Hello all, I am considering a job change that will take me to the Houston area. We are looking in the Friendswood/Clear Lake area and would like some feedback on the sailing in that area. I have an O'Day 25 that drafts 6' with the board down. Will I be able to sail in Galveston Bay? If not how is the sailing in the Gulf, as I am used to sailing on a lake in North Texas. Can anyone recommend a nice marina with a fair price. Will I be comfortable with a 25 footer on the Gulf? Please add any other comments you may have for the area, I have lived in Houston before and know how humid the weather is, but never owned a boat in the area. EJ Tews O'Day 25 _/) Jennifer Lea
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Sean Denton
Kemah/Galveston
EJ, I have a friend who moors a Morgan 38 in the Kemah Boardwalk marina. It has a fairly deep draft approx. 5' so I would think sailing the bay would be fine. You will need to stay in the channel out to the bay, but once there depth should be fine. As an inland lake sailor myself I love getting a chance to sail the bay. The facilities are much better than anything we have on our Lake and at much better prices. If I didn't already have family in Port Aransas I would consider moving my boat to Kemah. Sean Ausin, TX
EJ, I have a friend who moors a Morgan 38 in the Kemah Boardwalk marina. It has a fairly deep draft approx. 5' so I would think sailing the bay would be fine. You will need to stay in the channel out to the bay, but once there depth should be fine. As an inland lake sailor myself I love getting a chance to sail the bay. The facilities are much better than anything we have on our Lake and at much better prices. If I didn't already have family in Port Aransas I would consider moving my boat to Kemah. Sean Ausin, TX
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Ron
Galveston Bay
Yes, yes and yes.... Six feet of draft is not too much. Bay sailing is great. I personally like it better than lake sailing. The wind is from one direction and there aren't a lot of trees and things to cut it off. I think the best marina is Portofino Harbor. Slips start at about $250 per month. It is a gated marina and has a pool and club house. It is the second closest to Galveston Bay and is always quiet and peaceful. There are a gazillion marinas here and the range is from wild with nightlife to peaceful and quiet. To get offshore is about 20 miles south so it's not an afternoon thing to go from Clear Lake, but a lot of people go to Offatt's Bayou, in Galveston, on the weekend and anchor near Moody Gardens (IMAX) or get an overnight slip at The Landing for $25.00 You can get a slip at Moody Gardens, but they are a bit pricey! Last year the Corp. Of Engineers began rebuilding Redfish Island so it is another place to anchor out. Should be ready in the spring. For more info checkout the link below.. Hope to have you as a neighbor... Ron/KA5HZV
Yes, yes and yes.... Six feet of draft is not too much. Bay sailing is great. I personally like it better than lake sailing. The wind is from one direction and there aren't a lot of trees and things to cut it off. I think the best marina is Portofino Harbor. Slips start at about $250 per month. It is a gated marina and has a pool and club house. It is the second closest to Galveston Bay and is always quiet and peaceful. There are a gazillion marinas here and the range is from wild with nightlife to peaceful and quiet. To get offshore is about 20 miles south so it's not an afternoon thing to go from Clear Lake, but a lot of people go to Offatt's Bayou, in Galveston, on the weekend and anchor near Moody Gardens (IMAX) or get an overnight slip at The Landing for $25.00 You can get a slip at Moody Gardens, but they are a bit pricey! Last year the Corp. Of Engineers began rebuilding Redfish Island so it is another place to anchor out. Should be ready in the spring. For more info checkout the link below.. Hope to have you as a neighbor... Ron/KA5HZV
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Jay
Kemah TX sailing
With a 25' CB boat you should have no problem with any marina in Clear Lake. Several of them were advertising some good deals a while back (less than $150) for smaller boats. Suggest you get a copy of Telltales Magazine (281-334-2202) for current adds and info. Sailing on the bay will also be no problem, but get a chart - there are some thin spots. Also keep informed about the Corps of Engineers projects there is a lot of dredging of chanels and building of islands. (Probably generally good for boaters in the long run.) Good Luck
With a 25' CB boat you should have no problem with any marina in Clear Lake. Several of them were advertising some good deals a while back (less than $150) for smaller boats. Suggest you get a copy of Telltales Magazine (281-334-2202) for current adds and info. Sailing on the bay will also be no problem, but get a chart - there are some thin spots. Also keep informed about the Corps of Engineers projects there is a lot of dredging of chanels and building of islands. (Probably generally good for boaters in the long run.) Good Luck
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Chris
Kemah Board Walk Marina
The Kemah Boardwalk marina is great. The slips are all floating and it is well protected. You also get a VIP card for all of the restaurants. You get to go first in line and you get a 15% discount also. We have been there several times when the restaurant wait was 2 hours and got seated in less than 5 minutes. As far as I have experienced, the only down side is that it can be a little difficult to get in and out of the marina itself with the boardwalk traffic.
The Kemah Boardwalk marina is great. The slips are all floating and it is well protected. You also get a VIP card for all of the restaurants. You get to go first in line and you get a 15% discount also. We have been there several times when the restaurant wait was 2 hours and got seated in less than 5 minutes. As far as I have experienced, the only down side is that it can be a little difficult to get in and out of the marina itself with the boardwalk traffic.
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Marc
Portofino
I kept a Columbia 26 at Portofino for 8 years, before moving up and sailing to Miami. Portofino has 200 or so slips, all floating, a great pool and clubhouse and social activities! Also a few salty liveaboards. The number is 281-334-6007. Tell them Marc w/ '"Cuba Libre" says "HI" You will have a good time with that boat. During the winter when it's blustery on the bay, you can sail on clear lake, which generally remains protected. Good luck Marc
I kept a Columbia 26 at Portofino for 8 years, before moving up and sailing to Miami. Portofino has 200 or so slips, all floating, a great pool and clubhouse and social activities! Also a few salty liveaboards. The number is 281-334-6007. Tell them Marc w/ '"Cuba Libre" says "HI" You will have a good time with that boat. During the winter when it's blustery on the bay, you can sail on clear lake, which generally remains protected. Good luck Marc
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Kevin
Recently moved to the DFW area *from* Galveston, kept our 30' Grampian at the Galveston Yacht Basin. All of Galveston Bay is good for a shallow draft boat. If you like coastal sailing, look at GYB, otherwise stick with the ClearLake "bay" sailors... lots of activities and relatively little commercial traffic unless you wander out into the ship channel. GBCA is a good sailing association to be affiliated with, can't recommend a particular marina in Clear Lake as we were down on the big water, but there are many in the area, visit, look, ask questions and use your own best judgement. Hope this is of some help Kevin
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EJ Tews
Thank you for the feedback
I will not be moving my boat down until March of 2003. That will give me time to soak in the area. Thank you for all the great feedback. I was always under the impression that Galveston Bay was shallow, under 5 ft in most areas. I am getting ready to order some charts of the area. EJ
I will not be moving my boat down until March of 2003. That will give me time to soak in the area. Thank you for all the great feedback. I was always under the impression that Galveston Bay was shallow, under 5 ft in most areas. I am getting ready to order some charts of the area. EJ
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Kevin
galveston charts
Your locatin on your post says you are in Cedar Hill. You can get charts of Galveston Bay and the Ship Channel Entrance at West Marine off of 75 Central Expy south of North LBJ. I think the exit is Meadow Ln. (I drive there all the time but never look at the road names) Best of luck, Kevin
Your locatin on your post says you are in Cedar Hill. You can get charts of Galveston Bay and the Ship Channel Entrance at West Marine off of 75 Central Expy south of North LBJ. I think the exit is Meadow Ln. (I drive there all the time but never look at the road names) Best of luck, Kevin
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EJ Tews
galveston charts
Thanks Kevin, Yes, I know where West Marine is, my wife does not let me go there because I will for a $5.00 part and spend $75.00. I am planning on going there tis weekend and look at what they have. Thanks EJ
Thanks Kevin, Yes, I know where West Marine is, my wife does not let me go there because I will for a $5.00 part and spend $75.00. I am planning on going there tis weekend and look at what they have. Thanks EJ
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Ron
Dallas Boat Stores
There is also a Boaters World at 75 and Park Lane (North East corner) and another West Marine off of I-30 (North Side) on the way to Lake Ray Hubbard
There is also a Boaters World at 75 and Park Lane (North East corner) and another West Marine off of I-30 (North Side) on the way to Lake Ray Hubbard
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Russ, C36 #206
Galveston Bay
I just throw in my comments although you already have plenty... I keep my fin-keel (5'10" draft) Catalina 36 at the Kemah Boardwalk Marina. I sail the bay nearly every weekend... the bay mostly has depths of 9-12 ft. As others said, there are some well marked skinny spots, but sailing with a 6 ft. draft will be a no-stress situation for you. Just familiarize yourself with the charts and have fun. A 25 footer on the coastal Gulf will be no problem - just make sure you have a good weather forecast. Welcome to the area... Russ S/V Four Sail C36, #206 Kemah, Texas
I just throw in my comments although you already have plenty... I keep my fin-keel (5'10" draft) Catalina 36 at the Kemah Boardwalk Marina. I sail the bay nearly every weekend... the bay mostly has depths of 9-12 ft. As others said, there are some well marked skinny spots, but sailing with a 6 ft. draft will be a no-stress situation for you. Just familiarize yourself with the charts and have fun. A 25 footer on the coastal Gulf will be no problem - just make sure you have a good weather forecast. Welcome to the area... Russ S/V Four Sail C36, #206 Kemah, Texas
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