Relocating to Palm Harbor

MNSeastheDay

New Member
Jan 22, 2010
42
Red Wing, MN
Boat Info
2007 Sea Ray 36 Sedan Bridge
Engines
(2) 370-hp MerCruiser 8.1S Horizon gasoline inboards
Hello Everyone,

My Wife and I have just returned to snowy MN from a trip to the Tampa/Clearwater area. We have put in an offer on a home in Palm Harbor and now need to do some research on a slip for our boat.

Can anyone throw out a couple of good marinas in the area? Anywhere in/near Clearwater Beach or surrounding areas would be great (20-30 minute drive). Looking for a permanent slip - yearly contract right now. Not really looking to buy.

Thanks!
 
Marker 1 in Dunnedin. Just south of Palm Harbor. Or you could come up to Tarpon springs with me. Lots of Marinas on a well protected river. Both about the same distance from PH.

Jack
 
Thanks very much, Jack. I did speak with Marker 1 today and that is a definite possibility.

Can you tell me the names of a few in Tarpon Springs? For some reason my searches aren't returning very much.

Thanks again.

Marker 1 in Dunnedin. Just south of Palm Harbor. Or you could come up to Tarpon springs with me. Lots of Marinas on a well protected river. Both about the same distance from PH.

Jack
 
Anclote isles Marina is where my boat is. There are probably 10 different Marinas there. It's best to just drive around to see them and what they offer.

Jack
 
I'd say it depends on what kind of boating you do. If you go to the boat and hang out at the docks, then anywhere in the ICW will work. If you want to go somewhere, or get across Tampa Bay, you might consider something further South, like St. Pete. Check these out. It's faster and cheaper to drive 15 minutes by land. No affiliation, just suggesting that you broaden your horizon from the immediate obvious places. I'm having to do that around lakes and rivers in Alabama now.....

No matter where you go around there, you'll not find better, well protected, friendly, US waters to cruise in.


http://www.marinasdirectory.org/unitedstates/florida/st.petersburg/
 
Personally I like my Boat as close to me as possible and I never hang around the docks. There are a lot of keys in our area to visit and explore. OP could spend a year of boating and not see all we have in our area.

Jack
 
Thanks everyone for the great info. We're probably coming back down in another couple of weeks to do more exploring. Finding a home for our boat will be at the top of the list.

We don't do much hanging around at the docks and at least so far, don't do many long distance trips..Although that may change - I'm sure the gulf/ocean has much more to offer than the rivers up here in MN!
 
St. Pete is alot further from Palm Harbor than 15 minutes...more like 45 or so.

Not just 'cause I live up "there", but IMO boating's alot more enjoyable. Not as much traffic on the weekends, no idle zones on the ICW, and the barrier islands like Caladesi, Honeymoon, and Anclote- as Jack said.

There's nothing down "south" there for me, and I used to live/boat down south of Clearwater.

Feel free to pm me if you're down this way, I'd be happy to take you out for a look-see. Always looking for an excuse for a boat ride.

Good luck and welcome to the area.
 
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Home Port and Marker 1 are well located. Lots to do both north and south of each marina. Home Port has good after boating activities - great bar.
 
Hey Tom,

Thanks very much for the recommendation. We'll do some searching. We've looked at probably 20 homes already and are having trouble finding everything we desire that is within our price range. The offer we have in right now in Palm Harbor is almost there, but it's not on a canal. We are still open to looking around though. One of the challenges I am finding is that the homes we have found on a canal is either too shallow, no dock/small dock, or a low bridge that I could not get under.

Thanks!

you could just move to tampa shores/imperial key and park the boat behind the house!!! good deals to be had and just a couple of miles east of palm harbor on hillshorough ave.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
 
Go to the Brooker Creek Grill (if it's still open - I bar-backed there in early 90's) and drink some fine beers for me!

Aquarius
 
I'd say it depends on what kind of boating you do. If you go to the boat and hang out at the docks, then anywhere in the ICW will work. If you want to go somewhere, or get across Tampa Bay, you might consider something further South, like St. Pete. Check these out. It's faster and cheaper to drive 15 minutes by land. No affiliation, just suggesting that you broaden your horizon from the immediate obvious places. I'm having to do that around lakes and rivers in Alabama now.....

No matter where you go around there, you'll not find better, well protected, friendly, US waters to cruise in.


http://www.marinasdirectory.org/unitedstates/florida/st.petersburg/

My boat was at Maximo Marina when I was purchasing it. IMO, the marina management is very strange and I would stay away from this place. Not to mention that for FL region I find it on very low end in terms of accomodations and scenery.
 
Home Port in Ozona is IMO the best marina in the area. Great location, great facilities and extremely friendly staff.

I am in Home Port and very happy with the marina and staff. Call Rich (harbor master) and tell him I sent you (727-784-1443 x21). BTW Clearwater MarineMax supplied and services many boats here, and they are pretty good.

Mike (Wyacht)
 
If you're considering waterfront property...

Not trying to plug my neighborhood, but...
We've been in our waterfront home here for twenty years now.
It's a wee bit north of Tarpon Springs. We bought here because:

1) RE is less expensive than Pinellas County. The waterfront is "affordable"- as far as true deep-water access, waterfront goes.

2) It's true, deep water access. No bridges, the channel leads directly into the Gulf of Mexico just north of the end of the ICW in Tarpon Springs. It's the furthest north of "true" deepwater access subdivisions on the West Coast. Dredging has been ongoing since last year and is still continuing in a couple areas. At least 4' even during the lowest tides (and we get some looowww tides). If you have to time your boating around the tides, what's the point of living on the water.

3) Sure, waterfront property has depreciated like everything else. But, I expect it to be the first to come back. One thing has always held true- "They don't make any more of it". No more dredging/filling, no more new waterfront subdivisions. Take your proposed mortgage payment, then add your annual slip fees...makes waterfront property seem all that more attractive.

If you're considering waterfront property in the area, you owe it to yourself to look up "Gulf Harbors" and "Sea Forest", in New Port Richey. Good luck.
 
I currently have my boat at Home Port Marina and they do an awesome job there, plus you have access to the restaurant right there called Ozona Blue that has really good food. If you looking in Clearwater Beach area the Clearwater Marina in Island Estates has boat slips available, it is right near the Clearwater Aquarium. Wife and I recently moved down to Island Estates and working on getting a slip at our townhome community.
 
If you are interested in Gulf Harbors as tobnpr mentioned, my in-laws live there and have a house on the channel leading directly out to the gulf just north of Anclote Island. This is really a nice area to boat as is Palm Harbor. They were in real estate for Gulf Harbors and can help you look if you want, and have been there for 30 years!
 

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