Hey Florida guys, question about dock rental..

[AXEL]

I'm up on Long Island right now but plan to retire in the Fort Myers area where I own a home around this time next year. I would like to keep my boat (C30) a bit north, maybe Cape Coral or Punta Gorda. I prefer a private slip as opposed to a marina. When you guys refer to rates as $5/ft., what do you mean? $5/ft per day, per month?

 

[ggrizzard]

Usually that's $5 a foot per month. I pay a little more than that at my condo dock.
A regular marina would be much more. Maybe even twice that rate.

 

[pateco]

Here in SE Florida, $10/foot is about as cheap as it gets. Some marinas are almost $20/foot

 

[Sumner]

...I would like to keep my boat (C30) a bit north, maybe Cape Coral or Punta Gorda. I prefer a private slip as opposed to a marina. When you guys refer to rates as $5/ft., what do you mean? $5/ft per day, per month?

I'd suggest the Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte area over Cape Coral. Maybe a longer drive time but lots more opportunities where you sail and you could probably get to them on the boat much quicker.

I'm assuming 'private slip' means someone's dock that doesn't need it. I've known of a couple people who have gone that route and personally I feel it is the best way to go for someone who lives there and wants to save some money. Not sure what they were paying or how they found the docks. Depending on your boat's draft you might need to do some looking as some of the canals are quite shallow and you don't want to be too far in from the bay.

Good luck, great place to have a boat,

Sumner
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1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

 

[AXEL]

Thanks for the replies. I have been sailing on Long Island for close to 30 years and have always kept my boats in "private slips" ( slips at peoples homes who don't use their docks or have space available). I have weathered many severe storms and hurricanes virtually unscathed with the proper precautions. On the other hand I have seen many boats with similar precautions taken damaged or destroyed in marina's where boat slips are in such close proximity. In my opinion I would be signing my boats death certificate keeping it in a marina in SW Florida. My perception is there are to many "other guys" to worry about not securing their boats and to many boats to close together. Not to mention paying a premium.
I've had very good luck finding slips through Craigslist. There are a couple posted right now that look perfect! To bad I have about a year to go.

Sumner, I've heard very good things about the Punta Gorda /Port Charlotte area. It would only be a 27 mile drive from my place in Fort Myers. It's big on my radar!