Launching at small powerboat at Turtle Cove Marina. A boat is
the perfect way to explore the dozens of small islands or "cays"
in the Turks and Caicos Islands. |
Interested
in
getting to Providenciales by
boat or yacht?
Exploring the dozens of small islands in the Turks and Caicos is only
possible via boat.
Boating is a part of life for many residents and the government has
recognized this by having a reduced customs duty rate of 11% instead of
the usual 33%. This makes owning a boat more affordable.
There are several marinas on Providenciales, most of which have slips
for launching trailered boats and sell fuel. See below for a list of the
island's marinas.
Before embarking on your voyage, make sure to have the necessary safety
equipment aboard. Equipment you should make sure to have is a VHF radio
and life vests for all passengers. You should also see the owner's
manual that came with your boat for specific tools required.
Boat Charters
If you'd rather relax and have someone else, just contact one of
the boat charter firms below.
Renting a boat
Few companies rent boats on Providenciales. This may be due to the
challenging waters surrounding the islands and the likely chance of
damage by inexperienced captains.
SeaDoo jet boats can be rented from Sun & Fun Seasports, with sizes
ranging from jetskis to 8 passenger jetboats. Jetboats are fast, but are
also expensive to rent and consume fuel rapidly. An advantage of
jetboats is their shallow draft which allows them to go into shallow
water without risk of damaging a propeller.
16' Skiffs can be rented from Windsurfing Provo on Grace Bay. A skiff is
a flat-bottomed shallow boat, normally powered by a low-power outboard
engine and steered by a tiller. Like jetboats, skiffs have a shallow
draft, but do have a propeller that can be damaged by contact to sand or
stone. The skiff's flat bottom also makes the boat less stable in waves.
However, skiffs are inexpensive (compared to the other options) to rent
and operate.
Check out our
water sports on Providenciales
page for contact information for Sun & Fun and Windsurfing Provo.
Important
Note: Jetboats CANNOT be operated in the national parks, which includes
the entire north shore of Providenciales and the iguana islands. There
are hefty fines payable if you are caught!
Buying a Boat
The full details of purchasing a boat is beyond
the scope of this article, but here are some general tips.
1. There are two types of engines on smaller boats: outboards and
sterndrives. There are pros and cons with both types, but outboards seem
to be preferred by the majority of boat owners here.
2. There are two hull types. Flat bottom boats like Skiffs have a
shallow draft, handle rougher in waves, and are not as comfortable to
operate. They are also less expensive. Vee-hulled boats cost more, have
a deeper draft (usually between 2 and 3 feet), and handle better. They
also (usually) have bigger engines.
3. There are two common seating layouts on the vee-hulled boats: centre
console or fishing, with the steering wheel in the centre of the boat,
and bow-riders / cuddys with more car-like seating with the steering
wheel on the right. Centre consoles are better for fishing as there is
walking access all around the vessel, but bow riders are arguably better
for cruising.
4. Boats can be purchased locally, but there is normally a limited
supply available. Is is not difficult to import a boat from the
limitless supply in Florida. Shipping costs for a small powerboat is
usually $2000-3000.
5. Unlike the usual 33% import duty, boats and marine supplies only 11%
duty.
6. Boat registration and insurance is not required for small pleasure
boats, but is available. Registration costs $500 for five years and
insurance is normally about 9-11% of value a year.
7. If you will be fishing, a fishing license is mandatory.
For more regulatory information, contact the Maritime Unit at (649)
941-3148, and DECR at (649) 941-5122.
Charts
Proper charts are a necessity for navigating among the
Turks and Caicos Islands . The foremost publisher is Waveyline
Publishing (
http://www.waveylinepublishing.com),
based in Grand Turk, which sells detailed charts of Providenciales and
Grand Turk, plus overview charts of the complete Turks and Caicos
archipelago. These charts can be purchased locally for $30 from Walkin
Marine, so there is no reason to leave without one aboard.
Electronic charts containing Waveyline data are available for Garmin GPS
chart plotters with the Bluechart Americas mapset, versions 7.5 and
above. Paper charts can be ordered from Waveyline directly, and can be
purchased on Providenciales from Walkin Marine.
Boating Supplies and Repair
Walkin Marine
The primary outlet for marine supplies on Providenciales, including
Perry Topsider boating shoes. Located inshore. Also services
outboard-engine boats. Dealer for Boston Whaler and Mercury.
(649) 946-4411
Downtown |
Caicos Marina and Shipyard
Facilities for repairing large vessels, marine diesels, and inboard,
outboard and i/o engines. Located on the southern shore.
www.caicosmarina.com
(649) 946-5600
Long Bay |
Osprey Marine Services
Aluminum welding. Located inshore near South Dock.
(649) 946-5122
South Dock |
Tibor's Machine Shop
Steel welding and machining. Located inshore, mobile service
available.
(649) 941-5802
Industrial Park |
Providenciales Marinas
If you are arriving by boat, call ahead on channel 16 before arriving as
customs officials are not stationed permanently at all ports.
Turtle Cove Marina
Large marina located on the northern side
of the island.
www.turtlecovemarina.com
(649) 941-3781
Turtle Cove |
Leeward Marina
Marina component of Leeward developments.
Construction work underway to develop this marina in the prime
pleasure boating marina on the island.
www.leewardtci.com
(649) 946-5000
Leeward |
Southside Marina
Located on the southern shore.
www.southsidemarina.com
(649) 946-4200
Southern Shore |
Caicos Marina and Shipyard
Located on the southern shore, has
extensive repair facilities.
www.caicosmarina.com
(649) 946-5600
Long Bay |
South Dock
Government operated dock used by
freighters. Located near Sapodilla Bay.
(649) 941-8950
South Dock |
Heaving Down Rock
Not a marina. The western end of Leeward Highways ends in a concrete
slipway used by locals as a free launching spot for boats, and by
interisland freighters.
Leeward |