Cruising Florida

[Five0]

We are shipping our 31' sailboat from Lake Erie to Florida and plan to spend 4 or 5 months cruising Florida. Dec. thru April. We are looking for a starting point. It could be southern Georgia, northern Florida either coast. We will need a boatyard to launch the boat and somewhere to stay for a few weeks to get things together. We are looking for some place reasonable. We have purchased a few cruising guides and are looking them over. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

Five0

[Lighthouse]

Welcome aboard FiveO.

I'm sure some members from that area will be along shortly to assist you.

Fair winds.

[atavist]

this may be ignorant but wouldn't it be cheaper to just sail her down the coast??

[Five0]

It might be cheaper to sail it down the coast. My wife does not retire until Jan. so we can not leave now.

[michiganbill]

Originally Posted by Five0

It might be cheaper to sail it down the coast. My wife does not retire until Jan. so we can not leave now.

Have you thought about having the boat sailed down . I know a good delivery captain who I crew with on occasion.

Give him a call or email at 859 321 0871

email (CaptainPete48 AT aol.com)

I am sure he can give you some ideas on where to base is Florida.

Good luck and fair sailing.

Bill

[Lynx]

Call All American Covered Boat Storage 941-697-9900 in Port Charlotte, Fl west coast. This is where I keep my boat, very secure. Good if you do draw less than 5 feet. Just north of Ft Myers.

[imagine2frolic]

Just down the river from Jacksonville Florida is Green Cove Springs. There is a reasonably priced marina there, and a boatyard, or 2. It is called Reynolds Park Yacht Center, it is where Imagine sleeps for now. There is also another marina called Green Cove Springs Marina with a boatyard. The second boatyard is Holland's, but they are extremely pricey, and you can't touch the boat yourself.

[camaraderie]

If you want to see ALL of Florida...then Tiger Point Marina in Fernandina is a great place to drop her in:

http://marinas.com/view/marina/2498

Fernandina is a nice town but even more important is that Cumberland Island is just across the St. Mary's River into GA and that is so spectacular it should not be missed. Since you have the time, I would also suggest making the 50 mile crossing to the Bahamas rather than cruise FL for months. Much nicer...and a whole different world and an easy trip if you wait for good weather in W. Palm Beach prior to crossing.

Imagine is right about Green Cove Springs too and Jacksonville is a great city to stop at if you have a few days to venture off the ICW.

Other must see's are St. Augustine (try Oyster Creek Marina if you don't anchor out). Vero Beach is also a good stop...with town moorings and free transportation everywhere in town for re-stocking or anything else you need. After that...there's not much for the sailboater till you get to the keys except for the nightlife in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale. Have fun!