Florida vs Cuba?

[RichH]

Yeah, its estimated that Florida gets 15-18000 visiting cruising boats per year.

That would only calculate a (SWAG) minimum of:
15-18000 cruisers
~4 months stay
Marina @ $1000/mo (high average)
Food (being cheap) $30/D X 30 = $900/mo
Restaurants (@2/wk) = $200/W X4.5 = $900/mo.
Incidentals: 'boat stuff', diving etc. charges, etc. = $500/mo.
Sub. Tot. = $3400/mo X 4 = $13,600±/ 4 mos per boat.

$13,600 X 15K to 18000 = $245,000,000.00
Florida Sojourners fee (estimate) for those who stay in FL over the maximum 90 days. : $125/boat X 70% X 18000 = $1,600,000.00
Total economic benefit = $245M + $1.6M = $247 MILLION or ~1/4 $Billion.

Only a paltry $1/4 Billion injected in the Florida economy by snowbirds,
Peanuts, and wouldnt even be missed.

 

[RECESS]

If the jump to Bimini only being 56 miles has not deterred Florida cruising, I doubt a 90 mile jump to Cuba is going to have an effect.

 

[ggrizzard]

Recess, the lure is that it's a new destination.