Bow Rider in Punta Gorda Florida

[Scottbenson]

I am thinking of moving to Florida with my woman and Bowrider 180. Anyone live down there or close that has experience on how my little freshwater boad would do out in that area?

 

[beernutz]

I am thinking of moving to Florida with my woman and Bowrider 180. Anyone live down there or close that has experience on how my little freshwater boad would do out in that area?

That's a pretty difficult question to answer as Florida is a big place with lots of water and you weren't very specific. {EDIT: DOH! you were very specific, however, I fail at reading comprehension. I hope some of this helps anyway}. I live about an hour from Pensacola and boat in that area a lot but it really isn't any different from the boating I do locally. There are tons of inter-coastal waterways, rivers, bayous, and bays to boat in all down the gulf coast and your boat should do just fine in that environment.

If you are talking off shore, that is a whole new ball game in a bow rider. I personally would not do it. Any water with over 2 foot swells causes me to question what the heck I'm doing in it. I have taken my boat all over Mobile bay and feel pretty comfortable most of the time but even that water can get dicey at times, so YMMV.

 

[beernutz]

Here is a picture of a very fun trip over those ICWs, bays, and bayous I mentioned above we did last summer. My friend who owns a 185 Sport and I rented a condo off Wolfe Bay in Orange Beach, AL and took the various waterways to get from there to Pensacola to watch the Blue Angels air show. We met up with 4 other boats from Mobile (and several hundred others from all over) and stayed the day then rode back home late that afternoon, stopping at Ft. Macree to cookout on the way home. It was about an hour and a half each way running about 35 mph as there is a very long no wake zone along the way. Hope this helps.

 

[jimandsue60]

We live on Sanibel Island @ 45 miles south of Punta Gorda. Charlotte Harbor can get pretty rough so you will have to watch your weather and winds.

There are so many places to go, Cayo Costa, Captiva Island, Ft Myers Beach, Boca Grande, Palm Island, Stump Pass etc etc. These would all be doable in your boat assuming you learned the waters and local charts. The water can be fairly shallow so you have to learn the waters.

Depending on where you are in Punta Gorda, Boca Grande Pass is within 15 miles or so and a beautiful pass for boating and fishing. The water is usually a beautiful blue green.

As soon as you put your freshwater boat in the water here it is now a saltwater boat We keep ours in dry storage which allows us to use it quite often with little effort.

My guess is that after you move here and boated a while you will want a bigger boat.

Jim

Boca Grande Pass

 

[Scottbenson]

Thanks for the replies. We are thinking of the Punta Gorda General area or around Charolette harbor. We are currently in Utah and I have a lot of sailing and a good amount of power boating experience. But.......none in salt water. I am looking to make the move in a couple of years and am trying to decide to bring my 180 Bowrider or sell it and find something else when we get there. I would most likely be dry storing or trailering the boat.

We like the Punta Gorda area, but it looks a little scary buying a newer home there with all the Chinese Sheetrock issues there. Any advice on a good area around Punta Gorda that we could pick up a decent home in around $200K would be appreciated.

 

[beernutz]

We live on Sanibel Island @ 45 miles south of Punta Gorda. Charlotte Harbor can get pretty rough so you will have to watch your weather and winds.

There are so many places to go, Cayo Costa, Captiva Island, Ft Myers Beach, Boca Grande, Palm Island, Stump Pass etc etc. These would all be doable in your boat assuming you learned the waters and local charts. The water can be fairly shallow so you have to learn the waters.

Depending on where you are in Punta Gorda, Boca Grande Pass is within 15 miles or so and a beautiful pass for boating and fishing. The water is usually a beautiful blue green.

As soon as you put your freshwater boat in the water here it is now a saltwater boat We keep ours in dry storage which allows us to use it quite often with little effort.

My guess is that after you move here and boated a while you will want a bigger boat.

Jim

Boca Grande Pass

Hi Jim, I hope this isn't too much of a thread hijack. Do you mind telling me about the camper package you have on your 240 SD? I followed your 'Our photos' link and saw some of your boat with it on. Do you use it much? Is it hard to put on and take off? Did it come with your boat or did you buy it aftermarket? Can you drive at cruising speed with it on? It looks really cool (and warm) and would have been nice about 3 weeks ago when we went out fishing when it was under 40 degrees.

 

[jimandsue60]

Beernutz, I will send you a pm.

Jim

 

[fredmnn]

I have been boating in the Ft Myers Sanibel area now for about 20 years and have used bow riders with no problems if you stay inland or on the rivers. I have a 200 select and a 200 sundeck that I just didnt want to see them corrode in the saltwater so I took them back north for fresh water use. I bought a 180 sea ray but found it was just a little light to take the wake from all the bigger boats on the intercoastal so i bought a 185 sport. This is just right for island hopping and going up the river to the big O. I suggest you look at buying a house in S. Ft Myers or Cape Coral. This will give you miles and miles of boating possibilities. Plus there are lots of ramps available if you decide to trailer your boat. Thanks