Venice, FL anchorage for a few weeks

[karenmccraw]

We'll be arriving Venice, Florida in the next week or so (currently waiting on the crazy cold weather in Pensacola!) to visit with relatives for a couple of weeks. We'll be staying on the boat.

I'm looking at options for anchoring and wonder if anyone has any ideas? Skipper Bob's suggests an extremely small anchorage north of the Yacht Club as about the only option. Also suggested is Lemon Bay 12 miles south.

If I am able to anchor at either of these options, is there a way to tie up the dinghy to go for daily visits away from the boat?

And are there options I'm missing?

[belizesailor]

Anchoring options are pretty limited in Venice. There is a municipal dock there where you can probably tie up (better yet, lock up) for short trips into town, but I dont know current policy.

[a64pilot]

I have always been under the impression that Venice wasn’t cruiser friendly, so I’d stay a night at the Marina and move on.
Things may have changed though, but it was my understanding that soon after you anchor the local police would visit.

[rognvald]

The "anchorage" is across(east) from the Yacht Club and inside the main channel. It is an anchorage, in name only, with room for only a few boats to anchor safely. It is effected on the turn of the tides and your boat will dance around quite a bit from the current. We once dropped the hook there out of necessity and before nightfall boats continued to come in and anchor. One boat anchored less than 10 feet from us and refused to move. There was a public pier that was free, at the time, for shallow draft vessels that filled up immediately and had room for two boats at best. The marinas in the channel are next to a restaurant which is very noisy and there's a chance to pick up a rat because of the garbage bins. I don't know why anyone would want to anchor in Venice. Especially for three weeks. But, that's me. Good luck and safe sailing.

[belizesailor]

IMHO the best option in Venice is The Crows Nest, small marina with limited slips, but an awesome pub and resturant. A great option if the rates are not crazy by now (I was last there a long time ago).

[flyingfin]

Run south to Lemon Bay and anchor opposite near Indian Mound boat ramp, or run north to Palmetto and anchor in Manatee River. Both offer easy access to shore for grocery, rental car, etc

[sailm8]

Anchorage in Venice is poor as others have said. You might consider Sarasota's mooring field.

[WSMFP]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

IMHO the best option in Venice is The Crows Nest, small marina with limited slips, but an awesome pub and resturant. A great option if the rates are not crazy by now (I was last there a long time ago).

Also about a mile south on the ICW is Fishermans Wharf Marina. Concrete floating docks. Walking distance to Ace hardware, auto parts store and groceries.

But forget about anchoring in Venice. There's a Venice PD water cop that's also a very well known hard azz. Not a friendly place.