Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

[superpop]

Hi folks, might be moving from Seattle, WA to Boca Raton FL. I have a 21' Chaparral open bow that we use on the lakes here. It is in new condition and I hate to sell it but I am curious if it is the right boat for South FL. I understand that Alligators are a problem on the FW lakes so I assume I would be boating in salt water. (At least they are an issue in my wife's mind). Are there water sports and if so where do you do them, and does it make sense to drag this boat across the country or just buy a new one when we get there.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

Gators are not a problem. They're not aggressive like you see in the movies. Most gators don't even venture that far from shoreline. Your boat would be more than sufficient for inland lakes here as well as the InterCoastal Waterway (ICW). You're also fine for venturing offshore on calm days...after you do a little research on the water & weather in Florida.

 

[sasto]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

Lots of good boating in the ICW there. Couple of saltwater lakes on the ICW also make good spots for watersports. The inlet is one of the most dangerous I've ever encountered in an east wind or swells. Your boat may be a perfect fit in Bocca. You will find many like yours cruising the waterfront restarants and marinas. There is some exploring to do in the channels off the ICW also. Alligators are less dangerous than other boaters. :facepalm:

Good Luck in your decision and enjoy your new home.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

You'll never have a problem with gators. I've been swimming in some of the most gator infested lakes in Florida all my life and never had a problem. They will move aside for you they are more afraid of you than you are of them. As for your boat what you have is fine for cruising, if fishing is your game you'll want a flats boat for inshore or a center console for offshore. Then again you could always fish out of what you have just not ideal.

 

[sasto]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

You'll never have a problem with gators. I've been swimming in some of the most gator infested lakes in Florida all my life and never had a problem.

That's because GatorMike doesn't swim at night!

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

I used to live in Boca, there is lots of great boating for your boat.

In fact a friend kept their 18' Chaparral in the water on a canal off Camino Real rd (I lived behind the fresh market)

A short ride through the canal, past the boat ramp at Dixie Hwy on the border of Deerfield and Boca (RP McMurphy's is a great bar across the street), under the us-1 bridge and your at the ICW.

There are parks and restaurant's all over that are reachable by boat, a lake is right there where everybody anchors and hangs out. You can run in the ocean most of the year. You can take a ride down to Ft Lauderdale or go north.

Lots of sights to see.

Houses, Yachts, Birds, Iguanas, Shopping, Manatees

The area has more boats and boating then just about anywhere in the world.
(Lauderdale is the yachting capital of the world)

I could spend all day giving you things to do and places to go.

Keep your boat it's perfect!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

Funny to hear other folks perceptions of Floirida, but I guess you just take growing up around gators and other toothy critters for granted. Don't believe everything you see on TV. Gators are not a problem. Yes, they are everywhere. No, they won't bother you (but keep an eye on your dog, if you have one). They may occasionally want to use your pool or lawn to sunbathe, but will otherwise leave you be We pose and exponentially greater risk to them than they ever have or ever will pose to us. Afterall, we're the ones turning them into shoes and handbags for no apparent reason, not the other way around. Your 21' will dwarf and run off any gator you come across. However, your wife may be surpirsed when she sees sharks that are dang near as long as your boat swimming in the crystal clear waters of Boca, so be prepared :/ We got big sharks and lots of 'em. I mean something has to come and eat that tarpon you've been fighting for the last hour After you see a couple 14'-15' hammer heads an alligator will seem like a bullfrog. Shoot, we grew up often going out alone in to shark, gator and poisonous snake infested waters in little more than Jon boats and canoes and most of us are still here You have far more to worry about from the people and tourists in South Florida than from any wildlife. The critters were here first, and they're only doing what the are meant to do. Use common sense and courtesy and you'll be fine, and PLEASE, PLEASE mind the no wake/manatee zones. Our manatees are one of our greatest gifts and it drives me crazy to see @#$@#%?* speeding through manatee zones. Boca is about as far from Seattle as you can get, so I hope you're ready 2 more tips: 1.) Learn Spanish South Florida is basically Northern Cuba 2.) Enjoy out great state. Beinvenido a Florida!

P.S.
Ditch that seattle moca-java-latte or whatever it is you may be used to drinking and try some Cafe Cubano. It's basically sweetened, espresso jet fuel Gives you plenty of pep for a day on the water.

 

[wingless]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

Here is the live web cam for Lake Boca.

The thing I haven't figured out yet is how the manatees read the signs telling everyone the time-of-day, day-of-week and time-of-year speed limits. The cops know how to enforce the short story rules printed on the tiny signs.

 

[sasto]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

Here is the live web cam for Lake Boca.

The thing I haven't figured out yet is how the manatees read the signs telling everyone the time-of-day, day-of-week and time-of-year speed limits. The cops know how to enforce the short story rules printed on the tiny signs.

How observent you are.....Once you stay in FL for awhile you will find manatees only hang around the homes that have big boats on their dock. They don't go around the neighborhoods where your typical 20 footer is tied up. They are only out certain times of the day. If you see big $$ homes, that's where the signs, I mean manatees, are.

All joking aside, please obey the signs and you will remain a happy boater.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

If I were going to pick a place to boat, other than here in North East IN, I'd pick that area of Florida. I've spent several vacations in LBS (Lauderdale by the Sea), and loved every minute of it. There are so many places to dock and eat on the Inter Costal. One of the really cool things is when you drive over the road in a boat via a water bridge in Lauderdale...ya don't do that every day. JB's on the beach is a really good place to eat near Boca. The Aruba in LBS is great, you can catch your dinner at Fishermans Pier on Commercial Blvd, and they will cook it for you! Your boat will fit in perfectly down there. Oh....man I wanna go down there right now.

If you go to live down there, you have to get certified to dive. Some of the best scuba diving in the US is a half mile off shore from Boca Inlet and Hillsboro Inlet. The reefs are gorgeous, and they have sunk many ships creating artificial reefs to dive on there as well. kfa is right...have seen many sharks diving in the area...many nurse sharks...but the bull sharks are scary! Just looked at the web cams....Oh...now I really wanna go.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

No it's probably not the right boat. (although my parents boated all over FL with a 2135) Alligators are not a big problem. Don't believe what you hear on the internet.

 

[mr 88]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

The area has more boats and boating then just about anywhere in the world.
(Lauderdale is the yachting capital of the world)

I could spend all day giving you things to do and places to go.

Keep your boat it's perfect!

Believe it or not I read a few years back that Michigan has the most registered boats of any state. No I do not live there and yes FLA is a boating paridise.Just pointing it out and please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

Believe it or not I read a few years back that Michigan has the most registered boats of any state. No I do not live there and yes FLA is a boating paridise.Just pointing it out and please correct me if I am wrong.

He said yachting capital not boating capital.....if you've ever been there you'd see the shear number of large yachts in that area....most of them complete with hired captain and crew! The homes on the ICW are full of people with stupid money! It's nothing to see 150' yachts sitting in front of a house. The average guy doesn't just jump in one if those and drive it.

 

[mr 88]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

He said yachting capital not boating capital.....if you've ever been there you'd see the shear number of large yachts in that area....most of them complete with hired captain and crew!

Try reading the first sentance that I quoted again.I have been to Fla so many times that I lost count.Yep that where most of the snowbirds with money and yachts end up.Great place to visit.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Boating in Florida (Boca Raton)

That's because GatorMike doesn't swim at night!

Lol you are right about that.....I may be foolish but I ain't no fool. I did do something once that looking back at it 30 years later freaks me out. My brother in law talked me into wade fishing out in the middle of the lower lake at Mayakka State Park. It is a shallow lake only about 4 feet deep that is infested with very large gators. We are talking 12 to 14 footers. Anyway many times that day we found ourselves in chest deep water 100 yds from shore with 3 or 4 huge gators within a few feet of us. The gators were very curious and would swim up to within a few feet and just float there and look at us. If we moved twards them they would slowly back off and if they got too close we too would slowly back off. It was pretty nerve racking but my brother in law claimed he did it all the time.