Southwest Florida cruise questions

[quinsky]

I'm planning to trailer my C28 down to southwest Fl for 2 weeks in Feb. I've never been there before and have lots of questions. Here are a few:
Where to launch and store truck and trailer?
Places that are "must see" vs places to avoid?
Best Cruising Guide?
We enjoy anchoring in secluded areas as well as docking at marinas. Mainly thinking of the Port Charlotte to Everglades City area. Any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks

 

[knotflying]

You can launch at Burnt Store Marina and there is a storage facility not far from there. I do not have the contact info for it, but I am sure the marina does. As far as where to go and what to see? There are just so many places to list and everyone will have different opinions but here are a few:
Cayo Costa, Fort Meyer's Beach, Naples town Docks, Calusa Yacht Club in Goodland, Russell Pass outside of Everglades City. You can also transverse the Ockeechobee and hit the east coast.

I suggest you get yourself the waterway guide for tons of information and also use Active Captain. Active Captain will have all the info you need for marinas and anchorages. You can't do it all in one season, so pick out what you think will be best, enjoy it and then there will be other things to see the next time.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Great choice on cruising Florida’s west coast. Another idea would be to start in Goodland. At the Calusa Marina you can launch and store, then start your journey north. By doing this you cruise north thru Marco Island, Naples, etc and go as far as you want in your allotted time frame. Lovers Cay is a great anchorage north of Naples and south of Ft MYERS Beach plus the ones Mike mentioned. On the other hand you could start in Tarpon Springs, where there is a nice launch ramp n storage places available. If you start here be sure to stop n stay on Caladesi Island/Park.

Jim

 

[quinsky]

Does anyone have a schedule of events for the SW Florida Rendezvous? I've tried sending a couple of emails to the address given in earlier posts but have not received a reply. We're trailering Compass Rose down to Punta Gorda and staying at Laishley Marina. We want to attend the festivities at Burnt Store Marina. Please PM me.
Thanks
Pat

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

Try reaching Jess RIZZO at Jessa35@aol.com with your questions or go to the index on Tugnuts here to go to topic “gatherings” to find the topic “Florida Gatheting”.

Jim F

 

[quinsky]

Jim,
Thats the email I sent messages to with no reply. Actually I meant to post this in the forum you suggested.
Thanks,
Pat

 

[knotflying]

I sent you a personal message.

 

[knotflying]

I sent you a personal message.

 

[mferguson]

Since I've only done one trip, I'm not much of an info source, but we did a fantastic one week bareboat Grand Banks 36 trip from Sarasota to Captiva and back a year ago (before my CW28 arrived), mostly in the ICW but some "outside" cruising. Especially enjoyed stops in Sarasota, Venice, and Boca Grande (take an extra day to tour the island via golf cart). We also wished we had more time to visit more stops.

I'd consider a good cruising guide like the Maptech and a chart book as mandatory items. Same for your chartplotter with all the shallows...