Fiftybucks

You just made my night. I ran aground at Longboat Pass in a rented 18' Bayliner only a week ago, been beating myself up about it ever since. It makes me feel a lot better to know that I'm not the only one.

It sounds like running a cat up and down the ICW should be doable. I'm considering a Seawind 1160, 38 feet, so nothing too hard to handle.

I guess one option would be to get a dinghy on the larger size that we can use as a runabout when we're home - or just get another boat!

I want to become a good sailor and that's not going to happen without a sailboat.

I look forward to picking your brain more about your travels! Thanks for the great info.

Hi there,

I'm new to boating, a little experience here and there but we are making the move from NJ to FL this year and would like to buy my first boat.

What do you think about having a sailboat for cruising the ICW? Will it be fun or foolish?

Sarasota bay is very shallow but I am definitely leaning toward a Cat so that is less of an issue.

I was probably got PM and profile comments mixed up. I am in AK - easier to show you: goo.gl/maps/JF451avBSGS2 . In a few hours I'm on a company plane to Anchorage, then flying to FL (via Boston where my wife and grandson join me) starting on a redeye tonight. I'll be in Sarasota FL, near where you you'll be.

I may need an extension on the FL tax, which seems to be about the same as your $400 permit. For some reason $428 sticks in my mind. We'll see. For now our boat is Coast Guard documented. We renewed under her new name, changed from Listello to Lorraine. Can't wait to scrape the ugly blue FL Tax stickers off my portlights.

Watch the daily thunderstorms down there - I came to the conclusion it's better to almost count on there being one. Not sure what effect Tropical Storm Barry will have that far SE of the storm, most likely contrary winds to what I want.

I hope you have a good sea trial and everything goes smooth! I will let you know how we do.

Well, I'm flying down Friday. According to Yacht Solutions in Cortez, all is good with my engine now. Daughter isn't coming this time, she'll house & dog sit. My wife will be there, and my 15 yo grandson. I am getting antsy about the weather, but even more about my Florida sales tax exemption. I do *not* want to pay for an extension (~$500) or Lord forbid, pay the full 6% tax. Are you going to register your boat in FL ?

Sad to say all we really cooked on board was BBQ, actually no, we did put on a spread for a few live aboards friends in the marina my wife made potato salad, pasta salads, bbq, one night a ham, made ham salad with some, etc. Mac & cheese & hot dogs too lol. My wife did most of the provisioning. My daughter is vegetarian, which is hard on a boat.

Hi just noticed that last message was in profile comments. Not that familiar with the forum navigation.

How is your boat quest going ? You said you went back and made an offer on a Catalina 350 at Whitaker ? Are you at Regatta Point ? Going back down to sail more in a week, but in about 2 weeks I am leaving Palmetto, to head down and around. Need to get N of Latitude 31 by July 15. I have a charted out list of "hurricane holes" from FL to the Chesapeake just in case, so fingers crossed.

What are your plans after you buy in Palmetto ? I think I recall you mentioned looking for a haul out place to wait out the hot season ?

Duh.. Ignore my previous question. I just realized "cat 350" was a Catalina ! I thought you changed over to a Catamaran...