50' Mast is Best
Charles, Outside of the Carribbean, there is not a better cruising area than the coast between Appalach and Mobile. The only rub is bridge clearance. I own a Hunter 30 with a 50' stick so I speak from experience. We have 5 50'ICW bridges: St. George Island near Appalachicola, Dupont Bridge near Tyndall AFB (Panama City), Hathaway Bridge(Panama City being replaced by 2003 work in progress), Brooks Bridge(Ft. Walton), Navarre Bridge(between Ft. Walton and Pensacola). I get under these bridges with inches to spare depending on tide conditions. We have very little tide in this area 1 to 2 ft. The bridge at Destin Pass is a little too low as we hit the one time that I tried this one. Other than this rub, there is several hundred miles of barrier island, light development, reasonible depth bays and waterways with good anchoring locations and good anchoring bottom. A good number of boats but not nearly as many as around big cities/ boating communities. We have a nice sea breeze that blows onshore all summer and typical thunder showers and an occasional hurricane. As for the cities Appalachicola old seaport not many ways to make a living, Panama City, small city with few industries and significant tourist trade. Destin/ Ft. Walton slightly smaller than PC with little less industry and more tourists. Pensacola bigger city more industry fewer tourists. The military has a strong presence in all of these areas and are the second tier backbone behind tourist. I know I sound like the chamber of Commerce, but I came here 36 years ago, have been all over the world and would consider living nowhere else. Good luck with your choice. Frank
