Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

Jul 20, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments

Question re St. Petersburg Beach Anchorage, Gulf ICW, Statute Mile 116

St. Petersburg Beach Anchorage - Click for Chartview

St. Petersburg Beach anchorage is on the east side of Long Key just off the Gulf Waterway in Boca Ciega Bay. If you know of a dinghy landing near this anchorage, let us hear from you.

Is there a ramp for dingy anywhere at this location?
Sandy

And a good answer from Capt. Million, WHICH WILL BE OF INTEREST TO ALL TRAILER CRUISERS IN THE SUNSHINE STATE:

Find ramps in Florida here’¦
https://public.myfwc.com/LE/boatramp/public/default.aspx
It shows that there is a ramp at the Gulfport Marina.
Don Million

I’m surprised that this area is charted as an anchorage on the chart. It has less than 6 feet of depth at low tide although it is more protected from the south than the area south of 55th Avenue where the water is deeper.
The closest public boat ramp to this anchorage is at the Gulfport Municipal Marina but it doesn’t even show up on Google Maps. There used to be a boat launch ramp at the end of Corey Avenue just south of the drawbridge north of this anchorage but that area is fenced. I’ll have to check it for no trespassing signs.
If you want to visit St. Pete Beach, a better anchorage is the one shown on the chart south of the Pinellas Byway where you could dinghy to the Don Ceasar launch ramp.
David Burnham

I checked out this mooring [St. Pete Beach] and found a few places to come ashore if you decide to anchor here.
The first is a very small dinghy dock on the south side of the Mary Lou Sheckler causeway on 59th Avenue.
The alternative is the seawall on 55th Avenue. There are 4 places on the south side of 55th Avenue where your dinghy can rest on the seawall and you can secure it to any of several palm trees. However, if the wind is from the south, these would be an undesireable option except for the most rugged and well fendered dinghy.
There are resturants and a 7/11 nearby on Gulf Ave.
The last alternative for landing your dinghy from this anchorage would be just south of the Corey Causeway drawbridge some distance to the north. There are 3 docks there at the end of Corey Avenue with only the one with the white metal shack having a NO Trespassing sign.
David Burnham

Capt. Burnham has sent photos of the docks mentioned above: