Ft. Myers area

31seahorse · Aug 17, 2014

Hello dixiedawg,

Burnt Store Marina would be within the gated and secure area of the Burnt Store complex. Probably a safe place, but I have no idea of their procedure or costs for overnight parking while you are out with the boat.

Pine Island which is a bit farther down Charlotte Harbor has launch ramps at both ends of the island. Bokeelia to the upper end has Lee County Launch Ramp, Pineland Marina, and a small sand ramp that boasts a TowBoat US facility at the end of the parking lot. Matlatcha (Mat la shay) has a Public ramp and there is a ramp on the right prior to "the bridge". (D & D Marine or a very similar name) That is quite a boat ride to sailing water. St James City has at least one launch ramp at Woodie's, but parking there or at either of the two marinas might be pretty tight.

Punta Gorda has a very nice ramp at the Rt 41 bridge over the Peace River, but I don't know of secure parking unless you could make an arrangement with a business nearby.

patrickfarley · Aug 17, 2014

I have been meaning to try Eldred's Marina. Hear that they can be gruff but honest. Inexpensive. Last I checked it was $5 a day to leave truck and trailer.
Address: 6301 Boca Grande Causeway, Rotonda, FL 33947
Phone:(941) 697-1431

My transmission needs rebuild so I could not make it this summer. I hope to have the time to do the rebuild and try it for Thanksgiving week or Christmas. I want to visit Cayo Costa.

I have visited the Burnt Store Marina for a fishing charter. It is a very nice place. I am guessing it is a little more expensive.

McIntoshUSA · Aug 18, 2014

Laishley Park Marina is nice. The town is very quite. I do not know if they have an area that you can lock your truck/trailer up or not, but they do have a nice boat ramp and parking lot. The only concern is that there is a bridge (you can see in the background below). I believe it is 45 ft high to get to the harbor.
http://www.laishleymarina.com/contact.php

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Aug 19, 2014

Easy sail under that bridge for a cat 22. Rusty at Laishley is a REALLY nice guy. I've stayed in there several times. Easy days sail to Cayo Costa, which is a lot of fun.

I have friends really close by who might would keep your truck and trailer for a small fee. Private property area.

PM me and I'll give you contact info.

Edited to add- yes, there is a hose at the ramp where you can rinse the trailer

Deleted member 117556 · Sep 23, 2014

Punta Gorda

I second the advice to use Laishley Park and Rusty is a great guy. Have been making this trip for over 10 years (before there was a Laishly Park) and I always locked my trailer and vehicle in the parking lot at the boat ramp and never had an issue. Have kept it there as long as a week. No brainer really and you will love Punta Gorda. Stay at the Four Points across the street if you really want a treat and hang out at the Tiki Bar on the water behind it. Hate that I can't do this trip any longer since going to a Catalina 310 from a Rhodes 22.

Note that there is a hose at the ramp but they do not allow you to use it. We always took our trailer to the local car wash close by to rinse it and flush the brakes.
bob

TSBB 2 said:
Easy sail under that bridge for a cat 22. Rusty at Laishley is a REALLY nice guy. I've stayed in there several times. Easy days sail to Cayo Costa, which is a lot of fun.

I have friends really close by who might would keep your truck and trailer for a small fee. Private property area.

PM me and I'll give you contact info.

Edited to add- yes, there is a hose at the ramp where you can rinse the trailer

Bm3moose · Oct 10, 2014

I've been going to Pineland Marina since I was probably 10 years old. My family has a house on North Captiva and that's where we catch the water taxi. I've always seen people launching boats at the ramp there and the parking is situated between two lots. Both are gated and there is usually someone there at all times. We leave our vehicles there for weeks at a time and neither us nor any other islanders have had any issues. If you're going to be sailing in the area be mindful of how shallow it is towards Cayo Costa. We used to take our Compaq 19 with a shoal draft from north captiva over to Cayo costa for excursions and anchor on the bay side. The mosquitoes can be treacherous and hurricane Charlie has changed the landscape but the southern point has some great snorkeling if the water is calm. Just watch out because there have been wild pig sightings. (Great bbq opportunity) North Captiva has a great restaurant called barnacle phils if you go into the harbor. It's shallow so be mindful of the channel markings. On your way from Pineland, Cabbage Key is another great stop with a large marina and restaurant at the top of the hill. Also don't swim in the pass between Cayo Costa and North Captiva. It's sharky as all get out. We were pulling 5 and 6 foot Bull sharks right off the beach at sunset. The current in the pass on an incoming tide can be challenging for a small motor but it's doable. If you're out in the Gulf there's a sandbar about a half mile out. You can see waves crashing it at low tide. Also sharky. But you shouldn't have any problems sailing up the beaches. There are lots of Bald eagles nesting on the south end of north cap which is a state park and has a nude beach if you're into that sort of thing. Any other questions let me know. I'd make sure I had updated charts before going.

shemandr · Oct 13, 2014

dixiedawg said:
Moose! Sharks, pigs, bald eagles, mosquitoes, nude beaches .../QUOTE]

Good God oh Molly! Which way do I steer....?

Sailm8 · Oct 13, 2014

Just came back from 6 nights at Pelican Bay at Cayo Costa. It was wonderful and we will be back in a few weeks. We saw almost no one the entire time we were there. There were only 8 to 10 boats anchored at Pelican although it’s not season. We anchor and dinghy down Murdock Bayou to a little known anchorage where we walk across the island to our “private” beach. We spend the day sunning, reading, skinny dipping and shelling. Life is good. In case no one has mentioned it, when you visit the island via the park it cost 2.00/person (honor box). The gift shop sells ice for 4.00 a bag, no trash dump.

It’s a goodly motor from Punta Gorda to Cayo Costa. I say motor because most of the time the wind seems to be from the wrong direction. Also the net island down is Cabbage Key and you might plan a visit. The next island north is Boca Grand also worth a visit.

Sumner · Oct 14, 2014

Sailm8 said:
... We anchor and dinghy down Murdock Bayou to a little known anchorage where we walk across the island to our “private” beach. We spend the day sunning, reading, skinny dipping and shelling. Life is good......

Maybe not "little know" now

....

When I get back down there in a month or two and finish the work on the Endeavour I want to take the Mac back down into that area and have looked at anchoring in Primo Bay between Murdock Bayou and Pelican Bay. What is it like there? Remember I need less than 2 feet with the Mac.

Thanks, Sumner

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links[/FONT]

Sumner · Oct 14, 2014

dixiedawg said:
...Pineland is closer to our primary destination (Cayo Costa), with more secure parking, but involves a tricky little channel, and necessitates more miles of trailering...

Going from Pineland over to Pelican Bay you go by Part Island and Ussepa. We have anchored by both, on the west side of Part Island and the east side of Ussepa depending on the wind.

Also in Pelican Bay with our shallow draft we moved around from where most anchor a little to the south and back over into a smaller bay that had more wind protection than Pelican Bay and wasn't crowded like Pelican Bay can be. More about that here....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/FL-fall-2010/FL-Fall-10-8.html

Do you have a chart plotter? Lots and lots of skinny water there even for a smaller boat. Which keel do you have (how much draft)?

It is a great area,

Sumner

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links[/FONT]

Sailm8 · Oct 14, 2014

Link to Pelican Bay chart http://www.islesyc.com/Marine-(2)/Marine-(2).aspx

Sumner · Oct 14, 2014

dixiedawg said:
Yeah Sumner, for a small boat we're pretty hooked up as far as electronics. We have a Garmin 740s, plus a Lowrance Mark 4 with separate transducer for backup. Plus two smartphones with Navionics of course. If we run aground, I have no one to blame but me!

And it's a swing keel, 2' draft.

Sounds like you are all set. We ran aground with both boats but got back off ourselves, but still carry tow insurance

:cry:

,

Sumner

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]============================

Our Endeavour 37

Our MacGregor 26-S Pages

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links[/FONT]

Drich · Oct 28, 2014

Just got back from a sail trip to Cayo Costa. Great sailing in Charlotte Harbor. We launched and rented a slip for a week at Burn Store Marina. The ramp is open to the public. Great protected ramp and slips with parking, nice showers and pool. Spent 3 nights in Pelican Bay. Great trip, I wanna go back soon!

McIntoshUSA · Oct 29, 2014

dixiedawg said:
That's REALLY odd. Burnt Store told me very unambiguously on the phone that that only people who store their boat there could launch there. "Open to the public" would be the polar opposite of that. Perhaps it had something to do with me not needing to rent a slip? Who knows. They went so far as to recommend another marina (Pineland) for what I needed!!

Regardless, they've definitely lost my business for the time being at least. That's just too weird.

I live in Punta Gorda so I called to see what they tell me. They said that they do not allow a one day launch. They charge $400.00/year to use the ramp. Ouch! I'm thinking either Lashley Park in Punta Gorda or the Marina on Pine Island sounds like your best options.

Ft. Myers area

.

.

.

.

.

.

Attachments

.

Deleted member 117556

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.