Florida Sailing Grounds???

[Inquisitor]

Could you recommend some good sailing grounds in Florida? I'm familiar with Pensacola and Jacksonville (a little). I'd imagine the Florida Keys might be the best, but I'm wondering if I were to slip my Mac at some location, how much variety (of the weekend sail variety) I'd have from that port.

Thanks

[kmclemore]

Well, before you go, how are you fixed for detergent and scrub brushes?

[Chinook]

We found the Keys interesting, but we didn't like the dominant presence of that highway. You can't get away from it, and it becomes a nuisance when you try to go from inside to outside waters. It's nice to be able to cross back and forth, depending on the area and wind conditions, but unless you're near one of the 2 or 3 high bridges, you have to lower your mast to change sides. We only sampled a little of what Florida has to offer, but we did enjoy the stretch between Flamingo and Everglades City. Very remote and interesting waters.

[alanmoor]

We spent Christmas week in the keys. We started at Pennekamp State Park, and it was nice and quiet there. You had to motor a bit to get out to the ocean though. Also, as someone else posted it was a ways to get to a bridge to cross to the gulf side. It was very quiet while we were there.

We spent the majority of the time in Key West. We found OK sailing there, and lots of stuff to do if the weather wasn't good for sailing. It is more expensive though. If I went back I'd probably spend the extra money and get a slip downtown, we stayed at the cheaper marina on the east end of Key West. It had decent facilities and stores close by, but it was a bit of a walk to get downtown.

In both locations everything is shallow!

[Sumner]

We found the Keys interesting, but we didn't like the dominant presence of that highway. You can't get away from it, and it becomes a nuisance when you try to go from inside to outside waters. It's nice to be able to cross back and forth, depending on the area and wind conditions, but unless you're near one of the 2 or 3 high bridges, you have to lower your mast to change sides. We only sampled a little of what Florida has to offer, but we did enjoy the stretch between Flamingo and Everglades City. Very remote and interesting waters.

Have you written up your Florida/Bahama trips like the Alaska and Sea of Cortez? I've looked, but can't find anything and would love to read your trip reports, especially to Florida,

Sum

[Chinook]

I'm afraid I didn't start doing detailed logs with pictures until the Alaska cruise. I do have lots of pictures of our time in Florida and the Abacos, as well as some notes, but not enough to really recreate the trip. My solution: return. We hope to cruise the Exumas next spring, and if those plans materialize, I'll be sure and add another chapter to our cruising logs.

[Sumner]

I'm afraid I didn't start doing detailed logs with pictures until the Alaska cruise......

I sure would of like to have read them.

.... My solution: return. We hope to cruise the Exumas next spring, and if those plans materialize, I'll be sure and add another chapter to our cruising logs.

I'll look forward to those ,

Sum

[DaveB]

That could take up lots of pages but since pictures are worth a 1000 words you can visit my site photos on many places West and East Coasts South Florida includeing Keys.

http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x25/dbarni/

Many of these trips wer with the WCTSS, West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadren.
Dave

Could you recommend some good sailing grounds in Florida? I'm familiar with Pensacola and Jacksonville (a little). I'd imagine the Florida Keys might be the best, but I'm wondering if I were to slip my Mac at some location, how much variety (of the weekend sail variety) I'd have from that port.

Thanks

[Inquisitor]

That could take up lots of pages but since pictures are worth a 1000 words you can visit my site photos on many places West and East Coasts South Florida includeing Keys.

http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x25/dbarni/

Many of these trips wer with the WCTSS, West Coast Trailer Sailing Squadren.
Dave

Thanks, I'll definitely take a look at those tonight. I see you're in Cape Coral. Do you mind me asking...

* When you go to the Keys, do you boat or trailer down?
* Do you slip your boat or your dock off the back of your house?
* What are the marinas like? costs and ammenities?

[paj637]

Dennis,
Take a look at Golden Ilses Sailing Club out of Brunswick, GA. They do alot of coastal trips from Charleston to Daytona. I think the SE GA/JAX area has more to offer than most. We have the St Johns, the barrier islands (Jekyl, St Simmons, Cumberland, Amelia, Big/Little Talbot ) and the ICW. And a trip to the keys is a 10 hour trailer pull south.
Phil

[DaveB]

We Trailer with our boat in rear yard, we usually go down to the Keys twice a year. Once at Homestead ($15 a day and anchor out or get a slip in Elliot Key (think $12 a night) we do that trip Late Dec. to Jan.1st.
Other trip is in June and go to Pennikamp, we launch our boat there and get a slip with elect. for the AC, (costs around $30-35 a day to launch and get a slip).
Pennikamp has some excellent reefs to snorkle in cristal clear waters, Homestead also has very clear water and we Cruise Biscane Bay, Card Sound, Little Card sound and go to the many Islands, for Fire cookout or nature walks.
I also hear Black Point is a good Launch.
Much less expensive in upper Keys and snorkling is excellent.
Dave

Thanks, I'll definitely take a look at those tonight. I see you're in Cape Coral. Do you mind me asking...

* When you go to the Keys, do you boat or trailer down?
* Do you slip your boat or your dock off the back of your house?
* What are the marinas like? costs and ammenities?

[James V]

It really depends on what you want to do and how much money you want to spend. Any bigger body of water is good. Lots to do. Take you pick. You could spend years and not do them all.

My suggestion is to get a few and see what the weather is like and go to that one.

Check out the cruising guides for different locations.

[Sumner]

................or get a slip in Elliot Key (think $12 a night) we do that trip Late Dec. to Jan.1st.
Other trip is in June and go to Pennikamp, we launch our boat there and get a slip with elect. for the AC, (costs around $30-35 a day to launch and get a slip)......

Good info Dave, thanks . Does the State Park at Pennikamp have a ramp and/or slips? I can't find that info on their site. Do you have more info on where you do launch and where the slip is at Pennikamp? Also any info about slips at Elliot would also be appreciated. When you go to Elliot where do you launch? We know about the one at Homestead is that what you use?

Thanks,

Sum and Ruth

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[DaveB]

Pennekamp Marina phone # 305-451-6316.
The Marina operates separate from the Pennikamp State Park but you have all the privalages of the State Park.
They have two great boat ramps with about 8 slips for overnight with AC (cost around $30-35 a day for everything includeing the slip) you can just pay the day park fee for launch and not do the marina slip. You do have to go to end of parking area and put your trailer on side of road if you stay overnight or more.
Elliot Key Marine is run by the State, doesn't cost anything to dock in a slip for the day but you need to pay on a honor system for the night Aprox. $12 includeing tent camping,cold showers but leave with all your trash.
You can Launch at Homestead Minisiable marina (Great and big,just before the Race Track) for around $12-$15 a day and sail the approx. 8 miles accross to Marina.
Dave

Good info Dave, thanks . Does the State Park at Pennikamp have a ramp and/or slips? I can't find that info on their site. Do you have more info on where you do launch and where the slip is at Pennikamp? Also any info about slips at Elliot would also be appreciated. When you go to Elliot where do you launch? We know about the one at Homestead is that what you use?

Thanks,

Sum and Ruth

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[Sumner]

............ you can just pay the day park fee for launch and not do the marina slip. You do have to go to end of parking area and put your trailer on side of road if you stay overnight or more..............
You can Launch at Homestead Minisiable marina (Great and big,just before the Race Track) for around $12-$15 a day and sail the approx. 8 miles accross to Marina.
Dave......

Thanks Dave!! I guess the real question I forgot to ask about both of these places is how long can you leave a vehicle/trailer and how much is that a day if you remember. I think right now if we cruise the area by Card and north and south of there we would probably put in at Dade Marina. We plan to start the trip over at Port Charlotte and will probably launch from ALL AMERICAN COVERED BOAT STORAGE ...

http://www.aaboatstorage.com/

...as they have good long term parking rates of about $75 for a month. The only thing I don't like about it is the long in and out to the bay, but we should only be doing that once. Have you sailed from Ft. Meyers south to 10,000 Islands? What is the farthest you have to go off shore between places that you could duck into if needed? If we had a couple months and waited for good weather how do you feel about going from your area south past 10,000 Islands and say to Marathon and then back if we didn't have to operate on a schedule?

Also thanks for the frig up-date. Did you start with the frig warm or did you cool it down before you took off with shore power? Either way it sounds like the frig isn't using that much electricity. Hopefully we are out next month with ours if I can ever get this trailer done. I'm not working as fast at 66 as I did even 5-6 years ago ,

Sum

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