Marsh Harbour

Marinas near Marsh Harbour

Introduction:

Marsh Harbour is the largest town on Great Abacos Island (third largest in the Bahamas island chain). Here you will find a great variety of shopping, dining, marine and provisioning opportunities, along with the deepest and best-protected harbor in the Abacos.

If you need repairs done to your boat, the Marsh Harbour Boatyards have an 85-ton lift to facilitate haul-outs and repair service. A multitude of other marine facilities, including marine electronics repairs, line the harbor at every corner. Marinas are especially well set up to handle transient guests with laundry facilities, showers, pools, restrooms and other conveniences.

Need groceries? There are three excellent supermarkets in Marsh Harbour, each offering a different variety of produce, meats and dry goods. For restaurants, you will have about 50 to pick from with dishes that range from locally famous conch fritters to more upscale continental seafood and prepared meat dishes. If you are unsure which one to pick, ask a local, and you will generally get pointed the right direction to suit your needs.

Navigating the Water:

As visible in the image above, Marsh Harbour has a long, dredged cut that leads from the Sea of Abaco into the harbor itself. While this passage is specifically designed for the cruise ships and ferry boats that dock at the commercial wharf on the west side of town, it is not the specific channel into Marsh Harbour.

On approach from the Sea of Abaco, Outer and Inner points must be given a wide berth to avoid accidental grounding. Outer Point comes first if you are approaching from the north and is marked by a flashing green light. next comes Inner Point, which also has a flashing green light on its western end.

Within the marked passage into the harbor (visible as darker water on the left [east] side of Marsh Harbour), you will find generally good depths of 6 to 8 feet. A line of green and red buoys will lead you in from the Sea of Abaco.

Once inside the main harbor, you will find depths of 8 to 10 feet, a sand bottom, excellent holding, and great protection from just about every direction. If you do drop the hook, do try and keep clear of the main passageways into the harbor and leave adequate swinging room between your boat and the other guy’s. If you decide to tie up for the evening (or longer), there are many marinas ashore that cater to transient boaters cruising the islands.

Local Notices to Mariners:

See our “Local Notices to Mariners” blog for updates on the latest conditions and advisories for this area.

Things To Do/Local Events:

Aside from snorkeling, beach combing, sailing, and other water activities, there is an active and vibrant calendar of other scheduled events in the Abacos and Marsh Harbour. See our “Helpful Links” section below for a detailed calendar of events.

Transportation:

Marsh Harbour International Airport in the Abacos, and there are several major airlines that provide daily commercial jet service to and from the airport. You can also schedule connecting service with smaller charter airlines to some of the out islands in the Abacos that have appropriate landing facilities. American Eagle, U.S. Air, Bahamas Air and Gulfstream Airlines are the largest carriers at the airport.

Taxi service and limited shuttle service is available out of the airport and into the main portion of Marsh Harbour. Marsh Harbour International is about three miles from the Marsh Harbour waterfront.

Helpful Links:

Islands of the Bahamas Tourism

Guide to the Abacos

Abacos Calendar of Events

Marsh Harbour Airport