Taking a small boat on Florida panhandle vacation.

[madurodave]

It is a dream of mine... Every year I consider taking it but never do. I own a 21' capri cuddy. I would love to haul it down and rent a slip for the week in St Andrews Bay in Pamana City Beach area. I would also like to take it gulf side some to mess around if the sea is calm enough.

We usually rent a pontoon for about 200.00 for the day to play around in the bay BUT I do see boats my size in the bay all the time.

Can I venture out to the gulf? Is there anything I need to consider maintenance wise, leaving it in a slip all week? If I can't leave in a slip, do I need to trailer every time I take it out and flush it?

Can you give me any tips? Or should I squash this idea all together?

Thanks in advance.

Dave

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Taking a small boat on Florida panhandle vacation.

My boat's in my avatar and signature. She's never tasted salt water... Yet. Check out the St Augustine Get Together thread.

To answer your questions, no problem. Your boat will do fine in the ICW, The Gulf, and you can take her off shore, too. I don't know how comfortable I'd feel more than 5 or 10 miles. I want to see land in a 20-21' boat. Check out a NeutraSalt system, or Salt Away for your motor. If you don't leave her in the water, you'll want to flush the motor and drive really well every time you take her out. If you leave her in the water, the NeutraSalt system will allow you to Neutralize the salt (as the name implies) prior to shutting down your motor at the end of the day.

Your dream is in your hands, and is a perfectly reasonable reality.

Good luck, have fun, and stay safe!!!

 

[sasto]

Re: Taking a small boat on Florida panhandle vacation.

Bring her on down and enjoy yourself. She will be fine. If your really concerened, follow veritus honus's suggestion. Otherwise, follow the same procedure as would do at the dock in your area. I would think "About Time' would handle the waters on a good day. Just be prepaired, same as you would on any boat.

Towing service is good there. For a few bucks you can have the service at your fingertips.....which you may already have.

Good luck, Dave, and have fun at one of my old stomping grounds....Panama City Beach.

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: Taking a small boat on Florida panhandle vacation.

Dave we will be doing exactly that in 19 days. I've been boating in P.C. for probably 25 years in everything, from jet-skis, 16 ft.jet-boats, 17/18/19/21 ft. I/Os. It's a yearly thing for us. Used to be 5 or six trips a year, but we're a little farther away now, and have to limit it to once a year.

Launching a St.Andrews is O.K. but it becomes very crowded in the summer. The parking is not great either on the weekends, and it has gotten very expensive to get into the park and launch daily compared to a few years back. There are about three free ramps off S. Lagoon Drive, but they are in between peoples homes and the parking is very limited. I've put-in at Hathaway Bridge, but it's been a long time. I'm going to try Hathaway again this year.

We go to the far end of Shell-Island or Crooked-Island, ocean-side, it is a true paradise only accessable via boat. No crowds, emerald water, dolphins, it's awesome!!! Boated there on our honeymoon 19 years ago.....As far as the seas go, you can go out in 1 to 3, no problem. The pass can be a little intimadating at times, and can fool you about the seas, but not to worry, after you get through and turn left, smooth boating from there!!

I trailer, something about leaving my freshwater stuff in the salt for a week, I just can't do it. There is one car-wash with flush accomidations on Thomas-Dr., I know where it is but can't give ya a name.

 

[madurodave]

Re: Taking a small boat on Florida panhandle vacation.

Thanks so much for the information guys. I called http://www.piratescovemarinapcb.com/

And they told me for 35.00 per week, i can store my rig in a locked fenced in area and launch from there. This seems like a good option.

 

[madurodave]

Re: Taking a small boat on Florida panhandle vacation.

19 days huh? We will be there from 6-4 to 6-11. Maybe you can show me the ropes. I will buy lunch!

Dave we will be doing exactly that in 19 days. I've been boating in P.C. for probably 25 years in everything, from jet-skis, 16 ft.jet-boats, 17/18/19/21 ft. I/Os. It's a yearly thing for us. Used to be 5 or six trips a year, but we're a little farther away now, and have to limit it to once a year.

Launching a St.Andrews is O.K. but it becomes very crowded in the summer. The parking is not great either on the weekends, and it has gotten very expensive to get into the park and launch daily compared to a few years back. There are about three free ramps off S. Lagoon Drive, but they are in between peoples homes and the parking is very limited. I've put-in at Hathaway Bridge, but it's been a long time. I'm going to try Hathaway again this year.

We go to the far end of Shell-Island or Crooked-Island, ocean-side, it is a true paradise only accessable via boat. No crowds, emerald water, dolphins, it's awesome!!! Boated there on our honeymoon 19 years ago.....As far as the seas go, you can go out in 1 to 3, no problem. The pass can be a little intimadating at times, and can fool you about the seas, but not to worry, after you get through and turn left, smooth boating from there!!

I trailer, something about leaving my freshwater stuff in the salt for a week, I just can't do it. There is one car-wash with flush accomidations on Thomas-Dr., I know where it is but can't give ya a name.

 

[madurodave]

Re: Taking a small boat on Florida panhandle vacation.

Thanks so much for the information guys. I called http://www.piratescovemarinapcb.com/

And they told me for 35.00 per week, i can store my rig in a locked fenced in area and launch from there. This seems like a good option.

that is not true...I just called to confirm....cant launch from there.

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Taking a small boat on Florida panhandle vacation.

I live here in Panama City and the bay is my playground Your size boat will do just fine here and going offshore won't be a problem for you. Before I sold her, I went offshore (5-8 miles) on a regular basis in my 20' CC. If you have access, I'd recomend launching from Tyndall AFB or the Navy base, if you don't than I'd launch from the Panama City Marina. During the season most launch ramps get crowded here and the marina has allot of parking space and it's centrally located. Go stright and you hit the pass, shell island, and St. Andrews St. Park. Go left and you head onto west bay, right is east bay. We have a sea tow franchise here if you need them. Florida fish and game are prevalent, but they're good guys and do their job, not harass. Fuel is readily available from several marinas and if you run non-ethanol it's available locally but not at the marinas. Fishing is good here and there are many public artificial reefs around. A fun trip is to launch at the marina, go through the pass and turn right and cruise paralell to Panama City Beach. If you have the range for it cruising down to Destin is fun as well. The weather is generally good but keep an eye on it as getting in and out the pass can be rough if it kicks up.Lots of other boaters and shipping around so you won't be lonely out there as well. All in all it's a great place to go boating. Hope ya have a great time

Art

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: Taking a small boat on Florida panhandle vacation.

19 days huh? We will be there from 6-4 to 6-11. Maybe you can show me the ropes. I will buy lunch!

We are comming-in on the 11th Dave.........Bummer. Probably won't go out on Saturday (11th). 5-1/2 hours towing. I'll be beat.

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: Taking a small boat on Florida panhandle vacation.

Dave, how'd it go???

We had a blast.