Not a lot of bargain spots
Ed, When we were in Florida for two years (without boat) I checked out some of the marinas and was stunned at the high prices. If you need a hurricane-safe place for summer storage, it's even higher. Here are a few places I looked: -- Port Canaveral (near Cocoa Beach) has several marinas, and the Port Authority requires boats be hauled onto the hard when a hurricane approaches, a smart safety move that adds some expense for stands. Good ocean access and beaches. -- Also near Cocoa Beach a large marina with good facilities is located on the barge canal (part of the intercoastal waterway) linking the Indian River and Banana River (neither are really rivers but that's another story). Swimming pool, cafe, bar etc. It is completely surrounded by land (Merritt Island) and away from the ocean, but not too far for access. A car would be required. But when I looked two years ago it was more expensive than San Francisco. -- In the Keys we stayed at Marathon, one of the largest mooring fields in the Keys, and it was full even in May. We stayed on a guest dock with no facilities nearby, but a nicely done cruiser hangout in an old warehouse a short walk away. Not cheap, I think it was $45 for one night for a 27 ft boat, and very crowded in winter. -- Near Fort Myers you have several choices up the Caloosahatchee River, including the municipal marina at the city of Fort Myers if you can get in. And you can anchor out behind Fort Myers Beach in Estero Bay, but the anchorage is getting more crowded every year. -- There is a marina on the Caloosahatchee Waterway (that connects Gulf and Atlantic through Okeechobee) at a small town a few miles inland from Fort Myers. That has a reputation as one of the most secure hurricane holes. Dunno the prices. Florida has been going through a shrinking marina crisis, and maybe someone who lives there can update you on that. There are a number of smaller marinas tucked in along the Intercoastal, but in South Florida even anchorages are harder to find. Again, you'll need some good local knowledge more current than this. Keep us informed on what you find. I'd love to hear the situation has gotten better. Sanders If I were going to move my boat to Florida I would check out Fernandina Beach, near Jacksonville. A pretty area, and a bit north of the extreme pricing that is common south of mid-state. The problem in Florida
