Dunedin Municipal Marina is a smaller, city owned operation, but the harbor is well sheltered, and there is wondeful dining nearby. If you berth here, don’t dare miss dinner at nearby Kelly’s!
Subject: Dunedin Municipal Marina
Cruising News: We were able to get a transient slip at this marina for the December 6 boat parade. Only needed a couple of days advance notice. The harbor master was extremely friendly and helpful.
Manuel Farinas
Personally, we always berth at Salty Sams Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) when visiting Fort Myers Beach, or pick up a mooring in the city field. However, Moss Marine is certainly another possibility. Just don’t get blocked in by the gamgling ship when they are fuelling. Ask the marina personnel when the ship is to be fuelled, to avoid this problem.
If you are north of Ft Myers Beach heading south we wanted to let you know we found Moss Marine to be reasonably priced @ $1.25 per foot and close to the beach, restaurants, etc. Their fuel prices are $2.63 diesel and $2.67 gas (all taxes included) and if you stay overnight you can subtract another 10 cents per gallon, which brings their prices a little closer to fair market.
Jim & Lisa
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Moss Marine
If you don't already know it, let me be the first to tell you, the Big Bend region of the Western Florida coastline (north of Anclote Key to Carrabelle and Dog Island) is not served by any sort of intracoastal waterway. So, you must choose to either cut the corner, or, staying WELL offshore, follow the Big Bend coastline around. If you choose this latter course of action, Capatin Doug's plan below has REAL merit!
Steinhatchee isn't much, but it's a good place to go to get across the gulf 70NM or so. Then a nice cruise day is to go from Steinhatchee to Yankeetown. Yankeetown is a teeny sleepy town, very non-touristy and not much to see, but the 10 mile trip up the river to Yankeetown is really very interesting. The river is 10 to 20 ft deep all the way, with interesting narrow bends and changes in scenery from salt marshes and palm trees at the gulf followed by hardwood forests overhanging the river at every turn. Then you go to Crystal River the next day. It's only 10 NM or so and you get there for lunch, swim and watch manatees that afternoon and you're ready to go to Tarpon Springs the next morning.
Doug
We had an earlier posting here on the Net's "Western Florida" page about shoaling along this stretch of the Western Florida ICW, hard by Jewfish Key and Longboat Pass. As Captain Scott's info below is so specific and timely, I'm putting it up as a fresh post, hopeing more will take advantage of this data.
We draw 6’ and ran aground well within the channel Thanksgiving week. The sandbar runs from the NW towards Moore’s to the SE into the middle of the channel near 38A. The edge of the sandbar in the channel is very steep so there is no warning.
Slightly contrary to the info posted on the SYS website, the best I recorded about 5.3’ above 0’ (recorded on a calm day). The path I used to get across was in line with the eastern edge of the marked channel.
Scott Cooper
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
If you follow the magenta line while running the ICW across the mouth of Tampa Bay, to Boca Ciega Bay, the indicated route would take you under the center section of the Sunshine Skyway bridge, and then back under the Misner Bridge, the northernmost part of the Skyway. Talk about going around your thumb to get to your little finger. I don’t know of anyone who actually does this.
Rather, the vast majority of cruisers use the “Skyway Channel,” which parallels the Skyway’s western face. The only trouble is that there is a bit of shoaling along the southermost part of this passage. The posting below is the latest on this page to indicate this skinny water.
Hi Claiborne,
I just got back from a week long trip from Clearwater Florida across the Lake to Stuart.
Items of note:
The Sunshine Channel just south of St. Petersburg and west of Sunshine Skyway Bridge had a low water depth of 6′ at southern marker “5”, otherwise plenty of water.
Mike Dickens
Pelican Bay is one of the most popular anchorages in anchorage rich Pine Island Sound. Protected Pelican Bay sits just behind Cayo Costa, an undeveloped barrier island that is also a Florida State Park.
The only problem with anchoring in Pelican Bay is the somewhat thin depths on the bay’s entrance, particuarly at MLW. The wonderful Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda, has made it their particular mission to detail the best passage into Pelican Bay.
We have had many postings here on the Net’s “Western Florida” section about entering Pelican Bay, but Captain Lee’s message below gives some truly detailed data. So, I thought it best to put it up as a fresh posting that would be more readily noticed.
We got directions from the Cabbage Key ferry guy and true, coming in from the RENUMBERED ICW marker 74, and passing close to the sign..I think it’s a mantee warning, you have to be just about 1/2 a boat length for our 42-footer from the beach and you can look down and see the darkness of the deep water current. Then you turn and head for the fixed wooden dock. South of it and even with a manatee pocket, is a 9-foot hole about 150 feet from the shore. You cannot exit via the south unless you have a zero-draft boat.That chartlet was sure to guarantee a grounding and I am so glad you removed it for liability reasons. A call to Lynda at Isles Yacht Club in Punta Gorda the other day reveals if you send them a $3 check they will send a laminated bearings chart mentioned in the 3/1/08 posting.
That YC sends members there with assigned bearings stations every once in awhile to update the chart. Boaters should go in DEAD SLOW as they skirt both the sign and the beach. Don’t side tie to the long outside dock because it’s the ferry’s.
We found it and waited a year before we were brave enough to go in, and only after we hailed the ferry and he told us to follow him exactly, on the way in. He exits all the way south to Cabbage Key because he knows which houses on Useppa to sight off of, but we’ve gotten hung up in our dinghy on our way south out of there to the Tunnel of Love because we couldn’t follow the ferry closely enough to see what he was doing. But for any fearful boaters standing off in the ICW, if you find his schedule and hail him, he will let you follow him in.
Best regards…your fan,
Lee Stapella
Subject: Detailed info on entering Pelican Bay
Cruising News: As a follow up to Lee Stapella’s posting: the ferry is the Tropic Star, and if you follow closely, you can carry about 3 ft or so all the way to Cabbage Key (that’s about the draft for Tropic Star, and even in the extreme low tides, there\’s room). The best representation of the good water is found in the West Coast Chart Kit, and it’s a very meandering path to follow. As a former captain on Tropic Star, I’ve been through there about 8 or 9 hundred times, and I was taught the pathway by a native of Cayo Costa. If you’re following in your dinghy, stay real close behind – but then you have to get back, don’t you?
Capt Mike Smith
Bokeelia
I had the opportunity to discover Pelican Bay after limping across Charlotte Harbor in a bad squal several months ago. A nice place to lick your wounds and relax. Plan on some trips back there in the near future.
Donn Brown
Namaste – Watkins 27
The “Tunnel of Love” described by Captain Douglas below, lies off popular Pelican Bay and Cayo Costa Florida State Park. I had heard that this once popular attraction was badly mauled during the 2005 hurricane season. Looks like that’s still the case!
Subject: Western Florida Tunnel of Love
Cruising News: I have an update on the “Tunnel of Love” near Pelican Bay. On Tuesday 25 November we were anchored in Pelican Bay and attempted to explore the Tunnel of Love by inflatable dinghy. The water at the entrance to the tunnel was very shallow when the tide 0.9 feet above MLLW. I had to drag the dinghy across the shallows. Then, we only went down the tunnel about 50 feet. Dead mangroves were everywhere. We stopped in fear that a mangrove stick would puncture a tube in the dinghy and leave us stranded far from our boat. The exploration would best be done at high tide with a hard-sided, shallow draft craft.
Douglas Kendrick
I copied the very useful discussion below from the AGLCA list. Crystal River is one of the southermost of the Big Bend River, found north of Homosassa River. Note the data about shallow water at Twin River Marina. I join with Captain Alan below in recommeding that cruisers continue upstream to Pete’s Pier Marina, or try anchoring in Kings Bay.
We were told there was enough water to come into Twin River Marina, however, boats sit on the bottom at low tide. Any boats with a draft over 3.0. will have a problem. I always ask about draft and channel clearance, and was told no problem. That has not been the case.
We draw just 2’10” maybe 3′ when fully loaded and would concur that spots can be a bit shallow. We commented a number of times going in, that big boats would have a hard time getting into Twin Rivers Marina. Even at our depth we stirred up some mud. Take care as it sure is worth the effort to be able to swim with those Manatees. For me one of the high lites of our whole trip.
Clare
Continue three miles further up Crystal River and you will find a deeper alternative to Twin Rivers Marina, viz., Pete’s Pier Marina or Kings Bay anchorage. We were there this time last year and arranged for a pontoon tour round Kings Bay to see the manatee.
Alan Lloyd
Great Loop Navigation Notes
We’re docked at Pete’s Pier Marina. Good to be off the Gulf while the next system moves through. We planned on staying just one night, heading to Clearwater this morning, but the system is moving through faster than the forecast indicated last night. The staff here are great. This marina is in walking distance to town, had a wonderful meal last night at Cody’s. Enterprise is right around the corner too.
Denny and Karen
Another Option
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Twin Rivers Marina
Sounds like a great place to fill the tank!
Those of you in the area of Fort Myers Beach, FL, here's a pearl. In Ft. Myers Beach, Matanzas Pass, there is a company called Ballard Oil that has diesel (ONLY DIESEL) prices that are $0.20 below the next best prices in the area. Ballard is a commercial fuel dock that fuels shrimp boats, but also fuels sport fish and non-commercial customers. Today, the cash/check price for diesel was $2.399 with all FL state taxes included. Ft. Myers Yacht Basin was $2.579. So, for cruising boats, a nice savings.
To get to Ballard, follow Matanzas pass through the Ft. Myers Beach Bridge, hard to port after the bridge and follow the channel around to starboard, past the shrimp boat fleet, to a 4 story white building that has a huge red "DIESEL" sign painted on it. Contact is owner Jim Ballard. Phone number is (239) 463-7677.
Peg and Jim Healy, aboard Sanctuary
I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. Get any four cruisers together, and you’ll get six opinions about how best to cross the Big Bend region of Florida, between Apalachicola or Carrabelle, and Anclote Key (or Clearwater). For those of you not familair with these waters, there is NO protected intracoastal waterway serving this portion of the Florida coastline. So, the decision is whether to cut the corner and head straight for Anclote or Clearwater, or follow the Big Bend coastline around, staying SEVERAL miles offshore to avoid the long shelf of shallows that run out from this part of the Florida coastline. There are those who believe passionately in one or another of these plans.
I have copied the discussion below from the AGLCA list in hopes that others thoughts may aid you in your own decision!
You are correct that many cruisers leap across the arm pit in a single bound. From Carrabelle to Tarpon Springs is 170 statute miles. For most this translates to an overnight trip. If you do not wish to go overnight, or like me, do not have the range, it is better to do shorter runs with more stops.
The first leg is from Carrabelle to Steinhatchee, 85 miles. From there it is 120 miles to Tarpon Springs.
I recommend an intermediate stop at Crystal River. The entrance to Crystal River can be shallow but if you draw less than 4.5 feet it is doable.
Best to avoid Homosassa River and Suwannee River unless the latter is dredged before the date of your trip.
These are the routes are described in my book .
Alan Lloyd
The “Big Bend” is a very nice part of the trip and missed by too many loopers rushing for unknown reasons. It’s an “old Florida” pace and style. Wait for good weather to go from Carrabelle to Steinhatchee, next day go the sort trip from Steinhatchee to Yankeetown, because the deep narrow river trip up to Yankeetown is really cool. Then go 20 miles to Crystal River to see the manatees, and finally go 55 NM to Tarpon Springs.
Doug Shuman
Even though Captain Katherine’s note below is in response to the “Western Florida Wish List” I sent out at the beginning of November, 2008, I wanted to post this message as a fresh entry. I know of few other communities who have made such a sincere effort to attract cruisers to their mooring field!
I am chair of the Anchorage Advisory Committee for the Town of Fort Myers Beach Mooring Field and I keep my boat year round in the mooring field. We have a new floating dinghy dock under the bridge on the island side to make it easier to enjoy the island. Restaurants and shops are with a couple of blocks of the dock, and there is a trolley that can take you to grocery stores, drug stores, and all the other places cruisers need to visit. Matanzas Inn under the bridge is where you check in and has the land facilities for the mooring field. There are two beautiful shower suites with large dressing areas and a community room with four washer/dryer pairs. Water is available at Matanzas for jerry jug use. The rate is $13.00 a night plus tax and there is a monthly rate available. Pump-out (by boat) is included in the price and can be scheduled through Matanzas Inn.
One of the complaints about our field is that the tethers are coated with slime and barnacles. They are cleaned regularly but unfortunately, the water in the bay is very fertile and stuff grows quickly. When we take our boat off the ball and are away for a few nights, slime has already grown back. We are exploring ways to alleviate this problem.
There is much more information on the town’s website: fortmyersbeachfl.gov. Just click on the mooring field link. There is a map of the field, phone numbers for Matanzas Inn, and much more. We will be redoing the website in the coming months.
I hope a lot of cruisers will come to our mooring field and enjoy the great town of Fort Myers Beach!!
Katherine Light, S/V Alborada
Back on 11/6/08, as part of a “Western Florida Wish List,” I posed the following question:
25. The village of Boca Grande is the principal port of call on Gasparilla Island. We LOVE this place!!! The primary marina facility is now known as Boca Grande Marina (formerly Millers Marina). Since this facility changed ownership, I’ve heard very good things about it. The only problem has been depths on the entrance channel. The new owner wants to dredge, but has had trouble with necessary permits. Who has visited Boca Grand Marina in 2008? Please comment on the marina and its entrance depths.
Responses follow:
This is a great marina, wonderful facility, food, and service. The golf carts for rent and plentiful. 5 foot low tide at least in channel.
Warm regards,
Richard
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Boca Grande Marina
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
Embree Marine, the subject of the posting below, is located on Salty Creek, immediately south of the superb St. Petersburg Municipal Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS' NET SPONSOR)! Embree sounds like a good place to store a boat long term!
For the last three years I kept my boat (now sold) on the hard at Embree Marine in St. Petersburg, FL during hurricane season (May – Nov). It worked great for my peace of mind, though it made no difference with my insurer as far as premium was concerned. It was particularly nice for me as we spent a good part of the summer away from FL.
I had electricity available but I used it only for batteries and did not run the A/C. Humidity did not prove to be a problem. I had someone clean the deck every two weeks.
Dan Stone
St. Petersburg, FL
Captain Herman is quite right in his message below. Up until now, we have not covered Marco Island's Smokehouse Bay either on the Net's "Western Florida Anchorage Directory" or my own "Cruising Guide to Western Florida." We will correct that oversight ASAP!
For the moment, I took a look at chart 11430, and noted that Smokehouse Bay is accessed by way of a marked channel which runs through Collier Bay, near the northernmost section of Marco Island. I have heard that MLW depths in this entrance cut are thin. Anyone have more info on this anchorage?????
Guflport is a charming community that resides on the shores of Boca Ciega Bay, just north of Tampa Bay (near Statute Mile 114). The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net has also supported the creation of a mooring field to serve these waters, and we are very pleased to report that the good people at Boat/US have seen fit to award Gulfort a Boat/US Boating Access Award! Cheers for Boat/US, and, let me not fail to mention, this orgainization’s Tow/Boat/US division is a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
Subject: Gulfport Mooring Field Project Wins Boat US Boating Access Award
Cruising News: BOAT US CHOOSES the CITY OF GULFPORT recipient of their annual BOATING ACCESS AWARD for the GULFPORT MUNICIPAL MOORING FIELD PROJECT
Please Join Us at the Award Ceremony
FRIDAY November 14
10 AM
GULFPORT CASINO
Boat U.S. Vice President of Public Affairs, Margaret Podlich and Assistant Vice President, Public Relations, Scott Croft will bestow a 2008 Boat U.S. Recreational Boating Access Award to the City of Gulfport Mayor, Michael Yates, on behalf of the city, this Friday, November 14th in front of the Gulfport Casino (5500 Shore Blvd., Gulfport) at 10 a.m.
Gulfport will receive international as well as national attention. Local businesses as well as every citizen will benefit in some way by this well publicized, prestigious award.
The nation’s largest association of recreational boaters (approx 670,000) will be honoring the City of Gulfport, FL, for its efforts with improving local waterway access and the development of the Gulfport Municipal Mooring Field.
Boat Owners Association of The United States (Boat U.S.) created the award program in 2007 to highlight successes in protecting water access in a time when boaters were losing marina slips, service yards and launching areas in many parts of the country. The Gulfport Mooring Field is one of six community projects across the U.S. that earned a 2008 Access Award.
The award is based on four criteria: First, the challenges faced in retaining or increasing access in an area; Second, the direct impact or measurable results of the solution; Third, the level of success in increasing awareness of the issue in a community and; Fourth, `repeatability,’ the ability to take the successful approach and adopt it in other areas.
Communities which have promoted the preservation and use of their historic waterfronts and heritage have been able, in many cases, to generate sufficient income from tourism to stave off vertical development and loss of character. Wouldn’t it be nice if Gulfport could grow with grace, prosper and remain the only green spot along the shore of Boca Ciega Bay?
Please Join City Officials and Your Neighbors This Friday at 10:00 AM at the Casino for the Award Presentation.
Best Wishes,
Cindy Davis
On 11/6/08, as part of a “Western Florida Wish List,” I posed the following question:
Salty Sams Marina (A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR) is perhaps the best facility in Fort Myers Beach. Who has stayed here, and what did you discover?
Responses follow:
Dear Cruising Writer,
In response to your West Florida Wish List, I’d like to comment on an extremely satisfying experience I recently had at Salty Sam’s Marina. Our family decided to take advantage of some excellent Southwest Florida fall weather and boat to Parrot Key for lunch. As we approached the Marina and made our way under the Mantanzas Pass Bridge, the kids were having a great time looking at the large shrimp boats and various pleasure boats moving in and out of the busy channel. When we arrived at the new, state of the art, floating docks we were greeted by a courteous dock master. Our dining experience could not have been better. The restaurant had a nice crowd and our waitress was attentive and upbeat. The menu had a great selection of food items for the entire family and of course a great selection of cold beer for the grownups.
If you want a great excuse to take the boat out for the day or weekend, Salty Sam’s Marina is a perfect family friendly destination.
Tight Lines,
Rob
Ft. Myers
Click Here To View the Western Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Salty Sams Marina
The Mandalay Channel can be accessed from the Western Florida ICW, north of the high-rise Clearwater Beach Bridge. This is a passage that requires careful attention and caution. Once you are actually on the interior reaches of Mandalay Channel, depths improve, and youc an pick from any number of places to drop the hook.
You did not ask, but I will comment on the anchorages in the Mandalay Channel just north of the Clearwater Causeway Bridge. This is a really nice anchorage location. The entrance channel was well marked, easy to follow, and mostly quite deep. We saw one spot that was just under 7 feet on the way in (Tide was over 1 foot.) The one interesting difference from your guidebook and from the charts is that we did not find any shallow water near marker 14. We followed the official channel on the way in, but came back out well north of marker 14, with plenty of depth. I explored around marker 14 with a sounder and did not find much evidence of the purported central obstruction.
In any case this location was very nice. Almost unlimited room, reasonably well protected from directions other than southeast, quiet, and scenic.
I hope this information is of some interest and use to you.
Best regards,
Gene and Sue Fuller
Punta Gorda, Florida
Be the first to comment!