Fl. gulf coast suggestions for living

Havana Shamrock said:
We are starting our search for our move south next month we are traveling to punta gorda from a suggestion of a buddy who bought a home in Burnt store marina. We will stay there for two days to check the area and we are looking for others areas to see. We have only been to Tampa on the gulf and loved it. We will consider a home close to a marina or a dockominium or home with waterfront for a boat. We would like a gated community but not necessarily a "retirement" home environment. We will most likely snowbird as our family will be split north/south so we don't need a huge place. Just enough to get away from snow
so any help is appreciated thank you .
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Check Ft. Myers. We love it.
 
We looked at a few boats in Florida. Most were on canals. The open water was a long way out and you had to go slow. It took us 1/2 to one hour to get to ocean most times as you need to go slow. No Wake to get to open water. If I was looking for a place I would look in a bay that is on the ocean but protected.
 
northern said:
We looked at a few boats in Florida. Most were on canals. The open water was a long way out and you had to go slow. It took us 1/2 to one hour to get to ocean most times as you need to go slow. No Wake to get to open water. If I was looking for a place I would look in a bay that is on the ocean but protected.
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We spent the last 2 days looking at marinas on the Gulf coast
 
Funny this came up today as we spent this winter on longboat key. Due to COVID we got stuck here longer than we had planned so living on the 500DB turned out to be tighter than we planned. We started looking for a neighborhood to escape NY and we found it literally in the last day or so. We’re settling into an area called Lakewood ranch near Sarasota and keeping the boat in longboat for as long as we need a bigger boat. We like that even later when downsizing the boat we can use a 25’ boat and go to a sandbar etc in this area the water is beautiful and we’re only 1/2 hour from the gulf if needed. All I can say is 6 years went too fast.....
 
northern said:
We looked at a few boats in Florida. Most were on canals. The open water was a long way out and you had to go slow. It took us 1/2 to one hour to get to ocean most times as you need to go slow. No Wake to get to open water. If I was looking for a place I would look in a bay that is on the ocean but protected.
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We spent the last 2 days looking at marinas along the gulf coast. 4 in Placida,. and 4 in Englewood Wasn't really impressed with any of them. Palm Island Marina was ok, but needs work!! We also checked out the Marinemax marina in Venice. It was nice but needs a renovation.

Today we went and saw Safe harbor in cape coral, was very nice. We also looked at Safe harbor burnt store in Punta Gorda. That marins is at the top of our list at this moment.

Tomorrow we will look at a few St. Pete marinas before we head back to Texas.

Thoughts from anyone? definitely leaning towards the burnt store marina in Punta Gorda as of now
 
Brando it depends on what your looking for we are in longboat key club moorings and love the marina only gripe is it takes an extra 25-30 mins commute to get on and off the island. It’s a full service resort type marina. We liked Burnt store but decided to come here at the last minute.
 
Brando99 said:
We spent the last 2 days looking at marinas along the gulf coast. 4 in Placida,. and 4 in Englewood Wasn't really impressed with any of them. Palm Island Marina was ok, but needs work!! We also checked out the Marinemax marina in Venice. It was nice but needs a renovation.

Today we went and saw Safe harbor in cape coral, was very nice. We also looked at Safe harbor burnt store in Punta Gorda. That marins is at the top of our list at this moment.

Tomorrow we will look at a few St. Pete marinas before we head back to Texas.

Thoughts from anyone? definitely leaning towards the burnt store marina in Punta Gorda as of now
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Be sure to look at Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral. We live in Ft. Myers about 10 miles away and really love it. No traffic and easy Gulf access...

Reach out to fr8dog - he lives in Lakewood Ranch - he moved there from Cape Coral last year...
 
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Marinas in St Pete:
Harborage Marina
Suntek, great location, protected water, easy to take boat out on windy days and never need to hit big water.
Maximo has 845$ /month for a covered wet slip with a lift for 28-36’ boats, great option to be on the water with 24/7 access to your boat, and yet protected from sun.
 
Todd320 said:
Marinas in St Pete:
Harborage Marina
Suntek, great location, protected water, easy to take boat out on windy days and never need to hit big water.
Maximo has 845$ /month for a covered wet slip with a lift for 28-36’ boats, great option to be on the water with 24/7 access to your boat, and yet protected from sun.
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Heading to st Pete today to look today before we head home
 
It may be too late, but on your way up to St. Pete, you could check out Twin Dolphins in Bradenton, and across the river in Palmetto are Riviera Dunes and Regatta Pointe.
 
I grew up on Sarasota Bay literally and figuratively. I am now on the NE Corner of the bay. When I lived inland I was at Marina Jacks (Suntex), and the Hyatt Regency. I have spent a lot of time at Harborside Moorings, and we have good friends who own a slip at Rivera Dunes in Palmetto. These are all by and large full service marinas, that are catering to some of the biggest boats that can be operated in this area, and their pricing shows it. But, it's still cheaper than the Bahamas, even 30 years ago.
I opted to purchase a condo that has it's own slip, so my boat is under my balcony. I like this because I can get away from the hustle of a downtown marina, and the commute is about 30 steps. We are getting intrigued about visiting the Safe Harbor Marina Pier 77, where Perico Boat Harbor used to be off Manatee ave heading to Anna Maria island. Haven't seen it yet, but it has new floating docks, and is adjacent to One Particular Harbor (a Margaritaville property). Not sure if there is amenities access or not.
The nicest thing about Sarasota besides it's uncanny ability to turn hurricanes, is all these other places become reasonably short haul destinations for us, North and South.
 
370Dancer said:
I grew up on Sarasota Bay literally and figuratively. I am now on the NE Corner of the bay. When I lived inland I was at Marina Jacks (Suntex), and the Hyatt Regency. I have spent a lot of time at Harborside Moorings, and we have good friends who own a slip at Rivera Dunes in Palmetto. These are all by and large full service marinas, that are catering to some of the biggest boats that can be operated in this area, and their pricing shows it. But, it's still cheaper than the Bahamas, even 30 years ago.
I opted to purchase a condo that has it's own slip, so my boat is under my balcony. I like this because I can get away from the hustle of a downtown marina, and the commute is about 30 steps. We are getting intrigued about visiting the Safe Harbor Marina Pier 77, where Perico Boat Harbor used to be off Manatee ave heading to Anna Maria island. Haven't seen it yet, but it has new floating docks, and is adjacent to One Particular Harbor (a Margaritaville property). Not sure if there is amenities access or not.
The nicest thing about Sarasota besides it's uncanny ability to turn hurricanes, is all these other places become reasonably short haul destinations for us, North and South.
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I'll have to check the new marina out when we go to AMI at the end of the month. Sounds like you're over near the airport with your boat now.
 
Definitely Cape Coral / Naples areas. Key West and Dry Tortuga is but 80 miles as you know. And, across to the East coast then on to the Bahamas is but a day and a half on the Okee' waterway.
I think the big decision is what to do with the boat when a named storm is impending; haul out or secure in a slip. Many exposed marinas have a evacuation policy in which the boats are either hauled out or they must leave. Others are a hurricane hole and boats can be secured in the slips. My choice is a home on the water with a good slip I could secure the boat but within reasonable distance to a marina where service and hurricane haul can be done. My home is on the water with a slip just off the Indian River (East coast) but I can't get the 52 across a sand bar to get in; so, the boat is in a marina that is a hurricane hole. Keep in mind they are not making water front property anymore in Florida and from an investment perspective waterfront is the best. Homeowners insurance isn't that complicated; typical hazard insurance with higher deductible for named storm related claims. Flood insurance is a separate policy which is supplemented by FEMA if you live in a flood zone. I don't live in a flood zone but still my policy is a very reasonable $400/year. I have considered self-insuring my home but in reality, right now, the annual costs with Florida Peninsula Insurance Co. are still reasonable.
 
Mikemapva said:
I'll have to check the new marina out when we go to AMI at the end of the month. Sounds like you're over near the airport with your boat now.
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final final when they come from the West. We just turn up the radio. Beats paying an extra million to live 1 mile down the road.
 
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