Moorings and Anchorages in Gulf-coast Florida?

[kjdavie01]

Hope this is an appropriate place to post this inquiry.
We're looking for ideas for moorings and/or anchorages for longer term stays in the Bradenton/Sarasota area of Florida. Not marinas - we're just not marina people, nor does our cruising budget allow that sort of expense for more than a night or two as a change. Mostly we'd prefer to anchor out, but a good mooring is nice sometimes too.
Any ideas? Say, within 15 miles or so of Bradenton. Access to a dinghy landing so we could walk to store, etc would be nice, but not required.
Thanks!
Keith & Nicki, s/v Sionna, Triangle 32 ketch

[RTB]

There are moorings at Marina Jacks in Sarasota. Expensive at $25.00/day.

There is a very good anchorage in Boca Ciega Bay (Gulfport, Fl.). Anchor in front of the old casino. There is a nice park, and dinghy dock right there. You'll see O'Maddy's restaurant and bar on the shore. Check out Active Captain here - https://activecaptain.com/X.php

A few stores within walking distance, and you can take a bus right in front of the casino if you need real provisioning. We spent 10 days there in May last year.

Ralph

[denverd0n]

This is a good resource for anchoring spots along the southwest coast of Florida.

Florida Sea Grant - Boating & Waterways - Anchorage Inventory

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by denverd0n

This is a good resource for anchoring spots along the southwest coast of Florida.

Florida Sea Grant - Boating & Waterways - Anchorage Inventory

See also ActiveCaptain.com (registration is free) and use the interactive cruising guide.

[sailm8]

Cruisersnet.net is a good resource.

[kjdavie01]

Some great resources there, thanks to all! I'm a member of Active Captain, but they seem to focus more on marina's, and the anchorage list is a bit shy in the Bradenton area. Or maybe there just aren't a lot of anchoring options on the river! I'll keep looking!

[AnchorageGuy]

Tons of anchorages in the Bradenton area. We have several in our Gulf coast anchorage guide. The only moorings are Sarasota. Their open to the weather, expensive and subject to lots of boat wakes. Bradenton has anchorages close to town near the marina and bridge. Chuck

[Scout 30]

Can you still anchor short term off of Bayfront Park in Sarasota? We stayed there for several days many years ago & had a good time.

[jangann]

Otter Key near Bird Key. My fav. Or the anchorage just south of Longboat Pass, by the Mar Vista restaurant or Moores crab house (free dockage at Moores if you eat there, nothing fancy but can be useful. Inside de Soto park on the Manatee River. Also you can dock at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron for very cheap.


An Ocean Lover in Maine.

[stewfish]

I have lived in the area for 8 years. I'm renting on the water and thinking about putting my boat off shore for weekends to make things easier vs the hassle of the marina I have to deal with (location of slip (all the others were full), to get out of for the size of my boat), driving, etc. vs just walking out the back door and unhooking the sailboat. Every year I see the large group of sailboats show up for half a year. Some boats are able to anchor at Gulfport (mud) for a log time while some wash on shore every year and I was wondering what people use that keep their 35'+ boats in place without having anxiety when they go to bed every night? I just can't imagine a delta, bruce or danforth even with a hinged shank holding during a tropical storm, and I have seen dozens of boats make it through the last tropical storm a few months ago, actually I think only one broke loose. Are they using 3 anchors with a center pivot point or what? My 33 lb delta with 10 ft of 1/2" chain works great but barely holds my 20' boat in big waves as it yanks it forward a few inches over a day. A lot of their rode is not shallow and closer to 30 degrees or 45 degrees vs 10, also some are not all chain. What is the magic sauce that I am missing? I almost wan't to go dive and see what they are all using. What am I missing? I have seen a 50+ boat out there that hasn't moved while I wouldn't trust my oversized anchor to hold for months. I can't imagine they are using a mushrooms or pyramids bc how would they get it back up every year when they want to go somewhere else to then return again next year? Are they just putting it in reverse and driving the anchors soo much deeper?

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by stewfish

I have lived in the area for 8 years. I'm renting on the water and thinking about putting my boat off shore for weekends to make things easier vs the hassle of the marina I have to deal with (location of slip (all the others were full), to get out of for the size of my boat), driving, etc. vs just walking out the back door and unhooking the sailboat. Every year I see the large group of sailboats show up for half a year. Some boats are able to anchor at Gulfport (mud) for a log time while some wash on shore every year and I was wondering what people use that keep their 35'+ boats in place without having anxiety when they go to bed every night? I just can't imagine a delta, bruce or danforth even with a hinged shank holding during a tropical storm, and I have seen dozens of boats make it through the last tropical storm a few months ago, actually I think only one broke loose. Are they using 3 anchors with a center pivot point or what? My huge 40 lb delta with 10 ft of 1/2" chain works great but barely holds my 20' boat in big waves as it yanks it forward a few inches over a day. A lot of their rode is not shallow and closer to 30 degrees or 45 degrees vs 10, also some are not all chain. What is the magic sauce that I am missing? I almost wan't to go dive and see what they are all using. What am I missing? I have seen a 50+ boat out there that hasn't moved while I wouldn't trust my oversized anchor to hold for months. I can't imagine they are using a mushrooms or pyramids bc how would they get it back up every year when they want to go somewhere else to then return again next year? Are they just putting it in reverse and driving the anchors soo much deeper?

There are a ton of anchoring threads here. I normally hate this kind of comment but in this case I recommend doing a search. The general consensus these days is that the new generation of anchors (Rocna, Spade, Mantus, etc.) are the way to go. The Danforth/Fortress design is great in sand & mud due to their large flukes but they don't handle grass or wind direction changes very well. I still use the venerable CQR which I've always had good luck with but will probably get a Rocna in the future. Using more than one anchor is not recommended very often & can really be a pain when it's time to pull them up.

I have to say a 40lb anchor for a 20' boat is about 4 times bigger than normal.

[stewfish]

Originally Posted by Scout 30

I have to say a 40lb anchor for a 20' boat is about 4 times bigger than normal.

My bad I think it was actually a 33lb, it is way oversized, the shank was bent and I used three trees and a come along to bend it back - I put the shank between two trees close together where the shank spanned the gap, and used the 3rd tree for the come along. It cost only $25 and the 1/2"+ thick shank looked strong enough to hold anything if I could bend it back.

I just thought that I'm missing something and that the live-a-boards would know a secret. I don't use my motor to set the anchor so maybe that's the difference. Is there really that much difference between the rocna and my bruce?

I was thinking maybe they used one of these

Skrew anchor:
when it is necessary “to anchor:” something temporarily or definitively in the ground, soft ground or sand.
https://www.spadeanchorusa.com/skrew-mooring-anchor

[stewfish]

Originally Posted by Scout 30

I have to say a 40lb anchor for a 20' boat is about 4 times bigger than normal.

My bad I think it was actually a 33lb, it is way oversized, the shank was bent and I used three trees and a come along to bend it back - I put the shank between two trees close together where the shank spanned the gap, and used the 3rd tree for the come along. It cost only $25 and the 1/2"+ thick shank looked strong enough to hold anything if I could bend it back.

I just thought that I'm missing something and that the live-a-boards would know a secret. I don't use my motor to set the anchor so maybe that's the difference.

I was thinking maybe they use these Skrew anchors when anchoring in the Caribbean for a month or so, and then here for a season. Skrew said, "when it is necessary “to anchor:” something temporarily or definitively in the ground, soft ground or sand."

The Skrew anchors are only 40" long for 5000lbs lift, and you can turn then in my hand with a bar, vs the Helix Brand Mornings that say the are permanent, only have one disc and are 6' to 8' long

[stewfish]

Oops in post 12 mine is a galvanized Kodiak brand plow or delta type style if there is a difference, not a bruce. This forum won't let me edit posts.

It looks like this
http://greatlakesskipper.com/carver-...ed-plow-anchor

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by stewfish

My bad I think it was actually a 33lb, it is way oversized, the shank was bent and I used three trees and a come along to bend it back - I put the shank between two trees close together where the shank spanned the gap, and used the 3rd tree for the come along. It cost only $25 and the 1/2"+ thick shank looked strong enough to hold anything if I could bend it back.

I just thought that I'm missing something and that the live-a-boards would know a secret. I don't use my motor to set the anchor so maybe that's the difference.

I was thinking maybe they use these Skrew anchors when anchoring in the Caribbean for a month or so, and then here for a season. Skrew said, "when it is necessary “to anchor:” something temporarily or definitively in the ground, soft ground or sand."

The Skrew anchors are only 40" long for 5000lbs lift, and you can turn then in my hand with a bar, vs the Helix Brand Mornings that say the are permanent, only have one disc and are 6' to 8' long

I think you're confusing anchoring with a mooring. Helix anchors are used for moorings & requires special machinery to screw them into the sea bed. There are several types of mooring anchors but other than the Helix they are usually quite heavy & require some sort of crane or davit to get them out of the boat. Some people will even use an engine block but that's probably illegal & they don't work very well anyway.