Situation @ Union Jack Dock In Marsh Harbor

[S/V Toucan Dream]

I would like to bring it to the attention of others and start a dialogue about the situation at the Union Jack dock in Marsh Harbor. There are several drunks and now young kids hanging around the dock causing problems. Last year, we were loading our supplies into the tender when one of the local "drunks" (a female) actually opened our case of Kalik Gold, removed two beers and just walked off with them despite our objections. Another drunk was using very, very offensive language on the dock and intimidating the female members of our party. The same year, a friend tied up his tender and was told by a drunk that if he didn't pay him to "watch" his tender, it might float away. He told the drunk that he knew how to tie up a boat properly and went on into town. When he came back, his boat had been released from the dock and would have floated off except for the stern anchor. He had to swim out in his street clothes to retrieve his boat. This year we have heard that the local "crowd" of drunks and kids are now going through the dinghies and tenders looking for valuables while the owners are in town. The police do nothing when called. I complained to Ministry of Tourism but they did nothing. This year, we totally avoided going into Marsh Harbor, the first time in 11 years of cruising. We have other cruising friends that now only go into Marsh if absolutely necessary. We no longer feel safe going to the Union Jack dock.

Something must be done to remedy this situation. The local business people in Marsh Harbor should be aware that they are loosing business due to the situation at the Union Jack dock. Unfortunately, the actions of the drunks and kids at the dock reflect badly on all the people of Marsh Harbor. Perhaps the local business people can persuade the authorities to do something to correct this situation. I hope so because we do miss going into Marsh Harbor, but will not go again until things are corrected at the Union Jack dock.

[Jusbones]

I cannot speak to Union Jack Dock , however, I like to fish Cherokee at least once a year. My good friend from Cherokee always picks me up at the airport, we then head to the nearest beer store, on the left side of the main drag. There are always a group, (last time a group of at least 40 people) out in front of the store, drinking from paper bags, shouting, foul language, with one shouting anti-american slurs.........my point ? If this is the first thing a visitor to Abaco encounters.......how will they view the rest of their visit ? Do they go the Marsh Harbor to shop , eat ? Probably not.............are they concerned for their safety ? Very Likely. Fortunately I was with a native bahhamian so I felt safe. I feel sorry for other travelers and their families.

[PELLUCID]

I agree, the situation at the Union Jack Dock has deteriorated. Building the shelter there didn't help. It just provides shade for the shady characters.

I personally have not had any problems with my boat or supplies being bothered while I'm tied up there. I think that's due to my strong force of personality and somewhat menacing look, if I choose to put it on. I have had to speak quite sternly with the drunks and kids on more than one occasion to make sure that they leave my boat alone.

I've spent time in much tougher neighborhoods on my travels, so it doesn't bother me too much, but I think it has become problem for many visitors at the dock.

[Gumelimi]

It seems things are in rapid deterioration. The battery was stolen off of my skiff in GTC recently. It was tied up in town. I have never had theft off of my boat in 8 years. The trend is worrisome.

[DaGoose]

Forgive my ignorance but is the Union Jack dock the one near Rainbow rentals?

Tina

[SamFamAustin]

Forgive my ignorance but is the Union Jack dock the one near Rainbow rentals?

Tina

Pictures, please! It would help to see what we got here. You know, 10,000 words, right?

[patw]

Yeah, that's the one if Rainbow is still located in the same place. Union Jack is where the workers catch the first ferry of the morning to come to Guana.


Forgive my ignorance but is the Union Jack dock the one near Rainbow rentals?

Tina

[Long Look]

One member of our party usually stays with the boat at the union jack dock. If we are going anywhere as a group in marsh, we usually go tie up at a marina with a restaurant and ask if we can leave the boat there for a while after we have eaten. On one occasion at the union jack dock our rental boat was being moved by the guy who helped tie up boats for tips, he lost control of it due to the high winds and the boat floated over against the rainbow rentals docks.

[islandfever]

Toucan Dream are are right on! I assume this is Bob who has extensively cruised the Bahamas for many years. In May I complained about this problem while I was there. I have cruised the Bahamas for thirty years. My wife took our dinghy into town to do laundry so I was left without transportation on my boat. I watched through the binoculars as kids were rifling through dinghies left at the dock. They were looking under seats, consoles etc. obviously for valuables. When people came back to their dinghies, including my wife, they would also get aboard the dinghy and demand a "ride or tow." This is dangerous! My wife refused to move until they got off our dinghy. I called an adult at a local business situated close by and they just laughed it off. Shame on me for thinking an adult would assume responsibility. Another boater finally called the police. I also called Patty at Blue Dolphin about the problem. The police finally came and ran the kids off, but they were back within an hour. Future calls to the police were ignored. I watched this behavior day after day while anchored close by. We quit using Union Jack for this reason.

[floridaskater]

I think Clint Eastwood is needed for this situation.

[SamFamAustin]

I think Clint Eastwood is needed for this situation.

Charlie's Angels could kick some serious Ess too, ya know! :D

[Long Look]

Is this what your thinking :)

[DaGoose]

THAT is GREAT!

Tina

[S/V Toucan Dream]

Island Fever, you are right, this is Bob and we have cruised the Abacos for 11 years. We don't go to Nassau because of the crime and now we won't be going into Marsh Harbor because of the crime. Last year I complained to the Police and to the Ministry of Tourism about the Union Jack dock situation. Neither did anything. I also spoke with Patti Toler and she spoke with the authorities and nothing was done. However, we have been informed that they did build a shelter at Union Jack dock which has just added encouragement to the problem. The perps now have shade and protection from the rain. I believe the purpose of the shelter was for those using the dock, but no cruisers or local Bahamian boaters are using the shelter due to intimidation by the perps. I believe that the only way this problem will be solved will be for the local businesses to push the issue. They are loosing business and need to get involved. Just look out at the harbor and see how few boats are there during the peak summer season!!! :(

[ReadytoEat]

If you walk through their lot then you are behind Bristols Liquor store diagonal to the traffic light. I guess we were lucky because we were moored and buying supplies. The ferry came and went without any problems. On 7/7/09.
:eek:

[tommybahama]

We agree with all of you on this. Just returned on Saturday from a 10-day trip to Abaco. On a few occassions we went back into MH to meet with friends and pick up supplies. There were a couple people on the Union dock that were sitting in the shade and jumped up and ran out to meet us as we approached. We changed course on both occasions and went to one of the marinas instead. We ended up provisioning in Hope Town in the end. It seems to be an 'easy fix' opportunity for the local authorities. The police station is less than a mile away.

[Patti Puzo]

We agree with all of you on this. Just returned on Saturday from a 10-day trip to Abaco. On a few occassions we went back into MH to meet with friends and pick up supplies. There were a couple people on the Union dock that were sitting in the shade and jumped up and ran out to meet us as we approached. We changed course on both occasions and went to one of the marinas instead. We ended up provisioning in Hope Town in the end. It seems to be an 'easy fix' opportunity for the local authorities. The police station is less than a mile away.

By the way, welcome to the fun forum! What kind of shirt are you wearing?;)

[tommybahama]

By the way, welcome to the fun forum! What kind of shirt are you wearing?;)

Thank you, Patti. I'm an Abaco man, no shirt on me. ;)

[Agurs Wish]

The first time we took the dinghy into Union Jack Dock in 2004 we hauled out the chain and lock we had been using on the East coast. The people on the dock just laughed at us and said "Put that away." We have been based out of Hope Town and Guana the last few years and haven't taken the dink in at Marsh Harbour. Sad to hear about the changes.

[SamFamAustin]

As I grow older, my tolerance for public nuisance gets less and less. We have people who come to party on our island street end (in Texas) and they trash the place, fish, play boom boxes, litter everything from diapers to condoms to needles, and party until 3 in the morning. I know the feeling. Us old farts are rebelling!

On the other hand, as a kid I remember hanging out by the wharves, fishing, and trying to cop a free cold beer. We must have looked scruffy with our wild hair, and we did strange things like shoot water rats with pellet guns so we could get a bounty. The older folks would see us ... and run like heck! I admit, some of us looked pretty scary and gnarly and some couldn't complete a sentence without the "f" or "s" word. But us kids were pretty good, really, and when a boat needed a good scrubbing or a haul out or to crew on a fishing or sailing boat, we were all business and happy. In fact, the cops liked us OK because we saw everything, and even reported some thieves because we knew if we didn't, we'd be blamed. This would be the early 70s.

Today, we see sometime different. It's hard to say that even though they're scruffy and talk foul language, they're "good kids at heart." The stories I hear, like "pay me or the turtle dies" or "gimme a ride or I cut loose your boat" are quite alarming. I think the community needs to think about that.

Funny thing, we never asked the government for a shelter or a job or anything. We wanted to rig sailboats, clean and paint boat bottoms, varnish brightwork, get a rope out of the propeller, clean fish, wax the topsides, anything to make a few bucks so we could sneak a beer or go on a hot date. It was hard, nasty work but we were GOOD. The dockmaster ruled and would point out the good kids for a job. Nowadays, the marinas are all commercialized and nobody likes the urchins and the old men who told "yarns" without end while nipping on a bottle.

Hmm, a dockmaster. Every quay, wharf, and landing should have a dockmaster. They collect any landing fee, keep the peace, watch the boats, and call the cops if anything looked wrong. And yes, they watched us kids while we threw lines, pumped fuel, and hauled luggage or groceries for a small tip. The absolute worst thing was to be "banned" for a week or forever. The dockmaster ruled supreme, more power than the police!

Tink on it mon.
sammie :)

[BahamaAngie]

Soooo, are they getting badder???? Or is it just that we are getting older and remember the "good old times?" And you being younger than my generation, we remember even more?