SMSA ICW Seminar: Topic 9-Helpful Hints & Misc. |
Go To Topic #: |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8+ | 9 | Program |
Leave keys with friend or neighbor so they can check on the house, etc., on a regular basis
Consider a house sitter (be sure to get references)
Mail Forwarding – St. Brendan’s Isle (http://www.sbimailservice.com) excellent service for about $13 per month. They provide you with a street address and box number and will forward your mail to you anywhere you want. Mail can be forwarded to most marinas (call the marina to find out their policy) or to general delivery at various zip codes along the waterway. Be sure the name of your boat is part of your forwarding address and mark “hold for arrival” on package. “Skipper Bob Anchorages” book provides zip codes as does Dozier’s Waterway Guide.
USPS Premium Forwarding Service. $10 to sign up. Will forward mail on a weekly basis, $11.95 per week via priority mail. Get additional details from your local post office.
USA Mail 1 - http://www.usamail1.com/ - provides a US mail address when you are away, will ship your mail anywhere (Bahamas). You can see what’s in your mailbox via computer and arrange for shipment. $49.95 to sign up (includes first 3 months), $9.99 per month thereafter
Food Saver (vacuum sealer) - dramatically extends the life of food in the refrigerator (especially meat)
Pressure Cooker - saves a lot of time and fuel
Teflon Cookware & Utensils – can be wiped with paper towels before washing to save water
Gas Grill – great for cooking in the cockpit and keeps heat out of the boat
Plastic containers (BJ’s nuts) make good boat size canisters and are great for storing flour, sugar, etc.
Filters – simple to sophisticated filters can be installed either in line or on the faucet. We use a simple Brita pitcher for drinking water. Did not have any problems with water along the waterway or in the Bahamas.
Refilling water tanks – from dockside hoses, taste water first. Allow water to clear hose before filling tanks or jerry cans. Consider smaller containers for ferrying to boat in dinghy. To keep tanks sweet, add one capful of Clorox per 50 gallons of water (do not use Clorox in aluminum tanks). (Ladies, if you have hair-color in your hair, you might not want to wash it with chlorinated water – there are tablets that can be used in the tanks instead.)
Dilute dishwashing liquid (means less suds to rinse).
Sunshower (black solar plastic bag) guarantees less water used
Consider saltwater wash and fresh water rinse for both dishes and people
Most marinas have Laundry facilities and it is usually more convenient and safer to use marina laundry facilities rather than “in town” laundromat (hint - M&M mini containers are great for storing quarters).
To wash small items onboard, use a bucket and plunger to agitate. (hint - many marinas frown on hanging laundry from lifelines, etc. You don’t want to look like the “laundry scow” unless you are in a remote anchorage.
In the Bahamas, laundry costs $4 per load to wash and $4 per load to dry
Be sure to have unlimited towing service (Tow Boat US or Sea Tow). There are some very shallow waters along the ICW and an “ungrounding” can be very expensive.
Typical rates for nonmembers:
Time (portal to portal) |
Rate |
Cost |
1.5 hours to scene |
$200.00 per hour |
$300.00 |
10 minute un-grounding |
24-ft @ $20.00 per ft. |
$480.00 |
1.5 hours return time |
$225.00 per hour (night) |
$337.50 |
|
|
Total |
|
|
$1117.50 |
Your cost with Unlimited Towing = $0 – Join Today! |
Give old charts to family and friends so they can track your progress as you go.
Bring along birthday cards, Christmas cards, stamps, address lists, etc. to mail home.
Bring along some boat size Christmas decorations.
Vero Beach has an awesome potluck for Thanksgiving. Reservations are required well in advance. The municipal marina should have details for you.
Have a list of your bills, credit card numbers, telephone numbers, date payments, are due, amount, etc. in case your mail doesn’t get to you in a timely manner or there are problems with your accounts.
If mildew becomes a problem on the inside of your canvas enclosure, try Tilex Mildew Root Penetrator & Remover.
Don’t get locked into a precise schedule to accommodate visits from family and friends. Agree to meet at a certain place or a certain time (wherever you are). Don’t agree on a specific time and date to meet that will force you to take unnecessary risks (traveling in inclement weather, etc).
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CDP) decal is required for boats over 30’ re-entering the U.S. Further info and application instructions are available at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/home.xml. You should apply for this early so you will have it in hand before you leave the States.
Entry Fees For Boats Have Increased to
$150 and Up!
The fee for boaters for boats up to 35 feet is $150.00 and the fee
for boats over 35 feet is $300. These fees are inclusive of a cruising permit,
fishing permit and departure tax for up to four persons with no overtime
charges for Customs or Immigration. Each additional person above four will be
charged additional departure tax. See
http://www.thebahamasguide.com/travel/marinas.htm for additional
information.
Beer, soda, snacks (for Happy Hours), paper products and cosmetics are all quite expensive in the Bahamas. Stock up on these items.