220 Select for use on Gulf (Destin, FL)?

[Geurk]

I have ran around on inland lakes for the last 5 years, but have not ventured into salt water... yet.

Questions are:

Is it considered a good idea to use a 23' open-bow/single-engine boat in the Destin, FL area on the Gulf? We will have a jump box and a hand held radio, and will want to always stay close to shore.

If so, we will be trailering, so anyone know of a good launch ramp?

Do most ramps have areas to flush your engine after each use?

Any other suggestions? Places to go see, things to keep in mind?

 

[fwebster]

Destin is a nice destination to visit, but for small boats you will find that what you can do there to be very weather dependant. The Destin Pass can be rambunctious even on pretty days, which means you are limited to Crab Island just north of the bridge and to Choctawhatchee Bay. Crab Island is really crowded during the summer and the bay gets rough in any sort of wind since it is shallow.

You might want to consider the Panama CIty Beach area where there are barrier Islands. The islands protect you from the Gulf and offer 15 or so miles of just about anything you want to see and safe anchorages with decent privacy.

This time of year, weather is always a consideration in small boats. You can just about count on thunderstorms and squalls every afternoon. That means you will most likely be running from weather at some point if you venture out into the Gulf.

Whatever you do, take the time to get and read a copy of the NAV Rules, COMDTINST M16672.2B or later. Both Destin and Panama City areas are very crowded in the summer. Both areas have a lot of commercial traffic and some military traffic. Looking up at the bow of a 100 ft. USAF chase boat or an 85 ft charter boat is not the time to try to determine who has the right of way. Be careful and don't get in a hurry.

Most visitors for longer than a day usually find it helpful to reserve transient space in a marina for your stay. Free launch ramps are somewhat limited and always crowded in the summer. Marinas will be able to provide you all the facilities/services you need.

Enjoy your trip........its really boating in Paradise.

 

[SeaRide]

Geurk,

My family and I trailered our 230 to the PCB/Destin area last summer and met a longtime friend and his family w/their Cobalt. As Frank and other locals have stated, it is truly a boater's paradise, especially the PCB area. Here's a link to the Destin boat ramps.

http://fishingdestinguide.com/BOATRAMPS.html

I used the boat ramp at Destin Marina, which is just North of Hwy. 98/Destin bridge. It is marginal at best being a single lane ramp without courtesy docks. They do not have a wash down area either. This area is also subject to a relatively strong tidal flow. However, they do offer trailer storage. Joes appears to be the better choice with several lanes, decent parking and a wash down area.

We did not venture through Destin Pass. However, my signature picture was taken just south of the Hwy. 98 bridge. Just to the east of my pic. you will find several water side restaurants, and just to the north of the bridge you will find Crab Island. Crab Island is OK if you have center console or canbote. CI is essentially a huge sandbar. Have a looke at it through google maps. If you have a sterndrive you will need trim the drive past the trim range to motor in this area. On the east end of the Choctawhatchee you will find Baytowne which also accessible by water. After playing on the beach S. of Hwy 98. we decided to head east to Baytowne. The kids had a ball on the playground, ate ice cream and etc. Afterwards we drug them to ACME Oyster House and had a great dinner. Later that evening we headed west across the chop of the Choctawhatchee back to Destin Marina. FYI, Deweys next door to the ramp is a hole in the wall, but has some very good seafood. You may also want to consider drystacking your boat at one of the local marinas in the Destin/PCB area since your trailer is painted and finding a spot for the trailer may be a challenge.

Destin was great. However, from a boating standpoint we preferred the PCB/St. Andrews area. St. Andrews State Park has a nice, two lane ramp and an area for docking. Shell Island is a fantastic spot for kids and adults. You'll need a bow anchor and stern anchor. Our kids played on the beach (bayside) collecting shells, playing with hermit crabs and flat out enjoyed the water. The adults did much of the same. In certain spots, you can also walk over to the gulf side. We also ventured into the Gulf for short periods on calm days. This was by far superior to walking out of the condo. only to find beach blanketed by renters/tenants. A little local knowledge from Frank and Stihlbolts went a long way. As a kid, our family vactioned in Destin through the early 90s. A lot has changed since then. However, the sugar sand and beautiful water has not.

Other things to do could include a trip from PCB to Destin along the ICW. Once again, you will need some local knowledge, charts, a good GPS, and perhaps knowing a bit more than red right returning.

Enjoy.

 

[Geurk]

Great comments guys, thank you very much for the input. I'll definitely look into using a marina rather than a free launch area, and will also look into getting some time over by PCB.

Thanks!

 

[chuck1]

One of our best trips in our 240SD was a PCB/Destin trip. We put in at PCB then went up to Destin and stayed at Sandestin. Went up to Pensacola one day. Most of the time we stayed in the ICWW. Like everybody else has said even boating on the ICWW can be weather dependent. I was surprised how choppy the bays could get. Another thing they might drive you crazy is running wide open in 8 feet of water. I'm used to running in way deeper water and if it starts getting 20' deep we start to worry. It was strange running around in such shallow water. I've got some pictures of our trip on my web site if you want to check them out.

 

[SeaRide]

Chuck,

Just had a look at your PCB/Destin album. Why didn't you make a special request for docking in the canbote slip????

 

[chuck1]

Good one Charlie, Actually that was a special deal I worked with Capt Ron at Sandestin . Instead of putting me at the small boat area (1/4 to 1/2) mile away from the marina he put me there for the week we stayed there. Great location just had to walk down the board walk to our condo. Not sure if you can notice but the other two boat in the slip area had gotten stuck there. They had crossed the bay earlier in the day. Well the bay kicked up pretty good and they could not cross back. Notice all the foam on MS Judy. It was promptly washed off after the picture.

 

[avguy]

Charlie.....could you make that pic just a little bigger......:smt043

Chuck when we were in Perdido Key a few years back that was my first experience with water that shallow. Definitely had a pucker factor to it the first time out!

 

[SeaRide]

Foam???

That looks like bird poop!

 

[SeaRide]

Charlie.....could you make that pic just a little bigger......:smt043

I didn't have anything to do with picture size. It's a link from your website. I'll simply delete it.

 

[avguy]

My website?
I wouldn't delete it just upload it to photobucket & re-size it :thumbsup:

 

[SeaRide]

Sorry Scott. I saw a 240SD in your avatar and thought you were Chuck. That is a big arse picture though.

 

[chuck1]

I want to know who that fat guy is in front of my boat. Charlie how did you do that? Good photoshoping(Grin)

 

[jwfoster4]

Geurk,

Come on down, it is a great area to go boating. However, you mentioned going into the Gulf. What fwebster said regarding the pass is very true.

Last Wednesday afternoon, we made the run over from Niceville to the Destin Pass. The run across the bay was slick as glass. Even the water to the south of the bridge was calm.

Got to the pass and encountered 4' - 6' waves between the jetties. Tide was going out very strong.

We took a couple of waves over the bow, but in the 270 DA with everything closed up, it is no problem. Got through the jetties turned west and watched the dolphins till sunset in calm Gulf waters, then surfed the waves back in through the pass.

I would have never ventured through the pass in an open bow boat that afternoon. The Pensacola and Panama City Passes are the same way; unpredictable. Although, I have seen all three passes so calm there were pontoon boats in the Gulf.

Just use good judgement.

If you venture North; tie up at Giuseppi's Wharf in Niceville for a great meal.

 

[270win]

We are planning to take our boat to Destin next summer too. I've only been down there one other time with our own boat, a 23' Chaparral cuddy. We must have had perfect timing or beginner's luck, the water was dead calm and beautiful...that's what made me want to go back.

 

[spfortjohn]

We love the coast! I have boated around Orange Beach and Pensacola most of my life. We just got a 2009 Sundeck 260 and it is perfect for down here rides very well and is not too bad on gas. We ran Sat from Orange Beach to Ft Mcrae in Pensacola. Orange Beach is a great place to go for a visit, lots of condos with docks and nice boat ramps. You can run west to Mobile Bay or East to Pensacola and never leave protected water, pleny of places to eat by water and lots of places to buy fuel and ice. I do like the lakes but unlike the lakes our bottom is just sand and the water is clear so you can see the bottom. If you are not sure just follow the channel markers and you will be fine.

 

[beernutz]

We love the coast! I have boated around Orange Beach and Pensacola most of my life. We just got a 2009 Sundeck 260 and it is perfect for down here rides very well and is not too bad on gas. We ran Sat from Orange Beach to Ft Mcrae in Pensacola. Orange Beach is a great place to go for a visit, lots of condos with docks and nice boat ramps. You can run west to Mobile Bay or East to Pensacola and never leave protected water, pleny of places to eat by water and lots of places to buy fuel and ice. I do like the lakes but unlike the lakes our bottom is just sand and the water is clear so you can see the bottom. If you are not sure just follow the channel markers and you will be fine.

Ditto!!! I live in Mobile and often trailer over to the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area. One thing I found out the hard way: it is not legal to have your boat inside the sand bar in the Orange Beach beach front area. Luckily I was just politely asked to leave the first and only time I did this. I was told it was not a problem in Gulf Shores but haven't confirmed that to be sure.

There are many places to go and eat on the water or just sightsee like Robinson Island at the pass especially on a holiday weekend. When the Blue Angels come to Pensacola it is also a blast to boat over and anchor with the several hundred other boats to watch the show from the water.

We also have a condo on the west end of the PCB area (Sunnyside) and I've brought the boat down there and gone out into the gulf a short ways. There are just too many rogue waves though for me to venture too far out. A fisherman drowned in our area very recently when their 21' CC (with 8 people aboard!) which they'd just tied to an oil rig was hit by a freak wave and swamped.