DIY Marina Way Up a River West Coast Florida?

[Chotu]

Hi.

Looking for a very well protected DIY Marina on the west coast of Florida. I'm not familiar with that side of the state yet.

Hoping to find something similar to all the low cost places over on the east coast in the St John's River.

Looking for protection from hurricanes, low cost, economically depressed areas so the local labor pool is plentiful.

Thanks for any help.

[Chotu]

Side Topic: Where in Florida can I find lowest cost, non liveaaboard, safe (from theft) storage for my boat either in water or out?

[flyingfin]

On east coast, go up St Johns to Green Cove Springs where there is a large DIY yard. On west coast, go into Charlotte Harbor, turn up the Myakka River and thru a lock into Charlotte Harbor Boat Storage or Safe Cove Marina. At Ft Myers, go up river past Labelle to Glades Boat Storage. But in Florida, dont plan on hiring low wage workers. Thats why we have DIY yards!

[Chotu]

That’s a good start. Thanks!

Reaching out to some of them.

Anything in Tampa or just north of Tampa?

[oleman]

Before you give up I would look at Pensacola area.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by Chotu

That’s a good start. Thanks!

Reaching out to some of them.

Anything in Tampa or just north of Tampa?

The next area with haul out facilities north of Tarpon Springs is Hernando Beach. Prices are better there than in Tarpon. The 3 DIY marinas in Hernando Beach:

Sterling Marina
Hernando Beach Marina
Nature Coast Marina

[Ken Z]

Some already mentioned around ft. meyers. In the panhandle ther are some and fairlyprotected one up river protected is st. marks shields about an hour in but the depth and channel is tricky. carrabelle has one panama city has , panama city marina bay point, st. andrews, freeport is good fishermans cove, ft. walton adventure, yatch basin,coast marina legendary in destin, shalimar is two georges secure but it changed owners from shalimar marina and people are rip offs and the docks are terrible, terrible service manager, good workers. pennsacola island cove yacht harbor palafax pier pelican perch, daybreak. pennsacola isent as protected and I dont know about diy. best to google and get on phone for details.

[DreaminFred]

Had my boat up the Withlacoochee, protected but no travel lift, etc and tight channel from the Gulf. Currently at Indiantown Marina east of Lake Okeechobee and they are friendly to do-it-yourself (~350/month for 36'), but there are two storage facilities west of the lake- Glades Boat Storage is one, if you want to be closer to the Gulf. The Caloosahatchee is easy to navigate and youre looking at 1-2 days from the Gulf. Hurricanes lose much of their punch by the time the get that far inland. Port LaBelle Marina has good docks and floats, but otherwise kind of cracker-ish.

Fred

Fred

[hellosailor]

What Fred said. That's probably "the" classic DIY live-work-store-sheltered yard, accessed via the Okeechobee Canal from either side of the state. If nothing else, it gives you a point of comparison to measure closer options by.

[chiropaul]

In St. Petersburg on Tampa Bay there is an area called Salt Creek with a number of DIY marinas. One of which is Salt Creek Marina. On the east side of the bay on the Alafia River is Interbay moorings. However, they are getting ready to replace existing marina , so don't know if they are still hauling boats into their yard

[Chotu]

A great start! Thanks, everyone! I'll start checking these.

[SeaSon]

Charlotte Harbor Boat Storage. Good prices, diy or use their crew, or both.

Good showers, screened in lounge with TV, micro, stove, oven, fridges, showers, coffee. Can live on the hard while servicing, etc. Not much in the way of in water dockage, but nearby anchoring is ok.

Across the bay from Punta Gorda and 30 minutes up a canal.

[pesarsten]

Apollo Beach Marina is DIY. Reasonable haul and launch fees, convenient to St. Pete and Tampa. Very secure , very friendly. Not Live aboard. The problem with Glades, indiantown, and Charlotte harbor are the distance to everything. Not worth the small savings to me.

[Chotu]

I'm planning on being gone for rainy season. Maybe a couple different places are in order.

One from April/May to Oct/Nov just for cheap but safe storage in water or out. Another for the extensive diy work over next winter.

[Infatuation]

Yes Apollo beach Marina and near Apollo is a marina at Shell point ...something like that...Apollo needs a new lift...but they are great people ...talk to Phil if he is still around...he is over 80 YO