach. Bought my home in Florida 12 years ago and transitioned gradually. Not sure how many more years I will summer or travel to northern areas, but nothing says you only have to live in one place. Ideally I would like to spend 6 to 8 months a year based out of Florida, but still prefer the NE during the summer.

The grass may not be any greener in Florida, but the taxes sure are a lot less. :)

Ted
 
O C Diver said:
Ideally I would like to spend 6 to 8 months a year based out of Florida, but still prefer the NE during the summer.

The grass may not be any greener in Florida, but the taxes sure are a lot less. :)

Ted
Click to expand...


Thus the more than 6 months in Florida.:D
 
Funny thing about living in paradise is you always wonder where paradise really is. I've got 2 boys and 4 nephews that have collectively lived on every continent thanks to their Uncle Sam. 3 of them currently live in San Diego and the other 3 plan on locating there when done with their enlistments/advanced degrees. Am convinced we improved the family with this generation.
 
Cruising the Bahamas is great, I should have a few threads on our travels over there. Having practically grown up going there in partial in my opinion, but it's beautiful. We also like being able to anchor out for a few days then come into a nice marina for a little dock time then off to the next marina or anchorage.

In regards to building there, Having practically built a house in Bimini side by side with my uncle, I would say you don't want to build there, unless you're young, have endless energy, and are prepared to be throughly involved in every step.
 
As mentioned before, the summers in Florida are humid and warm. But that can be the case for any state east of the Rockies. We moved from Portland Oregon to the west coast of Florida and bought a house. We love the area October thru May. Then we begin our cruising season. From late May to mid October we travel up the east coast to Long Island or the Hudson River north. What is very unique on the east coast is the ICW. You can travel from Miami to New York City and never be out in the open ocean. Not possible on the west coast. And the Keys are as tropical as you could want. Also the ocean water is 84-88 degrees! Not the 53 degrees you are familiar with. We love our five month travels during the summers to Norfolk, Washington D.C., Atlantic City, New York, Erie Canal, Port Washington, Newport RI, Martha's Vineyard and all ports in between. You can weekend cruise off the California coast. But on the East Coast you can spend your summers and never visit the same place twice. Also dockage can be $1-$2 per foot. Just keep your cruising guides handy for the best deals. ?
 
O C Diver said:
N4061 said:
From cruising friends that spent months in the Bahamas, it's great their but quickly you focus on the stuff that's not as readily available as in the USA. Food, fresh fruits and vegetables, and meat have been routinely mentioned. For those that have made several extended trips, it's all about provisioning for what's not readily available, fresh, inexpensive. This is very different than owning a house there. IMO, it would be important to see the short comings before committing to a home there.



My plan is extended visits and head back to the states whenever the fun meter started to drop.



Ted
Click to expand...


Great perspective and advice. When you talk to folks who pay the $300.00 entry fee and spend several weeks in the Bahamas what they tell you is how to provision your boat for the trip. Which typically includes 200 pounds of canned goods. I am not sure looking out from my boat at a tropical beach eating a can of beans is my idea of paradise. I'd rather be in the keys enjoying dinner ashore every night along with some margaritas.
Click to expand...
 
Pgitug said:
Great perspective and advice. When you talk to folks who pay the $300.00 entry fee and spend several weeks in the Bahamas what they tell you is how to provision your boat for the trip. Which typically includes 200 pounds of canned goods. I am not sure looking out from my boat at a tropical beach eating a can of beans is my idea of paradise. I'd rather be in the keys enjoying dinner ashore every night along with some margaritas.
Click to expand...
Certainly agree with you for long term stays in paradise.

My vision is less of the canned and possible adding a second freezer for island trips. My limiting factor is more in the salad and fruits department as vegetables and meat can certainly be frozen. The cruisers focusing on canned most likely are sailing with limited freezer space and trying to be energy frugal. My plan more focuses on the 2 to 3 week trips. Bring most of what I need and eat out to enjoy the area and supplement those foods that have a short spoil time.

Ted
 
Things have changed in the Bahamas as far as provisioning goes IMHO. Expensive yes, about double from the US but fresh vegtables and fruits are available as is good quality frozen meats and chicken. The locals have to eat.

Stuff may not be available on every island and every day of the week but the main settlements have supply/mail boats that have a regular schedule. Find out when the boat arrives and usually the next day you're good to go. Canned food, not a staple for us. :)
 
We love all the islands. When we're home, we make regular trips to the Bahamas. Also, some great islands off the Florida coast, both east and west, and south in the keys.

As to living on one of the islands or having a second home on one, we thought about it at one time, looked at a few out of curiosity, but we just don't want to settle for one.

I saw a second freezer mentioned in the thread. Freezer space is just one of the most helpful things one can have.
 
Thanks

Thanks to everyone who has joined in and provided their views. Once we get to this point in our plans we will make the decision then who knows? First thing is to get the boat, enjoy the next five years around southern California then head either south the Cabo or truck the boat to Texas and start the ICW. Time will tell. Thanks again.

John
 
The reason you hear very little about Island Cruising is that it is not a trawler thing. We have spent years now in the Eastern Caribbean and 19 out of 20 boats at least are sailboats. The few cruising sub 55 foot motor boats are full displacement trawlers, basically Nordhavns and Krogens. There is a Nordic Tug (42) which comes down for a couple of weeks every year that is based in the Virgins.

The Eastern Caribbean is not a marina life. You anchor out. You have a good selection for provisioning. Security is an issue depending on both the country and the anchorage. Most of going ashore is during the day. Only a small percentage of cruisers go ashore for dinner at night.. lots of on boat entertaining. This depends on the anchorage.

The distances between islands in the Eastern Caribbean are short, 25 to 30 miles usually. But the seas are high, typically 5-8 feet on the beam for a calm day. Less than 5 feet is the exception.
 
I left 8 months ago, went thru the Bahamas, going the Central America route to Panama for hurricane season, then onto Eastern Caribbean. My wife keeps a pretty extensive blog about it all, including the boat refit and equipment. Check it out if you like.
 
Owner Blog

Sealife said:
I left 8 months ago, went thru the Bahamas, going the Central America route to Panama for hurricane season, then onto Eastern Caribbean. My wife keeps a pretty extensive blog about it all, including the boat refit and equipment. Check it out if you like.
Click to expand...

I just checked out this blog and found it very interesting and fun to read. Thanks for sharing this with us all.

John
 
"In the town I live in, almost 50% of the homes are owned by snowbirds that live here 3-5 months in the winter."

You bet , FL summers are best left to folks born there.

Same weather/climate all up the coast to DC.

I always thought to make air cond illegal with in 100 miles of DC would save taxpayers 2 trillion a year.

May 1 CT, Nov 1 FL works fairly well for us.

Lived aboard for almost 23 years ,( work to eat) so I do not consider a day at the dock to be boating.

Anchored out is boating .

A day spent boating is not deducted from the sum total of your life.

YRMV
 
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FF said:
Lived aboard for almost 23 years ,( work to eat) so I do not consider a day at the dock to be boating.

Anchored out is boating .

A day spent boating is not deducted from the sum total of your life.

YRMV
Click to expand...

Wifey B: Amazing. You like anchoring so that counts, but marinas don't. Not even distant marinas I assume? :confused:

So a day boating is not deducted from the sum total of my life. Does that mean I can deduct the thousands of days, at least 1400 days so now instead of me being 36, I'm only 32? I like that. So it will now take me three years to age one? Oh %^#$@, it doesn't apply to me because we dock at marinas along the way instead of anchoring. :rolleyes:
 
"Not even distant marinas I assume?"

Nope , same dockside zoo, same lack of quiet, lack of privacy , might as well be in a motel.

Dockside IS way better than a motel,( "If we knew you were staying the night we would have changed the sheets") but after a few decades ,for my time , the hook is the place of enjoyment.

You wont see many stars in the cockpit tied to most marinas, or have much ventilation.

With no power hose requirements we don't plug in so the advantage of a dock is the nearby Dumpster.

50 ft @ $2-$5- a foot that's a lot for almost nothing

"me being 36, I'm only 32? I like that"
.
If 70 is the new 50, why not?
 
FF said:
"Not even distant marinas I assume?"

Nope , same dockside zoo, same lack of quiet, lack of privacy , might as well be in a motel.

Dockside IS way better than a motel,( "If we knew you were staying the night we would have changed the sheets") but after a few decades ,for my time , the hook is the place of enjoyment.

You wont see many stars in the cockpit tied to most marinas, or have much ventilation.

With no power hose requirements we don't plug in so the advantage of a dock is the nearby Dumpster.

50 ft @ $2-$5- a foot that's a lot for almost nothing

"me being 36, I'm only 32? I like that"
.
If 70 is the new 50, why not?
Click to expand...

Wifey B: What were those things up in the sky I thought I saw last night if they weren't stars? Sure looked like stars. Darn, you're confusing me.

I don't mind at all you like anchoring, but I don't think you have the right to then dismiss all other methods as not being boating. Why is it that anyone enjoying something in a way different than you is so obviously doing it wrong? :rolleyes:
 
There is NO WRONG, just different styles of boating that for some are more enjoyable.

After two+ decades in the Tethered Village (liveaboard) the seasonal change was always fun,

Summer a mad charge of summer folk up and down the docks , endless boat washing and the usual 3-5 boats actually going out on a weekend the rest,motionless as gin palaces, or cottages.

Also loads of diesel noise and stench as they would attempt to kill the engines with endless running , unloaded in the slip.

Winter the dock becomes nice and quiet and some boats look far better with 3 ft of snow.
Many empty slips , parking near is EZ and the dumpster stays empty longer.

Happily the O'nite prices are now high enough that power hoses , dock lines and dock box contents do not grow feet, as they did in the 60's and 70's.

If boating is food service , tiki bars , pools and tennis courts with cabanas , and a great hoard of folks , that is a great lifestyle for those that enjoy it.

For my water time , the hook is my choice ,

since the boat was outfitted to live silently and well for months , its an easy lifestyle to enjoy..

I delight in the Marina bound folks as it leaves more space in anchorages.

YRMV
 
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