My wife and I are making a trip to Punta Gorda and the Ft Myers area in about a week. We are retired and are looking for areas where we can retire and sail. I currently have a Hunter H26 trailer sailboat and need advice regarding keeping this boat or getting a larger boat, say in the 38 foot range, for cruising in the area. I would also like to hear from other sailors in the area as to where they think the best sailing is for the area and the best location of marinas or waterfront property. We are just starting to look and have not zeroed in on exactly what we want to do. We do know it will have to be near or in a sailing area. If you have a favorite area or would like to show us your marina and facilities, please contact me by email, rgravens@yahoo.com We also are planning to make a stop at the Hunter factory and see if we can get a tour. Thanks for any help and input from you Florida sailors.
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C
Clint
Punta Gorda
We recently bought a condo in Punta Gorda, after exrensive research on the Florida West coast . The reason we chose Punta Gorda is because it is a quiet little community located on Charolte Harbor. The Harbor is huge with relitively easy access to the Gulf. I toured the harbor by boat and our Reator is a sailor. It is one of the best sailing areas in Florida as far as I am concerned. I know of someone who has a Catalina 400 with a 5' 6" draft who lives there with no problem. If you are in the area contact Rick Stanger and tell him I sent you. He can be reached at realtor@sunletter.com He is very knowlageable about the area and is an avid sailor
We recently bought a condo in Punta Gorda, after exrensive research on the Florida West coast . The reason we chose Punta Gorda is because it is a quiet little community located on Charolte Harbor. The Harbor is huge with relitively easy access to the Gulf. I toured the harbor by boat and our Reator is a sailor. It is one of the best sailing areas in Florida as far as I am concerned. I know of someone who has a Catalina 400 with a 5' 6" draft who lives there with no problem. If you are in the area contact Rick Stanger and tell him I sent you. He can be reached at realtor@sunletter.com He is very knowlageable about the area and is an avid sailor
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Steve O.
Burnt Store
Check out Burnt Store Marinas and condos near Punta Gorda. Charlotte Harbor is great sailing, and you can get to Cabbage Key, Caya Costa preserve, Sanibel, Captiva, Ft. Myers Beach, etc. for daysails or overnights. I think that Hunter only gives tours on Wednesdays, so check with them first.
Check out Burnt Store Marinas and condos near Punta Gorda. Charlotte Harbor is great sailing, and you can get to Cabbage Key, Caya Costa preserve, Sanibel, Captiva, Ft. Myers Beach, etc. for daysails or overnights. I think that Hunter only gives tours on Wednesdays, so check with them first.
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Marc Honey
Burnt Store ditto
Spent 5 days there last Thanksgiving on a chartered 36' Hunter Vision from S.W. Florida Yachts. They have ads in all the sailing mags. The bay there is very large and protected."Thin water" for me (8-22') but then I'm used to a Texas lake thats over 170' on the end I use! Burnt Store Marina is great, but somewhat isolated. VERY active retirement community though. They have condo units with slips, houses with slips, transient slips, a bar/restaurant, full service ship's store/deli, gas dock, swimming pool, etc. S.W. Florida Yachts has about 6 sailboats to charter and a few trawlers. They also run an ASA certified sailing school out of the marina. Worth a look.
Spent 5 days there last Thanksgiving on a chartered 36' Hunter Vision from S.W. Florida Yachts. They have ads in all the sailing mags. The bay there is very large and protected."Thin water" for me (8-22') but then I'm used to a Texas lake thats over 170' on the end I use! Burnt Store Marina is great, but somewhat isolated. VERY active retirement community though. They have condo units with slips, houses with slips, transient slips, a bar/restaurant, full service ship's store/deli, gas dock, swimming pool, etc. S.W. Florida Yachts has about 6 sailboats to charter and a few trawlers. They also run an ASA certified sailing school out of the marina. Worth a look.
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B Gammon
Watch your draft
The west coast of Florida is a great sailing area. If you up your size I would be very careful of your draft. I sail in the Clearwater/Tarpon Springs area and have the same situation that a person I sail with out of Ft Myers has. That is the draft. I have a 4ft H30 and he has a 35ft, 5ft draft Tartan and we get by okay. If most of your sailing is going to be on the west coast of Florida I would set the max draft at 5 ft to allow sailing in more areas. I know a couple of situations were people brought in sailboats from other parts of the US that had 6ft drafts and had all kinds of limitations along the coast. They both even replaced their keel with 5ft ones. One other 6ft draft fellow just leaves his at the slip now because he got tired of running aground. Also get good charts and there are several anchoring guides for the west coast that have great information. Just food for thought.
The west coast of Florida is a great sailing area. If you up your size I would be very careful of your draft. I sail in the Clearwater/Tarpon Springs area and have the same situation that a person I sail with out of Ft Myers has. That is the draft. I have a 4ft H30 and he has a 35ft, 5ft draft Tartan and we get by okay. If most of your sailing is going to be on the west coast of Florida I would set the max draft at 5 ft to allow sailing in more areas. I know a couple of situations were people brought in sailboats from other parts of the US that had 6ft drafts and had all kinds of limitations along the coast. They both even replaced their keel with 5ft ones. One other 6ft draft fellow just leaves his at the slip now because he got tired of running aground. Also get good charts and there are several anchoring guides for the west coast that have great information. Just food for thought.
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Warren Renninger
Draft Draft Draft
After living in the paradise of Punta Gorda for 9 years and sailing the area, you are bringing a great boat to start with. I sail a 1980 H27 with 3'3" shoal draft. It allows me to sail the whole area and only run aground once or twice a weekend. But I try and go just about anywhere. Folks who draw 5 ft really have to watch it as soon as they get into any channels or even in places on the ICW. 4ft draft is the max you want if you are into gunkholing. Charlotte Harbor is a great place to sail. Let me know when you come. If you need a place to leave the boat in the water, let me know. May be able to help.
After living in the paradise of Punta Gorda for 9 years and sailing the area, you are bringing a great boat to start with. I sail a 1980 H27 with 3'3" shoal draft. It allows me to sail the whole area and only run aground once or twice a weekend. But I try and go just about anywhere. Folks who draw 5 ft really have to watch it as soon as they get into any channels or even in places on the ICW. 4ft draft is the max you want if you are into gunkholing. Charlotte Harbor is a great place to sail. Let me know when you come. If you need a place to leave the boat in the water, let me know. May be able to help.
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Bob Gravenstine
Warren, thanks for the input.
We will be down in the area about the middle of next week. The boat will not be with us as this is our first trip to Punta Gorda and we are just looking at the area and trying to decide if this is the place for us to retire. Do you keep your boat at a marina or are you on a canal with waterfront? How long does it take for you to reach sailing water from where you keep your boat? What is the cost for a slip and are any available? Thanks for all the information. If you want, you can email me at rgravens@yahoo.com and maybe we can get together for a beer and you can fill us in on all the pros and cons of the area.
We will be down in the area about the middle of next week. The boat will not be with us as this is our first trip to Punta Gorda and we are just looking at the area and trying to decide if this is the place for us to retire. Do you keep your boat at a marina or are you on a canal with waterfront? How long does it take for you to reach sailing water from where you keep your boat? What is the cost for a slip and are any available? Thanks for all the information. If you want, you can email me at rgravens@yahoo.com and maybe we can get together for a beer and you can fill us in on all the pros and cons of the area.
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