Marinas in Sarasota

[Carchick]

Hello all I'm new as of today so go easy on me.
My husband and I are taking our 28 ft Cape Dory from Indiana to Sarasota next week. He would like to find a marina in the Sarasota area that can use a travel lift to put the boat in. He's made dozens of calls and cant find anyone that will work with a sailboat. Any suggestions? He tried Venice and some other cities as well. Thank you.

[Davy J]

If I recall, Bradenton Beach Marina has a travel lift. Would take a few hours to make your way down to Sarasota from there. Also, much farther north would be Snead Island Boatworks and up in Tampa Bay, Shell Point Marina.

[Carchick]

Thanks a bunch!

[Carchick]

You were correct... Bradenton Beach can help us. Cant wait to leave this cold weather.

[Davy J]

A couple words........

Plan your route into the marina well ahead, this time of year is crazy busy.

Also, be patient, traffic will also be crazy.

The trip from there to Sarasota is beautiful. Keep in mind, the ICW heading south, on the Gulf Coast, red markers will be on your left.

[Carchick]

Ok thank you. I'll pass this along to my hubby.

[svHyLyte]

While the Bradenton Beach marina can help you, if you are towing your boat yourself, rather than having a commercial towing company handle the shipment, you would be much wiser using Snead Island Boat Works if they can accommodate you. Aside from the traffic to/on the island, the maneuvering room into that marina is rather poor for an awkward tow while getting into SIBW is pretty straight forward off of I-75. Moreover, the Manatee River will be much easier to negotiate while you get your "sea legs" and sea trial the boat after launch then will be the confines and surface traffic of the ICW off Bradenton Beach. Snead Island Boat Works can be found at 5225 Snead Island Rd, Palmetto, FL 34221 (for Google Earth). The owner, Gary Alderman, can be reached at (941) 722-4450. We've worked with the yard for 24 years and have always been very happy with their work/service.

FWIW...

[Carchick]

Very helpful. Thank you so much.

[LongSail]

sarasota sailing sqaudron can lead you in the right direction:

Sarasota Sailing Squadron | 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, 941-388-2355

It also a great bunch of people. Good luck

[S/V Illusion]

To 'second' the above recommendation, most of the trailor sailors around here use the SSSquadron which seems to be the most popular and accommodating and probably the most centrally located.

[Carchick]

Thank you.