[UnionPacific]

How close to Orlando on the st johns waterway can you get with a 6.5' draft, and the mast down?

 

[NautiG]

There are some pretty big boats at the marina in Sanford.

Scott
Gemini Catamaran Split Decision.

 

[bigdogandy]

You might make it with that draft, but will have a hard time finding places to anchor outside the channel......and some areas in the channel may be 6' or less depending on water levels.

It's a beautiful trip, though:
st. johns | Search Results | Cruisers' Net

 

[UnionPacific]

your right, looks like a nice controlling depth down to sanford. Thanks!

 

[UnionPacific]

Any good places to step the mast, or can it stay up?

 

[bigdogandy]

I believe 45' is the controlling height.....there are a couple of place in Green Cove Springs that can probably unstep and restep the mast if you need it.

BRIDGES ? St. John River | Cruisers' Net

 

[Minnewaska]

Port Canaveral is a 30 min drive on one straight highway to Orlando. A rental car would be much cheaper than dropping, storing and restepping the mast and you wouldn't be stuck back tracking.

 

[NautiG]

Well, it's probably going to take closer to an hour to get from Port Canaveral to wherever you are going in Orlando, door to door. It is a largish metropolitan area with a fair bit of traffic. But I'd agree that the juice isn't worth the squeeze to get up the St John's to Sanford. I'd recommend finding a marina in the Indian River area or Port Canaveral. Even Daytona and New Smyrna aren't that much further from north Orlando than Sanford is.

Scott
Gemini Catamaran Split Decision

 

[UnionPacific]

Well we would be there for a year, and we both ride motorcycles. Distance is a big factor. on top of that my wife can work at the sanford location of the bank if we decide this is the route for us, and I would be at the lake mary area. We still have to make the final decision, but being in one place for an entire year has been less fun then I would hope.

I also have some projects to do to the masts that would be much easier with them down. Our height above water is 58'.

 

[NautiG]

You could practically walk from Sanford to Lake Mary. But you would have more fun if you were in Daytona/New Smyrna with the beach and all. I was at bike week in Daytona just a few weeks ago. Sanford has more of a small town/suburbia feel with a small, quaint downtown. Make sure you give George Zimmerman a wide berth if you see him there.

 

[UnionPacific]

You could practically walk from Sanford to Lake Mary. But you would have more fun if you were in Daytona/New Smyrna with the beach and all. I was at bike week in Daytona just a few weeks ago. Sanford has more of a small town/suburbia feel with a small, quaint downtown. Make sure you give George Zimmerman a wide berth if you see him there.

Such a long drive from daytona, and we have only visited the beach here in St Augustine twice in 14 months.
Is good old zimme still there? I thought he moved. Not like I care anyway....

 

[NautiG]

But there is so much else to do in St A! If you end up in Sanford, make sure to visit the Willow Tree for schnitzel and wurst and a round of the chicken dance!

 

[UnionPacific]

ST Aug is ok, its too touristy for us. The homeless know how touristy it is too, they flock here.

 

[NautiG]

Check out New Smyrna, if you haven't already.

 

[avenger79]

stay in titusville. city marina has monthly and annual rates for liveaboards

willow tree is awesome!!

there were many large sailboats in Sanford Marina as well and they have regular sails up the St John's so you may be alright that way as well

 

[Shinook]

Cocoa Village marina in Cocoa is probably one of the nicer Brevard County marinas. It's a drive to Orlando, but if you plan on living aboard, you might consider it. It's also not horribly far from Canaveral inlet and you can get in and out if you want.

As mentioned prior, Titusville is well kept and the marina staff are awesome, there is a great liveaboard community there as well. The location is not as good as Cocoa Village, though.

Be cautious, Orlando can be a dangerous city.

 

[Minnewaska]

CafeMargot, Cocoa Village.... Two thumbs up!

Marina is shallow as I recall.

 

[Shinook]

CafeMargot, Cocoa Village.... Two thumbs up!

Marina is shallow as I recall.

There are some pretty good sized boats in there, so maybe it's been dredged out? We have friends that just put their boat there, they draw close to 6ft.