Attention Ken Smith, Ft. Myers

[Luke]

Ken, I have read your posts about sailing around Sanibel Island. Next month, March, I want to launch my boat close to Ft. Myers. Can you recommend a location, perhaps on the Caloosahatchee River, where I can launch the boat and park the truck and trailer for a week? My boat is currently stored in Palm Beach County, about a three-hour drive from Ft. Myers.

Luke
DreamChaser
1999 X

[ken smith]

The Punta Rassa boat launch has a 72 hr max then I guess you would have to renew the ticket. It's 3 dollars a day and you put the money into a machine that gives you a ticket. after you launch you can go on the ICW or out under the Sanibel bridge that opens on the half hour. With no chart I would take the gulf side and you can sail up Sanibel past Captiva to Cayo Costa which can be only reached by boat, very remote, great beaches and excellent shelling. You are now at the mouth of Charlotte harbor and can sail in the sheltered harbor if you want. Of you could sail south and sail to Fort Myers beach, south to Bonita, then to Naples. On a good north wind you could sail to the keys in 12-15 hrs.
Lovers key on Estero has free launch and no time limit to parking but you would have to go under the bridge and raise the mast out on the Gulf. This launch is between Fort Myers beach and Bonita.
ken

[loanshark]

There is a marina right there @ punta rassa that has a ramp also. Port Sanibel Marina. You could contact them to make parking arrangements.

http://www.portsanibelmarina.com

My parents keep there boat there. It's a great location to sail from. If the waters are rough the ICW is right there, and protected in this area. Or you can turn left, go through the drawbrige directly into the gulf

The lighthouse restaurant is right there a the marina, great grouper!!

I'd also reccomend barnacle phils, located on north captiva (only accesible by boat), inside safty harbor.

Cayo Costa (only accesible by boat) is a must see... Pelican bay on the Charlotte Harbor side of Cayo Costa is the best anchorage in SW Florida, IMHO.

[bobmonroe]

Last week we launched at Matlatcha ( matt la shay) public ramp, a small fishing village leading to Pine Island, $3/day. With a 72 hour limit. A notice saying the rate would go to $5 soon. A little further east is D&D's bait and tackle shop, $7/day, a little trickier, but a lot of big outboards launch there. Avoid weekends. From Matlatcha you go north and west to Cayo Costa, Pelican Bay, the Mac can move around in the shallow water to avoid the big anchorage, about 50 boats on Fri. night. a good side trip is to Cabbage Cay for lunch, free dockage for diners. Chan. 11, for the dockmaster. Great sailing on Charlotte. Also visit Boca Grande about 3 miles north of Cayo Costa, channel entrance just off the ICW. Check out the way everybody anchors. Take good charts. At Cayo Costa is free dockage and $1/person to walk the trails to the beach.

[James V]

Cayo Costa overnite fee is $ 18. No charge during the day. Has 4 to 6 slips big enough for a Mac 26. Has fresh water, Ice at $ 2 per bag, restroom, and, if you ask, they will take your garbage. There is more slips, but they would be a little tight. Not much reason to spend the night at the slip. Good holding and plenty of room for a Mac. I really enjoyed the island.

[Luke]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my request for information about boat ramps in the Ft. Myers area. Ill be boating around Pine Island and Sanibel in a few weeks.

Luke
DreamChaser

[James V]

Luke, So will I. Hope to see you there.

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

We've stayed in the "Tween Waters Resort marina, on Captiva Island, several times. You can use their pool and they have several restaurants. Not sure if it's still there.