Where's the best place to retire and sail?

[Captain Miles]

OK, so I picked the Right Place to retire in Port Charlotte, South Gulf Cove on Sailboat canal to be exact. So how come I'm having difficulty identifying other local Mac26Ms or variant Sailboats in the area? I spent several nights at Point Blanco and Pelican Bay several weekends back and will be returning frequently. Talked briefly with a MAC26M(blue like me) from Ottowa CAN who was briefly behind Caya Costa and hailing from the Port Charlotte YC. I also have seen a Mac26X on the the hard next to a canal in Port Charlotte, but little else. I love it here (came down from Chincoteague Island 2 years ago) and love the 365 sailing and not much traffic, but would like to know there are a few more of us smart ones around. I'm a SGCYC member and considering several other area YCs but really looking for birds of a feather.

 

[seadaddler]

Try

Try the trailor sailors or look up Mac groups,thought I saw a group or web ssite for Mac's.
Nick

 

[keys please]

Howdy Capt. Miles I am in the old yacht basin... bought there for the water, and location, quick out.. love the area. Have not seen as many MacGregors but there are a lot of sailers in the area.... all the best and hope to see u at cayo costa...

 

[Ducati]

I checked out Port Charlotte and found the their depth 5-6' is probably too shallow for any sailboat over 35-40'.

I like the Florida area to stay on my boat, any other deeper water Florida locations?

 

[seadaddler]

Not true

When I lived in NY I ccontacted sailboat owners with 35 and bigger sailboats and found many boats in PG do draft 5ft and eveen more and guess what thay are not running aground.
I draft 5' and yes have run aground here just like when I was up in NY but I have never run aground in Charlotte Harbor and have run aground cruising north or south,just like any other sailing area's we do have shallow water all over but have plenty of water for sailing all over the harbor and just need to have a good chartplotter to help show the area's depth's and where not to go and watch the tides just like other sailing area's,most boats I sail with 4' draft here in PG but also have many larger boats draft 5'.
Nick

 

[Bill1565]

I checked out Port Charlotte and found the their depth 5-6' is probably too shallow for any sailboat over 35-40'.

Ref: my earlier post on using a sailboat realtor. Some canals in Port Charlotte and Cape Coral are limited to 2-3 feet.

Re: draft. You will be much happier in SW Florida with 5 feet or less. Many anchorages, Marinas and all of Florida Bay will be off limits to 6 foot draft. If you are a deep draft fanatic, you will be happier on the east coast.

 

[zeehag]

and then there are those of us die hards who WILL be happy on west coast florida with over 6 ft draft...met a few when i was there before. even met a guy in fla --tampa bay, with a ct 41...my kinda boat....

but, i tell ye for sure--there is not perfect weather in florida--perfect weather is in zihuatenejo, guerrero, mexico. summer is stormy, but winter rocks big time. lat 17.

 

[fox islander]

...ok our weather may suck 9 months out of 12, but all this draft talk has me appreciating deep, cold Puget Sound.

 

[zeehag]

from puget sound, sail south until the butter separates, then you will be here....

 

[Captain Miles]

This weekend starting Saturday morning early, heading towards Ponce Park and the PGI canals into the bird section to visit a friend, then to Gilcrest Park anchorage off PGI for the night. On Sunday, maybe a leisure power trip (aren't McGregors great sailing hybrids?) up to Navigator's and then back to SGC. Just trying out the top end of Port Charlotte to sample it's gunkhole possibilities. This is the 2nd Solo shakedown trip with "Miles Aweigh". If you are out and around the top end of Charlotte Harbor and see a blue MacGregor 26M, hail the Captain.

 

[seadaddler]

Captain Miles

Was that you motoring very fast around tthe harbor maybe about a week ago,I was the Hunter-36 sailing around the harbor wwhat must have been your 1st shake down powering around the harbor.
Nick

 

[Sailm8]

Captain Miles, will be off Gilcrest Sat and Sun night. Hunter 29.5 named English Rose. Scotch @ 5pm if interested or BYOB.

edit: Cheap Scotch. we are sailors after all.

 

[Captain Miles]

Was that you motoring very fast around tthe harbor maybe about a week ago,I was the Hunter-36 sailing around the harbor wwhat must have been your 1st shake down powering around the harbor.
Nick

The last time the Admiral let Cappy out to play, I went down the West Wall to Cayo Costa, so that probably was not "Miles Aweigh". Was the speedster blue hulled like
"Miles Aweigh"?

 

[seadaddler]

Thursday

Every 3rd thursday at Gilecrest anchorage and also going to Cabbage Key same weekend and maybe Pelicam too,come say Hello
Nick

 

[kenkindy1]

Look North Sir! My wife and I used to sail our Hunter 240 out of the drydock on Eagle Creek. We trailered to the Grand Traverse Bay in Northern Michigan the year of Hurricane Katrina and absolutely love the area. There are wonderful wineries, plenty of State marinas and lots to do in the area. Pull your boat north for a week in late July or August you won't regret it. Feel free to contact me through PM on this site and I'm happy to provide more info.

 

[Captain Miles]

Every 3rd thursday at Gilecrest anchorage and also going to Cabbage Key same weekend and maybe Pelicam too,come say Hello
Nick

Been to Thursday nite at Gilcrest Park many many times by land (#1 if by land). This will be my first overnighter there by sea (#2 if by sea!) but it wioo be on a Saturday. Fun place if you are a music maker like me. Port Charlotte is a great place to be on the water. Now all I have to do is finally really retire so I can be out on it a lot more.

 

[sirocovzla]

I have you ever thought the caribean area, like US Vigen Island..? I think will be nice for a real change way of live and good retire ground. But you have to move for a bigger boat, like a mid-size sailboat could do fine, like a Beneteau 35 or 36 feet.

 

[Captpete12]

I have sailed in the BVI many times and love it. Perhaps the US islands would make a better base. Your medicare is not accepted in the BVI and to be honest I have found the people on St. John and St. Thomas to be a bit more friendly. Wish I could bite the bullet and sell my house in New York, buy a 50' cat and head there! Perhaps do a week or two bareboat charter out of Tortolla to see what it is like?

 

[Sailm8]

Been to Thursday nite at Gilcrest Park many many times by land (#1 if by land). This will be my first overnighter there by sea (#2 if by sea!) but it wioo be on a Saturday. Fun place if you are a music maker like me. Port Charlotte is a great place to be on the water. Now all I have to do is finally really retire so I can be out on it a lot more.

I think I saw you out last weekend. I saw you anchoring and waved but I guess you didn't see us. We were the 2 Hunters rafted up. I think I have a picture of you crossing under the 41 bridges but it was taken with my phone and looks like crap.

 

[zeehag]

medicare may not be accepted but the md fees are small. affordable and small. btdt in st thomas. meds are also very inexpensive.