Does anyone know of ramps on the Florida Gulf Coast south of Clearwater that are deep enough to launch a fixed keel boat (I need at least four feet) and where I can safely leave a truck and trailer for a couple of days? The Florida Road Atlas shows a LOT of ramps but from pesonal experience on the Atlantic coast, I know some are better than others. Any other information such as condition of the ramp surface, room to raise a mast and volume of powerboat traffic on the weekends will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Peter H23 "Raven"
Overnight ramps on SW Florida coast?
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ramps
Peter I will look forward to responses to this one as I just got back from that area . We were in the Sanibel Captiva /Ft Myers Beach area .What a wonderful area to be able to sail . I was puzzled about how few boats I actually saw sailing . I saw one larger boat ( 30ftish )all week in various localtions always with the sails down and sun shade up . Usually the boat was anchored around Ft Myers Beach but one day over near Sanibel .I think Charlotte Harbor seems to have some sailboats as earlier I talked to a marina about chartering . I dont know about launch ramps though would like to find out more > Mike
Peter I will look forward to responses to this one as I just got back from that area . We were in the Sanibel Captiva /Ft Myers Beach area .What a wonderful area to be able to sail . I was puzzled about how few boats I actually saw sailing . I saw one larger boat ( 30ftish )all week in various localtions always with the sails down and sun shade up . Usually the boat was anchored around Ft Myers Beach but one day over near Sanibel .I think Charlotte Harbor seems to have some sailboats as earlier I talked to a marina about chartering . I dont know about launch ramps though would like to find out more > Mike
Sanibel/Captiva
Mike and Peter - small world - we were just in Sanibel on vacation the week following Easter. We chartered a C&C 30 with a Captain through Captiva Cruises - we spent a couple of hours in Pine Island Sound and had one of the nicest days we've ever had on the water. But, as Mike said, on both the Gulf and Sound sides, we saw very few sailboats all week. There is a ramp on the causeway, but I don't know how deep it is or if it's safe to leave a vehicle there. We also rented kayaks out of Tarpon Bay, but I don't think their ramp is open to the public. I know there is at least one marina on Pine Island, and I think it might be a more likely place to get the kind of access you are looking for. We just didn't see folks putting in boats on Sanibel or Captiva, except for the causeway.
Mike and Peter - small world - we were just in Sanibel on vacation the week following Easter. We chartered a C&C 30 with a Captain through Captiva Cruises - we spent a couple of hours in Pine Island Sound and had one of the nicest days we've ever had on the water. But, as Mike said, on both the Gulf and Sound sides, we saw very few sailboats all week. There is a ramp on the causeway, but I don't know how deep it is or if it's safe to leave a vehicle there. We also rented kayaks out of Tarpon Bay, but I don't think their ramp is open to the public. I know there is at least one marina on Pine Island, and I think it might be a more likely place to get the kind of access you are looking for. We just didn't see folks putting in boats on Sanibel or Captiva, except for the causeway.
Our back yard......sort of.
We have lived and sailed in Sarasota for nearly 50yrs, have done many trips to Boca Grande and up to Tpa bay and while we have our share of sailors around SRQ we really don’t speak to loudly about Charlotte Harbor because it’s so nice just the way it is. So Shhhhh. For char Harbor Burnt Store is a good lead and The west coast trailer sailors have recently spent some time scouting ramps down there so give them a shout too. Bunces pass near Ft Desosto has a high quality $5ntly facility/ramp that the CFYC just used a few mths ago. Bill(?) had an Oday25 keel boat that visited there as did Rich with his fixed keel beauty. It seemed capable to accomidate you. Heres what I’ll share for those who really must know. My favorite ramp in SRQ for overnight parking and decent depth is across the street from Mote Marine Lab at New Pass. It has 7 excellent ramps, is only busy on weekends and then not too bad, safe, free, has bathrooms, is 2blks from the sara Sailing squad hdqtrs who has showers and is very casual/friendly. Venice is hurting for ramps but at Nokomis beach there is a single decent ramp 1mi N of the jetty which has good parking and staging and should be fine for depth. An 85yr old Char harbor sailor friend who just stopped by has given me two more leads. Punta Gorda city ramp which is 1mi east of the #1 marker in E Char Harbor. And Port Charlotte county park which is 1mi n of the #2 marker. I can’t speak for overnight parking but he said depth and ramp quality are good for a trailorable keel boat. All the passes are basically unmaintained except Venice and Boca so be very careful. Tides are kickin’ at Boca pass so wait for a favorable shift. Cayo Costa/ Pelican cove and Cabbage key are good spots just inside and south. Hope your adventure is a good one and remember mums the word. Michael and Kelli H240 “Bonafide”
We have lived and sailed in Sarasota for nearly 50yrs, have done many trips to Boca Grande and up to Tpa bay and while we have our share of sailors around SRQ we really don’t speak to loudly about Charlotte Harbor because it’s so nice just the way it is. So Shhhhh. For char Harbor Burnt Store is a good lead and The west coast trailer sailors have recently spent some time scouting ramps down there so give them a shout too. Bunces pass near Ft Desosto has a high quality $5ntly facility/ramp that the CFYC just used a few mths ago. Bill(?) had an Oday25 keel boat that visited there as did Rich with his fixed keel beauty. It seemed capable to accomidate you. Heres what I’ll share for those who really must know. My favorite ramp in SRQ for overnight parking and decent depth is across the street from Mote Marine Lab at New Pass. It has 7 excellent ramps, is only busy on weekends and then not too bad, safe, free, has bathrooms, is 2blks from the sara Sailing squad hdqtrs who has showers and is very casual/friendly. Venice is hurting for ramps but at Nokomis beach there is a single decent ramp 1mi N of the jetty which has good parking and staging and should be fine for depth. An 85yr old Char harbor sailor friend who just stopped by has given me two more leads. Punta Gorda city ramp which is 1mi east of the #1 marker in E Char Harbor. And Port Charlotte county park which is 1mi n of the #2 marker. I can’t speak for overnight parking but he said depth and ramp quality are good for a trailorable keel boat. All the passes are basically unmaintained except Venice and Boca so be very careful. Tides are kickin’ at Boca pass so wait for a favorable shift. Cayo Costa/ Pelican cove and Cabbage key are good spots just inside and south. Hope your adventure is a good one and remember mums the word. Michael and Kelli H240 “Bonafide”
Thanks for the info
I've been on the ramp just north of the toll plaza at the Sanibel causeway. It was pretty nice but crowded. I've also anchored just south of the western end of the Sanibel causeway. Its charted as an anchorage but the current really rips through there when the tide is going out...wow! Thanks for the info on Punta Gorda/Charlotte Harbor. It's a little farther from home than I planned on going but I'll tuck it away safely for a rainy day. Never know where I'll end up. How about the ramps at Fort Desoto Park on the Manatee River? I've heard they were pretty decent. Thanks again. Peter H23 "Raven"
I've been on the ramp just north of the toll plaza at the Sanibel causeway. It was pretty nice but crowded. I've also anchored just south of the western end of the Sanibel causeway. Its charted as an anchorage but the current really rips through there when the tide is going out...wow! Thanks for the info on Punta Gorda/Charlotte Harbor. It's a little farther from home than I planned on going but I'll tuck it away safely for a rainy day. Never know where I'll end up. How about the ramps at Fort Desoto Park on the Manatee River? I've heard they were pretty decent. Thanks again. Peter H23 "Raven"
Another lead or two
2 mths ago I was looking for a northern Anna Maria ramp and noticed that the Co was rebuilding the Ramp on Manatee av at the Anna maria Bridge, W of the ICW. Overnight may not work so check with the cortez or anna maria cops/marinas. I also found an obscure, maybe unusable for a keel boat, ramp just north of the anna maria cop station. They said to park in the nearby ball field and they would keep an eye on the truck if I was out a few days. Great access to manatee river and W tpa bay/Egmont key. Can't speak for the desoto ramp as we rarely/never venture up river when SRQ bay and the coast between Venice and Bradenton are so fine. I will be driving up that way next weekend for the cruisers weekend at Massey yachts in palmetto and could check out the desoto ramp if you still have a need. Heres the best link I've found to a color pdf map of the ramps around tpa bay(scroll down their page). Many are smaller but it's pretty inclusive when used with googlearth. http://www.sptimes.com/2002/12/06/Sports/Pinellas_boat_ramps.shtml There is a ramp at the St Pete pier with a million sailors nearby. Their local yacht/sailing club should be able to help with details. The CFYC group is in Tpa bay this weekend again. They have consistently used a marina/ramp on the E side of the bay and speak highly of it. Details in their www.cfyc.com forums>chartroom>Tampa cruise or Bahgdad escape. And theres always sarasota. I'm biased but we have great sailing spots, the best beaches, decent passes, very good ramps, innumerable food choices, it's civilized but still civil and it just happens to be my back yard. Now thats an unbiased review
Aloha, Michael
2 mths ago I was looking for a northern Anna Maria ramp and noticed that the Co was rebuilding the Ramp on Manatee av at the Anna maria Bridge, W of the ICW. Overnight may not work so check with the cortez or anna maria cops/marinas. I also found an obscure, maybe unusable for a keel boat, ramp just north of the anna maria cop station. They said to park in the nearby ball field and they would keep an eye on the truck if I was out a few days. Great access to manatee river and W tpa bay/Egmont key. Can't speak for the desoto ramp as we rarely/never venture up river when SRQ bay and the coast between Venice and Bradenton are so fine. I will be driving up that way next weekend for the cruisers weekend at Massey yachts in palmetto and could check out the desoto ramp if you still have a need. Heres the best link I've found to a color pdf map of the ramps around tpa bay(scroll down their page). Many are smaller but it's pretty inclusive when used with googlearth. http://www.sptimes.com/2002/12/06/Sports/Pinellas_boat_ramps.shtml There is a ramp at the St Pete pier with a million sailors nearby. Their local yacht/sailing club should be able to help with details. The CFYC group is in Tpa bay this weekend again. They have consistently used a marina/ramp on the E side of the bay and speak highly of it. Details in their www.cfyc.com forums>chartroom>Tampa cruise or Bahgdad escape. And theres always sarasota. I'm biased but we have great sailing spots, the best beaches, decent passes, very good ramps, innumerable food choices, it's civilized but still civil and it just happens to be my back yard. Now thats an unbiased review
Aloha, MichaelBack to you Soling42
You may already have seen this page from the Florida Sea Grant website but just in case you haven't, click the link below for an on-line guide to anchorages in SW Florida. Peter H23 "Raven"
You may already have seen this page from the Florida Sea Grant website but just in case you haven't, click the link below for an on-line guide to anchorages in SW Florida. Peter H23 "Raven"
Launching needs vary
Those are great links for ramps and anchorages. It would be nice to be able to add to that website list with input from locals. Maybe an independent updated cruisers web site and forum already exists with listings/details of favorite spots in SW Fl. There are about a dozen that I could add around Sarasota and would strongly warn against their recommended anchorage in Longboat pass near the bridge. Even a small boat against that bridge on a rippin outgoing tide is a nightmare I don't need. By the way there's another ramp just N of the longboat pass bridge. Overnight parking is doubtful as the nearby park is a trip at night. Sarasota sailing squadron has a lift if thats any help for sailors with serious keel issues. Not sure about use requirements. A call ahead would be important but they are very nice, cruiser/racing friendly and and have a lot of fun. The area has a million smaller boat anchorages and only a half a million for bigger boats with ramps that work for just about any need. Give me a heads up when you get down this way. I should be paid by the tourism board for all this encouraging input Aloha, Michael
Those are great links for ramps and anchorages. It would be nice to be able to add to that website list with input from locals. Maybe an independent updated cruisers web site and forum already exists with listings/details of favorite spots in SW Fl. There are about a dozen that I could add around Sarasota and would strongly warn against their recommended anchorage in Longboat pass near the bridge. Even a small boat against that bridge on a rippin outgoing tide is a nightmare I don't need. By the way there's another ramp just N of the longboat pass bridge. Overnight parking is doubtful as the nearby park is a trip at night. Sarasota sailing squadron has a lift if thats any help for sailors with serious keel issues. Not sure about use requirements. A call ahead would be important but they are very nice, cruiser/racing friendly and and have a lot of fun. The area has a million smaller boat anchorages and only a half a million for bigger boats with ramps that work for just about any need. Give me a heads up when you get down this way. I should be paid by the tourism board for all this encouraging input
Aloha, Michael- Status