May be repositioning to west coast of Fl.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by Donna

Sorry Nomad. I thought saying the west coast of Florida was clear enough.

It was.

[jleonard]

Only one I know is Turtle Cove in Tarpon Springs. Google says 1 hour 10 minutes.

[siestakey]

Originally Posted by JohnEasley

On the other hand, you’re only going to be an hour from water! [emoji2][emoji106]

True

[Vashon_Trawler]

I've lived in the area almost all my life. From Lakeland, you are about an hour away from St. Petersburg and a little longer (20 minutes or so more) to Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, or Clearwater. I am presently at Loggerhead St. Petersburg and am very pleased. It was nice and protected during Hurricane Irma. My other favorite marinas in the Pinellas County area are Home Port (Dunedin) and Port Tarpon (Tarpon Springs). Both give you quick access to St. Joseph's Sound to include Anclote Island, Caladesi Island, and Three Rooker Bar. I am not a fan of crusing North of Anclote Island and most of my boating takes place from Tarpon Springs to Egmont Key or north Sarasota.

I'm sure others who live in the area will provide their recommendations!

[bayview]

Nothing beats St. Pete for easy access to things to do if you stay on the boat for weekends.
Little harbor on the east side of Tampa bay would probably be the closest commute but not music to do there. The other mentions are accurate. With Loggerhead being the most storm secure.

IMO it depends on your priorities. Easy access to the boat, easy access to stuff to do easy access to the ICW and gulf. Many choices. Easy enough to move if you don't like your choice.

[bayview]

At time there may be wait lists.Just get on the list and talk to the managers in person if you seem a good guy the list gets shorter.

[Donna]

Thank you all! I would be staying onboard a few days a week. Not in the weekends. I don’t mind an hour commute as I am doing 2 1/2 hours now to work one way.

I am high profile and would be alone, that’s why I looking for high security. I’ll take a trip there just to look at the marinas. They can interview me all they want, but I will be the one interviewing them. Floating docks are a must.

My other option is to keep the boat here and find a nice one bedroom condo or simply live out of a hotel until that becomes too hard.

Thank you again!

[Hamrow]

I think what caught some folks off guard has to do with the way the forum displays current thread titles. at least in my browser setup; if the title exceeds a certain length as it did in this case, it will truncate the title over on the right side summary window.
Therefore in this case at a glance it certainly looked like it was just a "west coast..." topic
Anyway no biggie and congrats to Donna on the exciting new move!

[Donna]

Originally Posted by Hamrow

I think what caught some folks off guard has to do with the way the forum displays current thread titles. at least in my browser setup; if the title exceeds a certain length as it did in this case, it will truncate the title over on the right side summary window.
Therefore in this case at a glance it certainly looked like it was just a "west coast..." topic
Anyway no biggie and congrats to Donna on the exciting new move!

Attachment 75474

Ahh I see! No worries and thank you for the congrats!

[Seevee]

Donna,

Welcome to my side of the state. I live in Madeira Beach and have been roaming and boating around the Tampa/St. Pete area for some 40 years. Are you a live a board?

There's a few good marinas, the ones above mention are fine, but a hike if you're going to do this daily. If you plan to live on your boat, I could argue to get the closest and safest marina you can. Lands End in Apollo Beach worth looking at. Gated and nice, never been there, but never heard anything bad. If you only need to go to the boat weekly or so, there's a lot more choices. The rush hour, especially thru Tampa and St. Pete is absolutely brutal. I just avoid being on the road at rush hour at all. Now, cutting down to Apollo Beach and Bradenton does have a few choices in routing so an advantage.

The ones mentioned, Twin Dolphins, Regatta Point and Riviera Dunes are all close together, however, Twin Dolphins on the sound side of the bridge can easily take another 15 to 20 minutes to cross the bridge in rush hour..... just brutal! I've been to Twin Dolphins a few times and had a live abroad friend that had his boat there... really nice place.

[bayview]

Surprised that you want floating docks with that aft cabin boat. Fewer of them in the area after several were damaged in storms.

[bayview]

WE lived in the SF area and were surprised to hear the Tampa bay area referred to as both the west coast and bay area same as CA.

[O C Diver]

Donna, congratulations on the possible move. Have just what you want, unfortunately too far away in Fort Myers. I spent this winter in Gulf Harbor yacht and Country Club. It was a last choice and far better than I expected. Wished I done it years ago. When you check the areas near you, don't overlook these places as they can be very secure and welcoming.

Ted

[milt]

Bought my boat at lands end a few years ago, nice marina with gates
at each dock and a good restaurant. But not floating docks.
Milt

[Donna]

I’m going to check out Apollo beach for sure. I prefer floating docks. If it’s meant to be it will be.

I am not a live aboard. I would be repositioning so I could use it during the week as I am not fond of a 2 1/2 hour commute.

I hate to move her from her secure dock here on the east coast during hurricane season. Maybe the best thing to do is move her in November to the gulf coast and back in June to the east coast. That would only be 5 months in a hotel a few days a week. Sigh.....

[OldDan1943]

Originally Posted by Nomad Willy

Dona that was extremely misleading.
West coast is SanFrancisco ect.
West coast of Fl is the west side of Florida.

Love your opportunity though.

No that's the "Left Coast"

[siestakey]

Originally Posted by Vashon_Trawler

I've lived in the area almost all my life. From Lakeland, you are about an hour away from St. Petersburg and a little longer (20 minutes or so more) to Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, or Clearwater. I am presently at Loggerhead St. Petersburg and am very pleased. It was nice and protected during Hurricane Irma. My other favorite marinas in the Pinellas County area are Home Port (Dunedin) and Port Tarpon (Tarpon Springs). Both give you quick access to St. Joseph's Sound to include Anclote Island, Caladesi Island, and Three Rooker Bar. I am not a fan of crusing North of Anclote Island and most of my boating takes place from Tarpon Springs to Egmont Key or north Sarasota.

I'm sure others who live in the area will provide their recommendations!

Vashton gives you some great ideas and locations for Cruising!!! I know I grew up in the area ( well at least got taller)

Vashton I am not familiar with the actual marinas what is security like for a lady at these marinas?

[OldDan1943]

I too will admit when he said "repositioning", my mind immediately saw two imagination 2 things, overland or a trip of a life time via the water.
I guess it is best to finish reading the sentence.

[Art]

Originally Posted by OldDan1943

I too will admit when he said "repositioning", my mind immediately saw two imagination 2 things, overland or a trip of a life time via the water.
I guess it is best to finish reading the sentence.

OD

Maybe I'm referring to incorrect post... but... don't you mean she!!??

[OldDan1943]

Honest officer, I never met the lady.
4am, no pictures, glass of wine, what do you expect from me. SHRUG
I can see, I am not going to do well on the test, again.

Okay, I went and looked up her bio.
Oh yea!!!
She is a lady!!!
I can see I did not do well on the test, again.