The Bahamas archipelago is renowned to be a true sailing paradise.
Whether you’re doing a yacht charter in the Bahamas for a few weeks or sailing to the Bahamas for an entire season, the marinas you pick can make or break your stay. To help you make the best choices, we’ve put together a guide to some of the best liveaboard marinas in the Bahamas for comfort, services, and value.
When you’re planning your visit, call head for reservations and availability. The Bahamas are a popular cruising destination with a limited amount of dockage for rent. So book early, and don’t rely on e-mail and web forms.
Please note: all rates, unless stated otherwise, are rates published by marinas as of December 2022. Not all marinas publish their rates, and all rates are subject to change. Old or out-of-date rates are not included unless noted.
Exuma Yacht Club : A great Liveaboard Marina in George Town, Exuma Island
23° 30.3′ N
075° 46.0′ W
George Town is the heart of the cruising community in the Bahamas and regularly hosts more full-time cruisers and liveaboards at one time than any other harbor in the islands. Not only will you find lots of social activity, but it’s a good place for supplies and provisioning and good onshore dining.
The town is on the east side of Great Exuma Island, in Elizabeth Harbour, opposite Stocking Island. Most visiting cruisers anchor out in Elizabeth Harbour or the anchorage inside the barrier island. The anchorages and marinas fill fast in season and can be crowded.
The largest marina in George Town is the Exuma Yacht Club, which is open to the public for transient and long-term dockage. Maximum slip depth is seven feet, but they can handle quite long boats. Near the marina is the entrance to Lake Victoria, with dinghy docks and access to the town for grocery shopping, dining and other services.
George Town can be a busy place, but there’s a lot there for the visiting liveaboard. It’s near the major airport (about 7 miles), with plenty of space to anchor in clear water. However, there aren’t great repair facilities or chandleries in the town.
On the subject: How much does it cost to charter a yacht?
Nassau Harbour Club: A liveaboard Marina in the heart of Nassau Island
25° 04.5′ N
077° 18.8′ W
Right in the thick of things in this Bahamas hotspot, the Nassau Harbour club has much to offer the visiting liveaboard. The sixty-seven slips have fresh water and power, and they can take boats to 150. The marina is a short walk from several restaurants, and a short drive to many attractions, highlights, and necessities.
At present, their website has little information on pricing and availability, but we’ve confirmed their operation with visiting boaters. Contact them for more details.
http://www.mosko.com/services/marina.html
Saint Francis Resort and Marina: the perfect Bahamas liveboard to get shelter from hurricanes
23° 31.4′ N
075° 45.0′ W
On the lagoon side of Stocking island, across Elizabeth Harbour from the Exuma Yacht club, St. Francis Resort sits in one of the best hurricane holes in the Bahamas. Protected moorings and slips are available for short and long-term rental. If a storm comes through, this is where you want your boat.
The marina shares the island with a few other resorts and some lovely beaches, and features a restaurant of its own. A dinghy ride of a little over a mile takes you to Great Exuma and George Town if you need more than you can find on Stocking island.
Twenty-two slips accommodate boats from 40 to 80 feet, with shore power, water, and facilities on land for guests.
2023 Rates (40 ft minimum for slips)
40-59ft: US $3.00 per ft per day
60-99ft: US $3.50 per ft per day.
Catamarans: 1.5 X rates above
Mooring: $200/week (no daily rate, 45′ length, 6′ draft max)
Electricity:
30 amp – $50 per day
50 amp service is a flat rate of $110 per day
Water: U.S. $0.45 per gallon ( metered)
https://www.exumayachtclub.net
Read also: Bahamas Sailing: The Ultimate Guide
Harbour View Marina: a great secluded liveaboard marina (Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco)
26° 32.8′ N
077° 03.2′ W
Marsh Harbour is another popular spot for liveaboards in the Bahamas, and Harbour View Marina was one of the nicer facilities in town. But Marsh Harbour was hit very hard by hurricane Dorian in late 2019, and some businesses are still rebuilding.
The docks at Harbour View are rebuilt and ready for guests, but not all the facilities on land are rebuilt. Check in before you book if you’re looking for anything in particular.
Long Term Rates: (minimum 35 feet, price is x 1.5 for catamarans)
High season (January 1 through July 31):
Monthly: $1.50/foot
Three month+: $1.15/foot
Low Season (August 1 through December 31)
Monthly: $1.10/foot
Three months+: $.85/foot
Electric: Metered @ $.75/kwh
Water: $20 Minimum, $3/day or $80/month
Daily, weekly, and extra long rates available, check the website or contact the marina office.
https://www.harbourviewmarina.com/
Read also: Best yachts for transatlantic: our selection and advices for 2023
Staniel Cay Yacht Club: a Luxury liveaboard marina in Exumas
24° 10.3′ N
076° 26.7′ W
Staniel Cay is a small island in the Exumas, with a short village and less than a hundred full-time residents. It has basic services in the village, and is close to several beaches and attractions, including Thunderball Grotto and the famed swimming pigs.
This luxury marina features a hotel, a restaurant, and a recently renovated marina with slips for yachts up to 210 feet, and twenty-one moorings. Twelve feet of water at dockside allows for larger boats and deep keels.
| Dates | Over 100 Feet | Under 100 Feet |
| September 10 to November 19 2022 | $3.50 | $2.50 |
| November 20 to December 15 2022 | $4.50 | $3.50 |
| December 16 2022 to January 8 2023 | $5.50 | $4.50 |
| January 9 to March 9 2023 | $4.50 | $3.50 |
| March 10 to April 16 2023 | $5.50 | $4.50 |
| April 17 to May 25 2023 | $4.50 | $3.50 |
| May 26 to August 10 2023 | $5.50 | $4.50 |
Mooring rates:
Abaco Beach Resort and Marina: one of the largest liveaboard marina in the Bahamas
26° 32.8′ N
077° 02.8′ W
With 200 slips, the marina at the Abaco Beach Resort is one of the largest in the Bahamas. It takes yachts up to 200 feet long, and with a mean depth of ten feet, even large sailboats should have no trouble. This modern marina is state-of-the art, with Wi-Fi, cable TV, and free showers.
The marina is next to the resort, and guests have access to the pools and swim-up bar and other resort facilities. Though this is outside Marsh Harbour on the other side of town, it is protected by an enormous breakwater and has easy access to the lagoon and outer islands.
Ocean Reef Yacht Club & Resort : A Liveaboard marina with good value for money (Freeport)
26º 29.4′ N
078º 39.8′ W
This is a great dockage option in the Bahamas, with nice facilities and reasonable monthly and long-term rates for visiting yachts, with fifty slips available for boats up to 120′. You’ll find on-site showers and laundry, and you can enjoy the pools, jacuzzi, tennis courts, and the bar and restaurant without leaving the marina.
It’s close to Port Lucaya, with car and bicycle rental on-site, with a free shuttle to the beaches and a local grocery. And it’s a quick ride to the airport. Approach is six feet at low water, but deeper draft vessels are fine inside.
Less than 90 miles from the coast of Florida, Grand Bahama is one of the easiest long-term locations to live aboard without sailing deep into the islands.
MONTHLY MARINA RATES
| Length | Rate |
| Up to 42’ | $455 + 55c per kwh used |
| 43-50’ | $555 + 55c per kwh used |
| 51-60’ | $655 + 55c per kwh used |
| 61-70’ | $755 + 55c per kwh used |
| 71-80’ | $855+ 55c per kwh used |
Check their website for daily and weekly rates and availability.
