Hows the sailing in the Fort Myers area?
- Thread starter AXEL
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I have friends there as well.. and have dreamed of sailing down there from NYC area on an extended trip.. I'll be monitoring this thread.. all I've heard is that area is very shallow
Personally if I was moving here permanently, I'm here now, I'd go just a short ways north of Ft. Myers to the Punta Gorda/Port Charlotte area on Charlotte Harbor. A large area to sail in and you can still get out when you want. Look at the charts for the Ft. Myers area and you will see that you are either going to have to go north up to Charlotte Harbor or out into the Gulf and either way you are running narrow parts of the ICW with lots of boat traffic.
It is a lot easier and way faster, 30 minutes or so to drive from the area I mentioned to Ft. Myers to visit friends than to have to sail/motor out of the Ft. Myers to some place you can sail enjoyably. Just my opinion.
If you don't have the charts download the free NOAA ones for the area and use OpenCPN or SeaClear (both free) to view them before making a decision,
Sumner
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It is a lot easier and way faster, 30 minutes or so to drive from the area I mentioned to Ft. Myers to visit friends than to have to sail/motor out of the Ft. Myers to some place you can sail enjoyably. Just my opinion.
If you don't have the charts download the free NOAA ones for the area and use OpenCPN or SeaClear (both free) to view them before making a decision,
Sumner
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Our Endeavour 37
Our MacGregor 26-S Pages
Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida
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me thinks ft myers is a great town for drinking and hanging out, but on the wrong side of the islands...... for real easy sailing i bought in charlotte harbor..... takes about 10 - 12 mins and i have my sails up..... love it.... if i want to go to the keys or somewhere afar.... its a 25 mile ride out boca grande to play in the gulf.... but most of the time i just play in the harbor, as its big safe water and offers a lot of good sailing..... boat camping off cayo costa is great as is the whole area including ft myers..... get some charts of the area if concerned about depth..... i only draw 3ft 9 and really don't have any real problems.... but also am considering a bigger boat.... fair winds, brian
Charlotte Harbor is awful. There are sharknado's, killer jelly fish, barnacles the size of hubcaps and the people are rude rednecks driving drunken pontoon boats. Also the water is too shallow for a real "BLUEWATER SAILBOAT". Ask anyone on any forum, there are no bluewater sailors on Florida's west coast. It gets so hot in the summer you will think you are living in the midwest in July. Run, don't just walk away. We're full up.
We retired in Punta Gorda (Charlotte Harbor) a year ago. We love it here. The Harbor is 7 miles wide and 30 miles long. http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11426.shtml We rarely leave the Harbor.
The Harbor's deepest hole is about 23' Its not a deep Harbor but plenty deep enough for sailing. The main concern with depths is the canals from your house to the harbor. Some canals are not dredged as deep as I would like. My boat has a 4' draft and we have to really watch the canal depths during the WINTER. The North and East winds in the Winter like to blow the water out of the canals. We have to go out Early in the AM to get out in the winter. Summer is no problems.
We do have a very active Sailing club here (Race Series, Regattas, and Cruises; 22 cruises set for 2015). I don't know anything about Ft. Myers. We have not left the Harbor yet. Our first cruise with the Sailing club is next week going to Naples, Fl.
In April our club has a cruise going down to the Fl Keys, and then any interested boats will go over to the Bahamas. We plan to just go as far as the Keys this year.
The Harbor's deepest hole is about 23' Its not a deep Harbor but plenty deep enough for sailing. The main concern with depths is the canals from your house to the harbor. Some canals are not dredged as deep as I would like. My boat has a 4' draft and we have to really watch the canal depths during the WINTER. The North and East winds in the Winter like to blow the water out of the canals. We have to go out Early in the AM to get out in the winter. Summer is no problems.
We do have a very active Sailing club here (Race Series, Regattas, and Cruises; 22 cruises set for 2015). I don't know anything about Ft. Myers. We have not left the Harbor yet. Our first cruise with the Sailing club is next week going to Naples, Fl.
In April our club has a cruise going down to the Fl Keys, and then any interested boats will go over to the Bahamas. We plan to just go as far as the Keys this year.
OK I need to tell the truth and remember this is my opinion. We live in Punta Gorda and sail Charlotte harbor mostly. Easy jumps either south to the Keys or north as far as you wish. The ICW cuts through the harbor allowing inside or outside sailing.
Ft Myers to me is very crowded during season, which seems to get longer every year. Ft Myers, though, is big city with many shopping and entertainment venues. When people talk about Ft Myers they sometimes mean Cape Coral. CC has had growing pains with sewer assessments etc. There are canals but not all of them connect to the gulf.
I live in Punta Gorda a small town about 45 minutes north of Ft Myers. We have a large seasonal (snowbird) population and a very active lifestyle. The city is crisscrossed with bike trails but no Trader Joe's, Starbuck's, or fast food eatery's (we have one subway). At 9 o'clock we roll up the sidewalks but we have no real crime and many clubs and organizations. Been here 14 years and don't plan to leave.
http://www.pgscweb.com check it out.
Ft Myers to me is very crowded during season, which seems to get longer every year. Ft Myers, though, is big city with many shopping and entertainment venues. When people talk about Ft Myers they sometimes mean Cape Coral. CC has had growing pains with sewer assessments etc. There are canals but not all of them connect to the gulf.
I live in Punta Gorda a small town about 45 minutes north of Ft Myers. We have a large seasonal (snowbird) population and a very active lifestyle. The city is crisscrossed with bike trails but no Trader Joe's, Starbuck's, or fast food eatery's (we have one subway). At 9 o'clock we roll up the sidewalks but we have no real crime and many clubs and organizations. Been here 14 years and don't plan to leave.
http://www.pgscweb.com check it out.
I sail out of Naples and often sail to ft myers and up to Charlotte harbor. I do not find a lot going on in The big bay there. I stayed at Burnt Store and its nice, affordable but nothing to do there. One restaurant, pool across the street. Moved on west. Then fishermans Village in punta gorda. Los of places to eat and small shops. You can walk in the park along the shore and bike to town. They have a pool there but when we were there the wifi was bad and we need to be in touch. You can do it in a few days. That was all we found in the harbor. We went to boca grande pass and the marina there to the north. Very small, expensive restaurant and a hike to,town,. Town is quaint but not when being visited by pres bush. (42). There is a better marina north called uncle henrys. But it is a couple miles from town and you have to rent a golf cart to get from there to town. There is a big noisy ,big marina, with full boat service to the east. It was too crowded and busy for us. (Hundreds of boats). Crowded. So,that is all we found to do at charlotte harbor. If i missed something please let me know. I will be back and would like to see new places. Heading south there are lots of islands in the IC. Anchor out, explore the islands but other than cabbage key there are no,eating spots.
On south is south seas. A great spot. Lots to do for a couple days. Then near there is tween waters. A small resort with minimal dockage. Good pool, walk,around the island to a few spots. Really need bicycles here and you can rent them. Nothing south until anchoring off st james city. Dinghy To restaurant. Not much here. There Is ding darling on sanibel but shallow water there. After miserable mile you are in Ft Myers area where you thought of in the first place.
You can see the many places along the river. Most I think private.
From here under the 72 foot sanibel bridge is ft myers beach, then south to Naples, marco, and inside to,goodland, from Naples its 100 n. Miles to Marathom, 100"to key west and 100 to the dry Tortugas.
So ft Myers is a good compromise for you especially if your friends are there.
On south is south seas. A great spot. Lots to do for a couple days. Then near there is tween waters. A small resort with minimal dockage. Good pool, walk,around the island to a few spots. Really need bicycles here and you can rent them. Nothing south until anchoring off st james city. Dinghy To restaurant. Not much here. There Is ding darling on sanibel but shallow water there. After miserable mile you are in Ft Myers area where you thought of in the first place.
You can see the many places along the river. Most I think private.
From here under the 72 foot sanibel bridge is ft myers beach, then south to Naples, marco, and inside to,goodland, from Naples its 100 n. Miles to Marathom, 100"to key west and 100 to the dry Tortugas.
So ft Myers is a good compromise for you especially if your friends are there.
Stop Stop
We don't have snow ice or the crowds either and don't move to PG
you may never leave and may even bring your friends.
Ft Myers is great and has great traffic and higher prices and if you can go to
lunch on the beach maybe you will make it for a late dinner if you are lucky
and find parking and we go all the time by sailboat it's faster.
I moved from LI in 2008 to PG and been sailing and never looked back,yes I still visit LI July and August to help warm up my family.
I did check out Tampa bay and my Aunt lives on a canal with a empty dock in Ft Myers and maybe 10 minute out to the Gulf but I live up in PG sailing all day in Charlotte Harbor.
All kidding a side and did not read all the other postings here but when you visit
Ft Myers 45 minutes north by car visit Punta Gorda and just like many others buy a house on a canal and than go sailing every day or a short afternoon
sail in the harbor.
We try to keep Charlotte Harbor one of the best kept secrets but come on down we have plenty of room not like south or north shore or out east in Greenport of LI with lots of boats.
The south shore where you are is like sailing in one of our canals,Charlotte harbor does not have any real commercial type boats like tankers or cruise ships like Tampa and no fishing trawlers like ft Myers.
Visit Punta Gorda Sailing Club and look at the photo's on the web site.
Nick
We don't have snow ice or the crowds either and don't move to PGyou may never leave and may even bring your friends.
Ft Myers is great and has great traffic and higher prices and if you can go to
lunch on the beach maybe you will make it for a late dinner if you are lucky
and find parking and we go all the time by sailboat it's faster.
I moved from LI in 2008 to PG and been sailing and never looked back,yes I still visit LI July and August to help warm up my family.
I did check out Tampa bay and my Aunt lives on a canal with a empty dock in Ft Myers and maybe 10 minute out to the Gulf but I live up in PG sailing all day in Charlotte Harbor.
All kidding a side and did not read all the other postings here but when you visit
Ft Myers 45 minutes north by car visit Punta Gorda and just like many others buy a house on a canal and than go sailing every day or a short afternoon
sail in the harbor.
We try to keep Charlotte Harbor one of the best kept secrets but come on down we have plenty of room not like south or north shore or out east in Greenport of LI with lots of boats.
The south shore where you are is like sailing in one of our canals,Charlotte harbor does not have any real commercial type boats like tankers or cruise ships like Tampa and no fishing trawlers like ft Myers.
Visit Punta Gorda Sailing Club and look at the photo's on the web site.
Nick
Moving
Look before buying and spend some time around each place,I looked around for a month in 2005
I went to school in Lindenhurst and loved the south shore beaches and got married moved to Centereach and boating LI sound and got married again
moved to Wading River started sailing LI sound and Peconic Bay and got a real sailboat H-36 and docked it in Greenport and thought I went to heaven such great sailing to Ct.,BI,Sag Harbor the best sailing ever for sure.
All my NY friends live east coast Fl not boaters and come visit me and love sailing with me in Charlotte Harbor just last weekend,plenty going on in PG
all year long and plenty of places for eating out.
I am retired and each day run out of time to do it all.
Good Luck
Nick
PS if you do come down to PG give a shout.
Look before buying and spend some time around each place,I looked around for a month in 2005
I went to school in Lindenhurst and loved the south shore beaches and got married moved to Centereach and boating LI sound and got married again
moved to Wading River started sailing LI sound and Peconic Bay and got a real sailboat H-36 and docked it in Greenport and thought I went to heaven such great sailing to Ct.,BI,Sag Harbor the best sailing ever for sure.
All my NY friends live east coast Fl not boaters and come visit me and love sailing with me in Charlotte Harbor just last weekend,plenty going on in PG
all year long and plenty of places for eating out.
I am retired and each day run out of time to do it all.
Good Luck
Nick
PS if you do come down to PG give a shout.
hello all
I recently purchased a 45ft sailboat in Cape Corral, Fl. .... I am looking to transfer down to Florida with the company I work with.... I am hoping to get assigned to the Tampa area.... I have a friend in Punta Gorda, and will be making that my home port for my boat.... thanks for all the information on the area....
what are the best and not the most expensive marinas to get a slip in and possibly make it a liveaboard ???
sincerely
Jess
I recently purchased a 45ft sailboat in Cape Corral, Fl. .... I am looking to transfer down to Florida with the company I work with.... I am hoping to get assigned to the Tampa area.... I have a friend in Punta Gorda, and will be making that my home port for my boat.... thanks for all the information on the area....
what are the best and not the most expensive marinas to get a slip in and possibly make it a liveaboard ???
sincerely
Jess
trainmanjess
Lots of older people in PG who no longer own a boat and do rent out there docks for extra $$$$ so ask your friend to ask around.
But not sure they would do live aboard ??????.
Nick
Lots of older people in PG who no longer own a boat and do rent out there docks for extra $$$$ so ask your friend to ask around.
But not sure they would do live aboard ??????.
Nick
Re Punta Gorda we lived there 16 yrs & loved it. The issue for us was we like to cruise for months at a time. The best time to do that is also the best time to enjoy the house. Since we couldn't do both at same time we sold the Punta Gorda house & bought a house on Lake of Egypt Il where we live 6 mos during summer. Have Flying Scot, pontoon & kyaks there. Winters we live on our 37' Hunter Cherubini in Fl. We've been cruising Keys & are currently at Miami going to Miami boat show today. So if you want to daysail or go on short cruises Punta Gorda is great
Great responses! Thank you all so much for in depth reports. I did download charts for the area and was concerned when I saw the depths in the Fort Myers area. I have heard that sailing in PG is very good and your posts confirm. Keep the replies coming. I am planning a trip down there in a couple of weeks and am starting to assemble and itinerary of places to see.
If you are considering living in Ft Myers, i suggest the Whiskey Creek developement between McGregor and Colonial. My folks lived there for 30 years. Great place to visit, but like most of southern Florida, not in the summer months.AXEL;1185735.... I am planning a trip down there in a couple of weeks and am starting to assemble and itinerary of places to see.[/FONT said: