Best Florida Home Port for me & my 1967 42' woody?

GruntzenGrones · Post by **GruntzenGrones** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:49 am

OK, so maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here, but I plan to move to FL within the next couple of years and am wondering where the best place to land would be. I can choose between Naples, Tampa, Miami area or J'ville because I work for Whole Foods and can easily transfer to a store in any of these areas. J'ville is lowest on my list because it's inland, but I may not have a choice because I will be a liveaboard.

I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to waking up to the smell of salt water and the sounds of breaking waves and seagulls (or any 2 of those three).

I'd love to hear the pros & cons from some of you Florida folks.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:06 am

I would check the cost of mainas down there in some areas the cost is unreal. and the cost of insurance will go way up on boat in the water . when you check prices on slips make sure they take wood boats ( some will not ) I frends down there some are happy and some are sorry they moved .

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:14 am

Jacksonville is not really that far inland... and it is still on the water.

GruntzenGrones · Post by **GruntzenGrones** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:06 pm

Yeah. I know J'ville's "on the water" -- but it aint salt water

GruntzenGrones · Post by **GruntzenGrones** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:11 pm

Yeah. I know J'ville's on the water -- but it aint salt water

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 6:15 pm

Went to the boat show here in Jax today and two of the marinas were prospecting for customers. One offered 6 months free on year agreement at $13 a foot, and would allow you to pay the six months on a monthly basis. Plus the river here has a great deal of tidal flow and is quite brackish even 20 miles upriver. You can look into living near the beach and the ICW, which is just minutes from the ocean. Plus we don't have the gridlock south Florida suffers thru, and we get 2 1/2 seasons a year. Still , I'd go to Naples if given the chance.

GruntzenGrones · Post by **GruntzenGrones** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:42 pm

Foofer B:

Yeah, I think I'd prefer Naples but I've never been there so I don't know what the area is like. I've been to all the others at least twice and the Miami area does look to be a hassle! The Jax slip fees work out to $6.50/foot (with the free 6 mo.) which isn't that much more than the $5.00 I'll be paying here in AR.

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 4:45 am

6.50 a foot that's good I'm depending on the dock type. I'm pay 7 a foot for a inside t head slip.

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 6:44 am

That price is for a wet slip or dry storage

MTP · Post by **MTP** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:29 am

what is included for that $7 a foot we all pay over a 100 per foot in the frozen northeast plus utilities

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 9:53 am

That's 7.00 per foot per month (84.00 a foot per year ) . your rate of 100.00 is a year . He is at a nice marina but its not fancy ( no restaurant or pool) I been there a few times Nice folks ,

MTP · Post by **MTP** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 8:00 am

prowlersfish wrote:That's 7.00 per foot per month (84.00 a foot per year ) . your rate of 100.00 is a year . He is at a nice marina but its not fancy ( no restaurant or pool) I been there a few times Nice folks ,

I see I was packing my bags and launching the boat

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:45 am

yep it's a old working port that was redone for sport fishers all the dock are 20x50 with at least 5 foot under the boat at low tide, And we don't miss the pools restaurants and all the stuff that bring those little things that run the docks I think they call them KIDS. So $ 3000.00 a year is worth it.

plus the gas is some of the cheapest around 2.85 a gallon right now. and power is metered. and Paul when you all come over get A dock I'm on the T head (inside) that's cost me 500.00 of the 3000.00. Down side is the well water sucks.

abdriver · Post by **abdriver** » Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:29 pm

I know its strictly personal but I tried several locations and landed in Stuart FL., on the Okechobee Waterway about 30minutes north of West Palm Beach.

To me its all about Location and Climate. I believe that the east Coast has a little better climate in the summertime and my location on the Okechobee waterway puts me right in action central and easy two day trip to Fla's west coast via the big lake, easy Ocean access and access to the ICW and the Indian river.

Masrtin County Boasts that it is the home to virtually No Touriost attractions, allows no high rises and generallyprovides a really normal lifestyle thats centrally located for me between Orlando and the rest of South Florida (Dade and Broward) but also pretty far from the Dade and Broward culture.

I rent a 40' slip for 315/mo including 50amp electric, WiFi and taxes. The larger slip for your boat would be about $50 more. There are several others available at varying prices.

Stuart and Martin County is one of the most boater friendly places I have ever encountered and the county evan has a county staffed and maintained pumpout boat. Martin Countys boasts itself as the "Sailfish Capital of the World"

If you are interested in more info let me knowand NO Iam not on the Chamber of Commerce.

Smooth Running,

Mike

LSP · Post by **LSP** » Tue Feb 09, 2010 6:07 am

Mike ...hahaha You should be