Hello. I am considering living on a boat in Bonaire. Are there many liveaboards? I've read the cruising guides. The moorings seem like the best bet. Is there any anchoring? I have lived on a boat in the Virgin Islands. Think I would prefer "out of the huricane belt".
Many thanks. JoEllen Blanchard

Moorings or one of the marinas are your only options on Bonaire. Anchoring is strictly forbidden unless your boat is under 12 feet long :-) in which case you can use a stone anchor.

JoEllen,

The current issue of the Bonaire Reporter lists 62 liveaboards at Bonaire; in 'high' (hurricane) season the number sometimes exceeds 100.

George and Laura Desalvo, the publishers of the BR, are at least temporarily land-based cruisers; you might want to email them at the address on the BR online edition home page at http://www.bonairereporter.com/ for leads to a boat there. And comments on the liveaboard scene. Like so many, they stopped on their way to somewhere and are still there.

Also, I know that the cruisers there are active on the Caribbean yacht radio net so maybe you could contact others that way. They must have web presence too, in today's world.

Glen, the lightbulb in my head just went on...embarrassed to even admit to this, but it never dawned on me that folks were anchored down in Bonaire to remain clear of the tropical storms that cruise the Caribbean! Duh! That makes sense. I always thought they were all there because the loved Bonaire and wanted to be there just to be on Bonaire. I do read the list of who's in "town" in BR but I did not notice the list growing longer during the hurricane season. I will now! LOL.

Thanks for another tidbit of info I would not have known if it werent' for this great board and its participants' insight and knowledge!

You can tell I am forced to be a landlubber....would love to experience living aboard a nice craft someday. Carole

Speaking of this topic,

Who is "mushi mushi"? That Catamaran is always in BON but says it's from my former home, St. John's Antigua. Just curious.

Annie

Port trivia:
For some unexplainable reason, I’ve been tracking the “Vessels Making A Port Call” in the “Bonaire Reporter” for the last 3 years.
I’ve noted approximately 1080 different vessel names since January 2001, and 7 that have essentially been listed every week for all 3 years: Guaicamar I, Macaby, Mushi Mushi, Sandpiper, Varedhuni, Zahi, & Zeno’s Arrow (plus, Our Confidence, but it dropped off the list as it dropped to the bottom).
Weekly averages (by month):
Jan 78
Feb 79
Mar 79
Apr 67
May 66
Jun 59
Jul 64
Aug 72
Sep 85
Oct 110
Nov 74
Dec 78

It's OK Chet, counting stuff is still allowed. So what does it mean when the boat's name is in italics?

I wonder if these vessels have to leave the hook on some schedule to be allowed to remain?

I still have an old Port of Call somewhere....

Hello. Thank you all for the info. Anyone have a boat for sale on Bonaire? Two stateroom minimum. Flex. on power or sail. Prefer diesels. Harbour Village Marina looks beautiful, any first hand info.? Are the moorings in safe, clean water? I look forward to hearing from you. JoEllen Blanchard