Gulf of Mexico Planning......

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Delezynski

Delezynski

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Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
Hi all,

Jill and I are looking at cruising the Gulf of Mexico for 2 to 6 months. We would like to visit New Orleans and spend a week or so in that area. LOVE them beignets AND jazz!!!! We are also thinking about going to/from the Tampa area, and would like to spend at least a couple of weeks in that area.

We could splash in the New Orleans area OR the Tampa area. Like I said, this is planning.

Soooooo........
What direction would be best to go, that is, where to splash and where to haul out?
After the above, can any one recommend a good yard to drop in at.
It needs to have a travel lift (does not need to be large as we are 27 foot)
Would like it to be near New Orleans or Tampa (for the splash in OR out) and that it would also allow us to store our truck & trailer for the duration of our cruise?
If in the New Orleans area we would like the yard to be close to the US 10, we will be driving in on.

And of course, a good price. ;)

We know the hurricane season is from June to November and will be in and out, outside of then.

Any other ideas or tips or ideas would be great.

THANKS......
Greg & Jill
 
Rick Webb

Rick Webb

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Jun 2, 2004
3,650
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Direction

My recommendation is to travel from NOLA to Tampa.

Travel the ICW to Apalachicola wait for a weather window and cross the gulf to Tampa or if you want to do the tourist thing Tarpon Springs.

Traveling east is advantageous as the weather is typically moving west to east. So wait it out in Appalach and just as the front is leaving head out right behind it. It will probably take you 30 hours to cross.

Not sure about marinas and such in New Orleans since Katrina but when you get closer to a plan I can recommend places to stop along the way.
 
N

nolasafari

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Jul 19, 2013
186
Hunter 33 New Orleans
I would guess that you could find 6 to 10 in and around Lake Ponchartrain. Here is a good contact he may be able to set up a splash and give you an idea where to park. Scott was our broker when we bought our boat but he also books yard work. They would use a crane and drop you in the inner harbor. You would be 9 Min from the Superdome and 15 from the French Quarter. My boat is 3 min. from their yard.

Speak to Scott Mannear ph 504 421 2268 srmannear@yahoo.com

http://www.mayeryacht.com/contact.html

Another is Seabrook Marine. I have no contact there, a little futher from Down Town but not much. Both are a few blocks off of I-10. Seabrook also has an RV park so may have trailer storage.

http://www.seabrookmarine.com/
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,216
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
A few nice marinas around New Orleans.. on the Industrial Canal is
http://www.seabrookmarine.com/index.html .. they used to allow DIY.. not so sure now.
Another more rustic that does allow DIY is Lake Catherine Marine (504-662-5741) on the little canal behind an old fort the the western end of the Rigolets, the connection between Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf of Mexico. Both of these marinas are close to I-10. Both should have a place to store the vehicle. Our little yard in Mandeville has a good lift and there are transient slips in the area.. http://www.northshoremarine.net/index2.html
 
Anonymous 121765

Anonymous 121765

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Jan 6, 2010
1,520
Del,

The guys are passing on great info for you & Jill.

My only other suggestion would be to purchase "A Gunkholer's Cruising Guide" for Florida, Alabama, & Louisiana. Or similar guides.

These will have all the info you need for approaches, channels, anchorages, marinas, boat yards etc. Add this to all the help the guys will offer while en route & your on your way. You can check with them as you go incase there have been changes since the books were printed.

Remember, information is power.

CR
 
Delezynski

Delezynski

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Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
captnron said:
Del,

The guys are passing on great info for you & Jill.

My only other suggestion would be to purchase "A Gunkholer's Cruising Guide" for Florida, Alabama, & Louisiana. Or similar guides.

These will have all the info you need for approaches, channels, anchorages, marinas, boat yards etc. Add this to all the help the guys will offer while en route & your on your way. You can check with them as you go incase there have been changes since the books were printed.

Remember, information is power.

CR
Click to expand
Thanks captnron,

That IS our normal course. As a matter of fact, I have a number of (OLD) used cruising guides at my table now. We normally pick up used manuals for pennies, and use them for initial planning. Even an old AAA map book for the trailer part.

Then ask what we can of people who we are sure know the area.

Then, purchase new guides & charts, of the types we like. We have also been using ActiveCaptain a lot and think this will be a great addition to our cruising.

Greg
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Keep us posted

Keep all of us gulf coast sailors posted. Friendship and information available all along the coast.
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,216
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Claiborne Young's Cruising Guide To The Northern Gulf Coast is really good but it has not been updated since before Katrina. Most info is spot on..
Like Nice& Easy says, keep us posted.
 
Delezynski

Delezynski

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Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
Thanks Nice N Easy and Kloudie1!

I will try to start a new thread when we get started. I normally post to our web site about once a month when we are out. But will cross post here also. Maybe quicker & shorter notes here. Jill and I always discuss what and how much to say. She can't believe that others are interested in our small boat travels. Also, we think most people would be bored by our SLOW style of cruising! We like to anchor out for a while, preferably in remote places, then hit a marina for restaurants and sight seeing. Then do it all over again.........

One of the great things about a small cruising boat is a marina stay does not break the bank;)

Kloudie, As a matter of fact, I have a copy of Claiboene's West Coat of Fl. sitting next to me! :D

I just ordered one you suggested from Amazon. THANKS.

Greg
 
R

rufus1138

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Mar 6, 2012
357
Hunter H33 (limited edition cabin top) Bayou Chico
let me know when you guys get to the pensacola area, ill do my best to take a trip out to anchor up with you guys one night, hopefully ill have my 33 in good cruising order by then and we can show you guys around to some of our local anchorages.

at the least i would love to have you over for a dock party
 
Delezynski

Delezynski

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Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
rufus1138,

Will keep the invite in mind! I plan to print out the thread to take with us so I have all the info at hand. I once served in the Navy at Whitting Field, Milton Florida and would often make trips to the pensacola area. Spent a lot of time on the beach exploring.

Winkfish, We saw that!

Greg
 
R

rufus1138

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Mar 6, 2012
357
Hunter H33 (limited edition cabin top) Bayou Chico
well pm me before you leave and we can trade phone numbers, if the timing works out we could meet you in pirates cove and buddy boat around the area for a weekend. if you want to sample this area you have to get a bushwhacker at pirates cove and catch the local band talent then hit pensacola bay to see the way the wind plays across it (best regatta location in the world ive heard from many an old salty dog) then stop at big sabine cove, its gorgeous and very private.
 
W

Winkfish

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Jul 28, 2010
914
Boston Whaler Montauk New Orleans
Be sure to give all us N.O. area locals a shout when you make it here.
 
Delezynski

Delezynski

.
Jan 22, 2008
551
NorSea 27 Az., Doing the To-Do list
rufus1138 said:
let me know when you guys get to the pensacola area, ill do my best to take a trip out to anchor up with you guys one night, hopefully ill have my 33 in good cruising order by then and we can show you guys around to some of our local anchorages.

at the least i would love to have you over for a dock party
Click to expand
Rufus,

We have been watching the weather........

YOU STAY SAFE there in the Pensacola area!! It's looking wicked.

Greg
 
R

rufus1138

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Mar 6, 2012
357
Hunter H33 (limited edition cabin top) Bayou Chico
Bah its gorgeous at the moment....I'm waiting for Karen to clear out now...bought a 33 cherubini yesterday and have to wait till next week to go get it now
 
BigEasy

BigEasy

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Jun 21, 2004
3,127
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Gregg,
Another option around New Orleans is Gulf South Yacht Works located off of Lake Ponchartrain on Bayou Bonfouca in the Old Town area of Slidell, LA. (Formerly Maritime Yacht Services). They have 25 & 100 ton travel llifts as well as DIY and full service capabilities. It is located appx. 5 minutes off Interstate 10. The area is safe & there are restaurants, hardware stores, West Marine, motels, & supermarkets nearby. It is approximately 35-40 minutes from the French Quarter historic area of New Orleans via I-10. You can check the yard out on the web. All things considered, that's where I would go if I were launching & visiting New Orleans.
 
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