Florida west coast boating
- Thread starter gwazoo27
- Start date
I.D.C.E.
Administrator
Look at our album. Lots of pics with locations in the captions. We were just boating that area last month!
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152850091882570.1073741836.172474352569&type=1
Are you renting a boat?
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152850091882570.1073741836.172474352569&type=1
Are you renting a boat?
I.D.C.E.
Administrator
I always wish i was down there. We would be real interested relocating if the house market turned around enough in my area to sell without taking a hit....
So what kind of places are you looking for? How long are you in the area? Are you overnighting on the boat in a marina?
So what kind of places are you looking for? How long are you in the area? Are you overnighting on the boat in a marina?
I.D.C.E.
Administrator
South Seas Resort is a good stay on Captiva for a night or more. The ammenities ie pools, restaurants, etc are on the resort level definitely a place to chill or if you play golf they have a course. A little walk outside the resort gated is Captiva's downtown where there are excellent restaurants like R.C. Otters, Captiva Cantina, Key Lime Bistro, Mucky Duck... i could go on...
I recommend a must stop for the night is Cabbage Key. Which is approx 20 mins north from Sanibel (the way i cruise lol). Jeff is the dockmaster. They serve breakfast lunch and dinner. It is an island to get away and just relax. It was said this island helped inspire Jimmy Buffet's "Cheeseburger in Paradise". He has a plaque on the wall but they have no fryer on the island so some of the lines don't match... If i had to pick one place to go this is the spot. Get server Debbie if she is working, she's a hoot! Tell her Tom from Jersey says Hi. (She prob will have a brain fart but she may remember since i was there last month). Got to have a Cabbage Creeper if you partake in cold refreshing adult beverages if ya like it without the alcohol get a Cabbage Crawler!
Cayo Costa State Park has a docking area where you can tie up and hitch a ride on the tractor pulled wagon to spend some time at the beach. You can also drop the hook in that area there's a nice mooring area which is really safe and seems like the spot you will see some moor overnight at.
Further north you have Boca Grande. There are several marinas where you can dock overnight and get to visit a neat high end island. We actually rented a condo there and that's where we stayed for the week. Cool history in the downtown with neat restaurants. You could look up Mark Futch and go for a seaplane ride.
North of that you can go into Gasparilla Marina which is a great marina. Really well maintained with whatever you need. They have a restaurant on site also. They have good fuel prices with non ethanol fuel too.
Lemon Bay area gets a little skinny for the IPS boats.
Things to look for also. Cape Harbour Marina is amazing. Rum Runners is there and a bunch of other restaurants shops and bars. The Westin is in the same area and is worth a look. They are both at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee.
Key West is only 3-4 hrs from Ft. Myers!
How long are you in the area? Also you boated from the OBX? Which route did you take?
I recommend a must stop for the night is Cabbage Key. Which is approx 20 mins north from Sanibel (the way i cruise lol). Jeff is the dockmaster. They serve breakfast lunch and dinner. It is an island to get away and just relax. It was said this island helped inspire Jimmy Buffet's "Cheeseburger in Paradise". He has a plaque on the wall but they have no fryer on the island so some of the lines don't match... If i had to pick one place to go this is the spot. Get server Debbie if she is working, she's a hoot! Tell her Tom from Jersey says Hi. (She prob will have a brain fart but she may remember since i was there last month). Got to have a Cabbage Creeper if you partake in cold refreshing adult beverages if ya like it without the alcohol get a Cabbage Crawler!
Cayo Costa State Park has a docking area where you can tie up and hitch a ride on the tractor pulled wagon to spend some time at the beach. You can also drop the hook in that area there's a nice mooring area which is really safe and seems like the spot you will see some moor overnight at.
Further north you have Boca Grande. There are several marinas where you can dock overnight and get to visit a neat high end island. We actually rented a condo there and that's where we stayed for the week. Cool history in the downtown with neat restaurants. You could look up Mark Futch and go for a seaplane ride.
North of that you can go into Gasparilla Marina which is a great marina. Really well maintained with whatever you need. They have a restaurant on site also. They have good fuel prices with non ethanol fuel too.
Lemon Bay area gets a little skinny for the IPS boats.
Things to look for also. Cape Harbour Marina is amazing. Rum Runners is there and a bunch of other restaurants shops and bars. The Westin is in the same area and is worth a look. They are both at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee.
Key West is only 3-4 hrs from Ft. Myers!
How long are you in the area? Also you boated from the OBX? Which route did you take?
Thanks for the info. I am thinking about going to Captiva tomorrow for lunch got cousins driving up from Naples for the day. Cabbage Key sounds interesting will look into it. Cape harbor marina is my fuel stop when we head back to Stuart on the weekend. We are here for the winter. Been keeping the boat here for the past 3 years.Use to travel back and forth to the OBX every winter. We would travel ICW or offshore depending on conditions.
E
Easy Living
Guest
I was just at Sanibel Island a week ago. Looks like the good weather is still there.
Enjoy
Enjoy
sixsandyfeet
Member
Gwazoo, I envy you. You're in easily one of the greatest boating spots in the country. My bride and I were married on Sanibel, and we get down there every year over the holidays. IDCE has nailed it in terms of places to go - but there are also numerous small islands dotting the ICW that you can call your own for an afternoon. If you're moored at Sanibel Island Marina, run into Gramma Dots for the soft shell crab sandwich - or grouper. On Captiva in addition to South Seas, there are other great spots as well. Tween Waters is always fun - try to catch the crab races. North of there you can dock at The Green Flash. Great bisque. If you're staying on Captiva for a couple days, you have to grab a meal at The Bubble Room. Kitschy, but the real attraction is the desert selection. (Orange Cake....!). You will eat well on both islands.
Cayo Costa state park is great for beach combing. Cabbage Key is a must. Get the cheeseburger and bring a couple extra singles for the walls. North Captiva is beautiful.
Or you can skip all these places and do your own thing. You won't go wrong or regret anything you choose. A run up the Caloosahatche is interesting as well.
Enjoy you time I this paradise...and post pics. Lots of them!
Cayo Costa state park is great for beach combing. Cabbage Key is a must. Get the cheeseburger and bring a couple extra singles for the walls. North Captiva is beautiful.
Or you can skip all these places and do your own thing. You won't go wrong or regret anything you choose. A run up the Caloosahatche is interesting as well.
Enjoy you time I this paradise...and post pics. Lots of them!
Went to start up my boat this morning, pushed start button and absolutely nothing. Paralleled the batteries even though I know that they are all good nothing. By passed the start button got a click like the solenoid but no start. Hit the starter a few times nothing. put a volt meter on the starter iv line plenty of juice there. Went to see if I could find a mechanic on a sunday morning on Sanibel that's a laugh. Just as I am walking back wife calls me she tried one more time and its running. Started and shut down a few times no problem. ran all day no problem. Hope it starts in the morning.I am no mechanic any one have any ideas??? Motors are 440 Yanmar diesel.
