Vero Beach vs Fort Pierce

[sweet red]

I would love any and all opinions about marinas (and life in general) along the treasure coast. We will be in the area Late October, and are looking for a home purchase as well as a home marina. Although we are still "in-between" boats, I suspect to remedy that shortly with something in the 46-61 foot category. I am reading some concerning reports online about the crime in Fort Pierce, but the stats seem to jive with our current city of Minneapolis which I view as extremely safe.

I am concerned about the length of time (from Vero Beach) to get out to big water and on up/down the coast. But Vero Beach seems to have more of the suburban lifestyle I crave on land. Just not sure if ICW cruising is for us. We always enjoyed blue water cruising in the Pacific/Sea of Cortez. I kind of fell in love (over the internet) with the marina facilities in Fort Pierce, but think Vero Beach may be more my style for our life on land. Looks like the Fort Pierce economy is sorely hurting. Don't hesitate to correct me if my impressions are wrong. There is an awful lot of negative press about Fort Pierce in general, which has me spooked a bit.

Perhaps there is an area I shouldn't miss on this trip? We are looking at newer homes with a pool, preferably in a gated community, no more than 15 minutes away from the marina. ideas?

 

[magnawake]

I worked at the St. Lucie Nuclear power plant and lived on the boat from Nov thru may at the down town Fort pierce Marina. The marina life was like a non stop party. Since the marina is located near the park they always had festivals, open air farmers markets and concerts. I had to keep pinching myself and ask am I really wearing shorts and having this much fun in January. The marina staff are great and access to the ocean very close. We never had any trouble with locals but didnt go looking for any either. We shopped at Walmart and ate out at many good restuarants locally. We walked around down town and never had any questionable troubles. I have heard about police problems in the past but havent seen any first hand. The marina also has state of the art new docks with really clear water and lots of fish to look at under the boat. Sometimes the Jacks would slam into the side of the boat making a boom noise. I cant help you with the gated neighbor hoods because we didnt have any contact with houses. I'm sure its like any other places, there are good places and bad. Stay out of the bad. Vero was about a 15-20 minute drive. So if you find a great place there its not a long drive to Ft. Pierce. I have never been to any cool place like FP in the winter. So many snow birds there and cruisers hanging out the for the winter and I can see why being there is always something going on. Stewart was also nice too. Cant beat that whole area. Cant wait to go back.

 

[bobk]

Stuart would be my choice over Ft Pierce. The crime issue in Ft Pierce is real, but mostly the problem is in 'the avenues'. However I'm not aware of gated communities there. You will find them near Stuart.

However, if a decent sized condo could be of interest with slips for $1.00/ft/mo, check out Tarpon Bay Yacht Club. These are three story affairs, self managed and very reasonable with just a few minute walk to your dock. They date to 1979, but most have been updated. Two BR are 1300 sq ft, three are 1690 sq ft. PSL is 'dead', but Vero, West Palm and Stuart are close. Very little crime too. The link below is for a 2 BR which sold recently. Disclaimer... We live there and are delighted after 10 years.

https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/fl/port-saint-lucie/3100-se-pruitt-road-unit-a-202/pid_724851/

Bobk

 

[GJH]

Ft Pierce based on your boating preferences; live out on the beach and keep boat at one of the marinas or yacht club out there, though i agree the city marina is very nice as is Harbortown over on the mainland.

 

[Boatsb]

Ft Pierce is great as long as you don't leave the marina. Riviera beach (west Palm area) is nasty too.

I'd rather run a bit farther and live in a safe place like cocoa beach.

Fyi I'm less than an hour to the ocean with nice deep water.

 

[sweet red]

I worked at the St. Lucie Nuclear power plant and lived on the boat from Nov thru may at the down town Fort pierce Marina. The marina life was like a non stop party. Since the marina is located near the park they always had festivals, open air farmers markets and concerts. I had to keep pinching myself and ask am I really wearing shorts and having this much fun in January. The marina staff are great and access to the ocean very close. We never had any trouble with locals but didnt go looking for any either. We shopped at Walmart and ate out at many good restuarants locally. We walked around down town and never had any questionable troubles. I have heard about police problems in the past but havent seen any first hand. The marina also has state of the art new docks with really clear water and lots of fish to look at under the boat. Sometimes the Jacks would slam into the side of the boat making a boom noise. I cant help you with the gated neighbor hoods because we didnt have any contact with houses. I'm sure its like any other places, there are good places and bad. Stay out of the bad. Vero was about a 15-20 minute drive. So if you find a great place there its not a long drive to Ft. Pierce. I have never been to any cool place like FP in the winter. So many snow birds there and cruisers hanging out the for the winter and I can see why being there is always something going on. Stewart was also nice too. Cant beat that whole area. Cant wait to go back.

Sounds like my kind of place! Especially clear water. Growing up in Texas, I developed a strong aversion to brown water. Never been much of a river rat, either. That being said, there sure are a ton of boaters who love the ICW, so I wonder what I must be missing. I suspect we'll split our time 50/50 on the boat/house. Although we lived aboard our 46 convertible for 3 years, my better half is a spinal cord injury, and having space to stretch out every so often is much appreciated. We lived in the Jack London Marina on the Oakland side of San Francisco Bay, and absolutely LOVED it. Same environment with festivals, live concerts, farmers market, etc.... Come to think of it, no one ever confused Oakland as being one of Americas safest cities, now did they?

 

[sweet red]

Stuart would be my choice over Ft Pierce. The crime issue in Ft Pierce is real, but mostly the problem is in 'the avenues'. However I'm not aware of gated communities there. You will find them near Stuart.

However, if a decent sized condo could be of interest with slips for $1.00/ft/mo, check out Tarpon Bay Yacht Club. These are three story affairs, self managed and very reasonable with just a few minute walk to your dock. They date to 1979, but most have been updated. Two BR are 1300 sq ft, three are 1690 sq ft. PSL is 'dead', but Vero, West Palm and Stuart are close. Very little crime too. The link below is for a 2 BR which sold recently. Disclaimer... We live there and are delighted after 10 years.

https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/fl/port-saint-lucie/3100-se-pruitt-road-unit-a-202/pid_724851/

Bobk

Do I have to pay extra to have you as a neighbor? Looks very nice. We are looking at a condo at Harbour Isle, but consider a garage a "must have". Also can't do stairs due to a Spinal cord injury. I'll hope to meet you one day, as your posts are always informative.

 

[bobk]

Do I have to pay extra to have you as a neighbor? Looks very nice. We are looking at a condo at Harbour Isle, but consider a garage a "must have". Also can't do stairs due to a Spinal cord injury. I'll hope to meet you one day, as your posts are always informative.

Naahh, I come free. Our buildings all come with elevators. No garages, but do have storage lockers. PM me if you want more info. We also have a shop, pool, tennis courts, etc, etc. And as always, you are invited to stop by with your boat. We have a free visitors dock. Several HOFers have been here.

Bobk

 

[magnawake]

Bob has a great place. Thats a no brainer. Plus the dock is good too.

 

[rsmith]

Yay Fo Po where the crack whores walk up and down Rt 1 in the middle of the day right in front of the court house.

 

[roundIII]

You may want to consider Grand Harbor in Vero beach. Mixed housing, condos, townhouses, single family on and off water. Gated/secure. Great Loggerhead Marina within the complex if you do not have your own dock. I was there for 3 years and totally enjoyed.

RR

 

[rsmith]

The best deal in the area is the Moorings in Vero. I've got 9' of water at my dock 6 mi to Ft Pierce inlet.(Jettied all weather) and we have a 5 min walk to our own private beach. And NO mosquitoes!!! A few no see ums at dawn and dusk for about 20 min but that's it.

 

[season]

We are now finally back on the Treasure Coast and will be looking to get a boat and be back on the water early next year. I lived in Ft. Pierce for 20 years from 1977 to 1997 and boated out of the Ft. Pierce inlet. The FP inlet is the best inlet for miles north or south and with the newly rebuilt FT Pierce City Marina with modern floating docks it is your best choice of boating operations. As for a home you have Vero Beach (25 minute drive north) or St. Lucie West 20 minute drive south) to find nice gated communities with great amenities and affordable costs. We live in Country Club Estates on a PGA golf course with HOA dues of $125 a month with gated security and it is beautiful and 25 minutes from Ft Pierce City Marina. Contact me by private message if you want more details.