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Norman’s Cay Marina

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by Pascal, Mar 13, 2021.

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  1. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    This long awaited project has been open for a few months and while not finished it is a good spot to hide in a blow

    we went it for the first time today to pick up some guests. It s about a 200’ walk from the basin to the airport. Speaking of which the runway has been expanded to 5000’ and can now accommodate pretty much all biz jets.

    entrance to the marina basin is pretty straight forward although there are 2 unmarked pilings in the cut from the bank which appear to be in the middle of the deeper water. I left them to port coming in but starboard would have worked.

    Marina has fixed docks, and can accommodate boats at least 120/130’. About 10’ MLW in the channel and basin.

    the answer on channel 16 and the dock guy, Smokey, was very helpful with lines and helping out transfer luggage with a golf cart

    Pick up fee was $150, in line with many places. Dockage is $7 a foot.

    it is still a bit of a construction site although they have worked on landscaping. The project will eventually include a boutique resort. 4CC14275-5EF3-4FEE-9B0E-41AECD91CDD8.jpeg DADBEB66-DD4E-424E-8BFA-359992AE4B6A.jpeg 88C53584-8C75-459D-A8BF-9857E10B5A41.jpeg
  2. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    So happy to see it open and building. We actually looked at it when it was available, although not seriously, more like window shopping, and we were afraid it was going to be taken completely private. I know for fishermen it's a place of many great memories.
  3. Maxwell

    Maxwell Senior Member

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    Looks amazing Pascal. Did they have to land somewhere else in the Bahamas first or are you able to somehow clear in there if flying from US?
  4. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    No at this point there is no Customs at Norman’s. All planes have to clear elsewhere on the way.
  5. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Commercial charters from Opa-locka stop at Fresh Creek, Andros on their way in. Private planes may stop there or Nassau.
  6. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Makers air from FTL exec to Staniel usually stops at Andros or Chub.

    they claim that eventually when the project is finished incl the resort they will have customs... not holding my breath. It would make more sense to have customs in Staniel considering the traffic.
  7. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    You can have Customs and Immigration meet you at Norman's for a fee (I recall it was about $2000). We did this 4 times in January.
  8. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Was that marina or air? I'm sure it's the same either way, but just curious.
  9. Maxwell

    Maxwell Senior Member

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    $2K to save time and a cycle on the aircraft may be worth it...
  10. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    Mostly air- we had several guest changes. But I did have them clear us out on the boat as they were clearing the aircraft out on the last day.
  11. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    Don't quote me on the price- I made the initial contact and then the flight department handled the charges.
  12. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Thanks for the information as we often have guest changes and in the total situation, the charge would be relatively insignificant. I've had customs agents drive fairly long distances but not had one travel when they'd have to by water or air.
  13. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Timely posting. Thanks, Pascal.
  14. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Most of the time our guests fly to GGT if their plane is too big for Staniel. Otherwise it s only an 80nm round trip to Nassau...
  15. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    You're mixing up Walker's Cay with Normans Cay. Fisherman never visited Normans Cay, unless smuggling drugs for Carlos Lehder was their business. Walker's Cay is the fishing hotspot on the very Northern end of the Bahamas that is also supposed to re-open.

    $7 a foot sounds steep considering it's just a marina with nothing else there. I have met Mike and took him for a sea trial on a 45' Sportfish his boss was interested in a few years back, very nice guy.
  16. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    You are correct that I was mixing information but I thought Norman's was also a fishing spot, even though not at the level of Walker's. As pretty much a non-fisherman, my knowledge in that area is limited and our true fishing experts are not with us on our current cruise.

    Still I think, based on what I'm hearing, you're underestimating what is going on and planned for Norman's Cay. Whether worth $7 a foot, likely not yet, but they're smart to charge based on what is coming rather than to have to raise it later. Most won't balk at it.
  17. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    At this point the only appeal to docking there is to pick up and dropping guests or getting shelter during a frontal passage. There are limited places to hide from W thru N in the northern exumas.

    Now, once they have the resort built and everything nicely landscaped it will appeal to many, just like Highbore does.
  18. aeronautic1

    aeronautic1 Member

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    Can you get a burgoo at MacDuff's?
  19. motoryachtlover

    motoryachtlover Senior Member

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    I assume you mean a burger. Yes you can. It is a nice setting with good food but you have to wait a bit.