I'm going to be transferred to the Ft. Lauderdale area, I'll be moving my Beneteau 350 and I'm looking for marina suggestions. Various web sites show rates but these are "the big boys" (Hall of Fame, 66 etc) and seem very expensive. Are there any nice marinas, near the ocean and in the $150 - $300/mo range, or is Texas really the sailing heaven we think it is? I may consider living aboard, but in any situation I will probably stay aboard most weekends, so a few amenities would be nice. Marinas in Dania or Hollywood would also be considered. Thank you for any suggestions, Marc
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scott
$$$$$
The entire SE coast of Fla. is a great big money pit. To live the life you see advertised you need serious money. I can't help with your exact question, just be warned, south florida is one big scam waiting for its next target.
The entire SE coast of Fla. is a great big money pit. To live the life you see advertised you need serious money. I can't help with your exact question, just be warned, south florida is one big scam waiting for its next target.
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Eric Lorgus
Too many possibilities to list
Marc, You will have many choices in Ft.Lauderdale, ranging from marinas to private slips. Since the city has a vast network of rivers and canals, there are many, many private slips behind private homes. I had one last year for $250/mo., but regular living aboard wasn't allowed (I was told city ordinance). The farther you are away from the inlet and the ICW, the more reasonable the rents will be. From my slip, it took almost an hour to get to the 17th Street drawbridge. If you want to live aboard on weekends, you may have to find a marina. The "marquee" marinas (like Bahia Mar) are incredibly expensive. Look for something smaller and farther away from ICW
Marc, You will have many choices in Ft.Lauderdale, ranging from marinas to private slips. Since the city has a vast network of rivers and canals, there are many, many private slips behind private homes. I had one last year for $250/mo., but regular living aboard wasn't allowed (I was told city ordinance). The farther you are away from the inlet and the ICW, the more reasonable the rents will be. From my slip, it took almost an hour to get to the 17th Street drawbridge. If you want to live aboard on weekends, you may have to find a marina. The "marquee" marinas (like Bahia Mar) are incredibly expensive. Look for something smaller and farther away from ICW
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Debra Blatnik
Consider keeping the boat in Miami
Sailing on the bay is to my way of thinking better than sailing out of Ft. L. And you are only an hour's drive north.
Sailing on the bay is to my way of thinking better than sailing out of Ft. L. And you are only an hour's drive north.
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steven f.
coconut grove sailing club
Though it's been a number of years since I've lived down there, I'd check out the Miami area. The Coconut Grove Sailing Club has a mooring field that was rebuilt after Andrew (moorings are safer than before Andy came through). Also look into the Dinner Key Marina directly behind the Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove. I'm sure the price has gone way up since my days there but that's the case all over the city. I agree with the last reply, sailing out of Miami and the Biscayne Bay area is better for day sailing. You are closer to the Keys if that matters to you. There are also endless canals in the Miami area but again, the farther in the less you pay. The kicker with Miami is the crime, its everywhere, not just in the "bad" areas.
Though it's been a number of years since I've lived down there, I'd check out the Miami area. The Coconut Grove Sailing Club has a mooring field that was rebuilt after Andrew (moorings are safer than before Andy came through). Also look into the Dinner Key Marina directly behind the Miami City Hall in Coconut Grove. I'm sure the price has gone way up since my days there but that's the case all over the city. I agree with the last reply, sailing out of Miami and the Biscayne Bay area is better for day sailing. You are closer to the Keys if that matters to you. There are also endless canals in the Miami area but again, the farther in the less you pay. The kicker with Miami is the crime, its everywhere, not just in the "bad" areas.
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Jim Ewing
Welcome to FL
now open up your wallet. Sadly it's true. There is a price to be paid and it's mostly because all these guys with money to burn keep buying all these powerboats. It's true that the further away you'll be from sailing the cheaper it will be. The cheaper places are also (usually) not marinas so the amenity list is pretty slim. Ft Lauderdale is limited as a cruising grounds. If you're just daysailing and go offshore it's fine but there are only a couple of local anchorages and no protected sailing areas. I agree with Debra that Miami/Biscayne Bay is a good sailing area with a number of anchorage possibilities (and a good jumping off place for the Keys and Bahamas). However the northern part of the bay is PACKED on weekends and you will be playing dodgem with idiots in Cigarette boats all the time. And as a counterpoint I think that Miami is one of the great cities in the country (even if it's a little wacky) and have never had any problem with crime in any area of the city. I sail out of Palm Beach which has a bit more proected sailing and some good local cruising destinations for weekends. If anything though it's even more expensive than further south. I just left a marina that wanted to raise my rate to $12.80/ft/month based on slip length (45') plus $60/month for utilities plus tax for my h37.5. I found another marina but, unless you get really remote plan on spending between $10.00 - 12.00/ft/month anywhere from Stuart to Key West. Good luck and see you on the water. Jim h37.5 "Prospect"
now open up your wallet. Sadly it's true. There is a price to be paid and it's mostly because all these guys with money to burn keep buying all these powerboats. It's true that the further away you'll be from sailing the cheaper it will be. The cheaper places are also (usually) not marinas so the amenity list is pretty slim. Ft Lauderdale is limited as a cruising grounds. If you're just daysailing and go offshore it's fine but there are only a couple of local anchorages and no protected sailing areas. I agree with Debra that Miami/Biscayne Bay is a good sailing area with a number of anchorage possibilities (and a good jumping off place for the Keys and Bahamas). However the northern part of the bay is PACKED on weekends and you will be playing dodgem with idiots in Cigarette boats all the time. And as a counterpoint I think that Miami is one of the great cities in the country (even if it's a little wacky) and have never had any problem with crime in any area of the city. I sail out of Palm Beach which has a bit more proected sailing and some good local cruising destinations for weekends. If anything though it's even more expensive than further south. I just left a marina that wanted to raise my rate to $12.80/ft/month based on slip length (45') plus $60/month for utilities plus tax for my h37.5. I found another marina but, unless you get really remote plan on spending between $10.00 - 12.00/ft/month anywhere from Stuart to Key West. Good luck and see you on the water. Jim h37.5 "Prospect"
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Robert
Miami "Hong Kong of the west"
Miami, Ft Lauderdale has it all. For sailing needs, if they don't have it , then they don't make it. Girls, sex, drugs, Voodoo, creeps, and of course a real night life. We like to anchor off of the Miami Yatch Club and row in, and walk over the bridge to the Metro train station and see the sights. You can even take the train to Ft. Lauderdale, but requires two train changes. People mover to Metrorail to Tri-Rail. We always have a blast down there. The different ethnic hoods are cool. Try private homes in both daily papers for dock space.
Miami, Ft Lauderdale has it all. For sailing needs, if they don't have it , then they don't make it. Girls, sex, drugs, Voodoo, creeps, and of course a real night life. We like to anchor off of the Miami Yatch Club and row in, and walk over the bridge to the Metro train station and see the sights. You can even take the train to Ft. Lauderdale, but requires two train changes. People mover to Metrorail to Tri-Rail. We always have a blast down there. The different ethnic hoods are cool. Try private homes in both daily papers for dock space.
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Eric Lorgus
Living is cheap, up the Miami River
You will feel like you're in another world, but up the Miami River, among all the island freighters and tramp steamers, there are some small marinas where you can do much better than $10/ft/month. I was paying $6 at a marina above 17th Avenue, plus electric.
You will feel like you're in another world, but up the Miami River, among all the island freighters and tramp steamers, there are some small marinas where you can do much better than $10/ft/month. I was paying $6 at a marina above 17th Avenue, plus electric.
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