It's a cold morning here too 54f high today is going to be 75f. We were in a sailboat race yesterday and people were on the beach.
Hows the sailing in the Fort Myers area?
- Thread starter AXEL
- Start date
Get together
I have gotten together with a few northerners visiting here and we can post a meeting here when you visit and maybe go sailing.
Just a little word of caution in cape coral has been trying to add city water and city sewage $$$$$ and Ft Myer prices seem to be higher then PG & PC.
Nick
I have gotten together with a few northerners visiting here and we can post a meeting here when you visit and maybe go sailing.
Just a little word of caution in cape coral has been trying to add city water and city sewage $$$$$ and Ft Myer prices seem to be higher then PG & PC.
Nick
I vote for Charlotte Harbor. I used to skipper a 47' ketch out of Burnt Store marina and that had a 6.5' draft. Sometimes had to wait for high tide to get in the channel, but otherwise, not that much of a problem. For day sailing, Charlotte Harbor is great, but if you want to go somewhere else, like the Dry Tortugas, Key West, etc., not difficult. It is a bit of a stretch if you want to go to the Bahamas, which I have done many times. You have to go south to Marathon for a high bridge and deeper water, but there is a high bridge further north, but the water is skinny and you have to work your way through that area. Also in SW Florida there are so my small islands to go visit and anchor out on. Cabbage Key, for example. There are other marinas around too. Try Gasparilla Key. More restaurants there (more people too). Depending on the boat you have Manasota Key is a nice destination for food and beaches. I like SW Florida in the Punta Gorda area and agree with most of what was written above from other favorable writers of the area.
Shallow
It's not the marina's so much as getting to them is the problem.we had a 42
or 46 catalina travel with us a year ago heading from Charlotte Harbor
up to Tarpon springs and he did run aground a few times in route but mostly
because he needed to stay in the channel and watch the tides and check the charts.
He does keep his boat in Burnt Store marina and I draw 5' and mostly during
this time of year winter the tides do get very skinny for sure but I would say June to Nov is much better for you to travel or if this time of year watch your tides.
Nick
It's not the marina's so much as getting to them is the problem.we had a 42
or 46 catalina travel with us a year ago heading from Charlotte Harbor
up to Tarpon springs and he did run aground a few times in route but mostly
because he needed to stay in the channel and watch the tides and check the charts.
He does keep his boat in Burnt Store marina and I draw 5' and mostly during
this time of year winter the tides do get very skinny for sure but I would say June to Nov is much better for you to travel or if this time of year watch your tides.
Nick
Soft
The harbor is soft sand or mud and no rocks like north shore LI
SW Florida is pretty much like south shore of LI very shallow
and a must stay in the channels and a good chartplotter showing the depths
is really good to have and I have a Raymarine C-80 that is so great and has
saved me many times when I first started sailing Charlotte Harbor and all over Florida.
I good chartplotter will show you where the depth is shallow and yes paper charts are on my boat but really my chartplotter always tells me everything I need to know and a chartplotter will let you know how shallow and where along the shore is the depth to br safe.
The deepest section of Charlotte Harbor is around 22' but most times we are sailing in 10' to 15' in the harbor but plenty big to sail all day and charlotte harbor is like tea water due to the mangroves up the river that brings bark pieces down into the harbor to give a dark color but the water is really clear.
The harbor is a mix of fresh water from the river and salt from the gulf.
Go on line and look at some charts of the area.
I am a member of the Punta Gorda Sailing Club and are big into racing and we cruise for about 3 weeks up to Tarpon Springs in the fall and 3 weeks around April down to the Keys and some go to Bahama's and up north and have cruises pretty much every month.
Nick
The harbor is soft sand or mud and no rocks like north shore LI
SW Florida is pretty much like south shore of LI very shallow
and a must stay in the channels and a good chartplotter showing the depths
is really good to have and I have a Raymarine C-80 that is so great and has
saved me many times when I first started sailing Charlotte Harbor and all over Florida.
I good chartplotter will show you where the depth is shallow and yes paper charts are on my boat but really my chartplotter always tells me everything I need to know and a chartplotter will let you know how shallow and where along the shore is the depth to br safe.
The deepest section of Charlotte Harbor is around 22' but most times we are sailing in 10' to 15' in the harbor but plenty big to sail all day and charlotte harbor is like tea water due to the mangroves up the river that brings bark pieces down into the harbor to give a dark color but the water is really clear.
The harbor is a mix of fresh water from the river and salt from the gulf.
Go on line and look at some charts of the area.
I am a member of the Punta Gorda Sailing Club and are big into racing and we cruise for about 3 weeks up to Tarpon Springs in the fall and 3 weeks around April down to the Keys and some go to Bahama's and up north and have cruises pretty much every month.
Nick
Beautiful day for sailing here in Punta Gorda and the boat is all ready just outside my home office, but alas, I need to work. 
Attachments
actually it was a very good day for sailing here today in Port Charlotte harbor.... it never seems that bad in this bay..... wind 20 to 22mph, gust up to 29.... what a blast..... and i had the bay to myself..... just love this area.... Now it would not have been as much fun out in the gulf.... but thats one of the many advantages of this lovely bay we have....
fairwinds, brian....
fairwinds, brian....
The sailing is fun, the sunshine bright and Cayo Costa is a nice spot for a hook. The water is much prettier elsewhere though due to the Caloosahatchee river drainage that makes the water brown instead of the beautiful turquoise and emerald that is Tampa area.
Ice House
We will see ya at 12 noon today at the Ice House and any one else please
join us.
Sumner come on to Ice House.
Nick & MaryEllen
We will see ya at 12 noon today at the Ice House and any one else please
join us.
Sumner come on to Ice House.
Nick & MaryEllen
Sorry, but I didn't read this until it was too late :cry:. I was just by there yesterday coming back from going to Customs at the airport and went to WM there.
I will have to say that today the word 'ice house' doesn't sound too appealing
. The wind is really blowing over at the yard, and I decided to spend the day in the boat loading Bahama charts on the computer,Sumner
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Great Time
Yes it was a great time at the Ice House to day and maybe we can
have another get together soon.
Any one interested jump in here let us know,the PGSC was planning
a trip to Naples this weekend but the weather is not looking good for
boating for a long trip like this.
But land get togethers sounds good
nick
Yes it was a great time at the Ice House to day and maybe we can
have another get together soon.
Any one interested jump in here let us know,the PGSC was planning
a trip to Naples this weekend but the weather is not looking good for
boating for a long trip like this.
But land get togethers sounds good
nick
Re: Great Time
We had a great time. Actually Saturday is suppose to have a 76 high and Sunday 82 high. We are thinking of heading to Pelican Bay on Saturday and return on Sunday afternoon. That is if the weather warms up like predicted. If the weather falls off then we would be up for a Land cruise. My fingers are crossed for Pelican Bay. Anyone else going?
We had a great time. Actually Saturday is suppose to have a 76 high and Sunday 82 high. We are thinking of heading to Pelican Bay on Saturday and return on Sunday afternoon. That is if the weather warms up like predicted. If the weather falls off then we would be up for a Land cruise. My fingers are crossed for Pelican Bay. Anyone else going?