Dock Space WPB-FTL

[Freebird]

After spending the week-end in Elliott Key, I have come to the conclusion that I may be on the wrong coast of Florida. I lived in Palm Beach Gardens for a while in the late 80's, and found the people there to be somewhat "anti-social" for lack of a better term. Maybe they just weren't "boat people", and I have been given a false impression of what these folks are really like. I could be a snob to fit in, but that just isn't me.

I like Palmetto and Riviera Dunes Marina, and I'm paid through April of next year. After that, I'm a free man. I plan to do a good bit of island hopping, and the west coast is not exactly the best launching platform for that activity. I realize I will pay more for dock space on the east coast, but the proximity to the Bahamas etc. will offset the cost increase. I'd miss the Bustle Boys, but they can drive over and go island hopping with me just as I can drive over and go fishing with them.

It is my understanding that Pascal has an open slip beside him, and Angela is headed to the BVI's soon. Maybe one of those slips would work. I could teach Pascal proper english if we ended up being neighbors! He'll end up sounding like he is from the "south" of France.

Seriously, any input regarding availability and pricing in the WPB-FTL area would be greatly appreciated. Names, addresses, and phone numbers of good lookin' single women with boatless docks would be even more appreciated. Maybe I'd even toss in a finders fee!

 

[SCALAWAG]

Freebird When you say Island hopping. North or South Islands. I like miami a lot have office there. I live in fort myers . I go around alot. When I am there I stay at bayside miami lots to do at marina safe place to leave boat. Easy in and out Gov cut stilsville intercostal all write there. I buy fuel off the truck buy appointment Looks like just in front of Angelas boat . hope this helps.

 

[Freebird]

I'm talking primarily Bahamas and beyond. I've yet to make the trip, but as I recall WPB to Bimini is the closest route to land. I would certainly consider Miami, but I assume space there is at a premium and wouldn't be the closest point of departure. It would seem to me the less time I had to spend in open water, the better (and safer) the trip would be. As always, I'm open to suggestions.

 

[(Nobody You Know)]

I could teach Pascal proper english if we ended up being neighbors! He'll end up sounding like he is from the "south" of France.

France??? Come on Bubba, I wouldn't do that to anybody! South of Alcoa, TN? OK.

Capt'n Bill

 

[thoward]

$22/ft and up! We are up in Ft pierce and pay $10.50/ft. Bahamas is about 65 miles from us.

 

[Freebird]

I could teach Pascal proper english if we ended up being neighbors! He'll end up sounding like he is from the "south" of France.

France??? Come on Bubba, I wouldn't do that to anybody! South of Alcoa, TN? OK.

Capt'n Bill

Hey, Pascal is a French feller (sort of explains a lot don't it?). I figure he could use a little loosening up, southern style. I gave him a crash course, but it looks like he's going to be a slow learner. I'll have to remind him if it weren't for us good ole' American boys, he'd be sporting a German accent.

Seriously, much to my surprise, he seemed like a pretty good fellow. He just needs to lose that accent. He sounds sort of like Pepe LePew after a couple of drinks!

South of Alcoa? You been to Murvull?

 

[Freebird]

$22/ft and up! We are up in Ft pierce and pay $10.50/ft. Bahamas is about 65 miles from us.

$22 per foot huh? If thats referring to the beam, maybe I can swing it! Otherwise, they'd have to have some dandy amenities and include electricity.

I didn't remember Ft Pierce being only 65 miles from the Bahamas. $10.50 per foot would be doable, and Ft Pierce would be easier on me running back and forth to TN. I could even run up to Daytona and "Baywatch" during spring break!

How about sending me a PM on specifics of your marina. I promise I won't embarass you if we become neighbors!

 

[Boatsb]

I was down in Ft Pierce 2 month ago and it was pretty nice. Especially if you want a short run to the stream or a nice ride in the ditch. I am in Canaveral and have an additional 10-20 miles to the stream but cant do the drive to Ft Pierce every week or I woudl move too. We stayed at Harbortown and it seemed OK but there was other nice looking places too. Its a good option.

 

[Liquid Asset]

Crazy boy,
Dont forget, your slip neighbors on the other side of you drove in to RD marina from the bahamas and launch from here to the bahamas every time they go. Money talks and if you save enough money, then it does not matter where you launch from. Time is only as much per hour as you value it and what does it hurt to add 6 hours to a trip that is a month long? not much time added in the end. As cheap as you are, you better stay on the west coast.

 

[Freebird]

So much for missing the Bustle Boys! "Cheap?", me? Hey Bubba, I'm easy, but I'm not cheap! This from a guy who still lives at home with his parents? I may be thrifty, but not cheap! Otherwise I'd trade my Hatts for Bayliners, my CTS-V for a Hundai, and I'd drink Popov instead of Grey Goose or Absolut!

How the heck do you figure 6 hours additional run time to get to the Bahamas from Palmetto? It would take longer than that to airlift FREEBIRD to the right coast! You told me you were an IT major when you went to school. Does that stand for "Impossible Transportation"?

I tell you what, you and that worthless brother of yours go cruising with me and pay 2/3's of the fuel cost and I'll stay at RD. Otherwise, give me back my Hatteras Columbia fishin' shirt, my talkin' parrott, and ride me around for a couple of months and buy me dinner, drinks, and 47 table dances and we'll call it even! Cheap? I'll show you cheap!

 

[thoward]

I promise I won't embarass you if we become neighbors!

I've lived in the south all my life so I don't think a little "red " hurts anyone. As long as you do not walk around in Daisy Dukes and Cowboy Boots we will get along fine. One or the other is ok if that is what floats your boat.

There is not a whole lot to it. The name is Ft. Pierce Inlet Marina. It is a 40 slip marina which is simple and clean. It is not a country club by any means. Pump out and fuel are available at the next marina(50 yards away). You need to visit Ft. Pierce before comming over. It is still some what of a throw back of old Florida(thats why I like it). There are no shopping malls or other frilly stuff. We have a local "shallows" hang out across the way about 1/4 mile. The fishing is good inshore for the usual suspects( snook reds trout) offshore we are in a good location for sails sword phins hoos kings and the bottom dwellers. The gulf stream is about 14 miles out and West End is around 65 miles out.

The other places to check are www.Sailmiami.com and Sun Sentinal they have lots of dockage for South Florida

 

[Paul45c]

Made some calls for you, St.BERNARDBIRD. Your best (and perhaps only) bet over here would be Sands Harbor Hotel & Marina in Pompano Beach at Atlantic Blvd. Actually a pretty cool spot. It's a small marina, as far as they go, but in a nice little spot with walking distance to lots of good pubs & restaurants. Hotel has a pool, hot tub, nice outdoor patio bars, etc.

Your big problem here, even at marinas, is liveaboard. I called 3 places, and only Sands allows it. Their deal for your 58 would be $1653/mth, including water, elec & cable & phone.

Not cheap, I know, but everybody's telling me the next closest marinas that would allow liveaboards are Bahia Mar & Pier 66, and I gotta think they'd hurt you worse. You don't want to locate far from a decent inlet. Pier 66 and Bahia Mar have mammoth Port Everglades, of course, Sands is proximate to Hillsborough Inlet.

You can find MUCH cheaper facilities with people renting private docks, but liveaboards are strictly forbidden by all the towns. So, you'd have to add housing costs on top of whatever you pay for your slip.

You'd have to jump pretty quickly. The guy on the phone said by early Nov. they'll be booked up. Again, pretty small place.

 

[Freebird]

I've lived in the south all my life so I don't think a little "red " hurts anyone. As long as you do not walk around in Daisy Dukes and Cowboy Boots we will get along fine. One or the other is ok if that is what floats your boat.

I'm passed my prime for Daisy Dukes (on me anyway). Are cut-off bib overalls acceptable if I wear drawers underneath? I had some custom Docksider cowboy boots made as to not blemish my (or anybody else's) deck.

Sounds like you are in a neat spot, I'll check it out. I'm not looking for frills and fancy ship. I enjoy hanging out with good ole' boys who appreciate the simple things in life. Hatts, Harleys, Grey Goose, Blonde women in thongs etc., etc.

 

[Freebird]

Made some calls for you, St.BERNARDBIRD. Your best (and perhaps only) bet over here would be Sands Harbor Hotel & Marina in Pompano Beach at Atlantic Blvd. Actually a pretty cool spot. It's a small marina, as far as they go, but in a nice little spot with walking distance to lots of good pubs & restaurants. Hotel has a pool, hot tub, nice outdoor patio bars, etc.

Your big problem here, even at marinas, is liveaboard. I called 3 places, and only Sands allows it. Their deal for your 58 would be $1653/mth, including water, elec & cable & phone.

Not cheap, I know, but everybody's telling me the next closest marinas that would allow liveaboards are Bahia Mar & Pier 66, and I gotta think they'd hurt you worse. You don't want to locate far from a decent inlet. Pier 66 and Bahia Mar have mammoth Port Everglades, of course, Sands is proximate to Hillsborough Inlet.

You can find MUCH cheaper facilities with people renting private docks, but liveaboards are strictly forbidden by all the towns. So, you'd have to add housing costs on top of whatever you pay for your slip.

You'd have to jump pretty quickly. The guy on the phone said by early Nov. they'll be booked up. Again, pretty small place.

Hey Bubba,

I knew I could count on you. Hey, I figure I could skirt the liveaboard issue due to the fact that I'll be on the boat less than half of the time seeing as how I'm running back and forth to TN.

That place in Pompano sounds pretty cool, but I'm commited to RD until May 1. That is of course assuming I can't sub-sub-lease my slip or just walk away with time still on the clock. I'm in there for $500 per month (less electricity), so I know I'm going to be in for some sticker shock on the right coast. Again, things could balance out in the long run. There's nothing to do in Palmetto but eat and drink, and I'm paying child support for the Bustle Boys!

 

[Liquid Asset]

Randy,

Slips are less money in Ft. Lauderdale than they are in Palmetto. The cost difference was the fuel was almost $2 more than in Palmetto, and Electricity was $.15 more a KWH. This is where you will get the sticker shock. But there are a lot of slips in Ft. Lauderdale to be had at good reasonable rates.

 

[Angela]

Wow, and I thought I was paying a lot here in Miami! I pay $1,040/month for my 58' MY, which includes electricity and water. And I am liveaboard. There is no better view of the city, especially at night, than from my boat.

 

[Freebird]

Hey Ang, are there any slips available in your marina? You can pretend like you don't know me, and I promise I won't come over to borrow a cup of vodka.

That rate sounds pretty good especially given the fact it includes electricity. My power bill alone at RD would be over $200 mo if I kept the AC's on when I was away.

 

[thoward]

See we'lll get along just fine....I'll stay out of your Grey Goose and you stay out of my Crown. There is a good hang out up here called Archie's. It usually has a ton of bikes but it is not a full out "biker bar". It is a nice place to get a burger and a beer but I got over the whole bike thing many years ago. As far as women, I only have eyes for my wife . But, I hear there are a few hotties around these parts. Nothing like Palm Beach South though.

 

[Freebird]

Hey Bubba, Crown is my official winter time drink. My Goose usually flies south for the winter. But now that I am south, my Goose may just work year round. I'll just gargle with Crown to keep my pH balanced.

I like riding my Hog, but I'm not a "biker". I used to ride my Dad's bikes out in the country around the house when I was younger. Blame it on middle age crazy, but I didn't buy my first bike (Hog) until '03, and now I'm on my 3rd (Hog).

Just got off the phone with Pat Bustle, my neighbor at RD. Seems his deal on his slip is falling through in December, and he wants my slip. Looks like my time table just got pushed up. I may just have to drop by your way and work my way south to see what I can see.

Hey all you other east coasters, help me find a new home for FREEBIRD!!!

 

[Angela]

Getting a slip at Rickenbacker is very time-oriented. If there is a slip available, you have to be ready to rent it right there on the spot, because it will be gone tomorrow. So, it won't do any good for me to ask for you if you're not ready to rent it until December or April, whatever your time table is. MarioG got me in the door there, but I had to rent the slip on the spot, even though I had not closed on the boat yet! Given the difficulties of getting a slip in Miami (it's all about who ya know to get one), I rented the slip on the spot without a boat. Moved the boat in about 45 days later. I can inquire, but you need to be ready first.