Please note the mooring field which is the subject of this posting is NOT the field at Fort Myers Beach, but rather the smaller field on the Caloosahatchee River, just off the Fort Myers City Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR), hard by Lofton Island.
There was an earlier posting here on the Net’s “Western Florida” section which indicated that both sail and powercraft were now eligable to pick up a mooring here. As you will see below, Captain Barbara’s info is that only sailcraft may moor here.
So, I telephoned the good people at Fort Myers City Marina and confirmed that they now ACCEPT BOTH SAIL AND POWERCRAFT IN THEIR MOORING FIELD!

Subject: mooring field city of Fort Myers
Cruising News: The city of Fort Myers mooring field on the ICW advised us that they will only allow sailboats on their mooring balls. Does anyone know why trawlers or power boats are not allowed? Since Fort Myers Beach mooring balls are available to everyone, it does not seem to be a Lee county or Florida issue.
Barbara

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Fot Myers City Yacht Basin

Here’s a neat tip on how to dinghy to a Wal-Mart, plus many other shoreside businesses in North Fort Myers. “Hancock Creek,” referred to below, lies on the opposite side of the Caloosahatchee River from the downtown Fort Myers waterfront, just west of the Highway 41 Business high-rise bridge.

We found a canal that leads to within a 1/2 mile walk to a Super Wall-Mart, Dollar Store, Napa Auto parts, Sonic etc…….SW of the Cleveland Avenue Bridge (St Mile 135) you will find a marked channel that goes into the Hancock Creek..you can cut the corner to markers ”G11 R12” staying to the SW of the submerged piles marked on the chart……we went into the creek with our Automobile GPS….we had programed in the address for NAPA……and watched……we decided we would be closest via foot if we beached the boat at the kayak/canoe launching ramp at the Judd Park (A Lee County Park)…from the it is less then 1/2mile to walk to Super Wall Mart and Napa is across the street. From the mooring ball to the ramp took us 45 miutes since we went really slow (manatees)…but it sure beat waking 3-4 miles…..
Super Wall Mart is on Pine Island Road (Rt 78) North Fort Myers……the park is nearest to the intersect of Brown Street and Evergreen Street….Brown Street leads out to hthe highway and you can see the Wall Mart across over to your left when you get to the highway.
When you are going up the creek always choose the deeper choices (evidenced by seeing docks and boats and retaining walls)……the park in on you right….behind a mangrove hedge…..you will need to be alert to watch for tennis courts etc behind the dense mangrove hedges…..and the boat ramp in found by following the park edge around to the right and it is at the end of a little creek…..
Our automobile GPS helped a lot.
Barbara and Ken

And, a complimentary comment on the above posting from a fellow cruiser.

Subject: A comment on the post by Barbara & Ken. RE: N. Ft. Myers Wal-Mart etc
Cruising News: We should all post useful information like this. As transients it is often tough to find convenient retail outlets so this type of ‘local knowledge’ can be invaluable to all of us. I would encourage all of us to post more info of this type.
Rick Parish
s/v Sea Breeze

Copied the discussion below from the “Ask Your Neighbor” page. As usual, Captain Allan makes some spot-on recommendations. And, oh yes, Fort Myers Municipal Marina is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!

Can anyone make a personal recommendation for a marina in the Ft. Myers/Cape Coral area that is conveniently located to shopping,reprovisioning, etc. and is within walking distance? We appreciateany information you can provide.

There are two excellent marinas in Ft. Myers. We have stayed at both. Fort Myers Municipal Yacht Basin is close to downtown and the busy waterfront. Legacy Harbor Marina, (formerly Centennial Harbor) is a couple of blocks from downtown but closer to a new Publix and closer to the Edison Home. The Post Office is midway between the two. If you plan to leave your boat unattended then Legacy looks more secure but we left our boat for six weeks at the Yacht Basin with no problem.
The Fort Myers area is convenient to Southwest Florida Airport (RSW) where you may book a flight or rent a car. There is taxi service to the airport.
Alan Lloyd
Great Loop Navigation Notes

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Fort Myers City Yacht Basin

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Legacy Harbor Marina