Sum, ck out WCTSS for many of trips you are seeking. Many info on South Dade Marina and many more about our trips as a group and info.
There is such a large amout of info that would take to long to explain and best done in researching trips.
Click on Cruising trips at this site. http://members.ij.net/wctss/wctss/
You may have to request membership but lots of info on Cruising Sw,S. and the Keys .
Also pick up a Book (Cruiseing the Florida Keys by Young and Stinemetz)
I started out with a cold Frig.
My main Sailing areas are from Port Charlotte to Naples. Cayo Costa, Picnic Island,Sanibel light house for swim, New Pass, Ft.Myers Beach (Matanza Pass $11 for mooring..Dingy dock at Matanza Inn) Gordans Pass, Big Carlos Pass,New Pass..etc.
Would also help if you had SPOT on board so others can track your location, also as a location backup if in trouble.
Dave
Sumner wrote:
DaveB wrote:............ 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 ...
...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 ,
DaveB wrote:Sum, ck out WCTSS for many of trips you are seeking. Many info on South Dade Marina and many more about our trips as a group and info.
There is such a large amout of info that would take to long to explain and best done in researching trips.
Click on Cruising trips at this site. http://members.ij.net/wctss/wctss/
You may have to request membership but lots of info on Cruising Sw,S. and the Keys .
Also pick up a Book (Cruiseing the Florida Keys by Young and Stinemetz)
I started out with a cold Frig.
My main Sailing areas are from Port Charlotte to Naples. Cayo Costa, Picnic Island,Sanibel light house for swim, New Pass, Ft.Myers Beach (Matanza Pass $11 for mooring..Dingy dock at Matanza Inn) Gordans Pass, Big Carlos Pass,New Pass..etc.
Would also help if you had SPOT on board so others can track your location, also as a location backup if in trouble.
Dave......
Thanks for the link. How is the stretch from Port Charlotte to Naples? Looks like past Naples there are a number of places to anchor/hide.
I think I have every book available at this point for the Keys and the West Coast, including the one you mentioned and thier west coast edition. I'm familiar with most of the places you mentioned from viewing them on the charts and Google Earth. We look forward to seeing them in person though.
I looked at SPOT after our mishap on Lake Powell, but I'm not real sold on it. Are you using it? If so how do you like it? One thing I don't like if I understand how it works is you can't change the "I'm OK" message unless you can get on the Internet.
I have stayed at Pennikamp State Park Marina and morring field. IF you have a dinghy it would be best to stay at the morring field. There is several KOA's that will do you better. Not as many tourist at the dock and more secure.
Please note that anywhere in the keys you may have high enough winds to keep you at the marina. I go out in winds of less than 20 mph forcast.
Check the crusing guides about Naples. Most people avoid unless you have enough money to stay at the dock.
Port Charlotte to Ft Myers, My cruising grounds. Nice execpt on weekends. Cruising guides are good. The most secure place is All American Covered Boat Storage if you are planning for more that a few days. Not open on Sunday.
James V wrote:I have stayed at Pennikamp State Park Marina and mooring field. IF you have a dinghy it would be best to stay at the mooring field. There is several KOA's that will do you better. Not as many tourist at the dock and more secure.
Please note that anywhere in the keys you may have high enough winds to keep you at the marina. I go out in winds of less than 20 mph forecast.
Check the cruising guides about Naples. Most people avoid unless you have enough money to stay at the dock.
Port Charlotte to Ft Myers, My cruising grounds. Nice except on weekends. Cruising guides are good. The most secure place is All American Covered Boat Storage if you are planning for more that a few days. Not open on Sunday.
Fair Winds, James V
Thanks, that is good to know about Al American. They sounded nice on the phone and easy to work with.
On the wind deal I'll keep that in mind, but we have always had to deal with the winds anchored out to this point. At times they have been over 50 mph. We have a lot invested in good anchors and rodes for that reason. We won't have the money to stay at Marinas except for maybe a few nights.
I think I have all the cruising guides that are available and have been studying the charts with SeaClear and I also have the big Maptech charts for the west coast and the east coast down to Key West. We are always open to suggestions. One possibility is to sail around the Port Charlotte area and then trailer to Flamingo and put back in there.
It would be nice if we could work down the west coast though. We would just be passing Naples if we tried doing that. This will be our first ocean experience and I guess the decision on doing the stretch between Ft. Meyers and Naples (appears to not be much protection there) will have to be made once we get there, but I am interested in if many people with Macs (ours is an S) do that stretch.
Just watch the weather and you will do fine. I have done it several times. If the winds and waves are blowing into the harbor enterance it can get really tricky. Marco Island Western (Gulf) enterance is changing all the time and can get quite shallow. Not really a problem.
Suggestions
Go to Port Charlotte and on a fair winds day sail outside the islands and go into Ft Myers. Sanabel Yach Club is nice. A little pricy for a nights stay but worth it or just anchor out. Nice area.
Or head out from Ft Myers and go to Everglades City. 2 day trip or more. Great Stop and you may be able to get a ride to get your truck and trailer. Call ahead. You can also put in there. Not that secure but no real crime. Bring cash.
Caution about entering and leaving Ft Myers. the first mile of the ICW is called the misserable mile. LOTS of cross currents and sharp rises when out of the channel. Please do not do this on a weekend.
If you like spending time at one place on the boat. Go slowly into the shallow places anchor. most boats will not go into water less than 18 inches. Many places like that. Stay out of the small canals.
Book - the book that I have always used for Fl West Coast is "Gunkholers Guide to Fl West Coast." sometimes dated as all guides are.
Always set an anchor drag alarm. I stern anchor to get better wind through the cabin.
James V wrote:Just watch the weather and you will do fine. I have done it several times. If the winds and waves are blowing into the harbor entrance it can get really tricky. Marco Island Western (Gulf) entrance is changing all the time and can get quite shallow. Not really a problem.
Suggestions
Go to Port Charlotte and on a fair winds day sail outside the islands and go into Ft Myers................Always set an anchor drag alarm. I stern anchor to get better wind through the cabin.
James great info, thanks .
I tried to get that book ( Gunkholers Guide to Fl West Coast ) before, but it seems to be out of print. Amazon has some used ones for $70+ . I did just do a search again and found a 1988 edition for $9.00 on e-bay. I ordered it . I have charts, just looking for possible anchorages.
If we do make it down into the keys and couldn't get back we thought one possibility would be to slip the boat and take public transportation back to Port Charlotte and then a cab to get the Suburban/trailer.
Another option would be for us to do Port Charlotte area for a while and then take the ICW across Florida and then south to Biscayne Bay and possible further south. I've heard the canal across the state is interesting, but haven't heard good things about south to Miami on the ICW. We wouldn't mind motoring on the canal across the state, but from there south doesn't seem to appeal to us. Would just going east on the canal out of Ft. Meyers for a day or so and then back be an interesting trip for something different?
Sum, If you are Sailing the Gulf most thing to watch for is the Shoals entering a Inlet. Most of these Shoals incudeing all from Boca Grada thru Marco Island has a turn to the SW meaning comeing from the North you have to go well past the Inlet about 1/2 mile out to pick up the entrance bouy, don't cut in between or you will run aground.
I like to call it (The Round Up) comeing from North.
Some charts show to shallow water in some Inlets but can tell you they are very navigatable with a Mac. New Pass (Between Lovers Key and Bonita has 5 ft. at low in the channel ) Big Carlos Pass great, Gordans Pass Great than follow Intercoastal to Marco Island but take a right just at end of Island for great over Night and sandy beach, in the Morning follow the Intercoastal to Marco Island a short trip.
If you want to Sail the Gulf from Boca Grande and want to go in at the Southern Tip of Sanibel go out 1 mile,Sail SSE past Captiva than sail in close to within 1000 ft. of Island in 8 ft. of water until you hit the Light House of Sanibel Island and stay off 1/4 mile than to Ft Myers Beach or towards the River. Keep your board up to 3 ft. depth approching Sanibel beach as water is 4-5 ft. low tide.
Dave
Dave
Sumner wrote:
DaveB wrote:Sum, ck out WCTSS for many of trips you are seeking. Many info on South Dade Marina and many more about our trips as a group and info.
There is such a large amout of info that would take to long to explain and best done in researching trips.
Click on Cruising trips at this site. http://members.ij.net/wctss/wctss/
You may have to request membership but lots of info on Cruising Sw,S. and the Keys .
Also pick up a Book (Cruiseing the Florida Keys by Young and Stinemetz)
I started out with a cold Frig.
My main Sailing areas are from Port Charlotte to Naples. Cayo Costa, Picnic Island,Sanibel light house for swim, New Pass, Ft.Myers Beach (Matanza Pass $11 for mooring..Dingy dock at Matanza Inn) Gordans Pass, Big Carlos Pass,New Pass..etc.
Would also help if you had SPOT on board so others can track your location, also as a location backup if in trouble.
Dave......
Thanks for the link. How is the stretch from Port Charlotte to Naples? Looks like past Naples there are a number of places to anchor/hide.
I think I have every book available at this point for the Keys and the West Coast, including the one you mentioned and thier west coast edition. I'm familiar with most of the places you mentioned from viewing them on the charts and Google Earth. We look forward to seeing them in person though.
I looked at SPOT after our mishap on Lake Powell, but I'm not real sold on it. Are you using it? If so how do you like it? One thing I don't like if I understand how it works is you can't change the "I'm OK" message unless you can get on the Internet.
DaveB wrote:Sum, If you are Sailing the Gulf most thing to watch for is the Shoals entering a Inlet. Most of these Shoals incudeing all from Boca Grada thru Marco Island has a turn to the SW meaning comeing from the North you have to go well past the Inlet about 1/2 mile out to pick up the entrance bouy, don't cut in between or you will run aground.
I like to call it (The Round Up) comeing from North.
Some charts show to shallow water in some Inlets but can tell you they are very navigatable with a Mac. New Pass (Between Lovers Key and Bonita has 5 ft. at low in the channel ) Big Carlos Pass great, Gordans Pass Great than follow Intercoastal to Marco Island but take a right just at end of Island for great over Night and sandy beach, in the Morning follow the Intercoastal to Marco Island a short trip.
If you want to Sail the Gulf from Boca Grande and want to go in at the Southern Tip of Sanibel go out 1 mile,Sail SSE past Captiva than sail in close to within 1000 ft. of Island in 8 ft. of water until you hit the Light House of Sanibel Island and stay off 1/4 mile than to Ft Myers Beach or towards the River. Keep your board up to 3 ft. depth approching Sanibel beach as water is 4-5 ft. low tide.
Dave
Thanks Dave. I'm typing your suggestions and James' out and making a note on my charts. Good stuff guys and what I've been looking for. I'm getting to know the names of some of the passes and such now, but sometimes it takes a while for me to find them. Out here a 'pass' means something else ,
Sum - just wanted you to know I got sucked into your website and tale of Lake Powell - that is quite an adventure. The writing is well done and nicely personalised with some of your life stories as well. I spent an hour surfing and enjoyed every minute....back to work now, on travel...
I think I know what you mean, I am so Old I doub't I could make a Pass...if you get my drift.
Dave
Sumner wrote:Thanks Dave. I'm typing your suggestions and James' out and making a note on my charts. Good stuff guys and what I've been looking for. I'm getting to know the names of some of the passes and such now, but sometimes it takes a while for me to find them. Out here a 'pass' means something else ,
Sum
Last edited by Hamin' X on Tue May 18, 2010 7:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason:Fixed quote
This may be a little off topic at this point, but my wife, son, and I recently completed a round trip from Sanford, Florida to Jacksonville on our 26X, American Spirit. We had a blast. My wife and I took it downstream (north) over 10 days, and my son and I took it upstream (south) over 6 days. We did a mix of sleeping on the boat and in cottages at motels or fish camps along the way. There was ample opportunity for sailing in stretches, but we mostly motored due to being lazy and just enjoying the scenery. Feel free to check out the trip at: http://herschelandannesgrandadventures.shutterfly.com/
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. I did just do a search again and found a 1988 edition for $9.00 on e-bay. I ordered it 
