Where To Boat in Florida

[Gazmn]

Hi All,

I'm considering a trip from NY to Florida during the February winter break [3rd week in February]. My wife's a teacher and this is our only window.

Any thoughts on how far South I need to go to enjoy some warm boat camping?

This would be my first serious road trip and any advice & sites would be appreciated.

-Gaz

[James V]

What do you want to do? Spring break is quite crowded with the major area's. Be prepaird for bugs, crowds and STRONG sun.

Link - http://www.cruisersnet.net/index.php click on the side bar for areas.

Sometimes the wind and rain will last all week long or at least 2 to 3 days. One needs to plan for that.

Temps - just a few degrees differance north and south, it depends on what you have been through.

Someplace nice and calm, Do the Okeechobee waterway. Park at any of the lock camp sites. It can get crowed so have 2 anchors, bow and stern.

A little more extreme is the Everglades.
Juat want to hang on the boat and have an Island, Cayo Costa north of Ft Myers.

Marathon in the Keys, anchor on the other side of the bridge.

Check the KOA's in the Keys for truck storage and boat storage.

Tampa Bay is nice as well.

If you have a good dinghy and can handle a mooring ball, John Pennycamp in Kay Largo is good, To much traffic at the dock. Call first.

Get some cruising guides, When the weather is nice I have never had a bad spot.

[Retcoastie]

In the north I would recomend St Johns River. In the south Biscayne Bay. Both have great sailing, are generally along I-95, and are near major cities (attractions) if the weather turns crappy.

[R Rae]

With the way the Jet Stream has been lately, I'd suggest going a little further south to ensure "enjoy some warm boat camping?"
On previous cruises down near Appalachicola (the Big Bend area on the Gulf) we have wakened up to find a frost covered boat. That was in the 1st week of March........!!!

My choice, but further south for you would be Flamingo State Park in the Everglades. In Feb. the bugs are minimal

Have a safe trip

Ron

[eric3a]

..

[Gazmn]

Thanks for the ideas guys

I didn't think about the crowds But that's okay.

While I/we don't have a lot of time, 1 week. I want to get a feel for driving/towing from NY to Fla. Ultimately, I'd like to cruise the Bahamas as James is

This is really my first year as a boater & sailor. And while I won't jump before I'm ready, I bought this boat because it's my vacation getaway at home. And I can trailer it and eventually, jump off from Florida into the Bahamas.

The Keys may be too far for my first trip.
I will keep St Johns in mind RetC.
Ultimately I Will look to go as far South as is necessay to enjoy warm boat camping.

First step will be a good detailed map of Florida

A full enclosure would help with the bugs and weather but don't have one as yet. Hope this will inspire the admiral of its necessity. We do have a dodger, bimini and a boom tent.

Hey does anyone know if they make a fine mesh sheet I could throw over like a boomtent?

-Gaz

[eric3a]

..

[Divecoz]

20 X 20 Gazebo-cover is a great idea Eric3
GZMN from what I am seeing from Bay-side NY to even Miami is in or around 20 + hours behind the wheel X 2 . . .There. . .and back
Do the Keys with no less than 2 weeks. losing 4 days out of 7 doesnt work for me .

[eric3a]

..

[Chinook]

Regarding warm weather boating in Florida, I definitely agree that the further south the better. We were surprised to see how far south the cold fronts extended in Jan and Feb. Flamingo is a great place to launch a Mac. Nice, reasonably priced marina and ramp and secure, no charge parking. Waters are very shallow, but that's what our boats are for. The Florida Keys and the Everglades coast are accessible from there.

When shopping for bug netting, be sure to get No-seeum netting. We bought ours at Seattle Fabric. It's a finer mesh than mosquito netting. We noticed that, when we put our cockpit no-seeum net up, those bugs that were inside tended to immediately try to get out, and crawled around on the inside surface of the netting, instead of bothering us.

[Gazmn]

Great ideas one and all. Especially Eric's Gazeebo. Divecoz is spot on regarding my time - distance continuom

So I'm going to wait for when I have more time. This might even mean waiting for retirement but that's hopefully within the next 2 years.This will be a dream on hold - but not indefinately

I am having some serious cabin [no Sailing] fever. And can't afford another charter after doing one this past August.

But thanks for all the ideas guys. Keep the dream alive

[Tom Walsh]

Gaz
Don't give in, you deserve your time in the sun sailing in leisure on tropical seas. I see 1 week vacation as 9 full days, 4 to travel and 5 for sailing,squeeze in another day and you got 4 and 6.
2 great posibilities; Singer Island West Palm Beach
sailfish marina, great beaches warm water, you might get a cold night but chances are better that you will not, if you do it won't last long. It is the jump off point for crossing the stream to west end Grand Bahama they have free storage for the trailer, a parking space, great restaurant, and fantastic beach a short walk away.
option #2 the keys , the safest and best slips in the keys are at Bahia Honda state park. free boat ramp and trailer parking, beach right at your slip. $2.00 a foot a night. short ride to many attractions including Key West. Sail Hawk channel out 10-12 miles to the reef, tie up to a free mooring , snorkle , have lunch and sail or motor back.
If you choose option # 2 I will see you there , the admiral and I have a reservation for the week of the 18th of feb. google Bahia Honda state park. check out bootkeyharbor.com
Tom

[opie]

Tom,
Premature to ask since you are there now, but please do a trip report for us on your stay in Florida when you get back!
Thanks!

[nchogberg]

I sail out of Biscayne Bay from Black Point marina.

I would highly recommend that. You can sail in the bay to Elliott Key, Boca Chita Key, Key Biscayne and Miami. Also there is great snorkling on the Reefs just on the other side of Elliot Key called Bach Shoals. The reef is in about 20feet of water with the coral coming up to about 4 feet from the surface.

That way you can sail all around the bay and stick your nose out in the Atlantic to get some "ocean" sailing.

Also Pennekamp is about 30 miles from the marina. You could do that in a day.

Nels

[Tom Walsh]

Opie
Sorry for the delayed response. When I got back from the keys I had to leave again for NH due to a family emergency, all is ok now.
I am hesitant to keep praising Bahia Honda, the slip space is limited and there will come a time when I can't get a reservation because the word is out, the place is ideal for boat camping. WE HAD A GREAT TRIP. Weather kept us in one day, but got in some good day sailing and a dive on looe key reef.
Seas can really kick up in the winter but most times
it is nothing a mac can't take. I haven't sailed the gulf side or done any fishing,I just love to do hawk channel on the ocean side. Beaches are great, a nature center, and island exploration by bike or kayak are also activities available. See rules and
check out pics on the web site.
Tom Walsh