Live Aboard Marinas in Florida

[Cruisingdad]

SD,

Thank you. In addition to your comments, a cat is faster, can be beached, more comfortable, etc, etc... but until the marinas come around, it will be a headache. I like cat's - I really do. Their positives are many and the drawbacks are few. Unfortunately, the few drawbacks are big ones.

- CD

[sailingdog]

That's one reason I often recommend the smaller cats... they're able to fit in current marina slips... the bigger ones aren't. Folding tris don't have that problem... but have a lot less usable interior space...

[toddrtownsend]

In SW FL, check out Burnt Store Marina in Ft. Myers. i don't know how clear the approach is. However, I think they have a limited number of l/a slips.

If I was going to do it, I would base myself north of Homosassa, even as far as Crystal River or even Apalachicola. Then in the Winter you could cruise south to the warmer waters, but not have to pay as much of the price.

Good Luck and Fair Winds,

TrT

[moody33]

Another suggestion for South Florida is Key West. I lived on the city operated Mooring field for quite some time 3 years ago. The moorings are cheap ($120/mo. in 2003), the pump out boat comes once a week, they have a beautiful dingy dock, water for your tanks, garbage removal, shower facilities if you need them ...even parking for your car..yes...even parking. Get their before winter sets in as they always fill up when the wind pipes up.

Or you can cheaply hire a local to drop in a mooring and fight out the parking and dingy space at the local docks. Waste removal will be your issue in that case. It's a beautiful, small town place with wonderful, laid back people who really know their boats. There really is no place quite like it.

As for the boat...it really doesn't matter what you have... the boat has very little to do with the lifestyle you choose. More important to get a boat that will not break the budget and that you feel a connection to, because all boats are comprimises of one sort or another. Good Luck!

[stoutwench]

A few more marinas that allow live aboards:
-St Augustine Municipal Marina and two other marinas on A1 (can't remember the names)
-Titusville Municipal Marina
-Regatta Point (Palmetto - on the west coast)

There are a lot of small marinas on the east coast that have liveaboards, but the bath/shower facilities are usually not good. These marinas do not advertise. The best way to find them is to travel the ICW then stop and ask when you see one.

Remember, with a cat, you will be paying for two slips!!!!!

Roger

[P424]

The biggest problem now in Cetral Florida is finding a slip for a 40 to 45 ft boat with ocean access. All the marinas around Port Canaveral have long waiting lists and with the Condo slip craze its just going to get worse. You can go down near the place the Banana river enters the Indian River and pay more than $800 a month plus liveaboard fees. Florida just keeps getting worse. I have lived on the hook for most of the last 4 years. Florida has a bad case of not in my back yard. So many angry people. Its MIne mine mine. If it wasnt for the winters I would have left here years ago.

[NALANI13]

we have a 46' sailboat that we keep in a marina in North Palm Beach, Florida. The slip cost is around $900 a month plus electric. There is a yacht club, it is in a gated condo complex right on the intercoastal. one bridge to the palm beach inlet. Very quiet marina - allows dogs and has full facilities. For retirement it is a great place as all the surrounding condo's are retired people. As a side note we also keep our 23' seacraft and that is $150 per month.

[soul searcher]

Don't know if your interested In northwest florida at all but my marina allows live aboards. they charge 10.00 a foot 30 foot minnimum and 100.00 for power. Its not a luxury place with pools and such but its nice. and has a yard with a 25 ton lift. things are gennerally quite a bit cheeper than south florida and we have better beaches this is changing fast though.

PS we don't have snook just red and black drum and specks

[camaraderie]

"Just about everything has an off button."

except Windows where START is what you press to turn it off!! (G)

[CatalinaFan]

I just priced and found live aboard marinas on the west coast of Florida.
Here is the poop. All prices are per month. You do the math.

Twin Dolphin Marina in Bradenton had two as of 5/23/07.

A 35 foot and a 40 foot:

$14 a foot
$30 dock fee
$30 electric
$200 live aboard fee
Plus tax
This marina lets you go month to month.

Pasadena Marina near Saint Petersburg had one.

40 foot:

$540
$170 live aboard fee
Plus metered electric and tax

And Burnt Store Marina near Fort Myers had a few.

$15 a foot
$200 live aboard fee
Plus metered electric
Plus tax
They charge less for a yearly contract ($11 a foot) the others didn't.

I found these as I thought the Beneteau 373 was a done deal.

Hope this helps,


CatalinaFan