If you plan your trips right....
$150 x 2 for customs. (Plan $60 RT cab ride from the closest anchorage
to US Immigration... anchorages in SFL are rare... otherwise plan 50 a
night minimum for dockage....Free water at most places in the US.... you
better need some real supplies to make it worth the return trip)

Water (cheapest on Freeport and Nassau). 20-55 cents/gallon otherwise
(2-5gal/day if you can do the sal****er-fresh rinse thing) If you have
a LARGE tank.... it may be cheaper to get a slip in GB or NP...many
docks have unlimited water for a slip fee on those two islands. In a
pinch, most larger boats would give you 10-20 gallons in jerry jugs if
asked nicely... (We burn through 40 a day but most large boats have the
ability to make much more than they use)

Garbage dumping... typically $5/bag.

Groceries Similar to US in GB and NP, 1.5 to 2x as you get away from
those islands. Stay away from the resort grocery stores...(Sampson,
Cat, walkers, etc) They remind me of a cross between 7-11 and Neiman
Marcus.

Watch the fishing/conching/crawfish laws... they have been enforcing
them lately. (FINALLY...)

GAS - $3.00 and up /gal (GB and NP again, cheapest-Outer islands $4 ++)

Sailboat parts.... $$$$$$$ and scarce outside of NP and GB....bring all
the standard parts and tools.

As mentioned... Beer is expensive.. Rum is cheap. Coke is expensive...

Laundramat machines similar to US.

During the Hurricane season, ALWAYS know where you would go once you got
the word... Also have a backup plan... Most of the best Hurricane holes
get REALLY crowded. Bring LOTS of line and several anchors. Even West
Marine in Fort Lauderdale ran out this year... the tiny stores in the
Bahamas can't supply a fraction of the demand before a hurricane.

Don't forget the Buffett and Marley CDs and the Randy Wayne White Books!!!

Have Fun....

Warm Beer and Bread they say can raise the dead but it reminds me of the
menu at a Holiday Inn...

Ed







Doug Dotson wrote:

wrote in message
ups.com...

If you where headed there for a year and did not plan to buy one meal
at a resturant or bar, 26ft sailboat, shallow draft, what kind of money
would you need?


American money works well If you are not planning on eating at
restaurants then food isn't all that expensive. Staples that the locals
use on a regular basis are the same or cheaper than in the US. Coconuts
are free as are grouper and crawfish. Rum is cheap. We baked bread
every other day for next to nothing. Fresh vegies are a bit high, but
worth it.


assuming you anchored out, never at a marina, returned
to Florida once every 3/4 months for supplies and had a quite hurricane
season?


Well, Florida and the Bahamas had "quite" a hurricane season this year.