Tampa Florida area in July?

Gene Neill

Gene Neill

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Sep 30, 2013
3,595
1988 Catalina 22 North Florida
The wife and I were looking at a three day cruise at Caladesi Island state park this summer. Probably early July, but the dates are flexible since my wife is a teacher and will be on vacation, and I'm self employed (and I'm a very understanding boss).

Am I gonna drown in my own sweat all night?

The way I see it, if it's breezy at night we'll be fine, but who knows if that will happen. I really wanna go, but I'd like to talk to some been-there-done-that folks first!
 
Sailm8

Sailm8

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Feb 21, 2008
1,750
Hunter 29.5 Punta Gorda
Love Caladesi. The water is skinny getting in. I draw 4ft and bumped. They have full hook ups 30amp, so if you bring A/C you can plug in. There is a snack bar wash rooms but outdoor showers. Wear shoes going to the beach because you walk a long wooden path to the beach and it is really hot on the feet. I love to stand at the end and watch the barefoot people try to make it without running. It's been about 3 years since I was last there so my info maybe dated. There is a ferry for day trippers but the crowd thins out when the ferry leaves.
 
Gene Neill

Gene Neill

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Sep 30, 2013
3,595
1988 Catalina 22 North Florida
Three years? Sounds like you're overdue! You should meet us there in July, you can show us around! :D

That's great to know about the power, I had missed that somehow. I don't think I can shoehorn an AC unit onto my boat, but as long as there's power we'll be okay with just fans.

Did you happen to do any fishing while you were there? I just picked up a nice little Magma grill on craigslist, and I'm looking forward to using it on some fresh seafood!
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,173
CC 30 South Florida
I would find room for a small A/C unit. In the summertime we get rain, heat, high humidity, mosquitoes and no-seeum. The A/C unit allows for the boat to be closed up and still allow to be able to sleep comfortably. I believe in Caladesi they only have 5 slips that can be reserved and the rest are available on a first come first serve basis so if you are considering being there for the 4th of July I would definitely try to get a reservation now or plan to be there a couple of days in advance. As far as fishing you may do beach fishing or take a small kayak and fish the mangroves. With boat traffic I do not think you can catch anything at the docks. There is a snack bar but mostly is hamburgers and hot dogs so take whatever food you are planning on using and plenty of ice. There are picnic tables with built in grills where you could also cook so you may want to take some charcoal. The beach itself is just gorgeous. Enjoy.
 
Sailm8

Sailm8

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Feb 21, 2008
1,750
Hunter 29.5 Punta Gorda
I second the A/C unit. They are like $99 or less. You will regret not having one when it rains around 6pm and you need to close up for a few hours. Also your boat may not face the breeze.

Wish we could sail up but family duties call and we go to visit grandkids in the summer. We get to go to the midwest where it will be 100 degress or more. So much for FLorida being so hot.
 
T

twdevore

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Mar 19, 2013
75
Beneteau First 38 Chicago
I found a second hand A/C unit on Craigslist last year. Not the window kind but the portable that exhausts through a vent hose similar to a dryer vent. We vented the exhaust through one of the ports. Some condensate does drain into a well but most is designed to hit the "workings" inside and evaporate. It worked pretty good on our 38 footer. We of course had shore power. Installing a 16K Webasto this year so will be selling...too bad you're not closer. Check it out though I think you'll be happy. Small window units are cheaper and great but do block the companionway.
 
Gene Neill

Gene Neill

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Sep 30, 2013
3,595
1988 Catalina 22 North Florida
Well, I'm all about some AC, no argument there! You guys did see I'm in a 22 footer though, right??:D

I have a tiny window unit AC in my shed, about as small as they come, and I had considered making a plywood panel to mount it in the companionway. But then the only way in and out would be through the forward hatch (not utterly insurmountable) and it'd be a PITA to stow it in the daytime.

Maybe I could set the AC unit on the foredeck, pointing into the hatch, and make some kind of "tent" for it, out of a tarp or a sail?
 
Kings Gambit

Kings Gambit

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Jul 27, 2011
5,134
Bavaria 38E Alamitos Bay
Lived in, and sailed from, St. Petersburg, FL for 11 years at all times of the year. In summer, I carried a small window A/C unit that I mounted through temporary (plywood) hatch boards. It sat low with a brace beneath to keep it horizontal; filled around the sides with spongy foam stuff. Hard to get in and out of the boat through the companion way, BUT--man, after entering a stifling marina, hot & sweaty, I could not get that unit plugged in fast enough to get the salon (and me) cooled down. First priority after the lines were secured! Don't leave home without one if going to a marina. Out on the hook, in a slight breeze, with water around to maybe dip into, tolerable.
 
Sailm8

Sailm8

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Feb 21, 2008
1,750
Hunter 29.5 Punta Gorda
Don't forget that the interior of the boat will be about the same as the water temp.
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,832
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Love it

Only been in with our sailboat 5' draft once a few years ago and last 2 years tides were against us so we went in by dinghy and great place and you should have no trouble in and out.
They do sell ice and ice cream and other food too as said and nice beach and very nice docks too.
I have never been there in July and only been in Oct/Nov and plenty of slips than but don't know about July 4.
Sorry we will be up in NY in July but have a great time and if at all possible
setup a AC unit even if a pain to store or setup and when the rain comes you will want it for sure.
Nick
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,173
CC 30 South Florida
Yes, I noticed you have a 22' boat. Our 2nd boat is an 85 Starwind 223 (22') which we use to trailer to distant sailing venues for trips generally of a week or two. On occasions we have done 4 people with minimum inconvenience. Early on I realized that on a small boat every space has to pull double duty so we have designed three basic configurations a) during the day underway b) during the day at anchor and c) at night for sleeping. We always pack the 5K BTU A/C unit which during the day we store in the V-Berth and at night we hang in the companionway. We move other things around like the porta-potti which goes in the center of the cabin when underway, stored under V-Berth when at anchor and in the cockpit at night. Getting back to the A/C window units do not work well in a top hatch as the cold air is recycled past the air intake before it has a chance to enter the cabin. This fools the thermostat into thinking the area has been cooled to the desired temperature and prematurely shuts off the compressor. Installing a baffle which separates the in from the out airflow helps but unless you do a permanent design it is a PITA to set up every time. It best works in the companionway which mimics a home window. It definitely has the drawback that you have to climb over it and that it expels hot air into the cockpit if you are sitting there but the benefits outweigh the temporary inconveniences. A heavy duty 20A 10 gauge 25' extension cord with an adapter is used to hook up the shore power pedestal to plug the A/C unit. Another thing is that air in enclosed spaces does not flow around corners so a small auxiliary fan maybe needed to force flow past a bulkhead into the V-berth if needed. It can be a challenge to live big in a small boat but it is possible. Interestingly enough the big boat (32') stays mostly close to home while the little one gets to see all these wonderful sailing venues like the Chesapeake Bay, Long Island Sound, the Outer Banks in NC, .... You get the picture. Enjoy your trip to Caladesi, is totally worth it.
 
Gene Neill

Gene Neill

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Sep 30, 2013
3,595
1988 Catalina 22 North Florida
Due to current funds availability (or lack thereof), I'm gonna experiment with the little window unit AC I have on hand. It may not be the very best possible option, but it'll leave me with some cash for other things, like the new trailer tires I desperately need. Preliminary measurements show it to be a good fit for the forward hatch, and I can easily manipulate the thermostat if need be. I have the whole month of June to mess around with it and see how it performs.

BTW, we definitely won't be going on the 4th of July weekend! Or any weekend, for that matter. We'll go in the middle of a week, either immediately after the weekend of the 4th, or the week after that, depending on weather.
 
fredr

fredr

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Oct 13, 2008
34
'86 Cal 33 Manatee River
check out CARLOUEL.
Carlouel Yacht Club 1091 Eldorado Avenue. Clearwater Beach, FL 33767 727.446.9162
 
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