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osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/29/2003 : 13:59:10

Char and I driving to Florida prior to our winter cruise this January. The primary reason for driving was to "look over" various communities as a potential 3 month winter retirement home. This we plan to explore the east coast as far south a Ft Lauderdale.

I'd be interested in hearing from Florida c25/250 sailors discuss the merits of various communities on the east coast. Marinas, day rentals, access to the ocean, winter winds, etc.

Thanks in advance.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 20:05:31

Don,

Here's a rerun of a message I wrote to a trailer sailing club answering a similar inquiry.

I live in Cocoa Beach, a few miles south of Port Canaveral. There are several good boat launching facilities in this area.

Kelly Park on Merritt Island has excellent ramps in a sheltered lagoon at the intersection of S.R.3 & S.R.528.

Public ramps on S.R.520 near Cape Canaveral Hospital just west of Cocoa Beach. Short and shallow, but may work for engineless daysailors.

Port Canaveral has large deep public ramps at a park just east of the draw bridges at the west end of the port. Engine required. Port Canaveral also has large deep public ramps at "Grills" seafood restaurant and tiki bar towards the east end of the port on the south side. Engine required. Come sip a cold one at the tiki bar while enjoying the "Powerboat Ramp Follies". On busy weekends, old salts can be seen wagering drinks on the type and degree of the next launch ramp screw-up. <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ramp Road in Cocoa Beach, near the south end of town. You might need some more detailed driving directions for this one, but the waters are in Thousand Islands, nice for nature gunk holing, with two deep channels out into the Banana River. Ramps may not be deep enough for a C-25 on a trailer.

Port Saint John ramp into the Indian River along U.S.1 a few miles south of Titusville. Busy ramp, lots of powerboaters, many of them commercial fishermen.

Travel lift (during regular business hours only) at Banana River Marine/Coastal Marine at the drawbridge on South Banana River Drive, Merritt Island. An excellent family owned and operated marina.

There probably several other ramps and travel lift facilities scattered around the area that I've forgotten to mention.

There are a variety of interesting places to see and sail within a weekend radius of Port Canaveral. A few suggestions:

A Lap Of Merritt Island - From the barge canal to Dragon Point using the Banana and Indian rivers.

Pay Your Respects To The Dragon - A shorter version of lap around Merritt Island. Launch where ever and go see what's left of the famous dragon statue.

Island Party (in either river) - There are lots of spoil islands to visit and camp on.

A Lap Of Thousand Islands - Although the water between most of the islands is quite shallow, there are marked and dredged channels between the uninhabited islands and the city of Cocoa Beach making a complete circuit possible. Motor recommended. Dinghies, daysailors, and other small craft will be able to explore the islands in more detail.

Poke Around In Thousand Islands - Nature lovers will have to see this area to believe it. Bring a GPS so you can leave a trail of electronic bread crumbs to find your way back out.

Watch A Rocket Launch (but don't count on it going on "schedule") - There are designated viewing areas in both the Banana and Indian rivers. See the local "Florida Today" newspaper for latest dates and times.

Waterfront Bar & Grill Meeting (in either river) - There are several restaurants with dockage and/or anchorage available for patrons. Could be combined with most of the other suggestions. Note: Although there are several very tempting waterfront restaurants in Port Canaveral, none seem to have dockage or room to anchor nearby. There is basically no place to "park" a pleasure boat in the waters of Port Canaveral.

Stick your bow out Port Canaveral - One of the easiest inlets anywhere. Launch at Grills and go for a daysail in the ocean. Then, either come back in time to be on the trailer by dark and have a tasty seafood dinner before heading home. Or, continue west through the drawbridges and locks to a convenient anchorage in the Banana River. (Be sure to double check hours of operation for drawbridges and locks, or you could find yourself in an awkward situation -- forbidden to hang out all night in the port, and blocked from getting to the Banana River. There may be some rental slips available in the port. Otherwise, the only remaining alternative would seem to be to head out into the Atlantic Ocean with no other harbors nearby.)

Winds And Weather. It's usually sunny and windy here during the winter, with daytime highs in the low 60's to high 70's except during an occasional northern cold front. And when I say "a northern cold front", I'm talking about temperatures down into the 40's at night and 50's during daylight for maybe a day or two, and even then only one or two a year in January or February. It's not like deadly blizzard conditions until the April thaw where you have to eat your weakest sled dogs to stay alive. It's more like don't forget to bring a wind breaker jacket to wear over your T-shirt if you're going to be out on the water after dark. I usually bring shoes too, just in case my feet get chilly when night sailing.

Feel free to contact me for more details if you like. <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 21:41:20

Leon,

Thanks for the information. It is exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for. Obviously, Char and I are interested in sailing, and the water. This sounds like a good area to check out.

Thanks again,

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 21:44:03

OK, Leon... That's enough. <img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle> We're down to just under two weeks to haul-out, and highs will be in the 50s by the end of this week. I'm lining up the sled dogs, in order by strength.......

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 09/29/2003 : 23:19:31

Don, I understand the need for a winter move from upstate NY. I spend 7 lovely years in a little town named Plattsburgh about 3 hours north of you.
I concur with Leon about the Cocoa area if the East coast is were you want to go. There is a little town about two miles south of Cocoa on US-1 called Rockledge that would be my place if I were looking. It is right on the Indian river and close to everything else. Actually, anywhere in the Cocoa area is really nice plus some of the greatest seafood establishments anywhere. You just cannot miss in that area.

Frog and The General
<img src="http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/3f514bcf_339f/bc/boats/__tn_Pretty+Penny.jpg?bc2LWU_AhL8DufLw" border=0>
79 Wing #1166
Pretty Penny

Edited by - on

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 09:25:01

After extensive evaluation we chose the West coast of fla, but spent a lot of time looking on East Coast about 10/15 years ago. We liked the Sebastian/Indian river area. East coast attracts sailors who want to be able to go over to the Bahamas, West coast has Charlotte harbor area , gulf sailing, more short cruises available, East coast indian river area provided some of that feeling. Either way no more chipping ice, except for drinks, faIR winds, ron srsk Orion

Edited by - on

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 09:28:35

Forgot to add: if you get to the West coast, give a ring and we will give you the grand tour of the Venice/Sarasota/Punta Gorda area, can be done by car in one day and gives a bit of the flavor of the area, ron Orion.

Edited by - on

thacket3
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 12:16:47

when I moved my C25 down i had originally looked at marinas in the Ft Lauderdale area. (I live in Miami) however, not only is Ft Lauderdale the Yacht Capital pf the world, it also has the most expensive and sought after slips in the world. I pay 275 a month in Miami and found the least expensive I could find without a 1-2 year wait list costs about double that. So, I stayed in Miami. I just make sure nothing valuable is left on board.

Another draw back of Ft Lauderdale is that there really is only one entrance to the ocean from the area. On the weekends, the intercoastal can have bigger swells than the Atlantic. and it can take an hour or more to get to the ocean.

My advice, stay north of Palm Beach.
Good Luck

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 13:43:03

Ron,

The plan is to "check-out" the east coast this year, and the west coast next year. I would like the tour of the area, maybe a sail?

Thanks for your input.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 13:46:09

Tim,

North of Palm Beach? Any specific town that we should consider? Our parameters are wide open, and we'll take a few years to narrow down, looking at available sailing venues, and various housing options before we make any decisions.

Thanks for your help.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 13:49:00

Jerry,

the pics of the new baby look great. I'll bet you are going to enjoy her! What's the plan for the one you now have?

Also, thanks for the endorsement of Cocoa Beach and area. But what about south of Jacksonville?

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 14:18:20

I am currently on the st johns in jacksonville. The sailing is sheltered but a bit limited. A trip to the ocean is about 20 miles. The thing about Jacksonville is the cost. Housing,Boating, and utilities are very reasonable. It is possible for an average Joe to find some kind of waterfront here or around here. I will put her on the trailer and drive on the on flat roads to the keys. I grew up in Ft laud and will never move back to south florida. (too many people)

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 15:49:21

atgep wrote,

I grew up in Ft laud and will never move back to south florida. (too many people)

How far south 'til you reach ". . . too many people . . ."? We feel the same way about New York City and 'burbs. <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - osmepneo on 09/30/2003 15:51:35

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 20:49:04

The dealer purchased Penny for his two girls to race on the Indian River in Cocoa.

The areas south of Jax are o'kay except for St. Augustine which is super fine and close to both the ocean and the ditch. Atgep hit the nail pretty much on the head about Jax. A great river sailing area especially down near us were it is 3 1/2 miles wide for about 10 miles. As a matter of fact we have a little 38.5 mile river race the first weekend in May every year known as the MUG RACE. 2003 was the 50th anniversary race. We usually make a three day event out of it.

When do you plan on taking your exploration tour? Let us know your itinerary and I am sure we can come up with accomodations and a few guided tours. (EM to mulvihilljs@netzero.net) Looking forward to meeting you and your bride.

Frog and The General
<img src="http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/3f514bcf_339f/bc/boats/__tn_Pretty+Penny.jpg?bc2LWU_AhL8DufLw" border=0>
79 Wing #1166
Pretty Penny

Edited by - on

cch
Navigator

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202 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 20:56:37

Hi Don,

You might consider northwest Florida. Much lower population and cost of living. Waterfront property is still reasonable, maybe not much longer. Here in Bay County we have fantastic sailing, 65% of Bay County is water. Often we sail all day without seeing another boat out.

Chris Hunsicker
Panama City FL
Moonglade
80 C25 #2126 sr/sk
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d636b3127cce8c9d4c83e7890000002010" border=0>

Edited by - on

ksaum
Deckhand

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USA
14 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 21:32:08

Hi Don,
When I relocated south from NY my wife and I researched the many coastal communities from Va to FL. I had only one need--to be able to sail on wide water and not necessarilly the ocean. My wife's list was a lot longer. We narrowed the search to Florida, and selected Stuart. It has the St Lucie River ,which is wide with good sailing conditionswith an inlet to the ocean. It also sits on the intercoastal waterway where it connects with the cross Florida canal. And most important there's the St Lucie Sailing Club.Please call me if you're in the area or would like to talk it through.
Ken Saum
Krsaum@juno.com
772-287-4892

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 22:00:30

Jerry, I think I've heard of the Mug Race. Sounds like its a good time. With imprecise plans we expect to be around Jacksonville January 19th. We're leave Schenectady the 18th after church and are picking up a friend who has a son in the Navy, stationed at Jacksonville abourd the Washington. Would love to meet you and the general (ops, General) and will let you know as our details develop.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 22:03:57

Chris, Mmmmmm! Sounds interesting. In-laws wintered in Destin and Char and I visited them while I was in seminary. The nw coast certainly has possibilities. To many places to go and not enough time! thanaks for suggesting it!

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 22:06:21

Ken, Char and I have friends in Stuart, and as I have studied Florida, is an area that seems to interest us. so plans include stopping there on our south to Ft lauderdale. I'll let you know when when we know. thanks for the offer to share your experience.

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2003 : 22:32:14

Don

You are leaving NY after church on the 18th and will be in Jax on the 19th???? Thought you said you were driving? You must have a car like the General's!!! The rubber never touches the ground on her car either.

Frog and The General
<img src="http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/3f514bcf_339f/bc/boats/__tn_Pretty+Penny.jpg?bc2LWU_AhL8DufLw" border=0>
79 Wing #1166
Pretty Penny

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2003 : 07:34:47

Jerry,

In the world according to mapquest, Richmond is 8 hours from Schenectady and Jax is another 9 hours from Richmond. Hense the plan. And, Mapquest times are at a lower speed than I normally drive.(Ops, did I just admit to driving without rubber meeting the road?)

Don Peet
c25, 1665, osmepneo, sr/wk
The Great Sacandaga Lake, NY

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2003 : 19:37:04

I don't know about mapquest, but my route planner says its 540 miles from Schenectady NY to Richmond VA and 599 miles from there to Jax. It says 21 hours to travel assuming an avg. speed of 55 mph. Now lets see, if it is 540 to Rich. and you drive it in 8 hours that equals an average of 67.5 mph. That is hauling boogy.

Anyway, I will circle the date on my calendar for the 19th. I live close to NAS Jax and your friends son is probably stationed at Mayport if he is on the Washington.

Frog and The General
<img src="http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/3f514bcf_339f/bc/boats/__tn_Pretty+Penny.jpg?bc2LWU_AhL8DufLw" border=0>
79 Wing #1166
Pretty Penny

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.