Hi from Florida!

[cruisnusa]

Glad to have found y'all.

I'm an aspiring boat owner myself, have so far used OPBs including a couple rental charters. I feel pretty comfortable on 22 and 25 foot Catalinas, and have sailed as large as a Hunter 44 before on a weekend excursion...and couldn't find the through-hull (?sp) that led the sink drain out--Even managed to have genny and air conditioning faults on my one night out. Suffice to say, I was happy to be renting that boat and not worry how to fix all of it!

I'm interested in cruising someday around the ICW or the Great Loop, but know I'd have to learn how to take down a mast in order to clear the bridges. Of course, I'll need a boat and willing crew first too

Thank you for having this forum and, from what I've read, being kind and knowledgeable resources for us 'newbies' out there. My immediate plans include ASA 104 and more time on the water, eventually looking forward to a magical time where I could take 6 months and check out the ICW or Carribbean (currently based in Tampa).

Speak with y'all soon, thanks for the education!

[oldragbaggers]

Welcome Austin!!

[Waterway Guide]

Welcome aboard, Austin!

[boatman61]

Hi Austin... Welcome to CF..
Must confess.. I was a bit disappointed on my last visit to Florida.. the boat I was collecting was tied up on New River, Ft Lauderdale and along the walkway was a map showing local places among which was a place called Smokers Park...
I didn't smell a damn thing..

[Khagan1227]

Welcome aboard Austin!

[Hudson Force]

Hello Ausiin, Welcome to the community!

Originally Posted by boatman61

Hi Austin... Welcome to CF..
Must confess.. I was a bit disappointed on my last visit to Florida.. the boat I was collecting was tied up on New River, Ft Lauderdale and along the walkway was a map showing local places among which was a place called Smokers Park...
I didn't smell a damn thing..

...... Smoker Park was just across the New River from my High School. Stanford Smoker and others in the Smoker family are still living in the area. I first learned to sail where the New River meets the Stranahan River, but "you can't go home again". It's far to crowded and busy now!

[cruisnusa]

Haha! I've never come across such a place, though maybe if I make that ICW trip I could report back....for now it's primarily around Tampa Bay for me!

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here.

[Zeb]

Welcome aboard

- Zeb

[avb3]

Originally Posted by cruisnusa

Haha! I've never come across such a place, though maybe if I make that ICW trip I could report back....for now it's primarily around Tampa Bay for me!

Well welcome, and maybe we will cross paths. I spend the winters in the Tampa Bay area, where my boat is. Hope to maybe go further afield this year, but I am usually around the St. Pete's Municipal marina or up on Salt Creek.

[AnchorageGuy]

Welcome Austin, We just passed through Tampa Bay. It's a great place to get your experience since you can encounter almost every kind of conditions. Sounds like your on the right track. Hope to see you out here some day. Chuck

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy and welcome!

[HopCar]

Welcome aboard. Nice to have another Floridian.

[CSY Man]

.Must confess.. I was a bit disappointed on my last visit to Florida.. the boat I was collecting was tied up on New River, Ft Lauderdale and along the walkway was a map showing local places among which was a place called Smokers Park...

Hey that is where I live, on a canal off the New River.
Only know about the doggie park and plenty to smell there, too much actually.
The River is about to go dead, some railway will be adding a huge number of trains shortly and the railroad bridge will be down most of the time limiting boat traffic to 15' boats without a Bimini top and at low tide.
Boaters up the river are mad and frustrated, but the railroad people bribed the politicians

[Svdestiny]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

Hey that is where I live, on a canal off the New River.
Only know about the doggie park and plenty to smell there, too much actually.
The River is about to go dead, some railway will be adding a huge number of trains shortly and the railroad bridge will be down most of the time limiting boat traffic to 15' boats without a Bimini top and at low tide.
Boaters up the river are mad and frustrated, but the railroad people bribed the politicians

Wow! I have stayed at Cooleys Landing...used to watch HUGE mega yachts go up the river! Lots of marinas, lots of private slips. I find it hard to believe. Depressing.