It seems that Florida is developing a real hatred of Cruisers. We are planning on cruising next year and Florida was on the top of our list of places that we wanted to cruise. But now it seems that Florida doesn't want any cruisers or at least cruisers that use an anchor. Is it as bad as some newspapers make it seem??? Around Panama city it hasn't been a problem but we have a slip so haven't really experienced PC as a cruiser. Will we be told to leave everytime we try to anchor and get some rest??? I really don't want to spend retirement being treated as an unwanted vagrant!!!! If we sail around Florida as quickly as possible maybe by getting on the gulf stream and heading straight to friendlier waters will we be welcomed in North Carolina and Virginia or has the anti-cruiser sentiments spread all up the east coast??? I understand the problems caused by people wanting a cheap place to live and them buying something that floats to sleep on. A couple of anchorages here in PC have derelict boats in prime anchorages that prevent other people from having a place to anchor. One has actually sank blocking one of the best anchorages around here. But legitimate cruisers need places to anchor and rest and god forbid "enjoy" or cruising will soon be a thing of the past. We can't afford the $100+/night it cost to stay at a dock in south florida. Even the $35/night around PC would seriously damage the cruising kitty if we had to stay at a dock every night. Tom
Should We Avoid Most of Florida???
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Tom, what problems have you encoutered?
I have cruised most of Flordia from Pensacola, to Key West to Jacksonville and have not had any problems anchoring. I have been boarded a couple of times in the Keys to make sure I wasn't dumping waste overboard and there are area's you can't anchor so to not damage the coral reef. But other than the Keys I haven't had any real problems anchoring. Here in St Augustine the city was thinking of putting in moorings and making everyone pay to moor up to them but that never passed the committee. What problems have you encountered? Ted
I have cruised most of Flordia from Pensacola, to Key West to Jacksonville and have not had any problems anchoring. I have been boarded a couple of times in the Keys to make sure I wasn't dumping waste overboard and there are area's you can't anchor so to not damage the coral reef. But other than the Keys I haven't had any real problems anchoring. Here in St Augustine the city was thinking of putting in moorings and making everyone pay to moor up to them but that never passed the committee. What problems have you encountered? Ted
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Paul Mieszczenski
Come On Down to the Keys
We have been crusing the upper keys now for 9 years and haven't been bothered once. Your holding tank has to be legal and there are some restricted sancuaries that should be avoided, but other than that come on down. PM
We have been crusing the upper keys now for 9 years and haven't been bothered once. Your holding tank has to be legal and there are some restricted sancuaries that should be avoided, but other than that come on down. PM
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Rick I
Not that bad
I only cruise the east coast of Florida and have encountered no problems. Everyone says it's worse as you get further south but I've anchored in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami with no problems anchoring. I don't go to the Keys. You are right that the problem is created by trashy floating derelicts. I'm usually out of Florida by summer but was down there this year in July and was really struck by the amount of these derelicts. It's a different scene from the winter snowbirds.
I only cruise the east coast of Florida and have encountered no problems. Everyone says it's worse as you get further south but I've anchored in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami with no problems anchoring. I don't go to the Keys. You are right that the problem is created by trashy floating derelicts. I'm usually out of Florida by summer but was down there this year in July and was really struck by the amount of these derelicts. It's a different scene from the winter snowbirds.
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Bob
Same Old Story
When we cruised and lived aboard in the early 80's throughout Florida, several counties were on the verge of implementing anchoring ordanances which are, I believe, being enforced today. An example was at Peanut Island near West Palm, where dozens of boats were moored or anchored off the ICW and most were liveaboards. The story was that a boat owner or their child got very sick and had to be hospitalized. Apparently they had no health insurance. The county paid the high medical bill and that irritated enough to get an ordnance for limited anchoring to keep cruisers moving and liveaboards away. Farther north in Martin County (Port Salerno and Stuart), time limited anchoring is enforced to discourage extended stays and living aboard off the hook. Stuart is the crossroads to the Okeechobee Waterway. The only place I have been that has allowed extended anchoring is St. Augustine. As for the west coast, we never sailed north of Tarpon Springs, but I do remember anchoring next to the old MGM Bounty in Venoy Basin across the St. Petersburg marina for over two months and were never bothered by any city, county or state agency. I wonder if that holds for today!? Boat US ran an article on Florida cruising in the southern region that is the worst for any extended anchoring. The condo owners associations have influenced enough of the politicians to limit the time for an anchored vessel in front or near their precious condo's. Florida indeed is becoming a tougher place for the cruiser/liveaboard. If one was to do their research on the subject and perhaps look at the case histories (eye witness reports) that have led to such decision making by the body politic, I am sure it may have only been the result of some poor guy on his shoal draft sailboat hanging out his unsightly laundary to dry for a few days that instigated nothing less than a mutiny from the towering community! For the cruiser I fear it may it not get any better as time marches on. Bob
When we cruised and lived aboard in the early 80's throughout Florida, several counties were on the verge of implementing anchoring ordanances which are, I believe, being enforced today. An example was at Peanut Island near West Palm, where dozens of boats were moored or anchored off the ICW and most were liveaboards. The story was that a boat owner or their child got very sick and had to be hospitalized. Apparently they had no health insurance. The county paid the high medical bill and that irritated enough to get an ordnance for limited anchoring to keep cruisers moving and liveaboards away. Farther north in Martin County (Port Salerno and Stuart), time limited anchoring is enforced to discourage extended stays and living aboard off the hook. Stuart is the crossroads to the Okeechobee Waterway. The only place I have been that has allowed extended anchoring is St. Augustine. As for the west coast, we never sailed north of Tarpon Springs, but I do remember anchoring next to the old MGM Bounty in Venoy Basin across the St. Petersburg marina for over two months and were never bothered by any city, county or state agency. I wonder if that holds for today!? Boat US ran an article on Florida cruising in the southern region that is the worst for any extended anchoring. The condo owners associations have influenced enough of the politicians to limit the time for an anchored vessel in front or near their precious condo's. Florida indeed is becoming a tougher place for the cruiser/liveaboard. If one was to do their research on the subject and perhaps look at the case histories (eye witness reports) that have led to such decision making by the body politic, I am sure it may have only been the result of some poor guy on his shoal draft sailboat hanging out his unsightly laundary to dry for a few days that instigated nothing less than a mutiny from the towering community! For the cruiser I fear it may it not get any better as time marches on. Bob
Good to hear good news
I haven't had any problems anchoring from Port Saint Joe to Mobile. But it was reported that Miami haas become hostile to cruisers and that several cities have greatly restricted anchoring. It is good to hear that it might not be so bad. Didn't they close the anchorage at Marathon and install bouys??? On my chart it also shows mooring fields at Key West. If there is only a time restriction of a week or so that would be no problem for us as we intend to cruise and really have no interest in long term living aboard. Tom
I haven't had any problems anchoring from Port Saint Joe to Mobile. But it was reported that Miami haas become hostile to cruisers and that several cities have greatly restricted anchoring. It is good to hear that it might not be so bad. Didn't they close the anchorage at Marathon and install bouys??? On my chart it also shows mooring fields at Key West. If there is only a time restriction of a week or so that would be no problem for us as we intend to cruise and really have no interest in long term living aboard. Tom
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