MarineMax Vacations just announced at the Miami boat show that they’re opening a new charter location at Boat Harbour Marina, part of the Abaco Beach Resort, on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. The new operation, with crewed and bareboat power charters, will open on April 1.
The Abaco Beach Resort is in a prime location on the Bahamas’ Out Islands, just 165 miles off the coast of Florida. I’ve been there several times, and it would be hard to find a better, or easier, place to unwind and relax. The resort and marina, pictured above, are in the little town of Marsh Harbour (pop: about 6,000), which has the only stoplight in the Out Islands; it also has plenty of stores for provisions, waterfront bars, boutiques and basically anything you need to enjoy a great charter vacation. Marsh Harbour also has an international airport, with flights from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte and Nassau.
Boat Harbour Marina is the largest in the Bahamas, and is a great starting point for fishing and cruising expeditions. The water color is beautiful, the breezes are warm, and the many beaches in the area are white and inviting. A note of caution from someone who’s been there: In places the water can be thin (gorgeous, but shallow) so keep an eye on your chart and your depth.
MarineMax has a power charter fleet running from 36 to 48 feet. And its prices are reasonable: You can charter a bareboat 43-foot power cat with three cabins and three heads, for example, for a week starting May 6 for $10,661.
A personal note. The last time I was there the chef cooked a mahi mahi that I had just caught that afternoon for dinner. I had never tasted anything better. Read more:
