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Big Water · 08-02-2013, 10:37

Greetings, I am looking for recommendations for Marinas from Galveston to Corpus that are conducive to live-aboard sailors

Thanks

RTB · 08-02-2013, 14:53

Watergate Yachting Center was our home for 3 1/2 years. We really enjoyed it. They do allow liveaboards, but unfortunately not boats under 40'. You may find this to be the case at many marinas in the area.
Watergate Yachting Center

Ralph
Our Escort | sailing away with R & B

Mimsy · 08-02-2013, 19:38

It depends on what you are looking for. Inexpensive, spartan facilities? Living aboard with kids? Quiet with lots of posh amenities...there are tons it just depends onwhat your priorities are.

Big Water · 09-02-2013, 17:25

A safe harbor is important, secure marina, not POSH but nice, close to a grocery store or a small town is good, I have changed my location criteria slightly to farther down the coast since there are now so many oil rigs near Galveston nowadays, so from Bay Town to South Padre.

Teknav · 09-02-2013, 17:49

Check the towns of Kemah and nearby Seabrook, TX. They have several marinas worth contacting. Both towns are very appealing to boaters, as they have all the amenities you'll need within a very short distance. Mauritz

austinrick · 09-02-2013, 18:32

There's a small marina at Port Lavaca, well protected, I think, but a-ways from sailing grounds. Not sure how far off the ICW - several miles, anyway. Quiet town, several restaurants around the marina and others scattered around. HEB is the grocery store in Texas and Port L has a nice one; Super WM, too. You can google the marina for a ph #.

I enjoyed driving down there from Austin a couple of times a year with my bicycle; riding, fishing off the town pier, relaxing. I'm going to miss it; there won't be anything like it where I'm moving.

It's a very slow pace around there. I know there have been liveaboards in that marina. Google Port O'Connor while you're at it; I don't recall a real marina there, but there may be. Hope this helps.

rgscpat · 09-02-2013, 18:32

Aren't most of the oil rigs more concentrated around the segment of coast from Freeport to Matagorda? Galveston and Corpus Christi bays both offer the opportunity for protected day sailing whereas it's a far enough trek out to the Gulf that not so many people do short day sails offshore far enough to even see much in the way of oil rigs. Galveston Bay does have more commercial traffic and is busier, so that might be a factor, but it does have more support services. It would seem that these would be more important factors for most people than offshore oil rigs, unless maybe someone needs to find an isolated spot somewhere offshore for a clandestine rendezvous with an unlit ship.

Ocean Girl · 09-02-2013, 21:59

I'd check out Corpus Christi municipal marina, good rates, right downtown so walking distance to many stores and such. We moved out of kemah cause it was just too much, too many people, cars, stores, too much. Not trying to put Kemah down I lived there for many years and in just about every marina there, i just wanted something quieter and with better sailing( draft). We are at Island moorings in Port Aransas. We really like the marina but may move over to Corpus for an easier land commute ( my husband works in Austin) Plus the Corpus bay is deeper with less hazards. Off shore the rigs are still plentiful but seem to run at a certain fathom. So once you get through the initial line of rigs, it's pretty clear sailing. Off of Galvestion there is a lot more junk and unlit capped rigs, compared to CC. Someone jump in if they disagree.
Matagorda has a marina right off the ICW, next to a small humble town. Rockport is a great town too, marinas are very reasonable.
Hope that helps,
Erika

Sailormantx · 09-02-2013, 23:23

Ocean girl is right on. Kemah is THE place to be if you are working on you boat, anything you may need is readily available here. The Clear lake area has grown exponentially in the ten years I have been based there. Spent some time in a boatyard in Rockport this summer with a few side trips to Port Aransas. Much nicer area for sailing and less traffic, both land and sea. Boat supplies are not as available as the Clear Lake area but it is not to far to drive if you really need something.

austinrick · 10-02-2013, 07:03

I was going to come back and mention Rockport. Everything you need is there, but it strikes me as tourist rates. I can't speak for slip rates.

Big Water · 10-02-2013, 11:58

My next obvious question is sailing to Tampico than over to Cancun, I am familiar with Cancun to Honduras, and have helped with creating maps and charts for that area, but I have no clue with regards to the Western side of the gulf.

bob_77903 · 10-02-2013, 13:05

Slip rates are very affordable in Rockport...Either the Municipal marina or Cove Harbor Marina. Two big boat yards with lifts. What you can't get boat part wise in Rockport, they will have for you the next day or two at most. Good local restaurants, big HEB, Super WalMart, ect.

Ocean Girl · 10-02-2013, 14:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Water

My next obvious question is sailing to Tampico than over to Cancun, I am familiar with Cancun to Honduras, and have helped with creating maps and charts for that area, but I have no clue with regards to the Western side of the gulf.

Well, it can be easier and harder at the same time. Not sure about Tampico, but from corpus, matagorda area, If you look at the chart you will see that in most months you will be on a lee shore as soon as you clear the breakwater. Or take a northern to get you easting (with a smidgeon of southing) but that also means some righteous waves due to the gulf stream screaming around the corner running north into the north wind. And the northwind usually petters out about 100 miles off shore. Big thing is to NOT cut the butter at the Yucatan peninsula. The bay of Campeche has a way of sucking you in, I had to tack a full day out to get away from that quagmire.
Hope that helps,
Erika