Florida Vacation

C

CmpCAW

Member
Oct 9, 2006
36
New Jersey
Boat Info
240 Sundeck 2004
Engines
350 Mag Bravo III
Not a SeaRay issue, but I'm tapping into the collective SR opinions. I'm planning a vacation to Florida in April and am considering one of the resorts in the region of Naples, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Marco Island. Specifically, I was looking at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island. I need a place family oriented (3 kids - 17, 14, 6), and would like something nicer to upscale. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations. If anyone has an opinion on South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, that would be very helpful, as it is currently my leading choice. Thanks, Chuck.
 
I spent a long weekend at South Seas back in July of this year. Although they have come a long way since the destruction caused by Charley, I don't think the renovations make this an "upscale" resort by any means. We rented a beachfront townhome and it was nice, but just not up to my expectations. With that said, it would be fine for a casual family stay, due mainly to the fact it is located right on the gulf and the intracoastal.

Brian
 
How boat friendly is South Seas? Thinking about doing a trip to FL next spring and I'm always looking for new places to explore with the boat.
 
Thanks Brian, you gave me something to consider. Although I don't need to go Ritz-Carlton first class, for $800 a night, I do like to feel I'm at some place special.
 
Chuck1 - from one chuck to another - it seems to be very boater friendly. If you check out the photos on their web site, they emphasize their marina very highly.
 
CmpCAW said:
Chuck1 - from one chuck to another - it seems to be very boater friendly. If you check out the photos on their web site, they emphasize their marina very highly.
Click to expand...

Do you know what the web site link is? From one 240SD to another, and one Chuck to another :grin: What is it they say about great minds think alike. Post some pictures of your 240 would like to see more sundecks.

Has anybody stayed there with their boat?

Would like to here about other places to vacation in the area with your family and boat. (Or is the boat part of the family :grin: )
 
South Seas is very boater friendly- They have a deep water marina with newly renovated docks and all the connections you would need. Access is very easy via a well marked channel from the ICW. There is also access to the gulf through a pass to the North of the island, although this is shallow and constantly changing (local knowledge a must)- For safer gulf access, use Boca Grande Pass.

One of the best day trips from South Seas is to go to Cabbage Key and get a "Cheeseburger in Paradise!"

Brian
 
Make your reservations yesterday for a spring trip. We were going from West Palm Beach to Destin and needed fuel enroute to Clearwater on the first leg and they were so busy/full they would not even let us in to take on 800 gal of fuel.

We also spent several days there before Charley and it was a very nice, but exclusive and expensive place. Dogs were not welcome at the time.
 
We went there last year and had a great time. South Seas was still being rebuilt so we found a Bed and Breakfast(Tarpon Inn? I think) Anyway the area is great for boating and fishing. Lots of dolphin and we even came across this.
DSCF0220.jpg


Also Cabbage Key is a must do. Boat only island with a restaurant held up by dollar bills.
 
Chuck1,
I spent a couple of days there last May. The marina had opened Easter weekend before we got there. Charley did over 180 million in damage to the resort alone. The marina was in excellent shape, although barely anything else was open or usable. They did allow pets on a leash, and have a designated walking area. The biggest surprise was the 3.25/foot per night. It's nice, but that's double most other marinas. We've had a zero storm year in Florida, so most places have had a chance to "catch up" from Charley's damage in the area. Other places near SouthSeas are Useppa Island, Cabbage Key has some small cottages, Palm Island Resort, with some great accomodations over on Little Palm Island, and one that I will go to next, which is a small unknown place on Marco Island. It has a two bedroom home on a protected inlet, with boat dock and pool right outside. The house is isolated from the rest of the motel property, and is 1 minute from the Gulf of Mexico. You can fish right off the docks, or out the living room! Lots of local activities nearby. check it out. www.theboathousemotel.com
 
Thanks for the info. The place looks neat. We are in the planning stage of the FL trip. Looking for places to visit.
 
Dumb question :huh:

Do you need to do anything as far as flushing the engine,etc if you are leaving the boat in saltwater for a week or so. By putting it back in fresh water and running it as soon as I get home does that flush it? This would be the first time I've had it in salt. :smt017

Be nice guys, we don't have any salt water up here in the Mountains. :grin:
 
You need to flush the saltwater and all its critters and different algea or whatever is in it before you put it in your freshwater lake, you don't want to bring something unwanted home with you, also a good exterior wash, probably should do the same before you put in the saltwater, don't take anything from the lake to the salt.
 
What midway said about not taking any critters back to your lake. It is probably not a big deal going the other way.

While you are at South Seas, you do not need to flush your engine daily. You probably will need to rinse the boat off any day that you take it out, just to get the salt spray off of it.

Some other day trips:

You can head south and pull in at Sanibel Marina for lunch at Grandma Dot's. It is an old Florida kind of place and it is a nice ride down there.

Boca Grand Lighthouse is at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor and is an interesting looking lighthouse.

If you get a nice day and run out in the gulf, be sure to grab a chart if you go north to Boca Grande or south to the tip of Sanibel. Both areas have shoals around them that you need to avoid.

Cabbage Key is good for a burger lunch, and they also do a decent dinner. Lunch used to end at 3:00, and I am not sure what time dinner starts. If you like nature walks, they have a trail that you can take around the island.

Pay attention to the channel markers going in and out of South Seas. If I remember correctly, it is pretty shallow on either side of the channel. Also, remember to look behind you to see which way you are actually going - at certain times of the day the tide flows across the channel and you have to steer accordingly. In other words, you may not be going in the direction that your bow is pointed. It is basic navigation, but it is easy to forget if you don't deal with currents regularly.

If you are out at night, remember your stern light. And, keep in mind that half of the boats down here seem to think that the port/starboard lights are all that you need. I have almost run over a couple of boats that were not lit properly. The are a real pain.
 
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