All great information! I'll add the "Honor Series" to my reading list, too. Cuz I need an excuse to read *more* Civil War stuff.
It's good to have some local knowledge. The
charts are one thing, but hearing from people who actually have firsthand experience is much better. When I was doing my
research before
buying a boat of my own, center-boards weren't even on the list. It now looks like that may be an essential quality I'll be lucky to have.
I'm curious what "hardy" means there? And how bad are the bugs near the keys?
It sounds like finding a slip somewhere near Tampa or in
Charlotte Harbor will be essential. I expect to leave the
boat for a couple more seasons in the
PNW - the border closure has rewritten a lot of itineraries - but being able to sail in warm
water looks fantastic.