Dockwalking in Ft Myers

[SailingLazy]

I'll be in Ft Myers, FL for the next week. My SO and I love to go dockwalking wherever we are, but find that a lot of marinas in Florida are buttoned up tight. I'm not a vandal or thief, I just like to look at other sailboats to get ideas for my own. Are there any marinas in the area that have a high concentration of sailboats and don't lock every dock?

[eherlihy]

Fort Myers Boat Basin near the center of the city.

There were four identical houseboats that were seized by the US Marshalls when I was there in December... I'd love to hear the story behind them,

[SailingLazy]

Thanks for the suggestion. If I find anyone to ask about the houseboat seizing, I'll let you know.

[jjablonowski]

Salty Sams Marina - Fort Myers Beach, FL

[Siamese]

If I knew of one, I don't think I'd share it with you. Wouldn't be fair to the marina or the people keeping their boats there IMHO. I don't know you.

[Minnewaska]

I admit, I'm really on the fence with dock-walkers. If I'm tired from a long day or very busy trying to fix something, it is annoying or distracting to have someone stop and stare. On the other hand, if I'm relaxing in the cockpit with a cocktail and someone just nods a friendly hello, that's always welcome.

Now, if a father is with his kid and the kid points at my boat and says "Dad, that's my favorite one", well they get an invite aboard.

p.s. lying just to get aboard is acceptable, just as long as you keep it up until back on shore and out of sight.

[chef2sail]

I agree with Siamese

While I understand your intentions are good, one of the reasons I keep my boat where i do is that the facility is all buttoned up and locked down. I really do not want a bunch of strangers walking aorund my boat, getting on uninvited a whether to pillage or just to see how I rigged something. I dont need someone attempting to board and then slipping and falling and then suing me or my club. Security is of prime concern in my choice of where I keep Haleakula.

If you want to garner other ideas for your boat, go to a brokers yard, stay involved here on sailnet where many people have great ideas for improvement for their vessels. Pick the brains of reputable marine contractors.

Please, I enjoy my quiet time on my boat and do not need a bunch of "gawkers" walking up and down my pier just cause they like to be near the water, and arent those sailboats pretty? And by the way I brough bread to feed the feed the gulls.

Dave

[omaho5]

I come from the other side... Must be the IRISH in me. I'll talk to almost anybody.
Sometimes I'll be ready to go sailing for a few hours and take a stranger sailing. Usually it is a couple and the lady gets to go shoppong while hubby gets a new friend and learns some basic saiking.

[labatt]

I always love dockwalking myself, but I'm also often reminded of an unsecured marina on Lake Champlain with a bar, and several people that went back to their boats at night after drinking there and found couples going at it in their cockpits.

[orient]

I try to remind dock walkers that what they are doing is similar to me walking their backyard and checking out their patio. I have seen a dad pick up his son so he could look into the main salon. Then there is when you are having dinner in the cockpit and walkers stop and stare.