boat ramps

[janec62]

We just bought 2019 22 foot C-Dory. My question is does anyone know of overnight boat ramps in Florida, We are in central Fl

[Cjames]

Congrats JaneC62.
I am located in St Pete. I suggest you check the county park sites in areas that you plan to visit. That is who manages most of the ramps in Pinellas County. If it states open 24 hours, you are allowed to park overnight. There are 4 or 5 around this area.
https://www.pinellascounty.org/park/parkingfees.htm

[thataway]

On the St. John's River, near Deland off Hwy 44, just beyond the bridge is Ed Stone Park. There we have left our truck and trailer for up to a month. Park on the grass near the highway, leave the marked trailer slots for day use. I advise to avoid early Sat Morning. Launch the night before!

We feel that the St. John's river is one of the best cruising grounds in Florida. We have boated from the outskirts of Orlando to the Atlantic Ocean at Jacksonville. Each March there is a C Dory gathering at Hontoon State Park--about 5 Miles South of the Ed Stone ramp. From the Villages you just go North to Hwy 42, and follow it until it dead ends into Hwy 44, then over the bridge and turn Left immediately to the ramp. Probably not more than an hour drive from Villages to Ed Stone park.

In our area of far western Florida--most of the ramps allow parking for long periods. I happen to use the one in Alabama just over the state line, off Hwy 98.
There are a number of ramps in the Panhandle which are safe and good places to leave the rig.

As you go further South and to the Keys, ramps are a bit more of a problem--and you may have to find a place to park the rig. Exceptions are often the Florida State Parks. Some will charge a daily fee for parking at the ramp.

[gulfcoast john]

Congrats JaneC62! This list may be useful though not exactly what you’re looking for. Hope it’s helpful anyway. Bob nailed how great it is cruising on the St J river from Ed Stone.

Here is our Cat O’Mine updated (as of Q1, 2022) list by State of marinas with adequate boat ramps for a TC255, nearby rig storage, and transient slips if you get there late. That combination works best in our experience as the starting point for a one-way Cruise or Loop segment. Our intent here is to provide a potential list for larger trailer boats. The nature of this beast is such that current info does NOT age well, so ALWAYS call to confirm current policies. I read that Safe Harbor bought up over 200 marinas, so you can imagine how policies can change quickly.

We have personally launched at or visited them all, except as noted. If you can offer current updates or changes, please reply or PM me so I can update our list. Thanks for those who have previously done so (esp Molly Brown crew on their Florida Loop).

We currently recommend https://www.neighbor.com for private rig storage options for a $20 cost if you finalize.

For public transportation options between the put in and take out towns, we like https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Buffalo/Clay
This example shows all choices between our Pirates Cove, NY put in and the end of the West Erie Canal at Tonawanda, NY for our summer 2021W Erie Canal/Finger Lakes Adventure.
Our pre-COVID default was Enterprise, now Forget Them, they won't pick you up and may have a Major airport car one way for more than it costs to fly and ten times more than Amtrak + Greyhound bus.


FL Key West.
Garrison Bight city mar, hose to rinse trailer brakes and engines
Garrison Bight Marina
Very safe. 40 foot trailer boats launch. Rig storage $10/day dual axle trlr, $15 triple axle, $10 truck but limited spaces, choose a weekday. Only ramp in Key West for a TC255


FL KEY WEST military.
NAS Key West, Boca Chico marina may fill 12 mos in advance, $1/ft 30ft min, free rig storage on access road. Bus to downtown.
Dinghy ramp only, launch large trailer boats at City Marina ramp, Garrison Bight. Sigsbee Annex on Dredger Key marina has a shallow ramp, no rig storage or transient slips.
https://www.navymwrkeywest.com/programs/2e66f2c5-f885-481a-8c48-74255891a53b


FL Cudjoe Key, Cudjoe Gardens Marina.
Cudjoe Gardens Marina – – A full Service Marina –
Tricky nav out into the Atlantic side. Call re rig storage, sometimes defers to other innovative spots like behind the seafood shop.


FL Marathon 33rd st ramp.
8 spaces, store rig at Briers trailers, rate depends on length, fills early. RV Parking | Boat Storage
Faro Blanco resort and marina nearby, no trlr storage, 2 pools, Lyft around.
Florida Keys Marinas | Marina | Faro Blanco Resort & Marina

FL Tavernier, Islamorada Key, Founders Park.
Single steep ramp, you may scrape at top, fills up early. Pool and rig storage.
https://www.islamorada.fl.us/departments/plantation_yacht_harbor_marina/index.php



FL Biscayne Bay.
Herbert Hoover marina. 6 ramps, kiosk payment, call re rig storage, seems to vary.
Herbert Hoover Marina


FL W FL Calusa Island marina.
TC255 launch requires medium to high tide.
Goodland, FL S of Marco Island, good folks who will work with you.
Safe Harbor Calusa Island


FL W FL Punta Gorda city marina (Laishley Marina).
Good ramp and 300 ft day dock while you go store the rig.
Laishley Park Municipal Marina - Punta Gorda, FL
Lyft 3mi to Crystal Cay for rig storage vs Frequently Asked Questions

FL W FL Ft Myers Punta Rassa ramps.
3 day max pay at kiosk.
Rig storage downtown FM RV Storage Works monthly but prorated, cheaper options exist further out from town.
Covered & Open RV/Boat/Storage,
https://www.leegov.com/parks/Pages/FacilitySP.aspx?UrlSuffix=puntarassa


FL W FL Anclote key, Tarpon Springs, Anclote River Park ramp.
Kiosk up to 10 days rig storage.
Anclote River Park

FL PANHANDLE Apalachicola city ramps.
Free, no security, no utilities at city marina, limited city wall dock.
https://search.yahoo.com/local/s;_ylt=A0geKYw.8nRgw_MAaAxXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Nj?p=apalachicola+florida+marina&selectedId=215383931&fr=mcafee
Also consider…
Water Street Hotel has limited slips, power, showers, city lot in front, walking distance to ramp. Strong tides perpendicular to short docks.

https://www.choicehotels.com/florida/apalachicola/ascend-hotels/flf48?pmf=yext&mc=llyxyxpx

Last there in 2015.

FL PANHANDLE Pensacola.
(per Bob Austin) Pensacola Shipyard and Marina, has a security guard, and safe parking. $5 launch includes a day parking. For long term trailer parking is $65. I believe that $5 a day for short term parking--until you are at the $65.
Pensacola Shipyard, Boatyard & Marina

FL PANHANDLE Pensacola Military.
Pensacola NAS Sherman Cove Marina 4ft shoaling, day rig parking only, shore power inop since Sally.
NAS Bayou Grande Marina (sailboats), seaplane ramp, $300,000 liability insurance with ‘wreck removal’ with marina named as ‘additional insureds’ transients required for both, inquire at office re temp rig parking. DoD cardholder required in vehicle to sponsor guests with RealID state drivers licenses to enter base.

https://www.navymwrpensacola.com/programs/85528ed5-8ceb-48c9-a843-28d3f3364c0f


FL Okeechobee canal, Indiantown Marina. See rig storage page.
https://search.yahoo.com/local/s;_ylt=A0geKYw.8nRgw_MAaAxXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Nj?p=apalachicola+florida+marina&selectedId=215383931&fr=mcafee


FL E FL St John river south of Astor.
Ed Stone County park and ramp, long term rig storage in grass by Hwy 44, free launch and parking, sheriff patrolled. No C-Brat issues over many years. Steep & deep ramp, a TC255 outboards are in the opposite channel weeds before getting off the trailer, but worth it. No transient slips at the Park, but available at nearby marinas.
https://www.volusia.org/services/community-services/parks-recreation-and-culture/parks-and-trails/park-facilities-and-locations/ecological-nature-parks/ed-stone-park.stml

FL E FL St John river (3 miles south of Ed Stone ramp), Hontoon Landing marina. Scary steep single ramp, rig storage and transient slips for reasonable fees. $5 pump out. C-Dory owners are cheap (like me) and prefer Ed Stone park for free.
http://www.hontoon.com/

FL Okeechobee canal, Franklin lock and ramp. Call for rig storage advice, informal.
Cruisers Helping Cruisers

FL (military) Jacksonville NAS marina. Good ramp, newer floating docks and transient slips but no formal rig storage on base. We used the ruse of putting the trailer ‘for sale’ in the Lemon Lot for a month with the truck parked near the BOQ. Nearby commercial rig storage options.

TN Cumberland River headwaters, Defeated Creek marina & ramp.
Huge ramp launches houseboats. Rig storage. Great start for a one-way Cumberland, Land Between the Lakes to Tenn river ‘U’ cruise to Huntsville or Knoxville.

http://www.defeatedcreekmarina.com/marina.html

AL Huntsville, AL Tenn River.
Ditto Landing. Free rig storage, roving security, transient slips.
Ditto Landing Marina

MS Ocean Springs City Marina/ramp. Call re back lot rig storage. Occasionally very low tides in winter at ramp.
https://marinas.com/view/marina/63c4mn2_Ocean_Springs_Small_Craft_Harbor_Ocean_Springs_MS_United_States


SC ICW Waccamaw Pawleys Island (city).
Wacca Wache marina, wicked current except at slack tides, see river tide charts. County lot for informal rig storage 2 blocks south.
https://waccawachemarina.com/


MD military Chesapeake Bay NAS Patuxent Marina.
Small ramp we have visited but not tried, free rig storage. Call prior for current info.
West Basin Marina - Patuxent River


MD Chesapeake Bay, Solomons.
New state ramps at north end Hwy 4, boat around to Calvert Marina $1 w BoatUS, allows rig storage 3 wks per R-27 Trilogy on TugNuts.com (2019). More complex logistics than we like.
http://www.calvertmarina.com/

MD Chesapeake Bay, Olverson’s Lodge marina, Yeocomico River. Deep ramp for up to 40 foot trailer boats and rig storage.
Boat Sales | Olverson's Lodge Creek Marina |


NY E Erie canal, Clay, NY
Pirates Cove Marina 5 STAR EXPERIENCES 2019, 2021, owners live nearby. Use this for Triangle Loop and/or W Erie and Finger Lakes to Tonawanda, Greyhound back. Good gas stop.
Between Locks 23-24, close to 3 Rivers Junction @ Oswego Canal
Pirates Cove Marina — a full service marina and repair facility


NY Seneca Lake South end.
Allan Treman State Marine Park (don’t confuse with State Park with same name but no marina). NO float-in transient slips, you must reserve online in advance. 14 day rig parking at kiosk by ramps.
Allan H. Treman State Marine Park


NY W Erie Canal, Macedon Landing (previously Mid-Lakes Macedon) marina.
Adequate ramp, large rig storage lot, transient slips not always available, call. Now a canal boat rental operation as well. Good gas stop.
https://eriecanaladventures.com/portfolio/

NY W Erie Canal West End County Park, 3 miles east of Tonawanda, just backtrack.
West Canal County Park free ramp and marina.
Utilities, large parking lot, steep & deep ramps look short but ideal for a TC255 and all free. Call Niagara County sheriff dept for rig parking. Alt N Botanical Garden ramp (City) expensive season pass, poor condition and 1 mile east of Tonawanda town walls.
Niagara County Parks & Golf Courses > West Canal Marina

Happy Planning and hope this proves useful soon in your own cruising!

John and Eileen

[janec62]

Thank you all. Maybe we will meet on the water someday .

[ssobol]

If you're in the Finger Lakes area in NY, you can park for free for 14 days at Seneca Lake State Park (just pay the launch fee). This gives you access to Seneca Lake, Cayuga Lake, and the Erie Canal.