I live in Wisconsin, will be retiring in 2 years, hope to have a live aboard boat for 2 months winter use. Considering anyplace on the gulf. I'll be in Texas with a few days free to explore the coast in late October. Can anyone 1) Describe texas sailing in general, 2) Tell me what ports or marinas I should look at (or what route I should drive to see marinas), 3) Compare Texas sailing to Florida sailing, 4) tell me if the recent storm chaos negates my planned trip. 5) Any other suggestions. Thanks Geoff
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Texas boating
Hi Geoff, I am origionally from Texas, and can highly recommend S.Texas. Winters are warm, people friendly and sailing is good. You might want to consider the small fishing village of Port Mansfield, if you like peace and quiet, or if you like more activity, look a little farther south to Port Isbell. Both are nice,pretty quiet and laid back. Far south Texas has very mild winters, and lots of sunshine. If you would like any more info. drop me a line and I will be glad to help any way I can. Phil Prater sailaway_78@hotmail.com
Hi Geoff, I am origionally from Texas, and can highly recommend S.Texas. Winters are warm, people friendly and sailing is good. You might want to consider the small fishing village of Port Mansfield, if you like peace and quiet, or if you like more activity, look a little farther south to Port Isbell. Both are nice,pretty quiet and laid back. Far south Texas has very mild winters, and lots of sunshine. If you would like any more info. drop me a line and I will be glad to help any way I can. Phil Prater sailaway_78@hotmail.com
Why not buy a boat and put it in charter?
I don't know the details, but there are various programs out there. That way you won't be paying slip fees for the other 10 months, etc., and you'll get some help defraying the costs of the boat. I used to live in what used to be Lake Charles, LA (moved back to the REAL LA last October) and I second Franklin's assessment. (That's twice in one week!) The problem is the Mississippi River. It flows out into the Gulf of Mexico south of New Orleans, and the current/winds send all that muck to the west. Combine that with all the gunk the oil companies swear they aren't losing off their platforms and the water and beaches are a real mess. And that extends at least as far as Galveston - I haven't been further, but I suspect it clears up somewhere on down the coast. We had to go WAY offshore to be able to fish and dive in semi-clear water - 70 miles out and we were only in about 80 feet. Go east of NO, into Mississippi and Alabama and then Florida and the beaches are fine and the water is clear. And in Florida, you'll find the rest of the 'snowbirds' like yourself, escaping the howling winds and piled-up snow..... If I had 2 months each year, didn't want to do the charter thing, I'd store my boat somewhere like Key Largo (lots of hard storage there), pull it out in January and SAIL!!! Lots of gunkholing down in that area, from what I've seen, and you can also take one-way trips to the VI, etc. and store your boat when you get there. Heck, you could cruise the whole Carribean, 2 months at a time! Course you won't want to go back north...... Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
I don't know the details, but there are various programs out there. That way you won't be paying slip fees for the other 10 months, etc., and you'll get some help defraying the costs of the boat. I used to live in what used to be Lake Charles, LA (moved back to the REAL LA last October) and I second Franklin's assessment. (That's twice in one week!) The problem is the Mississippi River. It flows out into the Gulf of Mexico south of New Orleans, and the current/winds send all that muck to the west. Combine that with all the gunk the oil companies swear they aren't losing off their platforms and the water and beaches are a real mess. And that extends at least as far as Galveston - I haven't been further, but I suspect it clears up somewhere on down the coast. We had to go WAY offshore to be able to fish and dive in semi-clear water - 70 miles out and we were only in about 80 feet. Go east of NO, into Mississippi and Alabama and then Florida and the beaches are fine and the water is clear. And in Florida, you'll find the rest of the 'snowbirds' like yourself, escaping the howling winds and piled-up snow..... If I had 2 months each year, didn't want to do the charter thing, I'd store my boat somewhere like Key Largo (lots of hard storage there), pull it out in January and SAIL!!! Lots of gunkholing down in that area, from what I've seen, and you can also take one-way trips to the VI, etc. and store your boat when you get there. Heck, you could cruise the whole Carribean, 2 months at a time! Course you won't want to go back north...... Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
Corpus Christi and Port Aransas
May I suggest you look at Port Aransas (gulf entrance to Corpus Christi ship channel). 1)We have one of the largest protected bays in the country. 2)Corpus Christi has the highest "average sustained wind speed" in the continental US (3rd highest in the world), so we have dependable wind. 3)Port A. provides easy access to bay sailing and gulf sailing. 4)Warm weather allows sailing 12 months/year. 5)Used boat prices are low in this area. 6)Slip fees are relative cheap (about $200 for a 30' boat). 7)There are 11 marinas in the area, but Port A. may be the only one that allows year-around live-aboards (the waiting list is about 2 years). Corpus Christi Marina allows 15 days/month OR maximum 150 days/year (that's 5 months for snowbirds). It's a great place to live and sail!!! Capt Jim
May I suggest you look at Port Aransas (gulf entrance to Corpus Christi ship channel). 1)We have one of the largest protected bays in the country. 2)Corpus Christi has the highest "average sustained wind speed" in the continental US (3rd highest in the world), so we have dependable wind. 3)Port A. provides easy access to bay sailing and gulf sailing. 4)Warm weather allows sailing 12 months/year. 5)Used boat prices are low in this area. 6)Slip fees are relative cheap (about $200 for a 30' boat). 7)There are 11 marinas in the area, but Port A. may be the only one that allows year-around live-aboards (the waiting list is about 2 years). Corpus Christi Marina allows 15 days/month OR maximum 150 days/year (that's 5 months for snowbirds). It's a great place to live and sail!!! Capt Jim
Texas Sounds Nice
Florida already has its share of snowbirds. We only sail 8-9 months a year here because its too hot and stormy in the summer. Bill
Florida already has its share of snowbirds. We only sail 8-9 months a year here because its too hot and stormy in the summer. Bill
Where in Texas?
Houston sucks, Port A is wonderful and South Padre is even better. It depends upon what you are looking for as well. Houston is a major city with all that is associated with that. Corpus is a city with most everything you could want and just a three hour drive to San Antonio or Houston if needed. South Padre/Brownsville is a smaller border city and much further away from any of the metroplexes. All have their own charms and disadvantages. Call 1 (800) 8888 Tex or visit traveltex.com for mor information.
Houston sucks, Port A is wonderful and South Padre is even better. It depends upon what you are looking for as well. Houston is a major city with all that is associated with that. Corpus is a city with most everything you could want and just a three hour drive to San Antonio or Houston if needed. South Padre/Brownsville is a smaller border city and much further away from any of the metroplexes. All have their own charms and disadvantages. Call 1 (800) 8888 Tex or visit traveltex.com for mor information.
Howdy, y'all
How did Corpus Christi fare after the latest storm? I am looking at a house down there for the winter months. It gets really gloomy here in the north and mid winter, the sun goes down at 4PM if you can even see it. Summers are nice and weather is very moderate all year long here though.
How did Corpus Christi fare after the latest storm? I am looking at a house down there for the winter months. It gets really gloomy here in the north and mid winter, the sun goes down at 4PM if you can even see it. Summers are nice and weather is very moderate all year long here though.
Who says texas sucks!
Texas is a great place Geoff.I live on one of the bays and i sail every week or when the mood hits me. also i surf year around and i spear fish the jetties at Port Aransas with snorkel and gun. The water is murky in winter when the surf is up but most of the summer i can spearfish with little problem.and if you have to wait for a slip you can find really cheap slips in little coastal towns..i know of one that is as little as 25.00 month no matter the size, but some slips are shallow...you will love it here.
Texas is a great place Geoff.I live on one of the bays and i sail every week or when the mood hits me. also i surf year around and i spear fish the jetties at Port Aransas with snorkel and gun. The water is murky in winter when the surf is up but most of the summer i can spearfish with little problem.and if you have to wait for a slip you can find really cheap slips in little coastal towns..i know of one that is as little as 25.00 month no matter the size, but some slips are shallow...you will love it here.
Surfer, were you the guy they pulled
out of the water off the pier in Galveston with his surfboard when hurricane Rita was bearing down? *yks FWIW, it was one of your neighbors on the south gulf coast who made the disparaging remark about Houston, not Texas. I can't imagine anybody in this forum having the lack of good judgement to say such a thing about Texas.... not even..... never mind, you know who you are, don't you?!?!?! *X ;D Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
out of the water off the pier in Galveston with his surfboard when hurricane Rita was bearing down? *yks FWIW, it was one of your neighbors on the south gulf coast who made the disparaging remark about Houston, not Texas. I can't imagine anybody in this forum having the lack of good judgement to say such a thing about Texas.... not even..... never mind, you know who you are, don't you?!?!?! *X ;D Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
Texas is big
Geoff, you may have trouble seeing all that you would like to see in 3 days as Texas is big just like they say. It's a 6 hr drive from Houston to South Padre. I agree with Jim Cook, if you looking for the best place on the Texas coast I would concentrate on the Corpus Christi area. Nice beaches, clear water most of the time and large enough to have some of the ammenities you may want. Wherever you go on the Texas coast you need to remember that the water is shallow unless you are in the Gulf. Boats with more than 5' of draft don't work too well down here. And as Terry said, everything has to have A/C. Believe me if you don't have it you'll be sorry. We have the snowbirds in South Texas as does Florida, the major difference is that our snowbirds mostly come from the Midwest and Canada where as the snowbirds in Florida come from the NE. Good luck with your quest!
Geoff, you may have trouble seeing all that you would like to see in 3 days as Texas is big just like they say. It's a 6 hr drive from Houston to South Padre. I agree with Jim Cook, if you looking for the best place on the Texas coast I would concentrate on the Corpus Christi area. Nice beaches, clear water most of the time and large enough to have some of the ammenities you may want. Wherever you go on the Texas coast you need to remember that the water is shallow unless you are in the Gulf. Boats with more than 5' of draft don't work too well down here. And as Terry said, everything has to have A/C. Believe me if you don't have it you'll be sorry. We have the snowbirds in South Texas as does Florida, the major difference is that our snowbirds mostly come from the Midwest and Canada where as the snowbirds in Florida come from the NE. Good luck with your quest!
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