Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island : Profile

Location

Marsh Harbour, described as the "Hub of Abaco", offers most of the services a yacht might need, with a good choice of marinas, boat storage, hotels, restaurants and provisioning. Haul-out facilities are available.

The entire island of Great Abaco also offers interesting exploration by vehicle, from Crown Haven in the north to Hole-in-the-Wall in the south. The famous Abaco Parrot can be found in the Abaco National Park near the south end of the island.

Clearance

Fly Q-Flag and alert Customs via Marina or VHF. Officials are reported to be very friendly.

Customs
Government Dock, Modern yellow office
Tel:242 367 2522/2525

Immigration
Same office as above
Tel:242 367 2536/2675

Docking

Be sure to take the correct channel in to the harbour and not the commercial dock. A total of eight new channel marks are planned to replace the poles now marking the Marsh Harbour commercial entry channel.

Getting into Marsh Harbour is easy, but you will not see the actual anchorage until you’re close, because it is hidden behind the corner. Anchoring is possible anywhere inside the harbour in sand and mud (good holding) and it's a short dinghy ride to the dinghy dock on the south side of the harbour, for garbage and a short walk to the shops. Be sure to lock your dinghy and outboard when ashore as there have been several cases of theft here.

The marinas most useful for cruising sailors are Boat Harbour Marina (outside the Marsh Harbour Bay), Conch Inn Marina (Moorings base), Harbour View Marina, Mangoes Marina and Marsh Harbour Marina.

Last updated October 2008

Abaco Beach Resort Marina
P.O. Box AB 20669, Marsh Harbour, Abaco
Tel:(242) 367-2158, Fax:(242) 367-4154, VHF Channel 16
marina@abacoresort.com.
Sheltered on the southeastern shore of Marsh Harbour. 190 slips. New fuel dock, cable, telephone, and electricity hook-ups, pool, tennis court, bicycle rental, showers and laundry, bar & restaurant. 2010 rates: $2.75 p/foot p/day winter)$3.25 (summer).

Abaco Yacht Haven
Tel:242 367 3079
14 slips.

Boat Harbour Marina
Outside the Marsh Harbour Bay, Close to Elbow Cay
Tel:+242 367 2158, Fax:+242 367 4154, VHF Channel 16
marina@abacoresort.com
All facilities, 190 slips with cable TV, telephone, electricity hook-ups. Min depth 10ft, max. length 200ft. New fuel dock with multiple stations. Water, ice, showers, laundry, bike rental, gas refills, liquor store, dive shop, two swimming pools, free use of watersports equipment, tennis court, etc. Restaurant and bar.

Conch Inn Marina
P.O. Box AB 20469
Tel:242 367 4000, Fax:242 367 4004, VHF Channel 16, 82 (for charter boats)
themoorings@batelnet.bs, or, bahamas@sunsailnet.com
This is the Bahamas Moorings Base. 80 slips that can accommodate vessels up to 60m and 3m draft. Electricity, cable tv and water at the dock plus unreliable Wi-Fi. Fuel, laundry, water & ice, showers, swimming pool, small store, dive shop, b-b-q site, restaurant and shops. Airport and ferry to Great Guana Cay close by.

Harbour View Marina
E. Bay, P.O. Box AB20902
Tel:242 367 3910, Fax:242 367 3911, VHF Channel 16
info@harbourviewmarina.com
Slips with long (30m) piers accommodate unlimited beam and 2,1m draft at MLW. Max. length 60ft. Cable TV, phone and Wi-Fi Internet at each slip. Fuel (high speed at the head of the pier), electricity, water/ice, showers, laundry, restaurant nearby and pool. Private access only.

Mangoes Marina
Tel:242 367 4255, Fax:242 367 3336, VHF Channel 16 'Mangoes'
mangoesabaco@batelnet.bs
30 slips. A very pleasant marina just 5 min. from town, but mainly for long-stay boats. Call ahead for space. Water, ice, electricity, showers, laundry, swimming pool, b-b-q grill, tv hook up, waterfront restaurant (with dinghy dock for customers). Free Wi-Fi available on the dock.

Marsh Harbour Marina
Pelican Shores, PO Box ab 20578
Tel:242 367 2700, Fax:242 367 2033, VHF Channel 16
jibroom@hotmail.com
68 berth marina. Depth dockside at low tide. 7ft. Fuel dock (0800-1700 daily, visa and mastercard accepted), water, ice, electricity, showers, laundry, wet storage, fax & cable tv. Seafood restaurant (closed Mon & Tues) & bar. Transient to long-term dockage available.

Port of Call Marina
(formally Triple J Marina), Bay Street, Marsh Harbour, Abaco
Tel:242 367 2287(dock) / 2163 (office), Fax: +1 242 367 4885, VHF Channel 16
26 slips. Depth dockside 5ft. Unlimited water for $5 if you're taking on fuel at the dock. Showers & laundry. Marine Store. Electronic repairs (Pat Fladden). Other boat repairs possible soon.