GULF COAST FLORIDA C-BRATS

P

patrick and linda

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LINDA AND I ARE PLANNING TO TRAILER OUR BOAT TO FLORIDA ON OR ABOUT APRIL 13, FOR A, TWO WEEK, STAY ABOARD, VACATION.
I HAVE QUOTES FROM TWIN DOLPHIN MARINA, IN BRADENTON AS WELL AS MARINA JACK, IN SARASOTA. BOTH ARE EXCELLENT MARINAS, EACH OFFERS VERY GOOD AMINATES, AND EACH PRICED ABOUT $750.
DON'T BELIEVE EITHER HAS ON SITE TRAILER STORAGE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO STAY AROUND THIS AREA, SO, IF ANY C-BRATS HAVE ADVICE OR KNOWLEDGE OF ADDITIONAL MARINAS, WE WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATIVE.
THANKS IN ADVANCE.
PAT
 
Pat you dont want to send the whole trip at on resort do you?? leave the marina behind and travel around in the boat. We never atay more then a night in resort tied to their docks when we can swing on the hook. We put into a marina for showers every other day when vacationing, not including c-brat gatherings. Try to figure out a loop or run the longest distance from you launch then take several days to get back. Over nighting in the boat is the best and if susan would just buy me a 25 with a shower I would never tie up to a marina again.. just kidding honey.
 
HI TOM,
THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY.
WE'RE JUST IN THE PLANNING STAGE, SO, ANCHORING IS STILL AN OPTION. I'M NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH THE INTERCOASTAL (ICW) AND WHERE WE MIGHT FIND ANCHORAGE.
OUR GOAL IS TO FLOAT NORTH, TO TAMPA BAY, AND SOUTH, AS FAR AS, PERHAPS CAPE CORAL. ALL DEPENDENT UPON TIME AND WEATHER.
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE TRAVELING AND MIXING UP BOTH ANCHORING AND STAYING IN A SLIP.
I'M SAD TO SAY, WE'VE HAD OUR C-DORY FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AND OUR LONGEST STAY ABOARD IS JUST FOUR DAYS. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!
YOUR THOUGHTS ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE.
PAT
 
capt. patrick campbell":7t3fcb2z said:
HI TOM,
THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY.
WE'RE JUST IN THE PLANNING STAGE, SO, ANCHORING IS STILL AN OPTION. I'M NOT THAT FAMILIAR WITH THE INTERCOASTAL (ICW) AND WHERE WE MIGHT FIND ANCHORAGE.
OUR GOAL IS TO FLOAT NORTH, TO TAMPA BAY, AND SOUTH, AS FAR AS, PERHAPS CAPE CORAL. ALL DEPENDENT UPON TIME AND WEATHER.
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE TRAVELING AND MIXING UP BOTH ANCHORING AND STAYING IN A SLIP.
I'M SAD TO SAY, WE'VE HAD OUR C-DORY FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS AND OUR LONGEST STAY ABOARD IS JUST FOUR DAYS. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!
YOUR THOUGHTS ARE VERY APPRECIATIVE.
PAT
Click to expand...

Hi Pat,

Pick up a cruising guide for the Florida Gulf Coast - that will give you plenty of anchoring options.

Here's a link to some other anchorages in SW Florida...

http://flseagrant.ifas.ufl.edu/anchorag ... entory.php

Nice to mix it up with anchoring and marinas so you get to see more of the area. Sounds like big fun!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Pat,

Those prices are outrages! We rented a camp spot for the camper and had a place to tie up the boat for like 300 a month in Homossassa springs. It was called Camp and Water. You can rent one of their cabins and dock your boat there for far less money. Crystal Springs another inexpensive place to go. Over night docking is available just about any where you want to go. We just left a State Park with showers, electric and water. Hiking trails. $13.50 a night. 14 day limit. The guide is a good idea to cruise anywhere.

Bill and Ell can help out with advice about places to stay or to see. A lot of C-Brats are experts on this area. You will save enough money to pay for your fuel bill. Which is saying something.

captd
 
April is a wonderful month in the Gulf Coast--the water will still be cool in the panhandle. I would suggest doing some real cruising. There is so much to explore along this part of the coast--from the Gulf Coast ICW down thru the Big Bend, and all of the way to the Keys. Except for the Big Bend, all of this is sheltered and easy cruising in a C Dory.

I agree that you will be better served by actually cruising than staying in a marina. The evenings are cool enough that air conditioning should not be necessary, yet the days will be warm.

Claiborne Young's guide to Western Florida is a good place to start. Skipper Bob Publications has many good anchorages. The Waterway guides are also a great set of publications.

You are still being hit with "high season" rates, since many of the boats don't head North Until May or June. "Day rates" in marinas, run from $1 a foot a night ($22 a night) to $2 a foot, so the "monthly rate"--which seems like $34 a foot for the month--that is steep, but not as steep as some of the marinas further South. You may have to add to that a storage lot for the safe storage of the trailer.
 
I have 2 slips with power and water available to traveling brats in Apalachicola City Marina for $0.00 . You can see our town on foot and / or leave a trailer with us for upper gulf cruising from us to tghe west . There are great protected "wilderness anchorages" close as well .Just say the word !!!
Marc
 
Pat and Linda -
You have excellent advice in the previous posts, so we only applaud your decision to do some Gulf coastal cruising -- marvelous water. And -- like the others have said -- anchor out!! Not for the purpose of saving money (that's a side benefit) but for the joy of swinging on a hook in a natural setting, "far from the maddening crowd" -- that's the essence of cruising for us. Have a great time!!
 
thanks go to: tom elliot, jim b. (great web site), capt.d good information,
dr. bob, thanks for the updates and information, by the way, my wife and i have also traveled 41,000 miles together, unfortunately, they are all highway miles, to and from lake cumberland.
marc, "cruise ship #4", what a gracious offer, i and every other c-brats appreciates the invitation you have extended,
c-dawg-e, thanks for the referral web site, i'll use that for sure,
and last but not least, el and bill, always appreciate your information and encouragement.
now, my in-laws live in venice fl. so it's important that we spend some time with them and still be able to enjoy our boat and cruising, so i have secure a slip at the marker four restaurant/marina, located on the icw, in venice fl. they have given me a very good price and have accommodated the storage on my trailer, key to the restroom/shower area and great food and drinks.
hopefully, we'll still find time to anchor out. venice puts us just about where we want to be, our goal is to travel north to tampa bay and south to cape coral or thereabout.
thanks again.
pat and linda
our dates are put in on april 13 and pull out on april 25. any c-brats around during that time, please look us up.
 
Hi--- just a thought, Pine Island - sw Fl. has several motels, Inns, marinas and ramps, also Burnt Store Marina between Punta Gorda and Pine Island has a decent marina, another spot is Everglades City. I have found the area south of Sarasota to Everglades City, to be one of the best economical and less crowded cruising grounds. Then on the other hand, I also like the Panhandle area, especially around St. George Island and Apalachicola( the price is right) Happy hunting--Rich
 
Welcome to the WEST Coast!! This is home for me and the area you will travel is beautiful and great cruising water. When coming South of Tampa Bay you can enjoy all ICW travel behind barrier islands and have minimal travel in the gulf all the way to Marco Island. Stop @ Cabbage Key, its a fun lunch spot which is just a few minutes S of Boca Grande Pass, 1 of the most exciting Tarpon fishing spots in the world. Traveling S from there will take you past Cayo Costa, look for the huge cut in the island, that is where Hurricane Charley made land fall in 2004!! Sanibel/Captiva is next, if you enjoy wildlife visit Ding Darling refuge there. Marina's are a bit $$$ but I think you will find many areas to "hook-up" and enjoy. Even though I am here year round I must say I am a bit jealous!! Have a great time.
 
There is a small marina out on Anna Maria Island, "Captains Marina" they are reasonable, have a fenced area to park boat trailers etc. for a fee of course. The marina itself is quaint Island like laid back, close to shopping, they have a boat ramp, but recommend using the municipal ramp a couple miles away.

It is best to call them, as I don't think they will take reservations, first come first serve. Their number is: 941-778-1977

Just remember they are quaint, no swimming pools etc.

There is a free trolley on the island that will take you on a tour or to shop etc.
 
WARNING! We just got back from a trip to the Gulf. My wife liked it so much the boat, trailer and tow vehicle stayed! We flew home to So Cal. We're going back in May for more boaterhoming.
>
. We'll be exploring more of the west coast of Florida throughout the spring and maybe more in the fall.

We sure owe a great debt of gratitude to those who ecouraged us to go especially our hosts Bob and Marie.

Have fun and anchor out!
 
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