East Coast or West Coast?

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funirishboy

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Oct 13, 2011
8
Besides finding the right boat for me, I have to decide which coast I want to sail from.
Both coasts have advantages and disadvantages. Either way, I want to go South. I am not buying a boat to sit around in a marina. Does one coast have more wind? Less storms? more cool places to see? What do veterans of both coasts think?
 
Bad Obsession

Bad Obsession

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May 23, 2004
3,319
I'm in the market as were . Colonial Beach
I am from the East coast and I like it out here. You can ride the ditch to Florida a cross over to the bahamas. It isn't a really long ride across and I plan to do this someday.

Right now I do most of my cruising on the Chesapeake Bay. It is a very unique place and it is a great cruising ground.
 
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Mike Turner

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Oct 11, 2009
98
Lazyjack Schooner Fairhope, AL
If by "West Coast" you mean California (as opposed to Florida's "west coast"), my experience is that in the south there are a limited number of places to cruise to and marina costs are very high. We had our Catalina 30 at Long Beach and our cruising was pretty much limited to sails up to Marina del Rey, out to Catalina Island, and down to Newport. You could go further north to Santa Barbara or south if you had the the time to Dana Point, Oceanside and San Diego, but those were long slogs without too much in between. The real cruisers went south into Mexico.

San Francisco has more sailing and cruising destinations up the Delta, but again, very pricey.

Don't forget the "3rd Coast" - the Gulf of Mexico. We're on Mobile Bay and there is great sailing and cruising all along Florida's "Big Bend" to the east, and Mississippi Sound, Louisiana and Texas on to the west.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
The "west " coast doesn't stop at the California state line. It goes all of the way to Alaska on the north and as far south as you like. The "East" coast goes all of the way to Labrador in the north and as far south as you like. Go to "Google Earth" and fly over each and have a look.
 
WayneH

WayneH

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Jan 22, 2008
1,089
Tartan 37 287 Pensacola, FL
Third Coast

Sunny skies in winter when the water not HARD. Beautiful beaches so white it hurts your eyes. People so friendly that they'll loan you their NEW truck to run into town for parts.
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,183
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Consider the Pacific side of Mexico. Reasonable costs, great people, many US cruisers, big cities with full facilities and remote coves and villages with great isolation. Consider buying a boat there as you can often get one with all the cruising gear for a fraction of what they paid to put it together.
 
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Cayennita

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Nov 28, 2009
495
Catalina 30 St. Croix
I have lived aboard both a Hunter 35 and a Beneteau Idylle 51'. Sailed up to Halifax in my older 30' boat and down to Annapolis. The Hunter has gone from Maine to the Virgin Islands and back to Ft. Lauderdale. The Idylle has done Trinidad or Venezuela for the hurricane season. All the way to Maine with many stops along the way. That was 9 month trip. From Key West to Cuba, Isla Mujeres in Mexico, Bay islands, The pigs, Honduras, Guatemala. Most places were free anchorage and no law harassment. I live in St. Croix, have visited just about all the windward and leeward islands many times. Puerto Rico, Spanish, US, and British Virgin Islands. The list goes on. West coast does not have the warm waters of the Bahamas or the Caribbean. Chesapeake bay alone has more coast line than all of the west coast of the US. 42 years sailing the east and Caribbean and not tired of it. The body is so today the new owner has taken possession of the 51' and I bought an Alura 30 power boat to continue part time cruising.
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
pacific side of mexico is good. beautiful and not pricey. decent winds and LOTS of good fishing..even has islands....and good places to dodge bad storms.

also has many many boats to choose from for sale.....
 
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funirishboy

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Oct 13, 2011
8
funirishboy said:
Besides finding the right boat for me, I have to decide which coast I want to sail from.
Both coasts have advantages and disadvantages. Either way, I want to go South. I am not buying a boat to sit around in a marina. Does one coast have more wind? Less storms? more cool places to see? What do veterans of both coasts think?
Click to expand


image-3395547388.png

I think the calmer waters are definitely on the West Coast. Less hurricanes.
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
i would not call waters of pacific ocean necessarily calm. depends on when you sail and exactly where you are sailing. all 3 coasts have their strong and weak points. many boats for sale in mexico on west coast--is a looong lee shore with sometimes long passages and big winds, so some folks get discouraged.
our seas on pacific side are long slower rollers, not chop--loong fetch from japan. dont have that on the other 2 choppier coasts.
 
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