How far to your boating waters?

Larry Patrick · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 2:02 pm Post subject: How far to your boating waters?

We have a slip at Erie for the season its 5.5 hrs. Last year at finger lakes only 2hrs. Didn't realize until driving that far that wish boat was closer ,but not to many closer options. With a busy work season we have only got there twice. Wish it was 1/2 hour away,we would be on boat 4 or 5 times a week. Going to try and get up there every other week from now on. Any one else travel regularly as far as we do? Sure would be nice to be close to boat.

thataway · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 2:44 pm Post subject:

75 feet from breakfast room, where I am sitting to dock. Boating was so important in my life, that for the majority of time, my boat in a slip was less than 20 minutes from my home or work--often 10 minutes. One of the reasons for us to retire in Florida, was to have an affordable home on the water.

We have some folks who drive from Atlanta GA. to Pensacola, FL--it is probably about 5 to 5.5 hours. That is a long time, and dedication to boating!

ssobol · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 2:45 pm Post subject:

Our usual launch places are 50 miles (~1.5 hours) and 80 miles (~2.15 hours) one way. That doesn't include the hour it takes to pick up the boat from the storage lot.

The closest suitable place to boat is 45 miles away. but we don't often go there.

Because of my work travel we typically use the boat about once a month for a couple of days.

ssobol · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 2:48 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 4:27 pm Post subject:

BrentB · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 5:43 pm Post subject:

For us, it is 1100 miles from Indy to second home on Charlotte Harbor. I visit 3 or 4 times per year and The Admiral a lot more and all ready to go boating. Once there. it is about 50 feet from back door to the boat on a lift and about the same to other dock on a canal. Cant wait to move there for good or sell and move to the ICW

localboy · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 6:31 pm Post subject:

Less than half an hour to the ramp in Everett.

AstoriaDave · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:42 pm Post subject:

Fifteen minutes to any of four different ramps, all usable, any tide. But we measure our rain in feet, most years, not inches or millimothers.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:49 pm Post subject:

Down 9 steps from our deck to the dock. Like Dr. Bob, it is the reason we built a vacation home (now, our only home) in the Tropical Tip of Texas. The house is on a canal that leads to the Gulf ICW.

For full disclosure, we are currently boatless. So, when we are there, it is still convenient for tossing in a kayak or SUP.

When we had the home in the frozen northland, we were two hours from a marina on a lake. Drove there most summer weekends for a lot of years. It meant yard work and other chores had to be done after work on weekdays so we could have that escape time on the boat. There is something to be said for living close to (or next to, or ON) your boat. Wink

Sunbeam · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 7:59 pm Post subject:

Thousand miles or so in one direction or another Laughing

(There are places to boat closer, but I like to stay out for awhile and am not much of a "day sailor.")

When I do go out for a day type thing, it tends to be in a kayak or rowboat.

I grew up on the water with the dock just steps away - that was special and I only got out of the water when I had to. Now I travel to water but boat in a variety of places. Both nice in their own ways.

capt. meares · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 8:36 pm Post subject:

8 miles from the house to the ramp, 10 miles south after crossing the bar to the best fishing around.

El and Bill · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 9:21 pm Post subject:

Retired early, sold the house, after a few years cruising in a small r.v., we bought a boat, moved aboard and our home was on the water for many years, all over our country. El and Bill

South of Heaven · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 8:17 am Post subject:

Larry: Your slip is 5.5 hours away from you? That definitely seems like an inconvenience. Especially if you need to get there quick to check on the boat before/after a storm.

My slip is 40 minutes from my house. Next season I'm considering getting a Boston slip which will be 20 minutes away from me, especially if I buy a 25.

Larry, I just checked the map. You live in Dallas, Pa correct? Would putting your boat in Long Island, NY or the Jersey shore be a viable option for you? Those areas are only 2.5 hours from Scranton.....Way better than 5.5!

potter water · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:48 am Post subject:

200 miles to Yellowstone, 189 to Flaming Gorge, 300 to Pen O Reil (sp) or Cour D Alane, 400 to Lake Powell, but being retired gives me time and choices. I can also get to Washington State and Southern California in two days. Retirement is great. BUT, I'd love to walk out my door and down a dock to my boat.

rogerbum · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:53 am Post subject:

For me, it's not how far is it to boating waters but rather how far is it to good fishing waters. My boat spends half the summer in Neah Bay and half in Ilwaco this year. Both are about 4.5 hours away. While there is fishable water only 20 mins away, the number and quality of fish is so much better that it's worth the extra 4+ hours drive each way (for me). But you have to be crazy about fishing to understand this. Laughing