Herschel & Anne
We havnt done Hontoon River yet. We did leave the mast down one trip and went to marker "G 39" and followed it up to Lake Woodruff and then ito Lake Dexter..back to the St Johns. Almost no boats..just a few fishing boats. Rudders kicked up once or twice at the entrances of both lakes but had no trouble crossing. It was a nice trip...but I would wait for a bit of rain before trying it. I think the river might be down abit since we went a few months ago. We use the "St Johns River" boating and curising guide by Tom Kranz. So far it has been very helpful. We also have the chart books for both the east and west coast of florida and it has the St Johns in it also. I like Tom's guide since he also suggests good anchorages etc. and has some background on most areas.
We try not to sail or travel the river weekends. We'll be looking for you out there.
Central Florida
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Herschel
- Admiral
- Posts: 1500
- Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:22 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Contact:
Central Florida
There are now four MacGregor 26's at the Sanford Monroe Harbor Marina. They include three 26X's and one blue M. Three are in slips and one on a trailer at the marina. It would seem that that MacGregor's are really catching on as a good lake sailor and a good river cruiser along the St. Johns. Herschel
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
Marina Del In calif want to see a Mac invasion of all the boats that go to that ramp the Mac will be the one that you will see more then one of at a time. The Mac is becoming very popular. It isnt anything special to see
4 or 5 of these on any weekend going out of the harbor.
For a do all cabin cruiser that sails you cant beat it. Every time I go out someone asks about the boat. And with gas prices the way they are
It gets people thinking about that 350 engine that just used a gallon of gas waiting at the dock for the misses to come back from the restrooms.
Ole Roger must be rakeing it in now a days to bad he doesnt seem to share the feelings the owners of these great boats feel. I got the better deal I paid roger for the pleasure to have my boat he has to crank them out and
cant stop to smell the salt air in the very thing he makes.
A little dig Roger for missing the Catalina get together
allthough I wasnt there, alot of people were disapointed when you didnt show.
Hey Roger no ones that busy thay cant return the grattatude that all those Mac owners were ready to bestow on you...Come on enjoy with us the very thing you created, come see what we have done with these great boats, bring the grand kids show them the real reason you made the boat so when they take over the company they wont screw the boat up.
4 or 5 of these on any weekend going out of the harbor.
For a do all cabin cruiser that sails you cant beat it. Every time I go out someone asks about the boat. And with gas prices the way they are
It gets people thinking about that 350 engine that just used a gallon of gas waiting at the dock for the misses to come back from the restrooms.
Ole Roger must be rakeing it in now a days to bad he doesnt seem to share the feelings the owners of these great boats feel. I got the better deal I paid roger for the pleasure to have my boat he has to crank them out and
cant stop to smell the salt air in the very thing he makes.
A little dig Roger for missing the Catalina get together
allthough I wasnt there, alot of people were disapointed when you didnt show.
Hey Roger no ones that busy thay cant return the grattatude that all those Mac owners were ready to bestow on you...Come on enjoy with us the very thing you created, come see what we have done with these great boats, bring the grand kids show them the real reason you made the boat so when they take over the company they wont screw the boat up.
Add one more X to the Monroe sailing area. We trailer sail and launch at the N end of the lake. Usually just head up to Lake George. I really enjoy Silver Glen Springs, entrance is on the W side of the lake. The water is crystal clear and everyone swims there. There are two houseboats tied together that have been there a year. Talked to the owner this week when we were there. There is also a sailboat that has been there 8 months. He was out in his sailing kayak checking the depth. Says he needs 4 more inches to get out. Oh.....houseboat owner said he saw a 10 ft gator in there. Came up close to his house boat. So we took turns swimming and watching for the really BIG fish. There was another gator attack on the TV this morning. Dont know where it was but the water was as clear as the springs.......hummmmmmm...
I guess we keep missing everyone with their Macs...we usually put in for 3 days during the week about everyother week and then head N.
I guess we keep missing everyone with their Macs...we usually put in for 3 days during the week about everyother week and then head N.
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Gemini
- Deckhand
- Posts: 46
- Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2006 11:14 am
- Location: Orlando, FL - "Blew Bell" 2006 Mac M - 50HP Suzuki - Blue Hull
Oviedo, just across town. I had posted before about Butler Chain, that is below.
Oviedo, thats just across town. I had posted before about Butler Chain, that is below. Basically it chains to several lakes. The channels can be tight because of overhanging trees, but I have managed.
RD Keene Park, very nice place. But no over night parking, seems to be the trend with lakes in FL, if you drop in on either coast that seems to be 24 hours.
You drop in at Lake Isleworth, if you go south you end up in Lake Tibet, which is pretty large. This is the lake best to sail in, deep enough and long. I have spent 8 hours sailing back and forth on this lake. If you continue south there is a chain to Lake Sheen. Smaller but isnt bad either. Continue south and you chain to Pocket Lake, very small but nice and quiet most of the time.
Remember these are the places Shaq, Tiger, Siegal, etc live, beautiful homes.
Now, back to the launch, if you go North you come to Lake Louise, there you will find Tigers home. Continue there is a bridge to go under Chase Road and over to Lake Butler. You can clear the bridge but you have to lower the mast all the way down to the cradle and then lower the mast raising system if you have one, I mean, you just clear.
Lake Butler is really nice. You have more mansions, and Siegals new 100,000 sq ft home he is building (timeshare mogul, Westgate Timeshares).
There is a place called Bird Island, you can go right up to the white sand beach. You cant go on the actual land because it is a bird sanctuary but a very nice place to anchor.
To get to RD Park, you take I-4 south of Downtown to Conroy, you take Conroy West all the way to Windermere where it basically dead end to a turn about. You go around the turnabout heading South. Follow that and around to Chase Road, and continue south. RD Keene is where the huge power lines are and you make a left approx. there.
Power lines, quite scary actually because going south you have to go under them, but it clears fine, looks like it clears by one a few inches but it has to be feet.
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The Butler Chain of Lakes is very pretty. It basically goes around Windermere, Isleworth, and SW Orange County. You see lots of mansions and the water quality is pristine. I launched at R.D. Keene Park and Ramp ($5). New facility with a ramp that is in great condition, just two lanes and way too busy on the weekends though.
It launches into Lake Isleworth (small) and one channel takes you to Lake Tibet (BTW, there are power lines there and I checked with the ranger and he said they were 50 feet, but when going under youd swear you were going to hit themneedless to say my pulse rate was elevated), the largest (3 miles by about 2.5 at its widest). That lake you can take around to Bay Hill Marina (that marina is small and for residents of Bay Hill). Then heading south you come to another channel to Lake Sheen, not as big as Lake Tibet, then another channel takes you to Pocket Lake (which is small). But with all the chains it feels fairly large. We were out for about 4 hours and had plenty to see. You can take a North channel from Lake Isleworth to another small lake that lets you transition Chase Road, we didnt try because we were ready to come in, but the Ranger said it was a 10 foot clearance. I assume you can make that with the mast cranked down but I dont know what the height above the water is with it cranked down. I have asked on the board. But if can clear 10 feet then you can go over to Lake Butler, I think it is 2 miles in diameter or so. Then there is another chain over to Lake Down but that is under the Main Street bridge and is very low, no way there. Depths were good, only in the channels did I see 4 ft with my sounder, most of the time 9 ft and some places 25 ft plus.
As to overnight, that would depend on what you are looking for. No marina or facilities, but if want something natural and I assume quiet at night (ramp closes at dark, not sure how they handle trailers, seems like I remember a sign that said no vehicles after dark) just dont know. It made a good Sunday 4 hour tour for us. I didnt see another sailboat, more of a speedboat and jet ski place, but I didnt have traffic issues or anyone being rude with wakes or anything like that. Some were fishing and some were anchored and just laying in the water (I kept thinking gators).
I would think the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes would be better. Lake Toho, down to several others and eventually Kissimmee Lake, seem pretty good. What you should do is download Google Earth (free) and you can look around via satellite. Also, I use Microsoft Local Live http://local.live.com in the Orlando area you can use the satellite views and most of the Orlando area is covered via Birds Eye, check out the Butler Chain of Lakes with that.
Hope that was helpful.
Oviedo, thats just across town. I had posted before about Butler Chain, that is below. Basically it chains to several lakes. The channels can be tight because of overhanging trees, but I have managed.
RD Keene Park, very nice place. But no over night parking, seems to be the trend with lakes in FL, if you drop in on either coast that seems to be 24 hours.
You drop in at Lake Isleworth, if you go south you end up in Lake Tibet, which is pretty large. This is the lake best to sail in, deep enough and long. I have spent 8 hours sailing back and forth on this lake. If you continue south there is a chain to Lake Sheen. Smaller but isnt bad either. Continue south and you chain to Pocket Lake, very small but nice and quiet most of the time.
Remember these are the places Shaq, Tiger, Siegal, etc live, beautiful homes.
Now, back to the launch, if you go North you come to Lake Louise, there you will find Tigers home. Continue there is a bridge to go under Chase Road and over to Lake Butler. You can clear the bridge but you have to lower the mast all the way down to the cradle and then lower the mast raising system if you have one, I mean, you just clear.
Lake Butler is really nice. You have more mansions, and Siegals new 100,000 sq ft home he is building (timeshare mogul, Westgate Timeshares).
There is a place called Bird Island, you can go right up to the white sand beach. You cant go on the actual land because it is a bird sanctuary but a very nice place to anchor.
To get to RD Park, you take I-4 south of Downtown to Conroy, you take Conroy West all the way to Windermere where it basically dead end to a turn about. You go around the turnabout heading South. Follow that and around to Chase Road, and continue south. RD Keene is where the huge power lines are and you make a left approx. there.
Power lines, quite scary actually because going south you have to go under them, but it clears fine, looks like it clears by one a few inches but it has to be feet.
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Previous post:
The Butler Chain of Lakes is very pretty. It basically goes around Windermere, Isleworth, and SW Orange County. You see lots of mansions and the water quality is pristine. I launched at R.D. Keene Park and Ramp ($5). New facility with a ramp that is in great condition, just two lanes and way too busy on the weekends though.
It launches into Lake Isleworth (small) and one channel takes you to Lake Tibet (BTW, there are power lines there and I checked with the ranger and he said they were 50 feet, but when going under youd swear you were going to hit themneedless to say my pulse rate was elevated), the largest (3 miles by about 2.5 at its widest). That lake you can take around to Bay Hill Marina (that marina is small and for residents of Bay Hill). Then heading south you come to another channel to Lake Sheen, not as big as Lake Tibet, then another channel takes you to Pocket Lake (which is small). But with all the chains it feels fairly large. We were out for about 4 hours and had plenty to see. You can take a North channel from Lake Isleworth to another small lake that lets you transition Chase Road, we didnt try because we were ready to come in, but the Ranger said it was a 10 foot clearance. I assume you can make that with the mast cranked down but I dont know what the height above the water is with it cranked down. I have asked on the board. But if can clear 10 feet then you can go over to Lake Butler, I think it is 2 miles in diameter or so. Then there is another chain over to Lake Down but that is under the Main Street bridge and is very low, no way there. Depths were good, only in the channels did I see 4 ft with my sounder, most of the time 9 ft and some places 25 ft plus.
As to overnight, that would depend on what you are looking for. No marina or facilities, but if want something natural and I assume quiet at night (ramp closes at dark, not sure how they handle trailers, seems like I remember a sign that said no vehicles after dark) just dont know. It made a good Sunday 4 hour tour for us. I didnt see another sailboat, more of a speedboat and jet ski place, but I didnt have traffic issues or anyone being rude with wakes or anything like that. Some were fishing and some were anchored and just laying in the water (I kept thinking gators).
I would think the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes would be better. Lake Toho, down to several others and eventually Kissimmee Lake, seem pretty good. What you should do is download Google Earth (free) and you can look around via satellite. Also, I use Microsoft Local Live http://local.live.com in the Orlando area you can use the satellite views and most of the Orlando area is covered via Birds Eye, check out the Butler Chain of Lakes with that.
Hope that was helpful.
Big help. I'll check it out on the Google.
We usually go out for 3 days or more and Lake Monroe, St Johns River and Lake George have been working pretty well. The Lake Monroe Park on the E side of the river has an on premise park manager and the gates lock at 8pm during the summer...about $1.50 a night to leave your vehicle. So we dont mind heading out and no worries about it. Cheap peace of mind. Not interested in marinas except for ice if we run low. Grab a couple of days and head down (N)river during the week. Much nicer.
We usually go out for 3 days or more and Lake Monroe, St Johns River and Lake George have been working pretty well. The Lake Monroe Park on the E side of the river has an on premise park manager and the gates lock at 8pm during the summer...about $1.50 a night to leave your vehicle. So we dont mind heading out and no worries about it. Cheap peace of mind. Not interested in marinas except for ice if we run low. Grab a couple of days and head down (N)river during the week. Much nicer.
April before last we put in at Labelle FL (W of Lake Okeechobee) ..motored out the canal to the Gulf, down thru the ICW and 10,000 Islands to Long Key...thru to the Atlantic, up to Biscayne Bay to Miami....then took the ICW to the canal and across Lake Okeechobe to Labelle. Only took 14 days but we had a buddy boat on a schedule. Great sail in the Atlantic.
At Blue Springs you can nose up to shore or anchor and dingy in. Cant actually go into the springs. Hontoon Island has docks w/ water & power, showers...small store. across the river is a marina with gas and a few supplys. Silver Glen Springs (on Lake George) has an anchorage but you need to be in early or during the week to get a spot. Nice clear water because its a spring fed. Our next trip we are going a bit farther up the lake to Salt River Springs. The guy on the sailboat at Silver Glen Springs said there is a marina and a 3 block walk to the grocery store and you can anchor there as long as you want. That's how he's been getting his stuff the last 8 months. Shallow going in but our Macs should be fine. Deeper water after you cross the bar. We'll let you know what we find in a few weeks. After this storm passes the lake should be a bit higher. We are getting the rain we need. I was out in the boat looking for leaks...shouldnt have looked...found one. LOL Port window in the front leaks a bit at the top...
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Herschel
- Admiral
- Posts: 1500
- Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:22 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Contact:
central florida
OK! Does anyone out there know anything about the "blind mosquito" infestation we are having on the st. Johns River this year. Everytime I go down to the boat, I've got a major cleanup to do. Don't remember them at all last summer. What's the deal?
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Trav White
- Chief Steward
- Posts: 61
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:44 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL '02X with 26M rotating mast, Mercury 60hp 4-stroke