Commercial Center

Marsh Harbor on Great Abaco is the commercial center for the region and has the greatest concentration of population.  The harbor itself is broad, rather open, and not particularly inspiring.  Local attractions are not spectacular enough to make you flock to this anchorage.  Because it has an airport and is home to The Moorings, you are likely here because this is where you start your charter.  It is, however, the best place in the region to provision.

Getting There

You will likely arrive in the area by air, and for that, you must arrive in Marsh Harbor.  Marsh Harbor (MHH) is serviced by the American Airlines and Continental feeder system several times daily through Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach hubs.  It is only a 40 minute flight.

If you are arriving by boat from another region, go to the waypoint at N 26° 33.130 W 77° 04.110', then head south before making the eastward turn into the harbor, leaving the two flashing green lights to port.  Do not venture too far to the right, as there is a shallow spot that extends out a long way.  

Head right in and drop the hook anywhere in the large harbor.  You would be well advised to anchor near the dock you plan to use to come ashore.  You can get quite wet in the dinghy from all the chop that forms in the harbor on windy days.  There is a public dock (a.k.a. Union Jack dock) on the south shore that provides the shortest walk to the supermarkets.

You can also tie up at any one of several marinas - they include Marsh Harbor Marina, Conch Inn Marina (The Moorings base), Mangoes, Harbor View Marina, Port of Call, and Abaco Yacht Haven.  Fuel, water, and power are generally available at most of them.

Ashore

You are most likely here to start your charter and probably provision.  There are several excellent “big-box” supermarkets to choose from, including Solomon Brothers, (wholesale and bulk), Golden Harvest (burned down last year but plans for rebuilding are in the works), Sawyer’s Market, and Price Right.  A&K Liquors on the main drag can provide everything you need to stock your liquor cabinet.

There are a half dozen banks in the area with ATM machines that are connected to either the Plus or Cirrus networks.  They spit out Bahamian dollars and withdraw from your home account, performing the currency conversion at the most favorable rate.  You will want to make certain you withdraw your cash in Marsh Harbor, as there are no ATM machines anywhere else, and given the number of establishments that do not accept credit cards, you do not want to be left short.

There are a number of restaurants in Marsh Harbor, and most are quite decent.  I would not specifically recommend any in particular as being outstanding; it seems that the restaurant scene is not particularly well developed as a result of low patronage.  Worth mentioning however, are Wally’s, Sapodilly’s, the Jib Room, Mangoes, and Conch Inn.

Taxis are generally available anywhere in Marsh Harbor, but you can radio them on VHF 06.  They can take you around Great Abaco Island for a day trip.  Treasure Cay, Cooperstown, Little Abaco, Little Harbor, and Cherokee Sound are all accessible by car.  You can alternatively rent a car, mini-bike, or bicycle in town.

The Conch Salad

At the head of the dock at Harbor View Marina, a local fellow named George prepares a real Bahamian delicacy - the Conch Salad.  He slices and dices all the ingredients right in front of you.  Then he pulls out a live conch from the water and hammers a small hole in the end that enables him to insert a knife to release the creature from the shell.  Finally, he cleans the conch before dicing it for the salad.  It’s absolutely delectable!  Do not leave without trying it.