Marina Jacks has been much in the news of late, as its management and ownership have been square in the middle of the ongoing debate concerning the proposed Sarasota Mooring Field.

It was a last minute decision to tie up at Marina Jack. We hailed the dockmaster on the way in and they were quick to assign a slip and were there to take our lines as we approached. First class operation. It is busy there with the restaurant and bar patrons adjacent to the transient dock. The live band plays into the evening (this was on a weekend).
Whisper

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Marina Operation/Marina Jacks

Looks like plans for the controversial Bradenton Beach Mooring Field have been put on hold, at least for the moment!

Subject: Bradenton Beach Mooring Discussion continues
Cruising News: It was reported in the 6/9/2010 Islander newspaper (http://www.islander.org) that on 6/3/2010, Bradenton Beach Council canceled the contract for the grant of $165,000 for a mooring field due to incomplete financial studies and the short time frame in which to accept the grant.
Jonathan Cook

I have personally researched the waters Captains David and Patty refer to below, in depth. I’m sure the locals do find good anchorage here, but the unmarked nature of the entrance channel has always prevented me from listing this spot in the Net’s “Western Florida Anchorage Directory.”

Subject: Bradenton Beach Anchorage
Cruising News: An excellent anchorage will be found just south of the relatively new Bradenton Beach city pier. Although it appears to be just off the ICW south of the Cortez Bridge, access is barred by a three foot shoal. To enter the anchorage, head into the well marked channel for Bradenton Beach Marina, at unlighted daybeacon #49, just south of the Cortex Bridge. As you come to marker #3, turn to the south and cross in front of the pier, taking the `T’ to starboard. Access depths were about six feet. Continue on into the anchorage and find a spot to drop the hook. The pool of deep water is larger than it appears on the chart. According to our chart plotter, we were on top of the three foot shoal, when we were actually in six feet at low tide. Some depths exceeded eight feet. Protection is primarily from the west. There is a dinghy dock along shore and restroom and shower facilities on the pier itself. Once on shore, we found retail stores, restaurants, the beach on the Gulf, and ice cream. There is also a free trolley that runs the length of the island.
David & Patty Power
S/V Two If By Sea

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Bradenton Beach Anchorage/possible mooring field

While the official name of this facility, located in the heart of downtown Sarasota, is Marina Operations, ALL the locals call it Marina Jacks. That really the name of the restaurant closest to the water, but, hey, who am I to argue with the locals.

This was the fourth night in our trip from Ft. Lauderdale to the Gulf Coast and it was another great marina. The docks extremely well maintained, the staff helpful and the onsite services excellent. Again, we did not get to stay long but by report they have a local shuttle that is very helpful to resupply and get you around town a little. We are planning a trip back to explore the west coast of Florida hopfully next year and Marina Jack will most likely be our base of operations. Forgot to mention that the onsite dining is excellent. There are several restaurants on site and I forget which one we ate at, but it was excellent and by report all the others are as well.
Cahoots

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Marina Directory Listing For Marina Operations/Marina Jacks

The question and answer exchange below is copied from the Net’s “Ask Your Neighbor” section (/category/ask-your-neighbor/). Captain Samet’s note confirms what some of us have long known, namely, that both of Sarasota’s inlets are perennially in poor condition!

We are departing Ft. Lauderdale headed to the northern Gulf Coast next week and one of our intended stops is Sarasota. Is New Pass the better to use between Big Pass and New Pass, or should both be avoided? I wouldn’t attempt either in questionable conditions, but assuming fair weather and daylight can either be reasonably run without local knowledge.
Thanks.
Reed
M/V Cahoots

Neither are recommended. The suggestion is that Big Pass is okay to exit on a radial of 210 degrees from marker 7, but 7 has been moved from a previous location,so it is impossible to plot the starting point to go in.
I suggest you enter in Venice inlet to the south or go to the north end of LBK and go in Longboat Key Pass.
Norman Samet

I have always considered Longboat Key Moorings a top flight facility. How about some of you who pass through here put in a good word about them becoming a Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net sponsor!!!

Claiborne:
A couple of weekends ago, the indefatigable cruisers of the Venice Sailing Squadron, sailed up to the Longboat Key Club & Resort ~ The Moorings. The Marina is lovely & large with a well-marked EZ In/EZ Out channel off the ICW. The restaurant at the Marina, Portofino, has a great ambience & very good food that won’t break your bank. There are 6 other restaurants in the complex, plus tennis, golf, beach, heated pools, spa, & a shuttle to take you (& retrieve you) from St. Armand’s Circle where there is endless shopping …….
The staff was very friendly & accommodating inviting us to hold our cocktail ‘hour’ on one of the covered porches outside the restaurant rather than in the rain! All told, our VSS cruisers had a great time.
Carol & Don Duncan

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Longboat Key Moorings

Wow, what a great report on a key facility, just south of Tampa Bay, By the way, while the official name of this city leased marina is “Marina Operations,” virtually everyone refers to it as Marina Jacks. That is actually the on-site’s restaurant moniker, however.

Hi Claiborne,
Marina Jacks was one of the nicest marinas that we have visited.
They have approximately 30 transient docks primarily located on the outside of D dock. This is a long floating dock with 40ft finger slips. It is well protected from the westerly winds, but with 10 to 15 knots of blow, there can be some current running the length of D dock, making docking a little interesting! Paulette did docking practice and did very well!
The docks are in impeccable condition with all of the normal electrical, water and cable hookups. The dockhands were exceptional helpful. There is a security gate with an access code to the transient area. We discovered the laundry area with a direct veiw over the water…a delightful way to handle one of boaters’ chores. Each morning, the Sarasota newspaper mysteriously appeared on our aft deck…a nice touch.
Access to downtown Sarasota could not have been better. It’s a five minute walk, of which three minutes are waiting for the traffic lights to turn in your favor. Once downtown, foodies like us can walk five minutes further to a very large and well-stocked Whole Foods plus a number of very interesting restaurants.
For those of us with dogs, the marina is situated right next to the nicest park we have ever visited. What can be nicer than walking your dog through pathways along the waterfront!
Marina Jacks now has a courtesy van. This service was just added during our five day stay, so “the rules” of where and when it goes are still being developed. However, I was able to go to both WestMarine and Publix all in one trip.
Dockage was $2.25 a foot plus electric which seems on par for a top quality marina on Florida’s West Coast.
I hope that this is helpful
John

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Marina Operations/Marina Jacks

The two Jewfish Key anchorages (see links below) can be accessed directly off the Western Florida ICW, hard by the Waterway’s intersection with Longboat Pass. Even though, as you will read below, dinighy landing is no longer as convenient here, these are still great spots to drop the hook!

It’s been a couple of years since we’ve anchored in the waters adjacent to Mar Vista and Moore’s Stone Crab Restaurant. Same beautiful water, scenery, and protection ‘¦ a wonderful waveless anchorage even in 20 knots of breeze. Still the same anchoring issues with the relatively deep bowl, numerous boats, and current ‘¦ nothing that two anchors does not solve. Two items of note. There is a town ordinance now that prohibits tying off to the town dock ‘¦ very convenient in the past. There is a small beach some 30 yds south of the town dock where dinks can be put ashore but it was convenient in the past not to get your shoes wet when going ashore (temps are in the 50’s today giving special meaning to `convenient’). A second item is that the upscale grocery that was within easy dinghy or walking distance is now permanently closed ‘¦ a liquor store has replaced it ‘¦ less useful for those looking to do a little restocking.
Enjoy!
Paul and Mary
S/V Merry Sea

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Jewfish Key South Side Anchorage

Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Jewfish Key Anchorage

Here’s one I did not know about, but after a conversation with “Southwinds” magazine publisher, Steve Morrell, I learned the entrance to the facility described below, cuts to the east, south of the Cortez Bridge.

Subject: Cortez Cove Boatyard & Marina
Cruising News: We recently had a bottom job done at Cortez Cove Boatyard & Marina in Cortez, FL across the ICW from Anna Maria Island just south of Tampa Bay. We highly recommend this yard to fellow cruisers. They did an excellent job of prepping and painting. AND they allowed us to stay aboard while \”on the hard\”, something that many yards don\’t allow and very important to us as full-time cruisers. The staff was very friendly and accomodating, knew what they were doing, worked quickly and didn\’t \”run up the work hours\”, etc. The price was in line with other yards in the area but the meticulous work was more than worth what we paid!
Larry Sherman

I e-mailed Captain Sherman and asked for more definite access instructions to Cortez Cove Boatyard. He graciously responded below:

Claiborne,
Here is the additional info you requested:
The Cortez Cove Boatyard and Marina is located just south of the Cortez Bridge (a couple of miles north of Longboat Pass) on the mainland side of the west coast ICW at about statute mile 87. The coordinates for the marina are 27 degrees 27.95 minutes north, 082 degrees 40.97 minutes west.
Immediately south of the Cortez bascule bridge turn east off the ICW and then go through the anchorage, past the Coast Guard station, past the A.P. Bell seafood company docks (close to the docks) and you will then see a well marked private channel. Where the channel forks take the channel to port into the boatyard’s basin.
Larry Sherman
s/v Enchantress

Here’s a new one on yours truly. A year or two ago, we have many posts here on the Cruisers’ Net about a shoal near the Ringling Bridge, courtesy of some leftover construction materials when the old span was removed. However, that trouble spot has been marked for some time now.
Has anyone had the same experience as outlined by sailing vessel Endeavor below. If so, could you please send additional details to CruisingWriter@CruisersNet.net. Thanks in advance!

Subject: Sarasota Ringling bridge shoals?
Cruising News: we passed the Ringling bridge today at 0.3′ over MLLW and had the depth alarm go off (set at <6′) right underneath the main
overspan a bit to the west of the middle. Maybe it was a dolphin or manatee, but it sure surprised me and I will stick to the middle next time.
Any suggestions?
S/V Endeavor

Click Here For The Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Bridge Directory Listing For the Ringling Bridge

Captain John’s discussion below of Western Florida bridges in general, and the Anna Maria Island Bridge, in particular, gives some great cruising advice for all mariners plying the western coastline of the Sunshine State. And, watch out for a certain bridge operator (see below)!

We have cruised the FL West Coast extensively, both offshore and ICW. SUNBURST has been through every bridge along the west FL ICW at least once (excepting Charlotte Harbor’s eastern reaches) and with a vertical clearance of 23′ has required her share of openings. This height, as it turns out, is exceptional in that it also approximates the vertical clearance of innumerable west coast bascule bridges. The decision to request an opening is never taken lightly, and we have no designs on unnecessarily impeding road traffic or taxing the bridge tenders. However, we also emphatically endeavor to avoid dis-masting ourselves; placing SUNBURST or crew in peril, or otherwise engaging bridge spans in a physical sense. (We know the bridge will win every time!).
So the usual drill as we approach any bridge that is even remotely close to our vertical clearance involves the oft rehearsed combination of straining (to discern a tide card reading) through binoculars and hand wringing. Anything less than 24 feet will generate discussion on Ch 9. The vast majority of our bridge tenders are very professional and courteous, and in keeping with our collective goal to transcend the said span safely, readily and happily comply with our requests for an opening (within the constraints of the bridge opening policies).
Here, the Anna Maria bridge has distinguished herself as consistently problematic. On no less than 4 occasions within the last 12 months the bridge tender has proven recalcitrant, difficult, unpleasant and frankly cantankerous. This has now become part of our planning calculus: whenever feasible (weather, etc) we opt for offshore passage between Tampa Bay and Long Boat Pass.
I would like to emphasize the fact that approaching this particular bridge, like so many others along the ICW, does NOT uniformly generate a request for opening. Due consideration is given to the tide, tide card reading, and so forth such that we pass safely under the closed span just as often as we must (reluctantly, in this case) request a bridge opening. The point is that responsibility for the safety of my crew, my boat rests squarely and unambiguously upon my shoulders. I cannot be `bullied’ into unsafe operation under any circumstance.
Although I have posted this negative comment regarding one particular bridge (and perhaps one individual?), I just as vigorously applaud the professionalism of the vast majority of bridge operators along the FL west coast ICW!
Capt. John Moritz

Subject: Ana Maria Bridge tender
Cruising News: I have been Passing under Ana Maria Bridge for Years. This is the worst Bridge tender on the west cost of Florida. He seems to forget he would not
have a Job if it where not for sailboaters
Ken Brown

Anytime cruisers can find a good boat repair service, it's cause for celebration! And, sounds like Captains Russ and Carolyn found two super repair firms in Sarasota!

Recently we had a fairly bad crossing of the Big Bend.  We experienced some damage to the gel-coat and to some covers.  When we arrived at the Sarasota Yacht Club, I asked if there were someone who could make emergency repairs.  They referred me to Jim Wasilewski Marine Services (941-320-6003).  It seemed like only a matter of moments before Jim arrived and they began the repairs immediately.  I had a tear in the tender cover and Jim had someone at the boat that afternoon.  He fixed the repair for $50.  Then our clothes washer failed.  Within an hour or so, we had a replacement on the way.  When we pulled the rugs in the saloon, to remove and replace the washer, Carolyn became entranced with the teak and holly floors.  Jim recommended Capt. Rick Hanson of Rick's Performance Marine (941-915-5465) to remove the rugs and refinish the floors.  Capt. Rick, on short notice arranged to have the floors prepared and varnished.  We were having some difficulty with
one head and the holding tank.  Since Capt. Rick handles air conditioning, refrigeration and plumbing, he took care of it.  Since we removed the carpets from the two staircases to the staterooms and
engine room, we needed new rugs.  Presto, Jim had Dane Halse of Custom Marine Interiors (941-356-3466) arrive to measure, cut and install the new rugs.  Carolyn likes the rugs so much, she wants the same material in our home.  Everything was done quite professionally, expeditiously, reasonably and with a smile.  I would recommend them if you are in the area.  Apparently they operate from Naples to Bradenton. 
Best
Russ and Carolyn Deane

The story below is reproduced by permission of the authors. This story was originally contributed to the "Sarasota Herald Tribune," but it was substantially reduced in size by the newspaper. We present the entire, original text below.
For those who don't know, the city of Sarasota is trying to establish a mooring field off its downtown waterfront, hard by Marina Operations (Marina Jacks). A dedicated group of boat owners who have long been anchored on these waters are opposing this project. Captain Ken Delacy, co-author of the article below, is one of the prime movers in this group.

Rarely has a civic issue been so filled with multi-dimensional problems as the city’s thrust to construct a mooring field — slated to begin June 21 — in the most exquisite portion of Sarasota Bay, between Marina Jack and Selby Gardens. According to the city’s own report, the wasteful plan will cost taxpayers approximately $17.5 million over the next 20 years, with no concrete benefits.
A host of powerful reasons — legal, fiscal, environmental, aesthetic, human rights, and monopoly-related — underlie why this plan must be stopped.
Construction would likely dilute and permanently alter the French Riviera-like beauty of this sailboat-adorned bay – the charismatic jewel of downtown Sarasota. The natural look, rather than the organized plan the city is pushing to institute, is unique in Florida and rare in the entire world. Tampering with this sublime gem would be a tragic loss to the city.
The plan is engendering resentment among diverse demographic segments – from wealthy retirees to international tourists, condo and business owners. Too many unanswered questions/loopholes exist, too many concerns of legal improprieties, railroading a plan through against the wishes of the citizenry, and a power grabbing thrust by the Marina Jack Corp., the entity slated to manage it.
There was no rigorous cost-benefit analysis offered to taxpayers, documenting why a project – of such nebulous and questionable benefits — warrants spending so much in these brutal recessionary times, when the city is oppressed by a $9 million deficit. Wouldn’t this expenditure far better be allocated for social programs, health care, education, and job creation?
The travesty is that while the plan costs $1 million, the City is giving Marina Jack a deal: lowering its rent from 3.5% to 3.0% of gross sales, in exchange for operating the fields – leading to the estimated $17.5 million in lost tax revenue. Taxpayers would bear the burden for this sweetheart deal between Marina Jack and the city. Such deals are only justifiable if private investors can demonstrate compelling benefits to taxpayers, clearly not the case here.
It is unacceptable that there was no open bidding process for this contract, given that Marina Jack already profits from managing the downtown yacht harbor and O’Leary’s, plus being landlord to downtown boat rentals and LeBarge. Doesn’t the city have an obligation, to citizens, to spread the wealth beyond one corporate entity — one already enjoying what many consider over-arching power in Sarasota? (Unlike other downtown restaurants, MJ does not pay property taxes.)
If the plan moves forward, Marina Jack’s power grab would expand to the entire downtown bayfront, giving them monopoly control for decades. Many feel this project represents a conflict of interest: a profit making entity managing a not-for-profit operation, eliciting widespread cynicism about claims that Marina Jack would not profit from their managerial role.
The plan’s later phases will entail the environmentally risky dredging of the bay, and drilling into the bay floor to install 109 mooring holes, sparking concerns this could stir up the lead/arsenic documented in the immediate area. Many are outraged that this threat to the bay’s health is moving ahead without a detailed environmental impact study, independent oversight by an environmental entity, and meticulous documentation throughout the proposed three phases.
An injunction is urgently needed, to allow time for necessary legal, environmental and fiscal review, to satisfy citizens’ legitimate pressing concerns. The City Commission exists to serve taxpayers. We hope it urges a delay, pending full disclosure, a detailed cost-benefit analysis, and environmental impact study – the accountability taxpayers deserve.
We urge all concerned citizens to speak out at the City Commissioners’ meeting: Mon., June 15, 2:30 and 6 p.m., City Hall.
 
Jenny L. Rosenbaum, waterfront condo owner, and Capt. Ken Delacy
Sarasota Bayfront Alliance, a Coalition of Concerned Citizens
http://groups.google.com/group/sarasota-bayfront-alliance
SarasotaBayfrontAlliance@gmail.com