Question for South East USA Members

[ssullivan]

We were looking at plans to go South next winter and trying to mix the need to work (proximity to an urban area) with the need to anchor (good protection, no harbormaster breathing down our necks).

Does anyone have any inside info as to a place to do so from South Carolina on down to Miami?

Ideally, we're trying to find a spot that has:

*Urban/Suburban area so we can work
*Anchorage protected from all sides
*Large number of other boats/marinas
*Loose enforcement or regulation of anchoring (we will stay for close to 6 mos)
*Public transportation or convenient to town with dinghy tie ups (would rather not bring the car down and fly back and forth for that)
*Availability of potable water to either fill at dock or jug
*Diesel somewhere near by for genset


Thanks to anyone who can come up with an anchorage they know of that fits most of these requirements.

[rleslie]

~St Augustine
~Fernandina Beach

Both beautiful towns within walking distanceof the anchorage. St Augustine is larger. Rumors are that both will be installing mooring balls and getting rid of the long term boats at anchor.

Roger

[CSY Man]

In South Florida ya are looking at marinas, or live-aboard docks.

I can find ya one for $450.00 a month here in Ft. Lauderdale and that is bottom dollar.

[ssullivan]

Thanks for the responses. St Augustine was on the short list, as I've heard great things. Also, it seems reasonable close to Jacksonville which has just a huge amount of work potential. I'll reasearch Fernandia Beach a bit... not familiar with it yet.

CSY Man: Roger that. I did fear that there was no hope at all in S Florida of finding an anchorage for any length of time or at all. When I lived in Ft Lauderdale, I didn't see many potential spots. $450/mo is not for us at this time... we are of course desperately trying to get this boat paid off, so all $$ in the red (or accouts payable) side are slashed or being slashed to nothing.

Thanks again for the responses. Very helpful and a good confirmation of what I had been looking at.

[never monday]

Hilton Head.
Stay out of GA, liveaboards are strongly discouraged.

[Entlie]

In Florida, Stuart is nice. It's just a few miles off the ICW. Nice mooring field, charming small town. Dinghy to marina or small park where it's a short walk to Publix, local cafe and laundramat. Public transportation is good, and Enterprise car rental has cheap 3-day weekend rates. We stored up our errands and rented a car every now and then. I think it was less than $300/month to stay on a mooring there. We weren't there a month so don't recall for sure. Buzz and staff are very accommodating. Big green market on Saturdays - previously nearby, last year we needed a car to get there.

Negatives are wakes from passing boats and crowded dinghy dock. We used the park as an alternative.

Southpoint Anchorage

Entlie
Sailing Catamaran Sunspot Baby