Burnt Store Marina is a large, well sheltered marina flanking the southeastern shores of Charlotte Harbor, well south of Punta Gorda. To be succinct, this is a superb facility, with two restaurants, an on-site variety/convenience store and some repair capabilities. And, if that’s not enough for you, Burnt Store is the headquarters of two major southwestern Florida charter operations, including SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Southwestern Florida Yachts. The message below comes from Burnt Store’s harbormaster, Captain Peggy Wark, and was originally directed at AGLCA members. However, I’ve condensed it to info that applies to all cruisers. Give Burnt Store a try! You won’t be sorry!!!!
We are in the middle of our visiting club season so make sure you call ahead to make your reservations. Our ratesare $14.50 per month and $1.50 per day and don’t forget if you stay three days you get the fourth day free. One lucky boater has already taken advantage of this great deal. Make your reservations by calling 941-637-0083. We have two restaurants, fitness center and heated pool and if you care todo so you can also play golf. We will provide you with transportation to and from the golf course. We are a secure, gated community with friendlypeople. So plan to put us on your list when traveling through southwest Florida. Fair winds and calm seas, Capt. Peggy Wark Harbour Master
To successfully enter the excellent anchorage on Marco Island’s Smokehouse Bay, you must make your approach via a well marked, but exacting channel which cuts off from the southern approach to Capri Pass Inlet and runs through the easterly reaches of Collier Bay. Some low water depths on this approach run as thin as 4 1/2 feet (in one spot), but if you can get past these shallows, your reward will be one of the most sheltered anchor down spots in southwestern Florida, with good shoreside access! Follow the links below to learn more!
Whole heartily endorse the anchorage in Smokehouse Bay on Marco (this is where the Esplanada is. Dinghy under the bridge and Winn-Dixie has a dingy dock you can use. There is also a great Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays – we always plan to hit there on our way through. Marty & Jerry Richardson
What a great, one paragraph review of Naples City Pier and the many attractions available within walking distance. This is indeed a great place to coil one’s lines, BUT be sure to call ahead and make dockage reservations as transient space is at a premium!
Naples is our home port. The city docks are an excellent location. You would be within walking distance of 5th Ave. And 3rd Street for shopping and restaurants. A great foodie type grocery store and hardware store are a short bike ride away. West Marine and Enterprise just a couple miles away. By the time you walk down 5th you are only a few blocks from the beach. Our favorite restaurant (Bleu Provence and their new wine store) is within walking distance. Naples is a MUST stop. Betty and Rusty Hughes
Docked there earlier this year on our trip from Ft Myers to Islamorada, very nice stop, friendly people and the trolly ride is well worth the history and the opulence that exists there. Dennis McMurtry
Good words below from Captain Tom about Salty Sams Marina in Fort Myers Beach. This facility is found on the northern banks of the Fort Myers Beach channel, northeast of unlighted daybeacon #28. Note also the brief comment about the Fort Myers Beach Mooring Field. These good folks are a SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!
In Ft Myers Beach a great stop is Salty Sam’s-239-463-7333…..floating docks, fuel, wifi, fun restaurant with great food and entertainment at times. From the north proceed under the Mantanza’s bridge, turn to port and follow the channel past the shrimp boats to the marina. You can dinghy to 4 other restaurants from there, and there is a dinghy dock under the Mantanza’s bridge on the west side if you want to go to the beach. The Mooring Buoys are also reasonably priced and controlled by the Manatanza’s Inn Marina. You can reach them on VHF 16. Regards, Tom Jones m/v Marbles
I have always said repair recommendations from fellow cruisers are invaluable. When one of our number has had a good experience with a repair firm or individual, chances are the rest of us will have good luck as well.
I would highly recommend Calusa Certified Marine Marine for anyone requiring Service on a Cummins/Yanmar/Volvo Penta in the Fort Myers/Cape Coral area. They did a complete cooling systems service , timing Belt replacement and valve adjust on my Yanmar 300 HP 6LP. The Mechanic GREG was extremely well organized, very efficient, very knowledgeable answering all my questions. He took great care servicing the engine and the work area was left cleaner than when he arrived. He also discovered a problem with the timing belt tensioner that if had not been corrected could have resulted in a catastrophic engine failure. The work was done on time and the price was very fair For Service Contact Bob Miller- Calusa Certified Marine, LLC (239) 574-5053 I have no interest in this company – Just a very satisfied customer Darrell Berge
The following article is reproduced by special permission from both Captain Jay Bliss and StAugustine.com.
Letter to the Editor St. Johns County and Vilano homeowners have reached an accord, DEP and Army Corps of Engineers have permits in place, and significant dredging will take place this winter in the StAugustine channel entrance and off Porpoise Point. Massive federal funds, $20M plus or minus, will pay for dredging and renourishing StAugustine Beach sands. The inlet channel will be twice its width and as deep as 30 feet. Turtles have nested and before they return to lay eggs in Spring 2012 the dredging should be done. Boaters will be able to access the inlet in relative safety. An onshore wind and an outgoing tide will still create a rollercoaster ride. Once inside, StAugustine’s unique waterworld offers scenic wonders whatever your course. Boaters can look for a new floating dock off the Vilano fishing pier by Spring 2012, providing free short-term docking and ready access to Publix’ new supermarket at Vilano Beach. B&B guests downtown might embark by water taxi at the City dock to shop the Vilano Publix. Certainly boaters at anchor or on moorings will enjoy the convenience of a market close to the water. City Commissioners and staff are intent upon maximizing revenue from the mooring fields. There are bills to pay, debts to amortize. Their Pilot Program ordinances increase `no anchoring’ zones. Moorings are convenient, and at $20 a night, not a bad deal. Anchoring does enjoy a following, however. Picky boaters place their trust in their own equipment. Boaters who read fine print might not sign off on the liability release on the mooring contract. One proposed ordinance limits time at anchor. Similar time limit laws have been declared invalid in Federal courts in Stuart and Naples. Navigation laws, anchoring precedents, predate even StAugustine’s history. More importantly, we (County, Port, City, residents) need to ask: what has the placement of mooring fields done, and what can we project with the Pilot Program ordinances? Putting the mooring fields in place required energizing enforcement: we discovered that about ten boats had been long abandoned. The mooring fields then displaced some 28 boaters/boats from the downtown area and from Salt Run, and they’re part of the anchored fleet S of the 312 and N of the Vilano bridge, beyond City limits. Google `StAugustine city limits’ for a map. Imposing the Pilot Program ordinances will further displace about 15 boats beyond City limits. Those boaters will join others who cannot afford to be part of the mooring system. The ordinances will demand more time from City and County and FWC law enforcement. Increasing their duties, adding to the laws, will not improve enforcement of laws already on the books. Overboard dumping, derelicts, are already covered by laws on the books. (Call FWC 407 275 4150 to report on-the-water problems). Those very real challenges do not justify further Pilot Program ordinances. The challenge is enforcing what we have. Will revenues increase significantly? Every motorist expects to be duly notified with a yellow line, or ` no parking from here to corner’ sign. It’s difficult to imagine how we will legally notify our boating guests of all these prohibited anchoring zones, and still generate goodwill. Our image with the boating public is at risk. We disregard the effects and consequences of anchoring sprawl, and add more fine print, more laws. We court failure in Federal court. We need to make mooring fields more appealing, affordable, rather than make anchoring more prohibitive. When boaters cruise in the StAugustine inlet, they should be greeted with hospitality and choices.
Fantastic even handed commentary from a government official. Yes indeed there are already laws against dumping sewage and against derelicts. Yes you will drive anchorers away including me. I know what my anchor will hold and what condition my rode is in. I sleep better on my own tackle. Looking forward to trying the free dock to shop at publix in the spring of 2012. Bill Dixon
I have been saying for years and years that the state of Florida is playing with FIRE, when it comes to anchorage regulations, MSD boardings and midnight safety inspections. Let’s all remember that the marine industry is the second largest in the Sunshine State, second only to tourism (and the success of Florida’s “Tourist Industry,” it can be argued, is somewhat tied to the success of the “cruising industry” as well). Captain Charmaine Smith Ladd, our very special Florida Keys Correspondent, shares her thoughts below on this very issue!
November 4th, 2011
What Cruisers Truly Bring to Tourism by Charmaine Smith Ladd It just dawned on me that I’ve never seen a glossy magazine cover showing a mooring field. It’s the magazine cover that piques the interest of a potential consumer, it is there to draw them in to buy it. With that said, there is no vicarious romance with mooring fields. LOL Boaters and cruisers are always shown having a wonderful time. Or if only a vessel or vessels are shown, the depiction is usually that of in an idyllic, exotic locale that makes the landlocked wannabes’ mouths water. That is the romance of cruising. All cruisers have friends and family who live vicariously through them. My website has more landlubbers who profess to me their envy at we who lead such rich and rewarding lives. It’s not a monetary stash of riches, but riches that money cannot buy: freedom, or the semblance of freedom. This is why during the winters, cruisers have no shortage of friends and family (and often just mere acquaintances) who wish to visit them. And visit they do! Most cruisers have blogs or websites that narrate a lot of their travels. We introduce others to places they had not thought about visiting. With us there first, we open the door for others to visit these places as well. This is an overlooked fact that landlubbers who think cruisers are just, well, cruisers sitting in their waters, do not realize. We bring more tourism to their areas each time we visit. Others love destinations to explore, especially when relatives and friends are already there and tout the friendliness, warmth, and beauty of a new-to-them community. Our guests fly or drive to meet up with us. They stay aboard with us a day or two, if that, and the remainder of the time are guests at local hotels and motels. We entertain them and they entertain us. We frequent local establishments and enjoy the sights. We are cruisers and tourists, yet the tourism from cruisers brings in more tourists to the area. Areas in Florida are contemplating placing regulations on cruisers. This truly should been seen in the bigger picture as we actually do more for these areas than is commonly perceived. In all of the continental U.S. there is no place quite like Florida in the winter. Our northern friends and relatives relish the thought of we cruisers sitting down here where it is warm and flock to us. They come where we go. Sitting in a mooring field is not the romance depicted on the magazine covers, and with good reason. There is a place for mooring fields as they serve a very useful purpose. However, there’s nothing quite like swinging from the hook and enjoying cocktails at sunset with those who have never experienced it. It is a romantic impression they do not forget. So much so, that many come back on their own to the areas where they first climbed aboard our vessels. We may have cruised on to another destination, but they will fly in and stay at your hotels and remember “when.” May those making regulatory decisions about the future of anchoring in Florida’s waters also remember “when.” Charmaine Smith Ladd SSECN Special Correspondent, Florida Keys “Bringing you the low down from down low!” csmithladd@marinersbarr.org
Well said Charmaine! Over the course of many years of visiting Florida we have often had guests fly in to visit us aboard, while often staying at hotels ashore for part of their trips too. In fact, we too have stayed in hotels, rented cars, eaten at restaurants, gone to amusement parks, visited museums and zoos, purchased things in stores, and spent money on all sorts of `normal’ tourist attractions while being based on our boat in Florida. However, we prefer to anchor out and we don’t go to places we can’t anchor. It is not just the mooring field that will not get our money if they force us away. John Kettlewell
Well said, Charmaine. Keep it up. Steve and Sheila Kamp, S/V Carolina, Southbound
Well said and true. I am lucky enough to own a home on a canal in Key Largo. I purchased this home so that I could sail whenever I wanted. As a resident, taxpayer and boater I think we are lucky to have such a vibrant live aboard community. I frequently stay at different anchorages and 99% of boaters are respectful and kind. They are outgoing and would give you the shirt off their back. Let’s never treat them (me) as second class citizens in any way, shape or form. Jason McPeak, S/V TwoCan, Key Largo, FL
Captain Mary Dixon has created a wonderfully useful list of grocery stores available to dinghy access, along the Western Florida Coastline. Click the link below to check out this excellent informational resource:
We have been asked, and will do so, to protect the author of the article below as a “confidential source.” All I will say is that the author is a fellow journalist, and her/his remarks deserve the most serious attention of both the cruising community and Florida governmental authorities. It’s sentiments like these that are driving people, particularly cruisers, away from the Sunshine State. All of us at the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ continue to be concerned about the reputation that Florida is garnering in the cruising community and beyond. I guess all that any of us can do is to keep fighting the good fight!
For several decades we have worked with the goal of retiring back to our native state of Florida. We have purchased a home in the Sarsota area with plans to move our boat there from the Chesapeake. We have read with some dismay about the mooring fields issue that seems to be pervading the state. But we were shocked to read about the “Lights Out” boarding by a cadre of federal,, state and local law enforcement officials invading the privacy of boaters in the Sarasota area, apparently under the pretense of “Homeland Security.” What gives them the right to invade someone’s home just because that home floats? Doesn’t the U.S. Constitution forbid entering someone’s private residence without a search warrant? Doesn’t a boat qualify as a private residence? After all, you sleep and eat there. Didn’t our founding fathers stake their lives and thousands of American military personnel die to fight against such government abuses? A police officer cannot stop a vehicle at random just because he or she feels like it. It seems that Florida politicans, and law enforcement agencies, are declaring a defacto war on people who cruise that state’s waterways. Perhaps this needs national attention to let Americans decide what’s really happening to the freedoms boaters once enjoyed. Name Withheld by Request
Captain Pickelmann’s message below is copied from the T&T (Trawlers and Trawlering) mail list, and is answer to a query about whether there might be any limitations inherent in cruising this coastline aboard a vessel drawing 6 feet. I agree with every sentiment express in Randy’s message below. There is no better cruising than, for instance, the Pine Island region of Western Florida, BUT trying to do this in a 6-foot draft vessel would be, to say the least, challenging!
There is a nearly unlimited supply of great cruising on Florida’s Left Coast. In fact, it took us twenty years to finally make it to Key West by boat. We kept getting sidetracked by good cruising along the way – finding new places and revisiting old favorites. But, let there be no doubt, the west coast of Florida is shallow. We used to cruise with a 5′ draft sailboat and it never kept us out of anyplace we wanted to go, although we did have to wait for the tide from time to time. And, in the interest of full disclosure, once or twice we had to sleep on an angle while waiting for that tide. Clearly, a six foot draft will be a challenge from time to time, but I wouldn’t let that discourage you. There are several excellent cruising guides available. Regards, Randy Pickelmann Morning Star
And, here are some more really useful thoughts on cruising the Western Florida coastline from fellow cruisers Captains Peg and Jim Healy. I might add that ALL the anchorages, and more, which were listed in the old BAIL “Guide to Anchorages in Southwest Florida, are listed and described in the Cruisers’ Net’s “Western Florida Anchorage Directory (/category/anchorages-western-florida/).
You probably already know, generally, there is only one high tide on the gulf per day, and it happens in the afternoon. That’s important to understand about the West Coast of Florida. With your boat, you may well have troubles on the “old” ICW south of Naples, but that shouldn’t bother your trip plan. From Key West, you can run to the Little Shark River for a very nice and very remote anchorage in a Mangrove Swamp. No cell phone, no wi-fi! No place to land pets! Nevertheless, a great place! From the Little Shark, run up to Panther Key and turn right, to Everglades City. The only part of the Baron River that you have to think about is the mile or so immediately at EC. Do that at or past the daily flat tide at late morning. If we transit the EC channel in early morning, at low water, we touch at 4′ in the marked channel. All that said, EC is a superb stop. Stay at the Sportsman’s Club (cash or check only; no credit cards) for ambiance, or the marina 1/2 mile above the Sportsman’s Club. There is a swift current in the Baron, but it will not affect you. It doesn’t bother us. When we run North from EC, we come in at Coon Key Pass and proceed inside through Goodland into Marco. From Marco, we run inside to the inlet just south of Naples, where you have to go out. There are parts of both of those legs that could/would be problematic for a 6′ draft boat. You could make it at high tide – maybe – but it’s a long enuf distance with enuf small boats that the tide might not carry for all the time you need. But, you can get into Marco via the gulf inlet there, no problem. Same with Naples, so you can enjoy the towns. Just run offshore. Be careful to run far enough out around the Cape Romano shoals. From Naples to Ft. Myers Beach, you have to run offshore. No problem getting into Ft. Myers Beach. From Ft. Myers Beach to the G-ICW north to Clearwater, you’ll have no depth problems. At the Sanibel Causeway, follow either the “A” Draw or the “C” Draw to pick up the G-ICW. Depths are fine in both. The “C” Draw (West end) has a 26′ MHW fixed bridge. If you can’t make that, the “A” Draw has a 65′ bridge. Pine Island Sound carries at least 10′ all the way north to Charlotte Harbor. Charlotte Harbor is correctly charted, and deep for western Florida standards. Come see us at Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda. No problems on the G-ICW from Charlotte Harbor to Tampa; some less-than-friendly bridges. That’s just life. Watch the channels across Tampa Bay. Some of the Bay is real shallow, but the channels are OK. Before you leave, and if you can find it, get a book called: “A Guide to Anchorages in SouthWest Florida,” Second Edition, published by BAIL (I forget what the initials stand for; some group; maybe “Boaters Action Information League”). Somewhat dated, but nevertheless, some very good information if you like to anchor. Hope this helps. Jim Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
“You probably already know, generally, there is only one high tide on the gulf per day, and it happens in the afternoon. That’s important to understand about the West Coast of Florida.” I don’t understand that statement. Here’s a link to tides in Lemon Bay, Englewood, part of the GICW, there clearly are two tidal patterns on some but not all days, and no time of day that shows consistently high tides. What am I missing? http://www.protides.com/florida/848/ Bob Kunath Sans Souci
Bob, Your query is quite fair. I realized when I added that point in my previous note that a closer inspection of the phenomena by a curious mind might evoke this question. You’re it! I don’t know the celestial mechanics or planetary hydrodynamic reasons for this behavior, but celestial mechanics and the hydrodynamics of gulf tides was a sidenote to the point of the original topic. That said, here’s what little I can add… but I think we’ll agree that the following would have unnecessarily burdened the point of my original post… On the Atlantic Coast, the tides precess, with the 28-day lunar cycle, by around 42 minutes a day. The tidal highs and lows at any given location occur at different times each day. Through whatever magic of planetary mechanics, that isn’t the pattern I’ve actually observed in the gulf in SW Florida. For neaps, the daily tide cycle in Charlotte Harbor – and Florida’s West Coast generally – starts low in the morning, 05h30 to 06h00, rises to a plateau by late forenoon, and then rises to the daily high water level in late afternoon. The daytime pattern looks a bit like a stair step, with a prolonged flat “slack” period bracketing midday. (I haven’t paid much attention to the overnight pattern, and I can’t accurately describe that. Will look at it this season.) The duration of this midday flat changes slightly with the moon’s position in it’s cycle. For springs, the stair step slack period is less apparent; i.e., shorter. At new and full moon, there are, indeed, two discernible peaks in the daily pattern. The daily low is still in the early morning, 05h30 to 06h00. There is a smaller peak in the late forenoon, a slight fall/reversal, and then a significantly larger peak in the late afternoon. This is more similar to the typical Atlantic Coastal pattern, except that the afternoon peak is always higher than the morning peak. In the transitions from spring-to-neap and neap-to-spring, the wave form of the midday flat/low peak morphs gradually into it’s terminal wave shape. As I said, I’m not an expert on why this happens or why it’s different from the Atlantic tidal patterns. It’s just what I’ve observed in the winter months, so it may be different in the summer. And I also don’t personally know if this phenomenon is gulf-wide or just local to SW Florida. It is the recurring experience I’ve observed through our 6 “seasons” in the area. So now, if I relate the above observations into the practicum of day-to-day cruising in SW Florida, I logically leap to the statement that: “…there is only one high tide on the gulf per day, and it happens in the afternoon.” Therein is the pearl! In SW Florida, water will be consistently deeper in the afternoon than any other part of the cruising day. Since the water in the region is very shallow anyway, even the moderate daily tide cycle can be of help, for some deeper draft boats, in transiting some areas, such as that old ICW channel from Coon Key Pass thru Goodland and up through Marco to Naples. But even in the afternoon, I wouldn’t encourage that passage for a 6′ or greater draft boat. And there is a corollary, too: any boat that anchors in that area – say, at the Rookery, just north of Marco – in 6′ of water at 17h00, may find itself on the muddy bottom in the overnight. Please, though, don’t ask (at least publicly) how I came to know that! I’d prefer not to have to admit that I did it! Anyway, I hope you find this useful. Jim Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary
Gosh Jim, I’ve lived and boated much of my life in Clearwater and we usually have two highs and two lows each day. Of course the tide only rises or falls about three feet on a big day, oftentimes only a foot or so, so some of the tidal changes are very subtle. Regards, Randy Pickelmann Morning Star
By special permission from the author, Captain Bill Bishop, the Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net is proud to present, “The Mourning Field,” one of the wittiest, wry-est (is that a word) articles ever written concerning Florida anchorage regulations and mooring fields. IF YOU HAVE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST INTEREST IN EVER DROPPING YOUR HOOK IN SUNSHINE STATE WATERS, or just want to read very well written prose, follow the link below. YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!!!
Many, many thanks to “Marine Electronic Installer,” Captain Bill Bishop, for allowing us to reproduce his wry, witty account of Florida anchorage regulations. This amusing, but serious, article originally appeared on Captain Bill’s Blog (linked below)!
“According to Longboat Key Police, there was a `Lights Out’ boarding of all the boats anchored between Cortez and the south end of Longboat Key recently. Seventeen boats were boarded by the Longboat Police, Bradenton Beach Police, the Coast Guard as well as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection officers and Florida Fish and Wildlife officers, all checking for drugs, outstanding warrants, proper licenses, and proper handling of sewage.” (Editors note: US Customs officers were also involved)
Apparently nothing of magnitude was found during the raid, at least that was noteworthy in police reports, or the press. How much fun would that have been for a transient cruiser passing through to have assorted armed law enforcement agencies rooting through your vessel in the middle of the night. Certainly this should give all of us food for thought, and it begs the point that many Florida communities are not boat friendly at all, and NIMBY rules the waves.
I have seen enough people with easels up painting the scene above to know that some like the picturesque aspects of all the boats resting quietly at anchor, but there have been issues with a small group of live aboard, and quasi-live aboard vessels like the vessel above. It is apparent to me that it doesn’t sail anywhere despite the casual appearance of the rigging, and there is no motor. This vessel is someone’s home, even as stark as it is, and this drives some locals crazy. You hear statements like they’re homeless people, they don’t pay taxes, the boats are ugly, and there polluting the bay. There is some truth to all of this, and this sort of thing causes varied levels of consternation in local, and mostly wealthier communities. Add to this issue some vessel that is a little south of being a multi-million dollar super yacht being anchored, and despoiling, at least in their mind, some residents magnificent waterfront view. “Look Buffy, that deplorable sail boat thing is ruining our view, call the anchoring police immediately.”
But what has really upset all of these water based communities is that the local governments have historically had little legal authority to limit non-live-aboard (cruisers) anchoring in their state controlled waters (live-aboard vessels are regulated), despite their efforts to create ordinances to do so, and it drives them nuts. The Town of Longboat Key attempted to do so with their Chapter 93. The ordinance basically says no to everything boating, but the section relating to anchoring has been shown to be in contravention with state law. I’m not specifically picking on Longboat Key, there are many other Florida municipalities that have tried to restrict anchoring by regulation, and Marco Island is another one.
The brunt of the State of Florida statutory boating regulations are in Chapter 327. There is the old version (pre 2009), and the new version (post 2009), and an additional twist to all of this. In 2009 the section 327.22 was deleted, and portions of it were consolidated into 327.60 titled Local regulations: limitations. What happened here was local governments limitations and regulatory abilities were more clearly spelled out. The notable part of this change was that the ability to anchor your boat, in state waters, which was somewhat fuzzy in the older version of the statutes, was more clearly spelled out. What had become limited, and clarified was local governments could not pass laws regarding the:
f) Regulating the anchoring of vessels other than live-aboard vessels outside the marked boundaries of mooring fields permitted as provided in s. 327.40
Now like all things legal, there was some nuance here, but on the whole, if you are a cruiser passing through Florida you can anchor where you want as long as it is not a specifically marked, and state permitted location, for now, but here comes the twist.
Let’s now meet Representative Baxter Troutman, from Florida. He is from Winter Haven in the middle of the state, was a Florida state representative (district 66) from 2002 to 2010, and was term-limited out of office. He is also the grandson of Ben Hill Griffin. Katherine Harris is also Ben Hill Griffin’s granddaughter. Representative Troutman is the sponsor of Florida Bill HB 1423 filed in March 2009, and it was co-sponsored by Representative Paige Kreegle (district 72) from Punta Gorda on Florida’s west coast.
Buried on page 76 of 89 pages of this bill is the start of the small section you see above, with the operative line being “to explore options for regulating the anchoring or mooring of non-live-aboard vessels”. The FWC (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission) pilot program has selected five sites for inclusion consisting of the city of Sarasota, city of St Petersburg, city of Stuart/Martin county, Monroe county/Key West/Marathon, and St. Augustine. Inclusion in this pilot programs also gives the participants the ability to created non-live-aboard anchoring regulations in the area of their jurisdiction.
In Sarasota, the great mooring field project has not gone well. With some fanfare derelict, meaning homeless shelter boats were removed, and all of the other boats in the anchorage were pushed back from the construction area. Engineers surveyed, and pontificated, and called for helical “screw in” mooring anchors. A contractor was hired to install the first 38 anchors, and oops, the anchors didn’t hold. There was lots of finger pointing, and additional consultants were hired, and $500,000 dollars quickly evaporated. The city still has grant money left, and they will persevere. There will be a public meeting next week to discuss anchoring limitation regulations that are now possible, and I shudder. The one thing we have here is endless retired non-boaters with lots of time on their hands.
The bottom line is this legislated pilot program is a poor way to solve problems that were manageable with current laws and regulations. Pollution problems can be solved with pump out boats like the new one we have above, which will currently come to your boat, for no charge in the for now free anchorage, and solve your holding tank issues. The city initially had set mooring fees in excess of $400 per month, regardless of size, which would be hard to swallow for a boater with a 26′ day sailor. Tentative rates are now by vessel size and range from $250 to $345 per month, and transient fees range from $18 to $25 per day, and oh yes, you must have proof of insurance to use the mooring field. These fees do come with with good amenities.
Now that the door is cracked open, the city fathers, and mothers are chomping hard at the bit to get control of all of the anchoring in their jurisdiction, and they all lobbied hard for this. Thou shalt not anchor within view of homes, within 1000′ of the shoreline, no anchoring off Longboat Key period, and you can only stay one night, if you can find a legal place to anchor that is not in our mooring field. You don’t want to have a “Lights Out” visit from our local constabulary do you? This is a bad idea for all that boat and cruise, I trust these municipalities about as far as I can throw them, and I can’t pick them up. They are not boater’s friends. Keep a close eye on this issue, and participate in the local public meetings, or you will definitively end up holding the short straw.
Comments are listed below from fellow cruisers who have reacted to Captain Bill’s story!
Let’s keep the pressure up on FWC and these cities, we can win this. Pete
Well now, I wonder are the police etc going to raid all the foreclosed and abandoned homes ? Just imagine, all those bugs running free, toilets not flushed, stagnant water everywhere and maybe a homeless person living there WITHOUT PAYING ‘¦oh it has to stop’¦even the thought ruins my view across the Bay’¦ Dennis McMurtry
Gosh, I thought this was all solved bill 327.60 I’m really tired of all this crap the cities are trying to do. I am 74 years old and have seen all I want to see of the Govt interferring with my right to sail and anchor where I choose. If I’m no mistaken, the federal govt still controls the bottom, not the cities. They may have given some of their rights to the states, but certainly not the cities. Some kind of common horse sense need to be displayed. GeneWj
Bottom line on this article is avoid Longboat Key/Bradenton. When the municipal authorities note the reduced tourism traffic, then they can look around and ask, where have they all gone? Steve Kamp
As one who enjoys eating the seafood from local waters, I am appalled by the `Lights Out’ raids on boaters. While I agree that those who knowingly dump their duties in inland waters should be heavily fined, the reality is that amount of sewage coming from boaters is insignificant compared to what raw sewage municipalities often dump into our waterways. For Bradenton, to send their police after boaters is the ultimate Hypocrisy. Just google `raw sewage Bradenton’ and the first hit is `Bradenton sewage spill sent 3.5M gallons of waste into streets, river’ http://www.bradenton.com/2011/07/06/3327654/bradenton-sewage-break-sent-35m.html On page 35 of Southwinds’ October magazine is an article describing an August spill of 1.4 million gallons of raw sewage which occurred near Pensacola in an area that in June suffered from 2.2 million gallons a raw sewage spill. WOW!! That is like having nearly 7,000 boaters dump 10 gallons a raw sewage per week for an entire year! Paul
I am a Sailboat Charter Captain in Stuart,FL I went to the meeting and totaly disagree with their Anchoring restrictions. The waterways should be free to cruise for all after all those cruisers are tourists and spend money here I sail to the Bahamas every year and I feel welcome in all the anchorages. I go out to eat buy fuel etc. so whats their problem? Captain Wolf
I live in Marco Island and I support the right of boaters to anchor off the shore in front of my house while in transit, seeking shelter from inclement weather, or just plain enjoying our beautiful city. I enjoy the continuing change of scenery and observing different styles, designs and rigs of vessels visiting here. However, some inconsiderate boaters seem to enjoy gaming the system by taking up permanent residence, and creating a ‘˜boat slum’ in otherwise beautiful and convenient anchorages which should be a credit to the city and not an eyesore. Solving the problem of these freeloading, waste dumping, boatbums while accommodating the majority of the cruising community is a problem which will not be easily solved. The ultimate solution toward which we are all rushing will not be satisfactory for anyone. Bill
Oh yea, I would also like to add’¦ I know these folks (liveaboards). Yes they are poor. No, they are not `boaters’. Most work (at least part time). We did have two `crackheads’ who would steal anything not chained up/locked down, but they are gone. Now it’s mostly just people storing their boats’¦ they live ashore. Half a dozen or so liveaboards’¦ one or two `full time cruisers (it’s all semantics)’ Any lights out raid would have been aimed solely at harassing these folks. W.W.
I will dearly miss “Star, who I met and played with many times over the years.” What a great pooch, BUT hats off to Barb and Vic Hansen for rescuing “Skye!” Both I and the “first-rate, first-mate,” Karen Ann, have been the proud parents of a (now) ten year old Labrador Retriever, named “Sonny” for four years. I risk no inaccuracy when I tell one and all that you will never know a truer form of love than what comes your way from a rescued animal. They will give you back ten fold whatever you give them. So, please remember that when it comes time to select your next four legged companion. For the moment, though, a hearty WELCOME to Skye, and many thanks to Barb and Vic at SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Southwest Florida Yachts for sharing news of their new friend!
Call me Skye the Boating Dog By Skye Hansen October 2011
My name is Skye. I’m the new Border Collie around here. My assignment is to be the office dog and security dog for the Southwest Florida Yachts charter fleet. I also serve as the personal house pet and boat dog for my new parents, Barb and Vic Hansen. Barb, my new mom, asked me to write this month’s column so I could tell you my story. I’m not a puppy. I’m already five and a half. The Hansens adopted me just a few months ago after their beloved Star passed away at the age of 16. They were very sad. One day Aunt Theresa at the animal clinic called them and told them she had a dog ‘“ that was me ‘“ who needed a home and some attention. They decided to give me a try. Of course, I had to be on my best behavior because I knew right away that this would be a special place. First of all, I would not have to work 24/7 and sleep outside in the yard like with my first assignment. Before I was given up for adoption, my first parents kept me outdoors all the time. Today I have my own bed inside an air-conditioned house. Right off the bat I learned it would not be a good idea to bother the house kittens or chew on the sofa. No big deal. Mom gives me really good food and lots of yummy treats. I’m pretty sure I’ve passed the probationary period. I’ve come to understand that I’ve got four big feet to fill. Star the wonder dog was Barb and Vic’s heart and joy. She was a Border Collie, too, which endowed her with exceptional skills. Mom told me that Star was the official greeter at Southwest Florida Yachts. Her job was to welcome all, smile, and to lie down and be quiet when they had visitors. I hear ya, Mom. They took me to Marinatown where the fleet boats are headquartered. Mom told me Star was very good at patrolling the docks at the marina, providing security of a sort and shooing away birds from the boats. Heck, I can do that. When I was at the pound I overheard somebody say that that the local airport was spending $5,000 to train a border collie like me to chase birds off the runway. For free dog food and medical care I can shoo birds from boats. It’s in my DNA. Please understand I have nothing against birds. It’s only that they need to know that there is a place for everything and a boat isn’t one of them. I went on a short weekend cruise with Mom and Dad recently and, oh boy, did I learn that lesson. I haven’t been on any extended cruises but I’m really looking forward to them. They told me Star liked to pace around the boat and when a dolphin surfaced she’d give a shout out to the passengers to let them know the show had started. Mom told me the more Star ran around the deck barking at the dolphins, the more they would perform. I could do that. I’m good to go. I could even write a guest column now and then. Just call me Skye the Boating Dog.
The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net sincerely thanks Captain Mary Dixon for bringing her very useful list of dinghy accessible grocery stores along the Western Florida coastline, to our attention. Of course, we also list “Provision Possibilities” in all our marina directories as well.
I sent this e-mail to Mary with some additional locations:
Mary, Great blog, should be of great help to cruisers. We also cruise the west coast (and the east coast and Keys). We are full-time cruisers on a 27 foot sailboat, almost 6 years now. We have used every one of the supermarkets you list. 🙂 There are a few more you might want to add. You can use Google maps to find these:
Belair Bluffs (Clearwater area): anchor off the boat ramp, dinghy to ramp. Walk 0.6 miles up the hill to Publix
Treasure Island: go in towards Blind Pass from ICW and then north into the canal across from Blind Pass Marina (stay close to port shore for deep water) and you can anchor and dinghy to Publix (YES, Publix has their own dock!) Nice, very protected anchorages up in here! You can anchor in the last most northerly cove for a totally enclosed storm anchorage.
Lemon Bay/Englewood: anchor in 6 feet south of the park and north of Tom Adams Bridge. You leave the ICW and go east towards shore midway between markers 25 and 26. Dinghy to park on east shore north of anchorage. A one mile walk to a Publix.
And, of course, in Factory Bay on Marco Island you can pay $5 and use the marina dinghy dock and walk less than a mile to Publix and West Marine. This year we finally went into Smokehouse Bay which was very convenient and very nice! Hope that is useful info. Larry Sherman s/v Enchantress
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Below, I’ve copied a question and answer, taken from the T&T (Trawlers and Trawlering) mail list, in regards to no-wake zones that will slow an inside passage between Sarasota and Fort Myers. All who cruise the western shores of the Sunshine State will thank Captain Pickelmann for such a ready and useful answer!
On the Gulf ICW between Sarasota and Fort Myers, what percent of the roughly 75 NM is speed restricted? I am charting a transit and it seems that I recall a significant portion of the stretch particularly from Sarasota to Punta Gorda is a slow zone. Dan Stephens Symmetry
Dan, I’ve never actually measured it but there is a stretch of five miles or so between Sarasota and Venice that is a Minimum Wake Zone. Further on, there is another stretch of about five miles between the bottom of Lemon Bay and the Gasparilla Island bridge that is No Wake. There are other minor No Wake areas but they are pretty small. Really not a big deal. Regards, Randy Pickelmann
A little less than 1/2 of the distance is wake restricted. A better choice would be to go outside until Boca Grand then go inside. The winds are easterly most of the time so the Gulf is flat. Ron Hoffman
Be aware of the signs, many of them state a minimum wake outside of the ICW channel and 25 mph in the channel. Since very few trawlers go 25 you are able to continue at your normal cruising speed because you also will not be outside of the channel as this area is very shallow, only fishing boats and wave runners can navigate there. Also some of the bridges have changed names so if you have older charts they may not be correct. Enjoy your trip! Capt. Dana
Caution required if deciding to go outside at Big Sarasota Pass, can be tricky if windy.. Dennis McMurtry
There is an app called WakeWatch that maps out all of the no wake zones in FL. It also tells what type of zone – i.e. slow speed minimum wake, no wake, speed limits, etc. with the associated time restrictions. It also has all of the bridge heights and opening schedules.
River Haven Marina is the most upstream facility catering to cruising size craft on the Big Bend’s Steinhatchee River.
We had a very pleasant experience at River Haven Marina Sept.12,2011. We were running late and called and told them we would probably not get there by their 1800 closing and to please give us our slip assignment. They said not to worry they would stay until we got there. As it turned out were were only minutes late but appreciated their kind attention. We actually stayed an extra night and enjoy a dink ride up the river,secure in the advice they gave us about the rocks ahead. They also offered to pick up a prescription for us at a pharmacy 20mi away. River Haven will go 20 times the extra mile for their customers. Dolores Reinecke
Legacy Harbour Marina is one of two side by side SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSORS, on the downtown Fort Myers waterfront, the other being the City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin. Clearly, Legacy Harbour has a LOT going for it, and all the many Fort Myers downtown attractions and dining are within easy walking distance!
My wife and I enjoyed our stay, last winter, at the Municipal Marina, however, we’re looking forward to staying at Legacy Harbor Marina this winter. We’ve visited (walking) their facility on several occasions and are very impressed. Not only are their facilities impressive, the staff was extremely pleasant and down-to-earth. Looking forward to staying there this winter! Mike
Your recent posting about Legacy Marina in Ft. Myers is absolutely true. It is a great place to stay. All docks are floating and in excellent shape. The staff is most accommodating and available. The ability to walk to nearby downtown facilities is also very good. A very fine Oriental restaurant exists just southeast of the marina, within a few blocks walking distance. This marina is a `must’ when transiting the Ft. Myers area. Capt. Ken Wright North Palm Beach, FL
December 2010 and January 2011 we spent at Legacy and loved every day of it. The staff is knowledgeable, very helpful and an asset to the marina. The Edison-Ford Museum is just down the street and is a must-see. We could easily spend 5-6 hours there. Ft. Myers downtown has been revitalized and is also a short walk. We look forward to our next visit to Legacy Harbour Marina. Laura Bender
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We have long held the opinion that Sea Hag Marina is the most cruiser friendly facility in Florida’s Big Bend region. Looks like Captain Dye agrees!
Cruising News: I had a great experience at Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee, Florida. I was helping the new owner of a 1982 Egg Harbor move his new purchase from Punta Gorda to Destin. Because of weather and maintenance issues, we decided to go into Steinhatchee. The marina isn’t a regular stop for transient cruisers, but Sea Hag was easy to get into and they welcomed us. We explained the maintenance issues and they said, `No problem.’ Thorough, professional, clean and technically competent, they did an amazing job! Charlie Norwood is the owner and ever-present. His professional and friendly personality permeates the entire organization. Sea Hag is one of those pleasant finds while cruising. Jake Dye
Burnt Store Marina is a large, well sheltered marina flanking the southeastern shores of Charlotte Harbor, well south of Punta Gorda. To be succinct, this is a superb facility, with two restaurants, an on-site variety/convenience store and some repair capabilities. And, if that’s not enough for you, Burnt Store is the headquarters of two major southwestern Florida charter operations, including SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR, Southwestern Florida Yachts.
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