I will be retireing in a few years and thinking of moving to fort meyers with my 290. But don't know what the sailing is like there so all you sailers in florida help me out with your knowledge.
- Status
West coast FL sailing
Don't know Ft. Myers per se, but the west coast of Florida is cursed with light winds in the summer (except when the afternoon storms blow through - and they are almost every afternoon). On the plus side, it is generally cheaper that the east coast of FL (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach.) By the time you get as far north as Stuart, the east coast is cheaper. The west coast has a lot of great places to anchor out. While Miami has some -- around Biscayne Bay, I am not sure this is true as you move north. I always consider that the sourthern part of the west coast is misquito hell. (Too many mangroves!) But the best thing to do would be come and visit. And look CLOSELY at the cost and availablity of dockage. You may be surprised at the cost, since the EPA has said no new docks may be built. (They keep building boats...)
Don't know Ft. Myers per se, but the west coast of Florida is cursed with light winds in the summer (except when the afternoon storms blow through - and they are almost every afternoon). On the plus side, it is generally cheaper that the east coast of FL (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach.) By the time you get as far north as Stuart, the east coast is cheaper. The west coast has a lot of great places to anchor out. While Miami has some -- around Biscayne Bay, I am not sure this is true as you move north. I always consider that the sourthern part of the west coast is misquito hell. (Too many mangroves!) But the best thing to do would be come and visit. And look CLOSELY at the cost and availablity of dockage. You may be surprised at the cost, since the EPA has said no new docks may be built. (They keep building boats...)
Good choice
Ft Myers is close to Pine Island Sound, which is mostly protected from the Gulf of Mexico by Sanibel and Captiva Islands. There are tons of places to explore as long as your boat has shoal draft boat or retractable keel. Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte are within easy reach to the north, and Marco Island and Naples are to the south. If you're feeling adventurous, the Thousand Islands, Florida Bay and the Keys are within reach, as are the Dry Tortugas which is a really cool place, especially in the spring. Two excellent references are Claiborne Young's "Cruising Guide to Western Florida" and Frank Papy's "Cruising Guide to the Florida Keys". Both are availale at West Marine or BoatUS. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
Ft Myers is close to Pine Island Sound, which is mostly protected from the Gulf of Mexico by Sanibel and Captiva Islands. There are tons of places to explore as long as your boat has shoal draft boat or retractable keel. Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte are within easy reach to the north, and Marco Island and Naples are to the south. If you're feeling adventurous, the Thousand Islands, Florida Bay and the Keys are within reach, as are the Dry Tortugas which is a really cool place, especially in the spring. Two excellent references are Claiborne Young's "Cruising Guide to Western Florida" and Frank Papy's "Cruising Guide to the Florida Keys". Both are availale at West Marine or BoatUS. Good luck. Peter H23 "Raven"
Try it!
Check out Burnt Store Marina where they have a charter fleet and you can see for yourself. Great cruising area with lots to see and do for a very reasonable price.
Check out Burnt Store Marina where they have a charter fleet and you can see for yourself. Great cruising area with lots to see and do for a very reasonable price.
SW Florida Getting Too Crowded
Please go to the East Coast of Florida. Southwest Florida is such a nice cruising spot that too many have found it and are clogging up the place. Housing prices have doubled since I've been here. We have lived at Burnt Store Marina for 9 years and the Charlotte Harbor area is great for daysailing and as said by others, Pine Island Sound is a great for gunkholeing. We cruise the Bahamas every spring. It would be nice to be from the east coast for that trip. But since the Bahamians have raised the cruising permits 300% we may never go back. Bottom line, I would pick the Punta Gorda area over Fort Myers for sailors. Fort Myers or Cape Coral sailors usually have to motor several miles down the river to get to good sailing. We sail just outside of the marina. Disregard the first paragraph. We can always use another sailor. Bill Bell
Please go to the East Coast of Florida. Southwest Florida is such a nice cruising spot that too many have found it and are clogging up the place. Housing prices have doubled since I've been here. We have lived at Burnt Store Marina for 9 years and the Charlotte Harbor area is great for daysailing and as said by others, Pine Island Sound is a great for gunkholeing. We cruise the Bahamas every spring. It would be nice to be from the east coast for that trip. But since the Bahamians have raised the cruising permits 300% we may never go back. Bottom line, I would pick the Punta Gorda area over Fort Myers for sailors. Fort Myers or Cape Coral sailors usually have to motor several miles down the river to get to good sailing. We sail just outside of the marina. Disregard the first paragraph. We can always use another sailor. Bill Bell
I went to sailing school in Punta Gorda
and wanted to move there. Great sailing on Charlotte Harbor with a canal system that was designed for sail boats (there are some that are restricted to power boats due to bridge heights). Housing was reasonable. It's quiet, not as commerical as Fort Meyers, and has access to the Gulf but is protected. Wish I was going with you but according to my first mate, not till the grandkids are grown. Fair winds Hayden
and wanted to move there. Great sailing on Charlotte Harbor with a canal system that was designed for sail boats (there are some that are restricted to power boats due to bridge heights). Housing was reasonable. It's quiet, not as commerical as Fort Meyers, and has access to the Gulf but is protected. Wish I was going with you but according to my first mate, not till the grandkids are grown. Fair winds Hayden
Hey Nick........
I've got a friend who's been in Punta Gorda for years now - born and raised in Centerport, L.I. She says it's real nice there, but re: sailing: often light winds, blinding thunderstorms, SHALLOW water outside channels, narrow channels, sea grass, the occasional alligator (?!) in Port Charlotte harbor, and expensive dockage. If you can look past those minor issues, she's got some great places to cruise to within a day or two of sailing. You know, except for the alligators, it kinda sounds like home, doesn't it? In fact, she wishes she could afford to move back. If you want, I can put you in touch with her by e-mail. If we only had blue water and no winter, L.I. would be great......
I've got a friend who's been in Punta Gorda for years now - born and raised in Centerport, L.I. She says it's real nice there, but re: sailing: often light winds, blinding thunderstorms, SHALLOW water outside channels, narrow channels, sea grass, the occasional alligator (?!) in Port Charlotte harbor, and expensive dockage. If you can look past those minor issues, she's got some great places to cruise to within a day or two of sailing. You know, except for the alligators, it kinda sounds like home, doesn't it? In fact, she wishes she could afford to move back. If you want, I can put you in touch with her by e-mail. If we only had blue water and no winter, L.I. would be great......
The only place better...
The only place better than the West Coast of Florida is Margaritaville. Sure, the winds are light in the summer, but sail-boating is more than just sailing....it's a lifestyle. I've lived on the west coast of Florida all my life (which is a long time)and I've sailed the waters from Stuart (on the Atlantic coast) all the way around to the upper gulf coast. Anyplace within a day's sail of the Boca Grande area will seem like Paradise. I agree with Bill Bell...we already have too many people, but it is inevitable that there will be more, so it's nice to know that some of them are sailors. Welcome to the Gulf Coast.
The only place better than the West Coast of Florida is Margaritaville. Sure, the winds are light in the summer, but sail-boating is more than just sailing....it's a lifestyle. I've lived on the west coast of Florida all my life (which is a long time)and I've sailed the waters from Stuart (on the Atlantic coast) all the way around to the upper gulf coast. Anyplace within a day's sail of the Boca Grande area will seem like Paradise. I agree with Bill Bell...we already have too many people, but it is inevitable that there will be more, so it's nice to know that some of them are sailors. Welcome to the Gulf Coast.
mad cracker
Being born a true Florida Cracker I hate to see more and more yankees moving down here simply to retire than bitch about how we do it down here. Yeah, we are a bit backwards in our politics but it is OUR way. Okay, I've said my bit so I'll get off my soap box. Since it is no secret that more and more yankees are going to move down here anyway than I'd have to say that Charlotte County (Punta Gorda, Pt. Charlotte) has far better sailing than Lee County (Ft. Myers) or Collier County (Naples). We pride our selves on mosquitoes, alligators, heat & humidity, wild hair raising thunderstorms and weird locals. We also pride our selves on some of the best gunk hole sailing anyplace in the world, including the Keys (though the water really is much prettier down there). If you can get through all that than SW Fla. is the better place to be. On the East coast you'll need a Cuban passport all the way up to Palm Beach and south to Vaca Key (Marathon). Dollar for dollar you are probably better off on the west coast. Personally I'd prefer you give the east a shot first. If you survive there you'll survive anywhere, literally.... Good luck and I look foward to seeing you driving slow in the fast lane with your blinker on all the way.
Being born a true Florida Cracker I hate to see more and more yankees moving down here simply to retire than bitch about how we do it down here. Yeah, we are a bit backwards in our politics but it is OUR way. Okay, I've said my bit so I'll get off my soap box. Since it is no secret that more and more yankees are going to move down here anyway than I'd have to say that Charlotte County (Punta Gorda, Pt. Charlotte) has far better sailing than Lee County (Ft. Myers) or Collier County (Naples). We pride our selves on mosquitoes, alligators, heat & humidity, wild hair raising thunderstorms and weird locals. We also pride our selves on some of the best gunk hole sailing anyplace in the world, including the Keys (though the water really is much prettier down there). If you can get through all that than SW Fla. is the better place to be. On the East coast you'll need a Cuban passport all the way up to Palm Beach and south to Vaca Key (Marathon). Dollar for dollar you are probably better off on the west coast. Personally I'd prefer you give the east a shot first. If you survive there you'll survive anywhere, literally.... Good luck and I look foward to seeing you driving slow in the fast lane with your blinker on all the way.
Steven, Just Tell Him How You Really Feel
Whats the difference between a Yankee and a Damn Yankee? A Yankee just comes to visit a Damn Yankee stays.
Whats the difference between a Yankee and a Damn Yankee? A Yankee just comes to visit a Damn Yankee stays.
Give Burnt Store Marina a look
As was stated earlier, You should investigate Burnt Store Marina. The housing prices there continue to rise, but there are some units that will likely fit anyone's budget. The advantage is the access to open water. No briges, almost no run time. I can be sailing ten minutes after I drop the lines at my slip. And, there are slips available as Burnt Store just added about 80 new slips. The dockage is pricy. My cost is $349.80 per month for my H336. My wife and I love the place. And no, we do not have equity interest in WCI. We spend about 3 months a year in our condo there. Best of luck in your search, Rodney S/V Avanti
As was stated earlier, You should investigate Burnt Store Marina. The housing prices there continue to rise, but there are some units that will likely fit anyone's budget. The advantage is the access to open water. No briges, almost no run time. I can be sailing ten minutes after I drop the lines at my slip. And, there are slips available as Burnt Store just added about 80 new slips. The dockage is pricy. My cost is $349.80 per month for my H336. My wife and I love the place. And no, we do not have equity interest in WCI. We spend about 3 months a year in our condo there. Best of luck in your search, Rodney S/V Avanti
Try St. Petersburg
We have lived in St. Peterburg for 5 yrs and love it. The Tampa Bay area is a larger city than where you are looking, which may or may not be important to you. Some places you are looking are quite a drive to Home Depot, West Marine, or even the grocery store. Sailing is good herer, but much better South of here. We usually sail down the coast to the Sanabel, Captiva area whenever we want to be out for a week or so. All of the water in Florida is shallow. Compared to where you are, anywhere in Florida will be good, although we prefer the West Coast. Don't forget what life will be like the 70% or more of the time you will not be on the boat. Doug Fuller
We have lived in St. Peterburg for 5 yrs and love it. The Tampa Bay area is a larger city than where you are looking, which may or may not be important to you. Some places you are looking are quite a drive to Home Depot, West Marine, or even the grocery store. Sailing is good herer, but much better South of here. We usually sail down the coast to the Sanabel, Captiva area whenever we want to be out for a week or so. All of the water in Florida is shallow. Compared to where you are, anywhere in Florida will be good, although we prefer the West Coast. Don't forget what life will be like the 70% or more of the time you will not be on the boat. Doug Fuller
Yankees
I know George Steinbrenner lives in Tampa but are Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and the rest of the team moving there too? Go Red Sox!
I know George Steinbrenner lives in Tampa but are Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and the rest of the team moving there too? Go Red Sox!
Williamsburg
The best place to relocate in Florida is Williamsburg VA. Many retirees from up North do the J curve by heading to Florida and becoming disenchanted with the constant heat and no change of seasons, not to mention traffic and knucklehead politicians.
The best place to relocate in Florida is Williamsburg VA. Many retirees from up North do the J curve by heading to Florida and becoming disenchanted with the constant heat and no change of seasons, not to mention traffic and knucklehead politicians.
Try Pensacola to Panama City
Water can get a bit "thin" but tons of great sailing and some of the friendliest folks you will ever meet!! Bill
Water can get a bit "thin" but tons of great sailing and some of the friendliest folks you will ever meet!! Bill
Charlotte Harbor
Love Charlotte Harbor. Easy sailing, no rocks, 10-16 ft deep, large and fun to sail. Fairly inexpensive older homes in Pt Charlotte on the water 175000-250000. Or newer homes in Punta Gorda at 250000 up. If you want to keep in Marina, not too many available. Burnt Store Marina good, Alligator creek marina cheaper but a dive. Fisherman's Village expensive, new dockage at Holiday Inn, Best Western, and Laishley Park. Other areas to moor. Come on down and look around. Good access to the Gulf through Boca Grande if you want to get out of shallow water and cruise. I have 1980 Hunter 27 up Alligator Creek on a boat lift in my back yard.
Love Charlotte Harbor. Easy sailing, no rocks, 10-16 ft deep, large and fun to sail. Fairly inexpensive older homes in Pt Charlotte on the water 175000-250000. Or newer homes in Punta Gorda at 250000 up. If you want to keep in Marina, not too many available. Burnt Store Marina good, Alligator creek marina cheaper but a dive. Fisherman's Village expensive, new dockage at Holiday Inn, Best Western, and Laishley Park. Other areas to moor. Come on down and look around. Good access to the Gulf through Boca Grande if you want to get out of shallow water and cruise. I have 1980 Hunter 27 up Alligator Creek on a boat lift in my back yard.
It's there somewhere...
Interesting you ask where Burnt Store is. We visit Port Charlotte frequently because my mother lives there. We've been interested in Burnt store and tried several times to find it. We used local maps, AAA maps, and the telephone book maps to no avail. Finally we just headed south and kept as close to the shore as we could. After viewing a great deal of very expensive real estate on many dead end roads we found it. Not sure why it has a Punta Gorda address. It seems to be about half way between Punta Gorda and Fort Meyers. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how to get there. I'll be able to find it when I'm driving the route again, but I don't know the names of the roads. It's a nice place and a nice marina. It looks expensive. We talked with the people at yachting vacations and may take a coastal cruising corse fromt them. Geoff
Interesting you ask where Burnt Store is. We visit Port Charlotte frequently because my mother lives there. We've been interested in Burnt store and tried several times to find it. We used local maps, AAA maps, and the telephone book maps to no avail. Finally we just headed south and kept as close to the shore as we could. After viewing a great deal of very expensive real estate on many dead end roads we found it. Not sure why it has a Punta Gorda address. It seems to be about half way between Punta Gorda and Fort Meyers. Unfortunately, I can't tell you how to get there. I'll be able to find it when I'm driving the route again, but I don't know the names of the roads. It's a nice place and a nice marina. It looks expensive. We talked with the people at yachting vacations and may take a coastal cruising corse fromt them. Geoff
Burnt Store Marina
Where is Burnt Store Marina? Well it's 10 miles south of Punta Gorda on Burnt Store Road. We have Punta Gorda Address, Phone Numbers, but we are just inside of Lee County (where Cape Coral and Ft Myers is located). 26 45.79N 82 03.44W We are 10 miles directly east of Boca Grande Channel which goes into the Gulf. We are a community of about 1200 residents in the winter. Probably about 600 in the summer. We have a 27 hole executive golf course. We have around 500 slips which are more than half sailboats. Probably about 100 live aboards in the winter. Building is still going on here. They are completing about 4 8-story condo buildings. Maybe 10 or 12 single family lots still left, and always a lot of resales. Most of the resales are non boaters and golfers. A few of the boaters have left here to go to Punta Gorda Isles to have the boat in their backyard and not pay the $10.00 per foot per month marina fee. We have a couple of sailboat charter companies here. Come down and try us out. Bill Bell
Where is Burnt Store Marina? Well it's 10 miles south of Punta Gorda on Burnt Store Road. We have Punta Gorda Address, Phone Numbers, but we are just inside of Lee County (where Cape Coral and Ft Myers is located). 26 45.79N 82 03.44W We are 10 miles directly east of Boca Grande Channel which goes into the Gulf. We are a community of about 1200 residents in the winter. Probably about 600 in the summer. We have a 27 hole executive golf course. We have around 500 slips which are more than half sailboats. Probably about 100 live aboards in the winter. Building is still going on here. They are completing about 4 8-story condo buildings. Maybe 10 or 12 single family lots still left, and always a lot of resales. Most of the resales are non boaters and golfers. A few of the boaters have left here to go to Punta Gorda Isles to have the boat in their backyard and not pay the $10.00 per foot per month marina fee. We have a couple of sailboat charter companies here. Come down and try us out. Bill Bell
Try the east coast....please!
Yeah that's it... the east coast! Easy access to the Bahamas and the Keys! Lots of competitive marinas and way more places to eat along the water. West coast is all mosquitoes and mangroves. Average water depth is 4 inches. The sailing season is only 23 hours long (12 hours in March and the rest during a hurricane) The weather is hotter and everything mildews as soon as you open the door. Yeah... it really sucks over here... I mean over there. Hmmm and it's FULL. I read somewhere that they aren't allowing any more residents.
Yeah that's it... the east coast! Easy access to the Bahamas and the Keys! Lots of competitive marinas and way more places to eat along the water. West coast is all mosquitoes and mangroves. Average water depth is 4 inches. The sailing season is only 23 hours long (12 hours in March and the rest during a hurricane) The weather is hotter and everything mildews as soon as you open the door. Yeah... it really sucks over here... I mean over there. Hmmm and it's FULL. I read somewhere that they aren't allowing any more residents.
- Status