Comments please: Vero Beach Marina for long term stay next winter

[SailorGirl2414]

Hi to all Liveaboards - Living Our Dream
We are planning our trip south from Lake Ontario through Oswego, Hudson then out in the big blue to Vero Beach for fall/winter 2015/2016.
Can anyone offer us some pros and cons for keeping our Catalina 380, with 6'8" draft at Vero Beach Marina for 6 months?
Also, we are looking at sailing it back up to Cape Marina (Cape Canaveral) for the hurricane season on 2016.
Love to hear from anyone that can recommend these locations or provide alternate suggestions.
Thanks!
Christine
-15C with wind chill this morning..our first winter living aboard.
High point - yacht club is nice and quiet, with just 12 boats in the water
Low Point - having to bundle up to walk to club for showers
Missing the most - full use of our huge cockpit area, it's just too cold on those cloudy days, even with the enclosure
Loving the most - free cable TV

[Hudson Force]

Pros:
1. Great transportation to the beach, restaurants, shopping &, boat suppies.
2. Nice amenities,- dinghy dock, fuel, water, showers, laundry,.. dog friendly.
3. Pleasant management and fellow cruisers.
4. Good price

Cons:
1. Some would rather avoid the high concentration of cruisers.
2. It's not approved for long term away from your boat.
3. For a long stay, you are removed from the adventure of cruising.
4. Your not close to an inlet for offshore access.

We usually stay for no more than thre or four days when we pass by northbound or southbound.

[sophiedaisey]

Not really anywhere to sail with 6'8" draft around there. Also the ICW with that draft can give an anxious time. I am sitting in Cape Canaveral now and think it is a great place to winter. Such easy access to sailing in the nice days, lots to do. I too have just used Vero as a stop over.



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[Cheechako]

I cant remember.... is Vero Beach the one with the closest inlet rather iffy at times?

[onestepcsy37]

Cheechako, nearest inlet to Vero Beach is Fort Pierce. Its a wide and well marked inlet, but at full ebb or flow the current is mighty strong. Best to time your entrance/exit.

Vero is a great stopover for snowbirds. But I think they have a 'no storage' policy, ie, your boat must be attended. Not sure if they enforce it or not. Call and ask.

For long term storage I concur with the Cape Canaveral crowd. Also a first class inlet (cruise ships use it).

[Cheechako]

Ahh , that's right. Ft Pierce is good inlet. I've been in and out of there many times. I was thinking of a spot further north... small inlet... and very shallow/narrow just inside with lots of current.

[OnTour]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Ahh , that's right. Ft Pierce is good inlet. I've been in and out of there many times. I was thinking of a spot further north... small inlet... and very shallow/narrow just inside with lots of current.

Probably Ponce Inlet


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[gunkylump]

Originally Posted by SailorGirl2414

Hi to all Liveaboards - Living Our Dream
We are planning our trip south from Lake Ontario through Oswego, Hudson then out in the big blue to Vero Beach for fall/winter 2015/2016.
Can anyone offer us some pros and cons for keeping our Catalina 380, with 6'8" draft at Vero Beach Marina for 6 months?
Also, we are looking at sailing it back up to Cape Marina (Cape Canaveral) for the hurricane season on 2016.
Love to hear from anyone that can recommend these locations or provide alternate suggestions.
Thanks!
Christine
-15C with wind chill this morning..our first winter living aboard.
High point - yacht club is nice and quiet, with just 12 boats in the water
Low Point - having to bundle up to walk to club for showers
Missing the most - full use of our huge cockpit area, it's just too cold on those cloudy days, even with the enclosure
Loving the most - free cable TV

Be careful in Florida....you might want to research how long you can keep your Canadian boat there before they want you to pay Florida taxes.....just sayin.........

[onestepcsy37]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Ahh , that's right. Ft Pierce is good inlet. I've been in and out of there many times. I was thinking of a spot further north... small inlet... and very shallow/narrow just inside with lots of current.

I think the next inlet north of Fort Pierce is Sebastian, but its small boat only as there is a low fixed bridge across it and it can be tricky. Next north of that is Port Canaveral and next north of that is Ponce, which is nearest to me.

[sophiedaisey]

Think that Fort Pierce inlet can get rough when wind and current oppose. Usually plan entry there with careful watch for wind and current. Ponce Inlet is narrow. Just went out there a few months ago and saw deep water all the way out. It was good weather, daytime and slack tide. Wouldn't want to have to make it in unsettled weather or at night.
I pretty much think Cape Canaveral is about the best entry/exit on the Florida east coast. Like I said earlier a lot to see and do, decent restaurants, beaches are close. Had some work done on boat and prices are definitely cheaper than further south.