We are headed to Fort Myers with our Hunter 260 in mid October. We are looking for a good launch site, good parking for the tow vehicle, and a transient slip for a couple days. Burnt Store Marina?? Anyone with a good experience and advice. We will be sailing to Cayo Costa and beyond. How about favorite stops, restaurants etc .
Fort Myers, Fl.
- Thread starter Drich
- Start date
Maybe call All American Boat Storage and see what there rates are now. See the first of our 2 Florida trips here...
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor-trips-1/macgregor-trips-1-index.html
Also there are different anchorages listed in the trip reports. Sorry not much on restaurants and the like as we didn't frequent any,
Sumner
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Out of curiosity, why Ft Myers? It's a LONG sail from there to Burnt Store, and Cayo Costa ( which is one of my favorite anchorage) . Why not someplace in Punta Gorda, or Port Charlotte instead?
Even Ft Myers beach would be closer, but not by a lot.
As I said, just curious.
Even Ft Myers beach would be closer, but not by a lot.
As I said, just curious.
Punta Gorda Rivera Marina
I rented dock space 2 months at this marina, also listed as DO IT YOUR SELF MARINA at the end of Deltona Drive on the Alligator Creek during April/May 2008. A good access to Charlotte Harbor, a short motor down Alligator Creek, Pelicans love to sit in the mangroves along the creek, then a well marked channel into the north end of the harbor. From there we sailed several miles south in a modest SW wind with just enough waves to throw an occasional spray from the bow and then turned west from Burnt Store towards Gasparilla Island, then south towards Caya Costa and Pelican Cove. The harbor is so wide you cant see land on the opposite side for awhile. Watch the tide tables for Boca Grande Pass if you are headed for Pelican Cove, it can be a pretty strong outgoing current. We had a great time sailing Charlotte Harbor, try it, I would recommend it.
David S Happy Sailing
I rented dock space 2 months at this marina, also listed as DO IT YOUR SELF MARINA at the end of Deltona Drive on the Alligator Creek during April/May 2008. A good access to Charlotte Harbor, a short motor down Alligator Creek, Pelicans love to sit in the mangroves along the creek, then a well marked channel into the north end of the harbor. From there we sailed several miles south in a modest SW wind with just enough waves to throw an occasional spray from the bow and then turned west from Burnt Store towards Gasparilla Island, then south towards Caya Costa and Pelican Cove. The harbor is so wide you cant see land on the opposite side for awhile. Watch the tide tables for Boca Grande Pass if you are headed for Pelican Cove, it can be a pretty strong outgoing current. We had a great time sailing Charlotte Harbor, try it, I would recommend it.
David S Happy Sailing
I live in Ft Myers Beach and previously Punta Gorda Isles. I now a little about the area not so much about ramps as my boat lives in the canal behind my house.
Where in Ft Myers? Most of Lee County is unincorporated and ends up getting called Ft Myers. There is the City of Ft Myers which is on the Caloosahatchie River and then the rest which gets called Ft Myers.
Launching in the City of Ft Myers would be a poor choice as you would have to go down the river to the Gulf/Pine Island Sound (Sanibel Causeway) and then go back north either in the Gulf or the sound to get to Cayo Costa. Pine Island Sound south of Cayo Costa the sailing is not so good unless you have local knowledge;it is shallow and most traffic stays in the ICW, sailing in the marked ICW channel is next to impossible, width and large power boat wakes, outside the channel you better have local knowledge because of depth unless running a ground is not a concern. South of the Boca Grande pass if we stay inside (Pine Island Sound) we motor in the ICW to sail we go out into the Gulf.
Launching in either Punta Gorda or Burnt Store would be a great choice as you could sail Charlotte Harbor to Cayo Costa. From Punta Gorda the better of the day from Burnt Store a couple of hours less. Not sure about over night parking in either case. There are a couple or ramps down here (Ft Myers Beach area) one charges to park the other is free. In either case to sail to Cayo Costa you would have to go in the Gulf if you don't mind motoring than you could go in Pine Island Sound in the ICW.
Ask away if you have any more specific questions abut slips or mooring as we have a mooring field in Ft Myers Beach.
Where in Ft Myers? Most of Lee County is unincorporated and ends up getting called Ft Myers. There is the City of Ft Myers which is on the Caloosahatchie River and then the rest which gets called Ft Myers.
Launching in the City of Ft Myers would be a poor choice as you would have to go down the river to the Gulf/Pine Island Sound (Sanibel Causeway) and then go back north either in the Gulf or the sound to get to Cayo Costa. Pine Island Sound south of Cayo Costa the sailing is not so good unless you have local knowledge;it is shallow and most traffic stays in the ICW, sailing in the marked ICW channel is next to impossible, width and large power boat wakes, outside the channel you better have local knowledge because of depth unless running a ground is not a concern. South of the Boca Grande pass if we stay inside (Pine Island Sound) we motor in the ICW to sail we go out into the Gulf.
Launching in either Punta Gorda or Burnt Store would be a great choice as you could sail Charlotte Harbor to Cayo Costa. From Punta Gorda the better of the day from Burnt Store a couple of hours less. Not sure about over night parking in either case. There are a couple or ramps down here (Ft Myers Beach area) one charges to park the other is free. In either case to sail to Cayo Costa you would have to go in the Gulf if you don't mind motoring than you could go in Pine Island Sound in the ICW.
Ask away if you have any more specific questions abut slips or mooring as we have a mooring field in Ft Myers Beach.
The bridge ar Punta Gorda is 45 feet so the mooring field at Lashley Marina is a possibility as is Punta Gorda Marina. As Sumner said, Safe Cove Marina, formally All American, is probably your best option.
Punta Gorda has free bikes to use so a visit to West Marine, Publix supermarket or any of the restaurants in the area is really easy. The city is surrounded by bike paths that connect the parks. Many places to eat and shops to visit.
Boca Grande Marina has just been refurbished but I have not been there yet. BG is $$$$ but worth the visit IMHO. If you have a dinghy, Don Pedro State park is worth a visit.
Cayo Costa is my favorite place in the area. The holding is good but the protection from Tstorms is not all that good. You could dock your boat in one of the slips on the island for $10/night and it includes you $2.00 fee to visit the island. There is a tram to take you across the island to 8 miles of nearly deserted beach. There are no hook ups at the slips. The trading post has ice for sale.
South of Cayo Costa is Cabbage Key and the "famous" restaurant on the island. Our sail club had a very bad experience here and I have never been back, but tourists love the place with its dollar bills pasted everywhere. Further south is the anchorage off Ding Darling Park at Sanibel. Further along the ICW is St James City is several waterfront bars/restaurants to visit. Through the Miserable Mile you can go to Bimini Basin or on to the Mooring field at Ft Myers Beach. Up the river is the City of Ft Myers marina and mooring filed.
PM me if you need more info. This is a great area.
Punta Gorda has free bikes to use so a visit to West Marine, Publix supermarket or any of the restaurants in the area is really easy. The city is surrounded by bike paths that connect the parks. Many places to eat and shops to visit.
Boca Grande Marina has just been refurbished but I have not been there yet. BG is $$$$ but worth the visit IMHO. If you have a dinghy, Don Pedro State park is worth a visit.
Cayo Costa is my favorite place in the area. The holding is good but the protection from Tstorms is not all that good. You could dock your boat in one of the slips on the island for $10/night and it includes you $2.00 fee to visit the island. There is a tram to take you across the island to 8 miles of nearly deserted beach. There are no hook ups at the slips. The trading post has ice for sale.
South of Cayo Costa is Cabbage Key and the "famous" restaurant on the island. Our sail club had a very bad experience here and I have never been back, but tourists love the place with its dollar bills pasted everywhere. Further south is the anchorage off Ding Darling Park at Sanibel. Further along the ICW is St James City is several waterfront bars/restaurants to visit. Through the Miserable Mile you can go to Bimini Basin or on to the Mooring field at Ft Myers Beach. Up the river is the City of Ft Myers marina and mooring filed.
PM me if you need more info. This is a great area.
Thanks for the great responses. We are visiting the first night in Fort Myers and then planning to launch the boat in Punts Gorda area.
Here is a list of the marinas in Charlotte Harbor.
http://ocean.floridamarine.org/boating_guides/charlotte_harbor/pages/marinas.html
http://ocean.floridamarine.org/boating_guides/charlotte_harbor/pages/marinas.html
Spent the week at Burnt Store Marina, great place to stay! Spent 3 nights at Cayo Costa! Got a cheeseburger at Cabbage key! Great sailing, wind, and weather. Will go back often!