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Florida West Cost Cruise planning

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britinusa
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Initially Posted - 05/01/2011 : 10:51:22

We're in the planning stages of a 10 day trip to the West Coast of Florida. Looking at the area between Tampa Bay and Marco Island.

David (DavyJ) from Apollo Beach FL recently did a similar trip.

We're looking for advice on good places to visit, Marina's, Anchorages, Mooring areas, dinning gottago's etc.

We're looking at late June early July. We'll need to launch at the start of the trip and recover at the end (don't want to be doing day sails with a ramp job at each end of the day.)

TIA.

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

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Davy J
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Response Posted - 05/01/2011 : 13:06:10

Where are you planning on launching from?

When we planned our trip, we allowed a total of 21 days. Due to technical issues we were forced to leave 1 & 1/2 days late. I found that we were pushing hard to make it to the farthest inlet every day. If I do it again, I will just go to the next closest inlet and enjoy. The only "must go offshore day(s)" is between Fort Myers Beach and Naples. However, when we left Fort Myers we realized a trip to the city of Naples would require a few hours each day making our way up and down the waterway to the inlet. We decided to skip Naples and go directly to Marco Island.

In my opinion these are "must stop places":

(1) Longboat Pass - this is the most beautiful anchorage on the entire west coast of Florida. You do not need to go offshore to get here.

(2) Marina Jack - only a couple hours south of Longboat pass.

(3) Tween Waters Marina - The only downside here, is that it is about 1.5 hours in and out of the ICW and the marina is small and you will probably be forced to tie up "side to".

(4) We really had a good time at Salty Sam's Marina in Fort Myers Beach. They have floating docks, there are two restaurants/bars, it is a very busy place; they rent boats and have a boat club so there is a lot of activity to observe. There is a pirate ship that departs twice daily, and the Key West Express also docks here. If possible, I would try to visit this place on a Saturday night. And visit the Parrot Key restaurant.

(5) The Esplanade Marine in Marco Island is beautiful. However, you will feel out of place in your small boat. We arrived on a Thursday, we didn't know it, but the entire population of Marco Island visits the Esplanade and CJay's on the bay that day. There is a band/DJ and everyone there is about 79 years old, but still fun.

There are hundreds of other places and anchorages on the west coast. A book that I use is called: Florida Cruising Directory, I purchased it at West Marine. You can also go here:
http://www.floridacruising.com/
Lot's of info and also quite a bit of history.

Edited by - Davy J on 05/01/2011 13:38:16

Davy J
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Response Posted - 05/01/2011 : 13:54:26

In addition, aside from Tampa Bay south to Marco Island, the area from Tarpon Springs south to the mouth of Tampa Bay is filled with anchorages, marinas, restaurants, bars and small islands to pull up to.

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britinusa
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Response Posted - 05/01/2011 : 16:12:10

Thanks Davy,

We'll tow to either the north or south end of the trip. The first challenge is finding a launch site where we can leave our truck and trailer for the duration.

Paul

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Davy J
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Response Posted - 05/02/2011 : 06:20:02

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">The first challenge is finding a launch site where we can leave our truck and trailer for the duration.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That's the one area I have no experience in. I would think that it would be safest leaving it at a marina as opposed to a public place.

Since we live on Tampa Bay, our trips usually consist of going north of the bay or south of the bay. But since you are trailering you have the option to go where you wish. If you want to see a lot of activity, marinas, restaurants and attractions. The area between Sarasota and Clearwater has just about anything you could dream up.

If you want to do a lot of gunk holing in quiet coves Charlotte Harbor, Boca Grande, Cayo Costa and Captiva are the places to go.

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frog0911
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Response Posted - 05/03/2011 : 20:33:25

Paul, we use rent a 32 foot Island Packet out of Burnt Store Marina for 10 days and never made it south of North Captiva Island. There is more to see and lots of great eating places just in that area. I could write a book on the area, but much to long for the forum. If you want give me a call and we can look at the charts and can give you the info... EM me after Monday and we can set up a time; if you would care to do so. Mug Race week, this week, so kind of tied up till then.
mulvihilljs at comcast.net

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britinusa
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Response Posted - 05/06/2011 : 19:50:12

Jerry, could you email me directly it's brit in usa g1 at gmail dot com

Thanks.

Paul

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frog0911
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Response Posted - 05/11/2011 : 18:57:14

Paul, did you get my EM?

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britinusa
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Response Posted - 05/11/2011 : 19:49:12

Jerry, yep, but my net connection died today so you can imagine that I was a bit preoccupied

Will call you Thursday morning while I wait for the tech to arrive to check out the dsl issue.

Paul

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Tom Potter
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Response Posted - 05/11/2011 : 20:16:14

Good luck in the Mug Race Jerry! I hope the stack smoke is horizontal!

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frog0911
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Response Posted - 05/12/2011 : 18:23:46

Well the mug race had wind at the start, but NNW which means we tacked up river 27nm, but only advanced 12.2nm before it went flat. We had 119 boats in the race and 25 finished. Just another one of those years.

Paul, don't know if you called Thursday AM, but we were at the Players Championship all day. Try again tomorrow evening if you can. I should be done with my earns and chores by then. SWMBO will be at the beach till Sunday.

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