Anchoring in Sarasota, FL a criminal offense

sailingdog · Jan 11, 2009

Chuckbear—

I seriously doubt that this law has a prayer of standing if it is challenged or reviewed by the courts. Making anchoring a criminal offense is a restriction on the rights of any transiting vessels, which are granted by FEDERAL LAW. A few other Florida jurisdictions have tried similar laws, and they've been overturned, so I don't think this one has much of a chance. The story does make some good points about there being some very questionable backroom politics associated with this law and the guy who created the company that is going to be administering the mooring fields.

jackhartjr · Jan 11, 2009

If you go to

http://www.cruisersnet.net/

You will read a lot about this subject and much more.
One of the best sites out there to keep up with cruising FL and the East Coast.
Jack

MoonSailer · Jan 11, 2009

I hope that things are not as bad as they sound. We hope to cruise soon and being treated as criminals everywhere we stop for the night is not our ideal of fun!!!! Why has Florida turned so hostile to boaters???? When we kept our boat at Panama city we put a lot of money into the local economy. Cruisers eat and drink and buy services. Sure we may not add as much money as someone staying in a hotel but we cost the state almost nothing. What does it cost to let someone drop an anchor and float in the water for a few days??? What is driving this hatred of boaters???Greed wanting more money from visitors to the state??

Stu Jackson · Jan 11, 2009

I recall that this also occurred a few years ago

most liekly in another FL town. Remember reading about it in BoatUS. Forget the outcome details, but the City that tried it lost. But they guy who challenged it did have to go through incredible hassles.

Why do they do it? Because they can, and there are more dorks on land who see $$ from jail than they do from "spending in their community." Besides, they think people on transient boats are all bums and tax evaders anyway. The mayor probably owns a cigarette boat!

sailingdog · Jan 11, 2009

Stu-

I believe you're talking about Marco Island.

Stu Jackson said:
most liekly in another FL town. Remember reading about it in BoatUS. Forget the outcome details, but the City that tried it lost. But they guy who challenged it did have to go through incredible hassles.

Why do they do it? Because they can, and there are more dorks on land who see $$ from jail than they do from "spending in their community." Besides, they think people on transient boats are all bums and tax evaders anyway. The mayor probably owns a cigarette boat!

Benny · Jan 11, 2009

Sarasota? What are they trying to do stir up free publicity? With the inlets at Venice an Ana Maria Island hardly a transiting vessels stops there. Maybe they have a point that vessels anchored there are not really in transit. Love the town and their restaurants but its not a sea port destination.

Ed Schenck · Jan 11, 2009

Sad indeed.

Here we are anchored in Sarasota and having drinks at Marina Jack's. Sad to think that they don't want us there.

sailingdog · Jan 11, 2009

Confiscating a USCG documented boat could be a problem for Sarasota. It could be considered illegal restraint, and that could put them in a lot of legal trouble. A state-registered boat probably wouldn't have the same protections as a USCG documented boat.

sand sailor · Jan 11, 2009

well. that takes sarasota off my map

MacMikey · Jan 21, 2009

Clown Town looking down on cruisers....I guess Barnum & Bailey's winter haven is just two high class for us.

Sailm8 · Jan 22, 2009

Not all of Florida is antiboating. Our little town Punta Gorda is trying very hard to become a destination. We have opened 2 marinas and will soon be putting in our first of 2 mooring fields. All of our attractions are an easy walk from the water. We currently anchor off the city park Gilcrest, and dingny in to the beach for dinner at one of the local resturants. Boating and communities can coexist. Our city council just had a huge discussion about where to put in a dingy dock so it would safe and convenient. Everybody WANTED it in their business's backyard.

That being said it may come to pass that anchor time may be controlled but at this point everyone is welcome.

Another great anchorage that welcomes boaters is Matlache. This is an arist community with shops bars and attractions all within a dingy ride or walk. The town loves boater and their business. As soon as cities realize that we spend significant money we will be welcome.

Perhaps ordinences that streamlined the removal of abandoned boats and plentiful, working free or low cost pumpouts would help ease the problem.

Larry Neese · Jan 25, 2009

Come on down to the Keys, not all of the state is like Sarasota, we are a big state and most trouble makers are from up north anyway..take them back with you. Just make sure you pump our and don't dump, you can anchor in paradise 100 yards off my seawall for free. Sarasota sucks anyway no loss

Larry Neese · Jan 29, 2009

Still some free spots by the old Boot Key bridge, and we have a nice anchorage in Niles Channel area between Summerland and Cudjoe, we have 2 gas stations, a great marine hardware store, a grocery store, and even a restaurant all with free dink dockage, all on one island all ocean side.

Anchoring in Sarasota, FL a criminal offense

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