To Dunedin / Port Richey Sailors.

[Ed Schenck]

A search in the Owner's Directory brought up six New Port Richey entries. That is where I presently am located and wondering about marinas. I have sailed from Marker 1 in Dunedin and am familiar with the city marina there(residents only) and love Bon Appetit! Circumstances may force me to bring my H37C around from North Carolina sooner than later, bypassing the Bahamas until a later date. My first choice would be Tampa Bay but chances of a slip there are extremely slim. Are the chances better up this way? I look forward to some suggestions that I can check out by auto.

 

[seadaddler]

Charlotte Harbor

I guess Charlotte Harbor is too far.Burnt Store is a great marina,keep us posted onyour trip from N.Carolina down and around to the west coast Florida.I hope to be making the trip in the fall and maybe there will bemore water in the Okeechobee.Nick

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

Tampa Bay slip

Just South of the mouth of Tampa Bay is the very small town of Cortez. At the end of Cortez road at waters edge is the Sea Food Shack Marina. Not real fancy and all most all sailboats. It is the people here that make the place. Dock master Paul is one of the nicest business managers you will ever meet. very helpful. A guy in charge of the yacht club named George Carter is always near by helping people enjoy the sailing experience anyway he can. It is located on the inner waterway just north of Cortez bridge, which is just inside Long Boat pass.(239)299-5048 Lance

 

[Ed Schenck]

West coast FL Marina costs.

Just called a marina in Dunedin. Forty foot slips are available at $12.50 a foot! Is this the norm? I know Cortez and Burnt Store, just too far to drive. I am really partial to Davis Island having sailed from there with fellow H37C owner Ed Allen. And St. Pete would not be too bad. But I really would like to be closer to New Port Richey if I cannot be in the north bay. Even Apollo Beach is quite a drive with lots of traffic.I won't be going through Okeechobee Nick. With my shoal draft I think I will go inside the keys and maybe spend some time at Marathon.

 

[soling42]

Sarasota is no bargain

For example Marina Jack mtly in Sarasota is $22 per ft +elec. Annual rate drops to a "bargain" of $14' + elec. Moorings are in the political wrangling process but will someday be priced around 2-300$ mtly near downtown but will be exposed to a pretty horrendous fetch from the NW and SW when it blows.$12.50' for a deep water dock is a decent deal on the west coast. Better deal might be found but you'll have to shop pretty hard. Michael

 

[Patrick S/V Shangra-La]

What is your beam and draft?

North of Dunedin is the American marina in Port Richey. Cant get out at low tide but the area is a good hurricaine hole. 727-842-4065 Half the police dept have teir boats there and patrol it frequently. I'm not sure they will have a slip wide enough for you. Call and see.

 

[Cactus Jack]

Island Harbor Marina

I'm at Island Harbor Marina, in Palm Harbor just north of the Dunedin Causeway (where Marker 1 is). Don't know off hand whether any slips are available, but may be worth a try.707 Orange St. S.Palm Harbor FL 34683727-784-3014

 

[Ed Schenck]

Re. Port Richey area.

Thanks guys. I visited American this afternoon and they have an acceptable slip available and at a reasonable price. Not sure it will be available when I get the boat around so I might have to pay in advance. There are some others close by that I will check next week. They are around the Ramada Inn where Windsong Charters sits.Island Harbor is full. Tarpon Springs Yacht Club is a possibility except I really do not need to have another set of club fees. Ed Allen is checking around the bay for me. So things are shaping up.Missed a great day of sailing today. Wind out of the south at least 15 knots and temp around 81. Well I was at the beach with two ladies so I didn't miss it all that much.

 

[Wanderer138]

Another approach

One option might be to shop again in late spring to mid-summer. By then the snowbirds and transients will have gone north and more slips may open up.I was lucky to get a slip in my old marina after being gone for about three years by checking with the dockmaster in July. Even then, the only open slip was on a more expensive dock and I had to move twice before getting back on the dock where I was on before (it has smallest, least expensive slips with the least draft). I'm not complaining. The dockmaster is a friend and I see first-hand how challenging it is to operate a marina these days.Frankly, I don't see the availability of slips in Florida improving any time soon. The demand is constantly growing but very few new marinas and ramps are being built. If you find a decent place, be prepared to start paying the slip fees right away just so you'll be sure to have a place when you need it. Good luck.PeterH23 "Raven"