Suggested Locations To Winter On A Sailboat

[Robert 47]

Thank you runcj for the good words. But being a resident of St. Louis county since 1958, I will have to agree with our city being on the "most unwanted", as well as E. St. Louis, IL. But we do sail on the upper Mississippe River, Alton Pool it is called. You will not find a more beautiful spot to sail on a river than here. I am sure there are beautiful spots on other rivers in this US. There is much to see here in the US, without traveling far outside its borders. We have several sailor friends who are "live aboards" doing the Great Loop, as well as traveling the river ways of the US and they are "living the live", so to speak.
Being an ex-military man, Vietnam Veteran, as well as relatives in Europe, I have a different opionion of "Safety", outside the border of the US. And given our present crime rate within it borders, where would you really call "Safe"? I do not advocate guns per say, but I will defend myself or family to the death if need be. Also, I haven't really found a retailer who can sell me M60 caliber machinegun rounds yet outside the country. :dance:
This will sound somewhat political, but in most countries of the "civilized" world, the common man isn't allowed to own a weapon. Here in the US mostly, your are if you choose. That is a Right given to you by the Constitution. Have a military friend in Austrialia where they have given up their right to own weapons in the last election. He says he is tired of carriny a policeman around on his shoulders because the cops and criminals are only ones with weapons. Do check their crime rate since they given up their rights.
We have friends who we sail with on the Gulf side of Florida. Great, haven't found anything better. But what they are saying in this thread is very true about the waters of Florida.
My pick is the southern states, from the panhandle of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisana, Texas. No language difference, cept the southern lingo, cost of living is moderate, (they take US currency) and litteray thousands of places to go in a boat. Just not safe during hurricane season. We intend to take our Hunter 31 down to New Orleans next year, and spend the rest of the year gunk holeing the entire Gulf Coast. The following year we plan to go up to Lake Michigan and spend a season there. You see the river system in the central US will take you just about anywhere you want to go. These are just my thoughts. I am sure some will agree, and some who do not. But, that's what makes us all Americans. Good luck to you on your choice.

 

[anchorclanker]

America has its hot spots, there is no doubt. But Mexico has its too. It is safe once your down a ways, but in the north it has been deadly, mass graves, be-headings, its nuts. OTOH, there are parts of Minneapolis the Police no longer patrol, other big US cities are just as bad and some much, much worse. But we probably wont be parking a live aboard boat anywhere near south Minneapolis or south Chicago, Baltimore, east LA, etc., so its kind of a moot point. The US and Mexico, and other places have the same problem, a few bad people making everyone else look bad.

Remember too, that in many of the places that report low crime rates, its often because much of it goes unreported. Many dont have a free press (or not as free as the US), to tell of all the bad things that go on, and many police carry out vigilante justice where criminals never make it to jail or court, they get a trip straight to the morgue. I just read a story of a couple who spent a winter in the bahamas, and some of what they saw show their justice and journalism both cover up a lot of crime to keep it looking like utopia. In that regard, Mexico may at least be a bit more honest about themselves. I am sure it has to be sad for their citizens to have the world watching the war they have going on, and the disgusting murders being committed.

 

[porchhound]

I'm not sure about safe these days, but I lived aboard in far S.Texas a few years ago. I absolutely loved it. Cost of living is very low. Peaceful and quiet. Not much in the way of social activities, but absolutely abounds with wild life. I was living aboard full time, water and power provided, total was 80 bucks a month. And in a pretty nice marina.

Where were you exactly? We live in north Texas and I have considered looking down south.

 

[zeehag]

in mexico, the violence is not directed toward tourists of any type, including the sailboat cruisers. it is narco -narco and is narco-federales, and narco-policia.
when is directed at turistas, is only because that turista became ensnared in the narco business , or found the place where at the narcos and whomever they are fighting that night happen to be warring. few cases of collateral damage, as they usually war away from touristas. just stay away--is super easy to do that.
mexico is gorgeous.
central pacific coast mexico is very lovely--summers are to 95F and HUMID with rain, some named storms..nothing big, so far, as most go to ocean--winter is tourist season, and rarely dips to 56 F........

all the mexican locals i have met have been very happy, helpful souls with a national pride and good self respect. they are concerned about la violencia, but they LIVE more than most citizens i have met in USA. they have been honest and fun to know. there were a coupla crackheads, but they were harmless....

 

[gpdno]

in mexico, the violence is not directed toward tourists of any type, including the sailboat cruisers. it is narco -narco and is narco-federales, and narco-policia.
when is directed at turistas, is only because that turista became ensnared in the narco business , or found the place where at the narcos and whomever they are fighting that night happen to be warring. few cases of collateral damage, as they usually war away from touristas. just stay away--is super easy to do that.
mexico is gorgeous.
central pacific coast mexico is very lovely--summers are to 95F and HUMID with rain, some named storms..nothing big, so far, as most go to ocean--winter is tourist season, and rarely dips to 56 F........

all the mexican locals i have met have been very happy, helpful souls with a national pride and good self respect. they are concerned about la violencia, but they LIVE more than most citizens i have met in USA. they have been honest and fun to know. there were a coupla crackheads, but they were harmless....

Yes. I agree. Mexico is a wonderful place to cruise. I go down to San Carlos all the time. Never had and problems driving down from Arizona. I've spent a lot of time driving and sailing around Mexico and never had anything but good experiences.