... From my point of view the west coast of Florida is VASTLY superior to the east coast, unless your tastes run to overcrowded anchorages, absurdly priced marinas, hoards of jet-skis, sprinkled liberally with knuckleheads tearassing around in their go-fast noise-makers...
But if you're looking for the best part of Florida for boating, may I humbly suggest you skip the peninsula and go to the panhandle, a.k.a. Redneck Riviera; that area extending east from Mobile Bay to Apalachicola and Carrabelle. No crowds, countless bayous, bays and backwaters to gunkhole and explore, inexpensive everything, friendly folk, incomparable seafood, and the best beaches anywhere in Florida. Enjoy!
We were there last year and their was no wi fi. Nice place other wise.
Check Ft Meyers for marinas.
Thanks for the responses guys. Actually we hope to find a place as a home base that is quiet (it's relative, but certainly not a rural backcountry), yet has some amenities (like Burnt Store), is not too far from plenty of services on land (doctors, hospitals, restaurants, etc, etc,etc things for retired life), and definitely close to extensive boat cruising areas with plenty of boat services around (I.e. Plenty of competition). We don't want to be around massive water traffic as you describe, the high prices some describe on east coast of Florida. Fun to visit and pay the high prices, but not everyday.
The idea (as it stands now) is to find a land base, then begin our search for our boat that we can cruise the gulf shore, the keys and the Bahamas and then possibly towards the horizon. I have heard the panhandle has really beautiful beaches and it is less developed, but is farther away from where we want to spend the majority of our time. We think.
If one lives on the west coast say in Fort Myers or Tampa areas, how long does it take to drive your car across the state to the east coast? In general. Kevin
Portland, OR
Agreed. There is a lot of skinny water on the west coast of Florida. Personally, I would not consider anything with a draft deeper than 5' (and even less would be better) for this area.Kevin.... If you haven't purchased a boat yet, at least that is what I think you said. I would really suggest you reduce the draft 6' will be fairly restrictive in the majority of Charlotte Harbor.
There are two types of boaters in Charlotte Harbor, Thoes who have been stuck and those who lie LOL. My boat drafts less than 12 inches and I still get stuck now and then.
Then the area you are looking at, as well as the Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda areas are perfect for you
Kevin,
It takes me right at two (2) hours to two and a half hours, to drive from where I live in the Citrus Park area of the NW portion of Hillsborough County which encompasses the City of Tampa for reference (not far from the Pinellas County/Pasco County line), all the way to Cocoa Beach or Melbourne. 99% interstate and turnpike travel.
OD
Agreed. There is a lot of skinny water on the west coast of Florida. Personally, I would not consider anything with a draft deeper than 5' (and even less would be better) for this area.
I couldn't have said it better myself. We have a CC that also draws about a foot and I would bet in the 3 months we spend there each winter I find a new bar every couple weeks. You just ain't going anywhere if you don't touch bottom in this area.?de01
So do the pros of keeping your boat there outweigh the cons by a sufficient margin? If given a "do-over" would you pick the same area?
Pretty much. Yes.Is Tampa the same way or the whole west coast?
Pretty much. Yes.
Of course, you can get around with a deeper draft. I mean, big cruise ships and cargo ships come and go from the Port of Tampa. They stay in the channel, though. To get to the "interesting" places you have to have a shallower draft.
Well worth it, though. In my opinion. There are lots of great places to go, and things to see and do, around this area. You just have to be mindful of the water depth. That's all.
Good luck.
We looked at BS for a new home, passed on it when we found out you cannot buy a dock or slip, must rent and you are at the mercy of the owner operator.
Bottom line, never buy real estate in Florida that doesn't include ownership of deep water access.