SW Florida Marinas

[Steve S]

Recently I spent a few days in Ft Myers/Cape Coral and visited several marinas. I am in the planning stages of making the "Great Loop" with my 400DB after I retire in a few years and would like to winter in W / SW Florida. What are the recommendations for a marina where I could "live aboard" for part of the winter?

I visited Marinatown, Cape Harbor and Tarpon Point marinas but only got info on Marinatown.

My current plan is to leave Chicago mid to late August work my way south and end up heading out of Mobile AL in mid November. Then work my way south after passing Panama City (and hopefully visiting Frank W)... ending up Tampa and south starting the beginning of December.

I have a number of friends in the Port Charlotte - Ft Myers area. Hence the focus there.

Probably in late January I would head to the Keys with a stop in Key West for a while (another friend lives there) and then a side trip out to the Dry Tortugas/Ft Jefferson before working my way up the Keys and then the east coast.

Any recommendations?

 

[GaryQ]

The Harborage Marina in St Petersburg has a lot of live aboards. Quite a ways from Ft. Meyers though.

 

[Ididntdoit]

Try snook bight in ft myers beach or burnt store in cape coral

 

[becnme]

Legacy Harbor has loopers and Fort Myers Yacht Basin is looper friendly.
We just got back from overnight at the Yacht Basin for New Years Eve. It is a short walk to down town so we stay there when we want to spend the night.

 

[my3sons]

We just left Legacy Harbour Marina after spending the month of December there. It is very nice, as are many of the marinas in SW Florida, but a few things that we thought were especially nice were the wide concrete floating docks, self serve pumpout at your slip, gated piers for security, security personnel at night on site, pool, gym, 6 washers/6 dryers, short walk to downtown, 2 blocks from Publix, < 1 mile to CVS, short walk to Edison and Ford Estates. We didn't have to rent a car and only used uber ($20 each way) to get back and forth from the airport for our short trip back north for Christmas. Just about everything is walkable. At least 8 or 10 current loopers and 4 or 5 gold loopers were/are there. The staff are very friendly and really appreciate the boaters being there and they show it. We'll be back.

Edit: I forgot to mention that they do not sell fuel at Legacy, so Eric the harbormaster will be glad to give you the name of the supplier that you can call for diesel. 100 gal minimum, usually there about once per week.
If you do not want to use the truck, fuel is available nearby at the yacht basin but obviously more $

 

[electricaldoctor]

Joe's Crab Shack is right there at Legacy as well.

 

[Flytrade]

Check out Marina Jack's in Sarasota. A great marina with lots to do in the local area.

https://www.marinajacks.com/marina/marina-docking-information.html

 

[Flytrade]

Here is my list of marina's to visit on the west coast of FL. I'm not sure if it will all fit here. Also, I'm a pickleball player, so there is info on that at well.

Marina's and Pickleball

North

1. Vinoy
Hotel - 727-894-1000


2. Holiday Inn at Indian Rocks - Dock Master at 727-517-3652, (727) 595-9484

Southwest Recreation Complex near Indian Rocks
Wednesday 11 - 2 and Saturday 8 - 11
13120 Vonn Rd, Largo, FL 33774


3. Near Clearwater -

1. Clearwater Beach Marina - (727) 562-4955, 727-462-6954 X27.
http://www.myclearwater.com/government/city-departments/marine-aviation/marina-info
Make reservations on line @
http://www.myclearwater.com/governm...rine-aviation/marina-info/marina-reservations
Pickleball - https://www.places2play.org/search?q=clearwater+fl

North Greenwood Rec Center - Clearwater, FL
900 N. Martin Luther King Jr. , Clearwater, FL 34620
indoor: 6 player# 12 fee: $3.00 schedule: Indoor: • Tue., Thu., 6-9 p.m. (June 1st-approx Oct) • Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Closed for Summer) indoor
Su M T W T F Sa
Public Indoor Courts Wood Public Park Restrooms Water Fountain 3.5 Players 4.0 Players 4.5 Players Morning Play Night Play Beginners Welcome Challenge Court Competition Focused Rating Restricted Courts Drop-In Fee

For more information contact Maryann Charmoz at 203-858-4443 - Send Email


The Long Center Open Play - Clearwater, FL
1501 N. Belcher Rd, Clearwater, FL 33765-1339
http://www.clearwater-fl.com/gov/depts/parksrec/facilities/lc.asp

------------------------------------- Coaching & Clinics ------------------------------------- Monday Thru Friday Contact Bob At 813-363-5958 To Reserve A Spot

indoor: 6 player# 50 fee: $3.00 schedule: Monday 9:00am To 8:30pm, Wednesday 9am To 12pm, Thursday 9am To 12pm, Friday 1pm To 4pm
Su M T W T F Sa
Public Drop-In Fee Indoor Courts

For more information contact Shaun Beasley at 727-793-2320 - Send Email


Ross Norton Recreation Center - Clearwater, FL
1426 S. Martin Luther King Jr., Belleair Road, Clearwater, FL
Nice Indoor Courts (2) Monday,tuesday, And Thursday Nights Are Mostly 4.0 Players And Above. Sunday Is A Mixed Level Of Players.

indoor: 2 player# 25 fee: $3.00 schedule: Mon-tue-thur. Evening 6:00pm-8:30pm Sundays 12:00pm-4:00pm
Su M T W T F Sa
Public Drop-In Fee Indoor Courts



4. Tarpon Springs City Marina - (727) 937-9165

Tarpon Springs Community Center/Recreation Dept. - (727) 942-5628
400 S Walton Ave, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

5. Caladesi Island State Park Marina - (727) 469-5918

6. Madeira Bay Docks
13205 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, FL 33708
madeirabayresort.com
(727) 392-1397
Just north of John's Pass - Walk to John's Pass
Pool access

7. Treasure Bay Hotel and Marina - (727) 360-4400
Beach access w pool
Must be a hotel guest

8. Blind Pass Marina - (727) 360-4281
Todd Nye - wants $500 electrical deposit
Not very nice but close to pool and pickleball
Consider Bayside Inn and Marina instead




9. Bayside Inn and Marina - (727) 367-6456
11365 Gulf Blvd, Treasure Island, FL 33706
(727) 367-6456
Beach access w pool
$50/night
Just south of John's Pass - looks nice

Treasure Bay Gold and Tennis - w pickleball
10315 Paradise Blvd
727-360-6062
Pickleball every Mon, Wed and Fri @ 8:30 for $2

St Pete Beach Community Center
7701 Boca Ciega Dr, St Pete Beach, FL 33706
(727) 363-9245




10. Barefoot Beach Resort - (727) 593-5303
Beach access w pool
barefootbeachresort.com
19417 Gulf Blvd, Indian Shores, FL 33785
Must Be a Guest

Pickleball - Seminole Recreation Center
9100 113th Street North, Seminole, FL, 33776

Adults And Seniors Welcom - Play Schedule - Monday/wednesday/friday - 8a To 10am. Tuesday And Thursday 7am To 11am. Open To Members And Public. Free With Rec Card. $5 For Guest Of Member.

11. ABC Marina of Medeira Beach
202 150th Ave, Madeira Beach, FL 33708
(727) 393-2090
Not very nice

12. Madeira Beach Marina
Address: 503 150th Ave, Madeira Beach, FL 33708
Phone: (727) 399-2631
Not very nice


Pickleball - Seminole Recreation Center
9100 113th Street North, Seminole, FL, 33776

Walter Fuller Recreation Center
7891 26th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
(727) 893-7443





South

9. Venice - Crow's Nest Marina - (941) 484-7661

https://www.scgov.net/government/pa...-resources/things-to-do/activities/pickleball

a. Laurel Park Gym
509 Collins Rd., Nokomis, FL, 34275
Sandra Sims Terry Community Center (941) 483-3338
indoor: 2 player# 16 fee: $2.00 schedule: Oct-may: Advanced Monday 9am-noon, Beginner/intermediate Wed. 9am-noon, Advanced Fri. 9am- noon

b. Nokomis Community Park (941) 861-5000
239 E. Nippino Trail, Nokomis, FL, 34275
Open Play On Outdoor Courts, No Reservations, 1st Come, 1st Serve.

c. Venice Community Center (941) 861-1380
326 Nokomis Ave. S., Venice, FL, 34285
Play Inside The Venice Community Ctr Every Monday, Except Federal Holidays, Year Round. indoor: 4 fee: Purchase Punch Card: $16 For 8 Sessions, $24 For 12 Sessions schedule: Oct.-may Mondays, Intermediate 11am-2pm, Beginner 2pm-5pm, Open Play 5pm-8pm. Venice Community

d. By-pass/foxworthy Park (941) 861-9880
1101 Gulfcoast Blvd., Venice, FL
Eight Outdoor Courts, Open To The Public For Open Play At Any Time. No Scheduled Play. No Lights
outdoor: 8 player# 30 fee: No Charge

e. Pinebrook Park (941) 861-9930
1251 Pinebrook Road, Venice, FL
We Have Two Outdoor Tennis Courts Lined For Pickleball. Play Is Open To The Public, So Come And Join Us. Any Questions Please E-mail Russ Cuccia At: Cuch77@verizon.net







10. Uncle Henry's Marina - http://www.unclehenrysmarina.com/

5800 Gasparilla Rd, Boca Grande, FL 33921
(941) 964-0154



11. Inlett on the Waterfront - http://theinnlet.com/

Bike rentals.

12. Boca Grande Marina - http://www.bocagrandemarina.net/

Golf cart rentals.

13. South Seas Island Resort - https://www.southseas.com/

Harbourmaster
P: 888-777-3625
E: cmartz@southseas.com

FL residents save 15% plus a coupon book

14. Tween Waters - https://www.tween-waters.com/marina/

Has pickleball courts

15. Castaways - https://castaways-cottages.com/

 

[KevinS]

Certainly check out Caladesi Island - it's a state park with on an undeveloped island only accessible by boat. There is a 100 slip marina with power and water with fees of only $1/foot for overnight with power.

One of the best beaches in the country is a 3 minute walk across the island from the marina. The only structure on the beach is a shack that rents chairs and umbrellas during the day. Closer to the marina there are a few state park buildings with basic bathroom facilities and a lunch grill that does burgers, hot dogs, etc.

If you are willing to volunteer for the park, I believe they will waive your slip fees. I'm not sure what lengthy stay / amount of volunteering is required however.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/caladesi-island-state-park