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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Moving to Florida!

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jduck00
Captain

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USA
313 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/13/2014 : 19:51:01

Hi Fellows,

So we are moving to Tampa Fl with our swing keel boat. I've done a ton of reading on the internet on swing keels somewhat off shore, within a few miles of the coast. What I'm looking for is some actual first hand experience in how the boat handles in 3-5' seas.

Reading the internet will either put you at peace or scare the hell out of you. I'm somewhere in between.

I grew up in S. Alabama and have spent a decent amount of time on the gulf in fishing boats, but never a sail boat. From my experience it can go from calm to 5' really quick off shore. Of course this was years ago and we didn't have that great of forecasting. I've been out and got caught in a storm in a 30' fishing boat and remember it feeling real small, real fast.

Any thoughts? Should I be at peace or start looking for our "next" boat now?

Thanks-

Jeremy Duck
The Lucky Duck
1980 SKSR Hull # 1850

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/13/2014 : 21:07:00

A few miles offshore with a harbor of refuge available is really coastal. Weather doesn't really change that fast if you use your resources to keep abreast of it. Deeper water produces longer period waves that are much easier to manage. The western basin of Lake Erie is mostly 20 - 30' deep, making steep, short period 4' waves way more that one wants. The same wave height on the gulf is much more manageable, but 4' still isn't the time to cast off lines and he'd out. 2-3' is pretty comfortable on the gulf, and 2' or less is a pretty common forecast. You will probably find that most of your sailing is in bays anyway. Keel hardware maintenance and zincs are extremely important with the iron keel and mix of metals in the hardware. With the caveats, Pearl has suffered no ill effects from logging a fair number of salty miles.

Edit: I actually had planned on sailing from Port St. Joe to Panama City last week until the breeze dropped to 3-5kt for two days. That would have turned my 6-8 hr sail into a running the pass at midnight adventure. There are enough adventures without scheduling them.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 03/13/2014 21:17:10

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2014 : 07:47:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">So we are moving to Tampa Fl with our swing keel boat.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Will you be sailing in Tampa Bay or the Gulf of Mexico? They are two different animals.

Your C25 swing keel will be just fine as long as you pay attention to a few things.

You can sail here year round, but the best months are March-June and Sept-Nov. In the summer, June-Sept, you have to watch out for afternoon thunderstorms. They can be very nasty, lots of lightning, tremendous wind and very scary. But they usually only last a short time. In the summer, we try to get off the water by 2-3:00pm.

3-5' swells in the Gulf will be actually fun. 3-5' breaking waves in the bay and you will be wet and probably want to head in.

Where will you be keeping the boat?

Edited by - on

jduck00
Captain

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USA
313 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2014 : 09:48:38

Where is a good question. I don't know much about the area, other than I'm moving there this July. Took a new job and have to move in the Summer. I have looked at some places on the bay as well as up north a little. The places around Hudson have direct gulf access. I'm leaning towards getting a condo on the bay until I figure the area out a bit better. I've been weighing several things, schools, access to fun stuff for a 8 year old girl, marinas, and looking for a place with a dock. I'm open to any suggestions.

Edited by - on

WesAllen
Navigator

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USA
222 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2014 : 10:36:23

I have sailed my SK from Cape Coral to Key West with 3-4 foot swells and felt very comfortable in that. Unlike 3 footers up north on the Saginaw Bay that make you want to go home.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2014 : 11:03:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have looked at some places on the bay as well as up north a little. The places around Hudson have direct gulf access.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
If you are going to be working in Tampa, you do not want to live in Hudson. The commute will be more than an hour each way.....

Rush hour traffic in the metro Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater area will be worse than you can imagine.....

Where will you work in Tampa? You don't have to be specific, Downtown? North, South, East, West?

Edited by - on

jduck00
Captain

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USA
313 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2014 : 11:42:42

I believe the plant is on the east side of town. Good thing is my job is fairly flexible (sales). I only have to show up often that they don't think I've died :) But seriously, the drive to east side of town and the airport will both be factors.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2014 : 13:25:25

If you end up with the boat in Tampa Bay, you should know that the Bay is really broken up into three sections. Here is a link to the chart:

http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11416.shtml

"Old Tampa Bay", which is the upper northwest finger. "Hillsborough Bay", which is the upper northeast finger. And "Tampa Bay", which is everything south of those areas out to the Skyway Bridge and into the Gulf of Mexico.

"Old Tampa Bay" is not the best sailing grounds. Shallow water and lots of bridges. "Hillsborough Bay" is OK. But the best sailing is in lower Tampa Bay and out to the Skyway. Unfortunatley there are not a lot of marinas/dockage available in eastern Hillsborough County. Pinellas County has many more choices for marinas/dockage.

Let me know if you want any specific info on certain areas/marinas.

Edited by - on

jduck00
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
313 Posts

Response Posted - 03/14/2014 : 14:09:45

Thanks Davy! I've got to digest that info for a bit, but I may come back with a couple of questions.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5369 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2014 : 05:42:48

Good approach. Moving takes research and strategy.
Review the charts for best sailing locations, absence of low bridges, deeper waters.
Map out the neighborhoods you might like and can afford on Zillow. Check with realtors about the various parts of town. Consider traffic volume, hotspots and bottlenecks - check the local traffic reports during rush hour to see what patterns develop (morning inbound, afternoon outbound) and try to oppose it.
Use Google Maps to "view" the street view of the neighborhoods.
Go on other sailing forums & blogs and talk with locals.
Identify marinas on the charts and zoom in on Google Earth to see if they're mostly power or sail. Call or email a few marinas and ask about sailing conditions, depths, bridges, traffic and also whether they permit owners to do yard work on their boats (sanding, painting), liveaboards and what kind of security they may have (cameras, locked gates, etc).
Lots to investigate but worthwhile homework.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2014 : 06:01:32

You might want to check out the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina. If they have any slips available, their rates along the quay wall look pretty good. This link will take you there. http://www.stpete.org/marina/monthly_rental_fees.asp

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 03/15/2014 : 06:20:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> their rates along the quay wall look pretty good.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
The quay wall is cheap. But, it's like tying your boat up 90 degrees to a seawall. There are no finger piers or docks. You literally have to jump on your bow to get on or off the boat.....

Also, I don't think there are any shore power connections in that area. In addition, lots of deferred maintenance boats in that section....

Edited by - Davy J on 03/15/2014 06:24:02

jduck00
Captain

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USA
313 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2014 : 06:59:32

So I have another question and I'm not trying to spark a big debate. I've designed enough electrical in FL (Still hold a stamp in FL) to know that its the lightning capital of the US.

The only thing worse than typing "sailboat lightning protection" into Google is "Best biscuit recipe". You would be surprised at how heated that topic gets. I'm going through my list of must do's to get ready for salt water as well as some top of the list projects while the boat is on the trailer. I might not have the Catalina 380 sitting next to me in FL. At the dock now, I've got plenty of taller boats that make a much nicer lightning rod than my wee 25 footer.

So my question is for you FL guys, is lightning a worry for you and if so do you do anything about it?

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2014 : 07:47:30

This area is the lightning capital. But the good news is that most of that lightning is produced by the summertime thunderstorms, formed by the heat, and most of the storms form inland and away from the coast.

I have not worried about it and hope that the boat never takes a hit. Still, Like I said, we try to be off the water during those times.

Edited by - Davy J on 03/19/2014 07:48:42

jduck00
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
313 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2014 : 07:54:13

I agree with you about being off the water in the afternoons. I don't plan on getting caught if I can help it. I'm mainly thinking about it sitting at the dock. Don't want to wake up one morning and just see the mast sticking out of the water.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2014 : 08:11:13

I don't know if it will be any comfort to you, but I have never heard or seen a report of a sailboat being hit in this area. I'm sure it happens, but I haven't seen it.

I have heard reports of people being hit...... Mostly golfers, who are too foolish not to golf during a thunderstorm...

Edited by - on

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