Looking for advice from snowbirds... OT

[GeoBarb11]

Just beware that many if the bays down here in SWFL are very shallow. Estero Bay for example is pretty much a “puddle” in my opinion with the majority of the bay anywhere from 1-1/2 to 4ft deep. You are pretty much restricted to dredged out channels where the water may be up to 12ft. The coastal water off Ft Myers range from 12-18 ft for quite a ways out. More than enough depth to “move around”. Tides generally only change about 1-1/2 to 2 feet or so. I’ve got a 25ft cuddy that draws about 30” with the drive fully down so water depth here is something I look at very closely. It is definitely a different world when it comes to boating down here. Lots of shallow bottom, outboards instead of I/Os, and deeper draft boats restricted to channels and rivers. Can you tell I miss Winnie?


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[TiltonBB]

The good news is the bottom is almost all soft sand so when you do touch it will usually just put a shine on your prop and skeg.

One of the other surprises I had when I first boated in Florida was that it is not nearly as rough as the New England coastal waters. On most days the waves run in the 1 foot range and a lot of times it is nearly flat. There are a lot of sandy beaches to pull up on.

And when you see a fin go by in the water (and you will) no worries, it is a most likely a dolphin, not a shark.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by GeoBarb11

Just beware that many if the bays down here in SWFL are very shallow. Estero Bay for example is pretty much a “puddle” in my opinion with the majority of the bay anywhere from 1-1/2 to 4ft deep. You are pretty much restricted to dredged out channels where the water may be up to 12ft. The coastal water off Ft Myers range from 12-18 ft for quite a ways out. More than enough depth to “move around”. Tides generally only change about 1-1/2 to 2 feet or so. I’ve got a 25ft cuddy that draws about 30” with the drive fully down so water depth here is something I look at very closely. It is definitely a different world when it comes to boating down here. Lots of shallow bottom, outboards instead of I/Os, and deeper draft boats restricted to channels and rivers. Can you tell I miss Winnie?

Thanks. I've been studying the charts and it's astounding how shallow it is. Reminds me of upper Chesapeake Bay. I might be adjusting my trip a bit further north between Tarpon Springs and Fort Meyers. I hear the experience on the water is similar, but the expenses are dramatically reduced and since I have no experience boating in FL, it's all good...

[TiltonBB]

And one other thing: There is no "safe passage" law in Florida. You will be amazed at how close boats on plane will come to your boat without giving it a thought. You just have to get used to it and accept it. I am sure other "snowbirds" from New Hampshire have experienced the same thing.

On Saturday I was in Naples going about 20 MPH and a boat came up on the left abreast of me and about 40 feet away. Just as I was thinking "that guy is really close" a boat going about 35 in the same direction passed between us and his wake threw my boat sideways. It got my attention!

It happens all the time in Florida. I have wanted to ask (certainly in a very nice way) Did you give any thought to your wake and the spray your boat throws up as you pass by? Did you consider that I might have changed course by a little just as you passed and there would have been a pretty good collision?

There is no point in asking. They wouldn't even know what you were talking about. It is just the way it is and that is "normal" here..

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

And one other thing: There is no "safe passage" law in Florida. You will be amazed at how close boats on plane will come to your boat without giving it a thought. You just have to get used to it and accept it. I am sure other "snowbirds" from New Hampshire have experienced the same thing.

On Saturday I was in Naples going about 20 MPH and a boat came up on the left abreast of me and about 40 feet away. Just as I was thinking "that guy is really close" a boat going about 35 in the same direction passed between us and his wake threw my boat sideways. It got my attention!

It happens all the time in Florida. I have wanted to ask (certainly in a very nice way) Did you give any thought to your wake and the spray your boat throws up as you pass by? Did you consider that I might have changed course by a little just as you passed and there would have been a pretty good collision?

There is no point in asking. They wouldn't even know what you were talking about. It is just the way it is and that is "normal" here..

Thanks for that, and the dolphin pictures. I've done a lot of boating outside NH and I am used to not having the Safe Passage law. Frankly, I prefer not to have it.

150+ feet away is great for:
swimmers
shore
human powered boats
boats at rest
boats that are substantially smaller than the one you're operating
water skiers
etc.

However, 150 feet is way too much space for two similarly-sized boats underway. For instance, I think two PWCs should be able to cruise side by side 10 feet apart, and if two 20 foot bowriders want to pass each other on plane 50 feet apart in the Graveyard, the law should allow for that.

That said, I would not try to change it here in NH, it makes boating here (especially on Winnipesaukee where there's a massive MP presence) incredibly relaxing and easy compared to most other places. I can live with the occasional inconvenience of it.

[8gv]

I do my Florida boating in the southern most area of Saint Petersburg.

In Google Maps you can get a nice satellite view by searching for”Fort De Soto Park”.

There you will have access to:
The Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
Tampa Bay
Shell Island Preserve
Egmont Key
New Island

Unless it is really windy you will always have a place to go.

For longer trips you can cruise north to Clearwater Harbor or south to Anna Maria Island.

I am sure there are better (and worse) places in Florida but for the last sixteen years it has been great for us.

Tierra Verde Marina probably can slip or rack your boat.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by 8gv

I do my Florida boating in the southern most area of Saint Petersburg.

In Google Maps you can get a nice satellite view by searching for”Fort De Soto Park”.

There you will have access to:
The Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
Tampa Bay
Shell Island Preserve
Egmont Key
New Island

Unless it is really windy you will always have a place to go.

For longer trips you can cruise north to Clearwater Harbor or south to Anna Maria Island.

I am sure there are better (and worse) places in Florida but for the last sixteen years it has been great for us.

Tierra Verde Marina probably can slip or rack your boat.

Coincidentally, I have been re-thinking my plans and may cruise the Tampa to Fort Meyers are instead of the Keys. It's apparently substantially cheaper and just as interesting.

I use Active Captain which has Satellite views and NOAA chart views with marina, restaurant, hazard, launch ramp, anchorage, bridge, lock, and other useful data as clickable links with crowd-sourced updates and reviews. It's an awesome website. There are even entries for Winnipesaukee on there.

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

And one other thing: There is no "safe passage" law in Florida. You will be amazed at how close boats on plane will come to your boat without giving it a thought. You just have to get used to it and accept it. I am sure other "snowbirds" from New Hampshire have experienced the same thing.

On Saturday I was in Naples going about 20 MPH and a boat came up on the left abreast of me and about 40 feet away. Just as I was thinking "that guy is really close" a boat going about 35 in the same direction passed between us and his wake threw my boat sideways. It got my attention!

It happens all the time in Florida. I have wanted to ask (certainly in a very nice way) Did you give any thought to your wake and the spray your boat throws up as you pass by? Did you consider that I might have changed course by a little just as you passed and there would have been a pretty good collision?

There is no point in asking. They wouldn't even know what you were talking about. It is just the way it is and that is "normal" here..

So are there more collisions and accidents in general because of the lack of safe passage laws? Insurance must be expensive down there??!