I have long wondered why Matagorda bay in SE Texas and in particular Palacios (and Tres Palacios bay) is so isolated pleasure boating-wise, compared to any other substantial body of water in the area. On many occasions when my wife and I have gone for sails we feel like we are the only boat on the bay. Like it is all for just the two of us. Matagorda Bay is larger in sail-able area, deeper and much prettier with more day sail anchorages than the much over crowded and expensive Galveston bay. Matagorda Bay is inland waterway connected to several hundred miles of bay-systems that stretch from Galveston to South Padre. It is an hour and half drive from west Houston. There are only two small marinas in Palacios (small town at NE corner of the bay). It is much less congested than Port O’Connor which is on the same bay system but further to the SW corner (and a much further drive from Houston). The harbor master at the Palacios Matagorda County Navigation District about a year and a half ago set up a special area for leasing "docking space" for trailer sailors, but so far there are only two boats there. It is the back stretch of the parking lot at turning basin #3. You can rent a space for $50 per month and leave the boat on the trailer with the mast up. There are no overhead obstructions between the parking space and a deep water boat launch ramp about 50 to 75 yards away. The harbor provides electricity and water which is all that is needed for washing off the boat and motor after a sail and weekend repairs and mods, etc. There is lease space for about another 8 trailer sailors there but so far they just sit empty. If you're a trailer sailor in the area, I high recommend you truck on down and try out the area. If you do you won't be disappointed as far as the area goes for sailing. What it doesn't have is the Galveston scene (night life, restaurants, people watching and boat watching, etc.). So if you're more into the shore side scene than the sailing then Palacios is definitely not for you. But it has much better pure sailing to offer. And quite frankly I'm a little lonely for the company of some more trailer sailors. The fishing pretty good in Matagorda bay too. So come on over and give it a try, only don't tell too many people about it. The phone number for the Palacios MCND to inquire about leasing a space for your Mac is 361-972-5556. You won't find friendlier more accommodating folks to do business with. Regards, JonBill
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THANKS for the TIP...
I hope to check it out eventually with my McGREGOR-X. It sure gets CROWDED over here in the KEMAH area...we didnt even sail on the 4th of July because of so many on the WATER. We have a great group together in our MARINA, which is mainly why we still hang out here in KEMAH for SAILING.
I hope to check it out eventually with my McGREGOR-X. It sure gets CROWDED over here in the KEMAH area...we didnt even sail on the 4th of July because of so many on the WATER. We have a great group together in our MARINA, which is mainly why we still hang out here in KEMAH for SAILING.
P
PhilMac26s
Thanks for the info
Last spring we put in at Port O and overnighted at Matagorda Island State Park and had a great time. 5 people total on the island, shuttle over to the gulf beach, and you get tired of bending over so much to pick up sand dollars. Sounds like Palacios would be a good place to spend a quiet week.
Last spring we put in at Port O and overnighted at Matagorda Island State Park and had a great time. 5 people total on the island, shuttle over to the gulf beach, and you get tired of bending over so much to pick up sand dollars. Sounds like Palacios would be a good place to spend a quiet week.
J
JonBill
Port O worth the trip too!
Phil & Louis, We did the Port O, Matagorda Island State Park thing over Memeorial Day weekend ourselves. Man was the Port O area crowded at the time. Not so in around Palacios and over on our side of the bay. I had my motor in for a check up at the time at a dealer down there and just decided to launch from there for the long weekend and we had a nice trip but crowded. We took the tour of the island for $2. Which is what the park rangers charge for the tour around the island and saw the civil war light house and all and it was the best spent $2 I ever. But that is only one of many matagorda islands. It is the one furthest west. We anchor two islands to the east just south of Palacios which is the longest of the 4. There's also sandy Hotel Point and Palacios Point and a dozen nice anchorages out there for breaking up a day sail (and nobody is ever there). Never see anybody in matagorda bay up our ways and always wonder why all those people go over and get in each others way at Galveston? Never could figure that out. I've sailed Glaveston 3 times and it was two times too many. All the engineers I work with that have sailboats have them over in Galveston. Some of them almost never actually go sailing they just socialize at the marina.(?) A small house over there in Galveston will cost you a half a million. You could buy the whole town of Palacios for a half a million. Hope to see you at turning basin #3 sometime. Kind Regards, JonBill
Phil & Louis, We did the Port O, Matagorda Island State Park thing over Memeorial Day weekend ourselves. Man was the Port O area crowded at the time. Not so in around Palacios and over on our side of the bay. I had my motor in for a check up at the time at a dealer down there and just decided to launch from there for the long weekend and we had a nice trip but crowded. We took the tour of the island for $2. Which is what the park rangers charge for the tour around the island and saw the civil war light house and all and it was the best spent $2 I ever. But that is only one of many matagorda islands. It is the one furthest west. We anchor two islands to the east just south of Palacios which is the longest of the 4. There's also sandy Hotel Point and Palacios Point and a dozen nice anchorages out there for breaking up a day sail (and nobody is ever there). Never see anybody in matagorda bay up our ways and always wonder why all those people go over and get in each others way at Galveston? Never could figure that out. I've sailed Glaveston 3 times and it was two times too many. All the engineers I work with that have sailboats have them over in Galveston. Some of them almost never actually go sailing they just socialize at the marina.(?) A small house over there in Galveston will cost you a half a million. You could buy the whole town of Palacios for a half a million. Hope to see you at turning basin #3 sometime. Kind Regards, JonBill
JonBill...have you and wife ever visited HERE ??
We camped in our MAC at GANADO, TEX., where I found "WET SLIPs" for $1. a day...awesome accomodations. There are 2 BIG PARKS ... Brackenridge Park, and a Big State Park...both with access to launching into LAKE TEXANA (a huge lake).And both PARKS are next to one another...AMAZING FACILITIES at BOTH SITES !! Its a great place to trailer your boat for a great week-end...and so much to SEE there too. By The Way: Ive printed your message concerning PALACIOS...and maybe next SPRING or sooner...we hope to check it out...HAPPY SAILING !! ITS INTERESTING: one doesnt have to travel hundreds of MILES for some awesome SITES here in SOUTH TEXAS....
We camped in our MAC at GANADO, TEX., where I found "WET SLIPs" for $1. a day...awesome accomodations. There are 2 BIG PARKS ... Brackenridge Park, and a Big State Park...both with access to launching into LAKE TEXANA (a huge lake).And both PARKS are next to one another...AMAZING FACILITIES at BOTH SITES !! Its a great place to trailer your boat for a great week-end...and so much to SEE there too. By The Way: Ive printed your message concerning PALACIOS...and maybe next SPRING or sooner...we hope to check it out...HAPPY SAILING !! ITS INTERESTING: one doesnt have to travel hundreds of MILES for some awesome SITES here in SOUTH TEXAS....
J
JonBill
Palacios in February
Hey Green, Palacios is a little unpredicatble in February. It is like the NE US in May. Some days are beautiful and warm. Some we get what we call a 'blue northerner'. That is self descriptive. But our Feb. Bluenortherners are like Chicago in the early summer on a bad day (50's wet and windy). You can get a little fog in February too sometimes. So it's hard to tell what you'll find. If you're from Washinton state you would think our Feb's are like your June's. So expect between 40 and 70, wet or dry, foggy or clear, windy or calm. It's hard to tell. Mid-March is planting season here so if you wait one month you'd be sure to have better luck weather wise. Hope this helps. JonBill
Hey Green, Palacios is a little unpredicatble in February. It is like the NE US in May. Some days are beautiful and warm. Some we get what we call a 'blue northerner'. That is self descriptive. But our Feb. Bluenortherners are like Chicago in the early summer on a bad day (50's wet and windy). You can get a little fog in February too sometimes. So it's hard to tell what you'll find. If you're from Washinton state you would think our Feb's are like your June's. So expect between 40 and 70, wet or dry, foggy or clear, windy or calm. It's hard to tell. Mid-March is planting season here so if you wait one month you'd be sure to have better luck weather wise. Hope this helps. JonBill
J
JonBill
Never Been to GANADO, TEX
Louis, Nope, we've never been to GANADO, TEX. Thanks for letting us know about it. Regards, JonBill
Louis, Nope, we've never been to GANADO, TEX. Thanks for letting us know about it. Regards, JonBill
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