Florida Gulf Coast?
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rick retiree
- Chief Steward
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:27 am
- Location: Worth,Ill.
Florida Gulf Coast?
: Does anyone in the Macgregor community know of a marina on the gulf side of florida where a Mac an be stored on a trailer with mast raised and is also equipped with a boat ramp? As a singlehanded sailor and senior citizen I find it cumbersome to drive 20 miles and step the mast every time the urge to sail hits me. So by the time I get to my destination (Fort Desoto Park in St Petersburg, Fla.) Im often tempted to got crank up the 50 and motorsail. If any of you viewers are lucky enough to have a camper and a mac do consider this park. Reputed to be the best Rv park in Fla. Its bounded by the supposedly the best beach in the US. No I'm not with the chamber of commerce,just love the place. Thanks.
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Dimitri-2000X-Tampa
- Admiral
- Posts: 2043
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 5:36 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Tampa, Florida 2000 Mercury BigFoot 50HP 4-Stroke on 26X hull# 3575.B000
WADR, a "few miles south" is about 75 miles by sea which is close to 2 days sailing or 1 day doing some gas guzzling motoring. 
Trailering is about 2-3 hours as it is not as direct. Cayo Costa State Park is a very popular destination for FL West Coast Cruisers. I have been meaning to go there the last 3-4 years now but everytime we are about to go, red tide has ruined our plans as it has been bad these last few years. But supposedly, this year it has cleared up and so we hope to go in March...provided I can get my boat out of my side yard soon due to my "neighbor problems".
I usually keep my boat at my home these days but I have used several marinas in past days. In the Bay, St Pete municipal marina is the biggest and very reasonably priced for wet slips but there is probably a waiting list. You may want to see if you could strike a deal with them for mast up dry storage as they do have a ramp and many parking spots nearby...I'm trying to remember if I've seen sailboats stored there before. Within that same complex (Demen's Landing) is the St Pete Sailing Center. This is a sailors paradise (extension to the SPYC) but is geared towards instruction & racing (I crew on a racing boat from there occasionally). They do have mast up storage there but most people launch with a 3 ton davit which may be a challenge with the keel-less Mac. St Pete to Ft Desoto is about an 18 mile sail. Closer to Ft Desoto is the Tierra Verde Marina which is right on the pass and has awful currents.
Another option is marinas on Boca Ciega Bay. I have used Gulfport municipal which has a boat ramp. They are friendly folks and you might check to see if they will let you store there. I've also kept my boat in Pasadena marina which is well located but has no ramp. There are dozens of high-dry type places up and down the coast (although they are diminishing rapidly due to higher land values). I've seen boats stored outside the high-dry structures in the parking lots and I would check with some of these places and see if they will make a deal with you. Some have ramps, others just use forklifts to put the boats in...which wouldn't be too bad either. Try this search, you will find lots of them.
Trailering is about 2-3 hours as it is not as direct. Cayo Costa State Park is a very popular destination for FL West Coast Cruisers. I have been meaning to go there the last 3-4 years now but everytime we are about to go, red tide has ruined our plans as it has been bad these last few years. But supposedly, this year it has cleared up and so we hope to go in March...provided I can get my boat out of my side yard soon due to my "neighbor problems".I usually keep my boat at my home these days but I have used several marinas in past days. In the Bay, St Pete municipal marina is the biggest and very reasonably priced for wet slips but there is probably a waiting list. You may want to see if you could strike a deal with them for mast up dry storage as they do have a ramp and many parking spots nearby...I'm trying to remember if I've seen sailboats stored there before. Within that same complex (Demen's Landing) is the St Pete Sailing Center. This is a sailors paradise (extension to the SPYC) but is geared towards instruction & racing (I crew on a racing boat from there occasionally). They do have mast up storage there but most people launch with a 3 ton davit which may be a challenge with the keel-less Mac. St Pete to Ft Desoto is about an 18 mile sail. Closer to Ft Desoto is the Tierra Verde Marina which is right on the pass and has awful currents.
Another option is marinas on Boca Ciega Bay. I have used Gulfport municipal which has a boat ramp. They are friendly folks and you might check to see if they will let you store there. I've also kept my boat in Pasadena marina which is well located but has no ramp. There are dozens of high-dry type places up and down the coast (although they are diminishing rapidly due to higher land values). I've seen boats stored outside the high-dry structures in the parking lots and I would check with some of these places and see if they will make a deal with you. Some have ramps, others just use forklifts to put the boats in...which wouldn't be too bad either. Try this search, you will find lots of them.
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fdeoreo
- Deckhand
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 5:08 am
- Sailboat: Other
- Location: Wimauma, FL (sold my Mac, now sailing a West Wight Potter 15 from my backyard)
mast up space
rick,
there is a great marina called cut's edge in palmetto florida. this is where i keep my boat. a mast up trailer space is about $127 a month with tax. we have our own ramp and although it can be a challenging ramp, it is a great place to launch from. phone is 941-729-4878. this lets out into terra ceia bay which goes to the south side of tampa baygulf outside the skyway bridge. i have sailed from here across to fort desoto and egmont key many times. with a mac one can be out of terra ceia bay in 11 minutes. this is right where the manatee river lets out also. in fact if one had the mast down one could go out the river also. they have running water for washdowns. they also have bathrooms, no ac but a toilet and sink anyway. your vehicle is in a locked yard as is your boat. this is great if you plan to go away on the boat for a few days. any questions feel free to contact me, [email protected]
there is a great marina called cut's edge in palmetto florida. this is where i keep my boat. a mast up trailer space is about $127 a month with tax. we have our own ramp and although it can be a challenging ramp, it is a great place to launch from. phone is 941-729-4878. this lets out into terra ceia bay which goes to the south side of tampa baygulf outside the skyway bridge. i have sailed from here across to fort desoto and egmont key many times. with a mac one can be out of terra ceia bay in 11 minutes. this is right where the manatee river lets out also. in fact if one had the mast down one could go out the river also. they have running water for washdowns. they also have bathrooms, no ac but a toilet and sink anyway. your vehicle is in a locked yard as is your boat. this is great if you plan to go away on the boat for a few days. any questions feel free to contact me, [email protected]
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Sea Dragon
- Deckhand
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 5:51 pm
- Location: Tarpon Springs, FL
I keep my 26M on the trailer, mast up in Tarpon Springs at the Doc of the Bay Marina. Costs about $125/mo. They have their own ramp and will put you in the water with their tractor 6 days a week (no tractor on Sunday). Located on the north side of the Anclote river across from downtown Tarpon Springs. Great service. Operated by Rick Miller -- can be reached at 727-942-3969.