St. Augustine to Ft. Pierce route recommendations requested

[ZZ13]

Just wanted to report that the new concrete floating docks at Ft Pierce City Marina are fabulous. Also, they are wired to the new ABYC shore power standards. So make sure you have good clean 110v wiring on your boat if you come here.

 

[FootballFan]

Just wanted to report that the new concrete floating docks at Ft Pierce City Marina are fabulous. Also, they are wired to the new ABYC shore power standards. So make sure you have good clean 110v wiring on your boat if you come here.

Thank you Bill for sharing that data point. We are thinking about going up that direction in May, that keeps Ft Pierce front and center.

Mark

 

[ZZ13]

When i I destroyed both of my props at the crossroads coming into Stuart I had a diver pull them the next morning and take them to Blaire Propeller.

From the time the diver went in the water to the time they were back on the boat was less than 48 hours. Total cost including the diver was $1200 for both props.

Props are off on their way to Blair propeller. Notice the growth remnants on them. This is just after a diver cleaned the bottom. Is this normal residue or should those white spots have been further cleaned?

 

[k9medic]

Props are off on their way to Blair propeller. Notice the growth remnants on them. This is just after a diver cleaned the bottom. Is this normal residue or should those white spots have been further cleaned?

I would think that the growth would need to be cleaned off a little better. They will come back from the shop looking brand new. I must admit that the props look pretty bad cosmetically though. That's a lot of rust and crud.

 

[Ididntdoit]

those barnicle rings are normal after a diver cleans them......just try to get them off with a plastic scraper! are you going to use propspeed on the reconditioned props?

 

[ZZ13]

Thanks for the responses. The diver that took them off said they should have been cleaned better. Actually that's not rust. That's what's left of the previous paint. Diver says it's been a long time since these where removed. I got them back and they look brand new. Here is the before and after of the worst prop. I have no idea what degree of "bad" they were. Hopefully you all can counsel me on that. The diver said to paint them with Rustoleum cold galvanized compound. Basically it's zinc paint. He says it's exactly the same as prop paint but much cheaper.

 

[MARGEEZ]

We will be spending Jan and Feb in Ft.Pierce. Last year we spent January in St. Augustine. So I have the Beaufort, SC to St. Augustine plan down. But I have never been south of there. Any recommendations for the route from St. Augustine to Ft. Pierce? Such as ICW or offshore, overnight locations, number of days to get there, etc. We prefer to stay at marinas, rather than on the hook.

(Late...). Our 'home port' is Yacht Harbor Marina (Hammock Beach Resort, Palm Coast, FL) or about 2.5 hrs S of St Augustine (we make day trips to St Augustine & weekends to Jacksonville quite a bit). Yacht Harbor Marina is the best kept secret on the East Coast...you will enjoy all the amenities of the resort if you wish to stay and relax for a bit. It is across the ICW from Palm Coast Marina & entry is just North of the Palm Coast Toll Bridge.

We are currently in Ft Pierce for the Winter at Harbortown Marina (friends from prior boat & marinas are currently in this marina). Took the ICW the entire route with a stop in New Smyrna Marina (floating docks) then a storm layover in Sebastian although we could have made it from New Smyrna to Ft Pierce on the ICW in one long day (or about 10-11 hrs). The water level was higher than normal so many areas where one CAN 'run', we could not (or we would have swamped peoples' docks, lifts, & property). It is the 2nd time we have been on this route. We would like to return on the 'outside' however unless it is FLAT seas, we will not. Ft Pierce to Ponce Inlet is our 'goal' (and as we did have a home port in New Smyrna Beach & Daytona Beach, we have become 'familiar' with Ponce Inlet). Only timing and weather will determine the return route via ICW or outside. We will be cruising around S FL for the Winter.

 

[MARGEEZ]

Thank you Bill for sharing that data point. We are thinking about going up that direction in May, that keeps Ft Pierce front and center.

Mark[/QUOTE

You may want to reconsider to stay at Harbortown Marina (just N of City Marina) or Harbor Isle Marina (access canal is pretty much across from City Marina. We hear so much about the electrical issues at City Marina....

 

[ZZ13]

Good info, Margeez. I posted the name of a 420ac that is here at the city Marina. Thought it might be yours.

Here's how the props look after Blair worked their magic.

 

[MARGEEZ]

Good info, Margeez. I posted the name of a 420ac that is here at the city Marina. Thought it might be yours.

Here's how the props look after Blair worked their magic.

We are at Harbortown Marina (N of City Marina and just S of the draw bridge) on G dock. We stayed (transient) at City Marina 2 yrs ago while traveling from Ft Lauderdale to New Smyrna Beach (home port at the time). It was a quick stay with a nice dinner at the restaurant located at City Marina. I now hear about 'electrical issues' for those staying at City Marina with several who have moved over the Harbortown Marina (has 1 floating dock...G Dock). We will be leaving NB in April to return to Yacht Harbor Marina. In the mean time, we will be taking a few 4 day cruises and perhaps 2 wks to visit with friends in Marathon (they go from Yacht Harbor Marina to Marathon for the winter...Jan-April).

 

[MARGEEZ]

those barnicle rings are normal after a diver cleans them......just try to get them off with a plastic scraper! are you going to use propspeed on the reconditioned props?

While in Ft Pierce, we were on the hard for new bottom paint, waxing, & misc services. We had Oysters growing in our engine water intakes ...!! Amazing!!! Props were off again and checked (had done so 2 yrs ago...we also 'polished our props' on a shoal in the ICW just N of Ormond Beach...exciting!). All is well.

 

[ZZ13]

We are at Harbortown Marina (N of City Marina and just S of the draw bridge) on G dock. We stayed (transient) at City Marina 2 yrs ago while traveling from Ft Lauderdale to New Smyrna Beach (home port at the time). It was a quick stay with a nice dinner at the restaurant located at City Marina. I now hear about 'electrical issues' for those staying at City Marina with several who have moved over the Harbortown Marina (has 1 floating dock...G Dock). We will be leaving NB in April to return to Yacht Harbor Marina. In the mean time, we will be taking a few 4 day cruises and perhaps 2 wks to visit with friends in Marathon (they go from Yacht Harbor Marina to Marathon for the winter...Jan-April).

Just rode my bike to your marina. I think I saw your boat midway up "Grenada" dock. I am doing just fine electrically on the new docks. A few boats have come and blown dock breakers and had to move to the older docks. They all either knew ahead of time or quickly figured out they had bad wiring on their boat. Nice thing about the new docks is you know there won't be any stray current making to the water from a boat with crappy wiring.

 

[ZZ13]

Not quite as impressive now.

 

[ZZ13]

Just a little review of the stay here. We have been here for a month and absolutely love it as a temporary liveaboard location. Although the surrounding area may not be as upscale as some desire, it's plenty good enough for us. There are activities centered around the Marina location constantly. A huge farmers market every Saturday. I get my produce there for the week. There is a first Friday street party every month and a Pirates fest is going on this weekend. And the Sunrise Theatre has shows constantly. Plenty of nice affordable restaurants in short walking distance. We like the Italian and Thai restaurants on Orange Ave, the 121 Tappas Bar, Taco Dive, 2nd St Bistro, the SS Takeout and the Cobbs Landing Restaurant. There is a great cafe (actually three of them). Plus there is a 7-11 for urgent needs. Just a little longer walk is a cool beer pub called Sailfish. I have a bike and can ride it to West Marine, Publix, the beach, the bank, the Post Office and just about anything else you would need. Plus a fully stocked Ace Hardware is just a short walk from our slip. And, there is a library. We actual much prefer it here over our stay in St Augustine last year.