Opinions

[Happy Hour]

My wife and I have been visiting the Bahamas for many years and have recently been contemplating purchasing some property there. All of our previous visits have been by boat and we have stayed aboard while visiting the islands. I don’t know if we would be happy if we were staying ashore. I am sure that at the very least that it would be a different experience.



We really like Treasure Cay for its convenience and accessibility. We were thinking about a canal front condo with a dock where we could keep a small boat. That way we could fly back and forth for long weekends and holidays. I was looking for some input on the advisability of keeping a 20 footer (or so) in the water there year round. My concerns are theft and storm damage.



Our home, our business, and our boat are located in south Florida. I don’t want to sound like a pessimist but… A bad storm could wipe out the business, sink the boat, trash our home, and damage the Abaco property. I believe that Treasure was hit twice in the recent past, 1999 and then in 2004. I’d be interested in hearing opinions regarding ownership and other peoples’ experiences with rebuilding and insurance issues.

[Tingum]

I suggest that you rent a home like you would consider buying in various locations before you jump in and purchase. All they Cays have a different personality. Do you have friends anywhere?
Keeping a boat in the water is fine; that is where they belong. The Bahamians have been doing it forever. There has been a rash of boat thefts from Treasure Cay in the past year. Check the Abaconian.
Yes we have hurricanes. However I would much rather experience one in the Bahamas than in the states. The Bahamas seem to recover quicker and the power is not off as long as in the States. You do not have the Gestapo preventing you from returning to your home. Finally there is less junk flying through the air to cause additional damage. Don't expect a boat to survive a major storm neglected at a private dock.
Just my opinion.

[Yellow Hanna]

Happy Hour, sounds like life in da Debil's Triangle, hey? and Habaco in da bullzeye. good advice from Tingum 'bout renting b4 buying cuz hits easier to buy den sell.

[Pappysland]

My parents had a simple cabin built by the locals on Dickie's Cay, MOW, in 1956/57 and it has withstood all sorts of hurricanes, including Floyd in '99, with no damage. They bolted everything together so nothing blew away. Only thing we've had to do is repair a couple of shingles and restain after one of the recent hurricanes because the wind sort of sandblasted the siding so the stain was partially blasted off. They know how to build to withstand those major hurricanes.

[Happy Hour]

Well I just learned a very valuable lesson. When preparing a posting of more than a few words, type it offline first. I just spent about 15 minutes replying to those of you kind enough to offer your advice only to have my work disappear and be told I had to log in again.

I was born and raised in south Florida and have weathered many storms here. Recently though they seem to have become more fierce and more frequent. So I’m just trying to be prudent. I have been fortunate enough never to have suffered any serious property damage though.

Over the years we have visited most of the major islands/island chains in the Bahamas. We have spent time in the Berry’s, on Grand Bahama Island, New Providence, the Exumas, Bimini, Crooked Island and of course the Abacos. We’ve been to Green Turtle, Guana, Treasure, MOW, Elbow and many parts of the big island. For our lifestyle and needs we think we prefer TC. The beach, marina, airport and proximity to Marsh (just close enough) seem to work for us.

We are based near Ft Lauderdale and like to pop back and forth so flying is the easiest option for us. That’s why I’d like to have a small boat handy. It currently takes us two long days to get here by boat. We don’t really know anyone on island yet but I am sure we will meet people and make many new friends.

[lodderena]

We built a home in Treasure Cay in 1971 and have experienced a few bad hurricanes--Floyd in 1999, which almost totally destroyed the house and then Frances & Jeanne 3+ years ago, both of which did significant damage. We are located on the Windward Beach. We also live in South Florida, so, as you would, go through the worry of losing 1 or both places. We have made 3 insurance claims on our TC house because of storms and have had very positive experiences in getting fair settlements--unlike our claims due to Wilma here in S. FL.

Because our home is so close to the Sea of Abaco, I didn't feel safe enough to stay there during Jeanne (happened to be in TC by myself), so used a Royal Palm condo for 2 nights. Other than feeling like I'd been through a car wash, I was extremely impressed with how the boats were tied off in the marina--owners and Mike Sawyer made sure all the boats were properly looked after. So, if you choose to keep a small boat in a canal and know how to properly tie it down for a storm, I imagine you'd fair OK. You could also, of course, find someone to look after your boat in your absence.

Good luck making this decision. After 36 years of being part of TC, I can't think of a better place to spend extended periods of time!

[Happy Hour]

I remeber driving up the road by Windward Beach in 03, there was a home that had been trashed by a storm probably Floyd. My wife fell in love with the place even in that condition. This winter we passed by and the place had been fixed up and was on the market. Unfortunately its a little pricey for us.

[lodderena]

Floyd was in 1999, so you probably saw damage from Frances/Jeanne. I believe a few homeowners put their houses on the market after those 2 storms--ours isn't 1 of them, though. We have the Abaco spirit that makes all of us want to be there!!