Good place for a Texan to keep a boat?

[TallTex]

Howdy from Austin City Limits.
1. What are good Texas port cities to keep a boat year round? If you know for sure. My cousin in Galveston says he would check Kemah over Clear Lake or Galveston. Lots to do, boardwalk, etc in Kemah. Seems to me it is best to find a place to park a boat before obtaining a boat. I have a small fleet of competition ski and wake boats, a jet boat, a OB runabout all on trailers so I can move and park on my own land. Looking at big boats and I see a lot of liva-boards for sale these days, I assume like RVs as boomers age out or tired of boat upkeep, dock/slip storage fees. (interesting it is the same deal with aircraft)
2, Next question, anyone on this forum ever cruise south from Texas to the Mexican Coast or beyond? If so, what are good Gulf of Mexico port cities to visit and stay over? Thank you.

 

[ktdtx]

What type boat? What does he do with the boat?

 

[TallTex]

As was my post stated, a livaboard.
Since this is Trawler Forum it is assumed to be a trawler or similar style boat.
Same answer as number two of my initial post good places to go south of Texas in the Gulf

 

[kernie]

I keep my 41' Trawler at Cove Harbor in Rockport (Near Corpus). Houston/Kemah area is nice but shallow and very crowded. From corpus you can head south-west down the ICW - some nice passages with padre island to your port. Turn eastward and you have all of matagorda bay to explore.

 

[TallTex]

Thanks, this is sort of info I trying to learn about.
What is your boat?
Why did you choose the boat you have?
What sort of parking spot do you have?
What your local costs to dock or slip a livaboard?
I think folks go shopping for boats then learn it is hard to find a place to park one or work on one if it needs some work. I like to plan ahead and have a place.
Do you ever go to Mexico Coast cities?

 

[kernie]

Answers below. Thanks

1. 2022 Nordhavn N41
2. I specifically wanted a long-range cruiser - not a coastal boat. Plus I travel alone a fair amount of time, so I needed something I could handle and manage on my own. My dreams were for a 63' - but reality and finances dictated a more reasonable approach. Without starting a flame war, I think Nordhavn are one of the best brands - their attention to detail and ruggedness is well known.
3. I have an open water slip - they have covered slips - however my mast is too tall to fit under. (working on a plan to hinge it so I can put it under cover).
4. At the local municipality marinas - you can expect 300-350 per month for a slip. I pay $525 a month for the slip I have - I think the location and services are better and justifiy the cost increase.
5. One of the reasons I bought my particular boat was the ease of maintenance and operability it provided. Happy to expound on this further.
6. I haven't been to Mexico with it yet - however I am planning a trip thru the Panama Canal and down to Peru sometime summer of 2025.

Hope this helps.

 

[TallTex]

Yes, thank you for your information. What powers it?

 

[kernie]

Twin Beta Marine 85T - basically marinized kubota tractor engines
85 Horsepower each - low stage turbocharged.
All mechanical - no computers - mechanical injection - very reliable and simple to work on and operate.

At 7 Knots - around 1500 rpm - i am burning less than 2 gallons per hour.
With a 900 gallon tank - range is 2500 - 3000 miles
Drop down to 6 knots and range goes to 4000

 

[CharlieO.]

Twin Beta Marine 85T - basically marinized kubota tractor engines
85 Horsepower each - low stage turbocharged.
All mechanical - no computers - mechanical injection - very reliable and simple to work on and operate.

At 7 Knots - around 1500 rpm - i am burning less than 2 gallons per hour.
With a 900 gallon tank - range is 2500 - 3000 miles
Drop down to 6 knots and range goes to 4000

Nice vessel, I've recently been lusting over the N41.

 

[kernie]

It is an amazing boat. Recently took it across Florida thru okeechobee. Even in 3-4 foot chop the boat handles beautifully with the stabilizers keeping a nice ride

 

[Choices]

We have been in Kemah at Blue Dolphin and Beaumont Yacht Club in Beaumont. Lots to do in Kemah, but Beaumont is better hurricane hole.

As you go south the places to hide from a storm get hard to find. Places to go are few and remote.

We went East, all the way to the Dry Tortugas several times.

If your in San Antonio I recommend Kemah first, until you are ready for a long cruise.

 

[Old School Trawler]

I keep Old School in the San Patricio County Marina, Aransas Pass, Texas. 38' Trawler so 40' slip, $549/quarter. Easy access to ICW, Corpus Christi Bay, and Rockport. Fuel is easy to find, gulf access thru Port Aransas. As well protected as anywhere in South Texas. Sailed her from New Orleans to my slip, 12 days underway, 3 days taking a break along the way. Solo.

 

[oak_box]

I have an 80's vintage Ocean Alexander 40' trawler in Kemah, and spend about 60-70% of my time on the boat (running back to Austin every other week for a few days).

I'm in one of the nicer marinas, and pay accordingly. There is a $95 "liveaboard" fee, and electricity. It varies, but I'm spending roughly $725-750/month. We have nice grounds, free laundry, and normal marina facilities.

One thing to consider is that when you buy a boat - you can often assume the slip that the previous owner was in, then move later. Most places in Kemah don't seem to make you sign extended contracts - so you can easily move after a few months if you decide a different marina is more to your taste.

The marina I'm in is very well protected from storms. Some not so much. Feel free to email me off-list, and I'll be happy to chat with you about more details.

John

 

[River Song]

Kept my Grand Banks 36 at Cove Harbor and really liked it, but it’s been a few years. Also enjoyed the Rockport/Key Allegro area which had some pleasant restaurants.

 

[mvweebles]

Re: cruising south from Texas along Mexico's gulf coast. "NoForeignLand" has displaced ActiveCaptain for crowdsourced information amongst active cruisers. Attached is a screenshot showing anchorages and marinas along the southern Gulf Coast. Nothing to speak of though there are obviously commercial ports, mostly supporting Mexico offshore oil and gas industry. I'd imagine there are small enclaves of panga fleets dotted here and there.

Peter

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. TT. Given the recent weather in Texas I would suggest a move to San Lorenzo in Equador. (Currently 65F and forecast to be ~75F all week).
For comparison: Austin, Texas currently 30F and forecast to go all the way UP to 62F toward the end of the week...