Cruising ICW west cost of Florida: Sailboat?

[SaltySner]

Hi folks,

Is it reasonable to expect to enjoy cruising the ICW on the west coat of Florida, (Sarasota) on a sailboat?

Do the number of bridges and shallow waters make it more trouble than it's worth?

I would like to buy my first boat to coastal cruise with my wife and son. I am a sailor at heart. Little experience but some ASA courses under my belt.

I am trying to decide whether to buy a powerboat ideal for coastal cruising in this region and then later trade up to a cruising sailboat if/when we decide to venture farther (Bahamas, etc.) or to simply buy a sailboat now and give us more time to gain experience in the meantime. Though it would be a shame if a sailboat made the ICW gunkhole experience miserable for us . .

This seems like the kind of stupidly broad newbie question I enjoy ridiculing on these forums, but here's to hoping for the best . . .

[GordMay]

Greetings and belated welcome aboard the CF, Salty.

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by SaltySner

Hi folks,

Is it reasonable to expect to enjoy cruising the ICW on the west coat of Florida, (Sarasota) on a sailboat?

Do the number of bridges and shallow waters make it more trouble than it's worth?

I would like to buy my first boat to coastal cruise with my wife and son. I am a sailor at heart. Little experience but some ASA courses under my belt.

I am trying to decide whether to buy a powerboat ideal for coastal cruising in this region and then later trade up to a cruising sailboat if/when we decide to venture farther (Bahamas, etc.) or to simply buy a sailboat now and give us more time to gain experience in the meantime. Though it would be a shame if a sailboat made the ICW gunkhole experience miserable for us . .

This seems like the kind of stupidly broad newbie question I enjoy ridiculing on these forums, but here's to hoping for the best . . .

Get a Gemini! Shallow draft + roomy and fun!

[a64pilot]

5’ is easy anywhere in Fl or the Bahama’s. Stick less than 65’ too.

[DDabs]

Where are you located, where will you be keeping the boat? The West coast of Florida definitely has a few pretty cool places to check out by sailboat, but as a cruising ground it doesn't provide a very diverse experience. That being said it is a great place to start doing overnights and get a little taste of offshore sailing in the Gulf. But as an area to hang around and "cruise," I think you'd prefer heading around Florida and up the East coast. The ICW will be much more enjoyable.

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by DDabs

Where are you located, where will you be keeping the boat? The West coast of Florida definitely has a few pretty cool places to check out by sailboat, but as a cruising ground it doesn't provide a very diverse experience. That being said it is a great place to start doing overnights and get a little taste of offshore sailing in the Gulf. But as an area to hang around and "cruise," I think you'd prefer heading around Florida and up the East coast. The ICW will be much more enjoyable.

As someone who has lived and sailed in Florida since the 1950s I have to disagree. The East Coast of Florida has long barrier islands with narrow cuts; many of which are almost impassible with the wrong tide and wind. The mainland is built up to the extent than anchoring and landing is restricted and often priced at levels that are shocking. It is common to see crowds of sometimes a thousand boats on sandbars with loud music and too much alcohol for safe boating. Not saying there is not an active boating scene, just that it is often over crowded and expensive; not to mention a real distain from a segment of the population that lives on dirt.

Since the prevailing wind is from the East the West Coast of Florida has more protected waters and fewer cuts that are hard to navigate to get out to open water. Not to mention the Gulf Stream on the East Coast can cause real problems if the wind has a component out of the North. As a rule you can anchor either inside or outside the barrier islands on the West Coast since it is very shallow for some distance off shore. There are three basic areas on the West Coast; the South/Middle section (where Sarasota is located) contains places like Tampa Bay and Ft. Myers with attractions like the Dome Houses and Egmont Key. If you spend a couple of days sailing North you wind up on the Emerald Coast with beautiful white sugar sand beaches on barrier islands and mostly uncrowded sailing. To the South it is a days sail to the Everglades and places like Middle Cape. Insects can be bad at times but in the winter it is usually great weather. Another days sail and you are in the Keys. From there you can go to the Mule Keys (the Keys West of Key West) that are really uncrowded and another days sail to Dry Tortugas. Not to mention it is a day sail to Cuba (if politics allow it) and the Bahamas. Sarasota itself has a very active sailing scene and I would rate it as a great place to start out and get experience.

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by tomfl

As someone who has lived and sailed in Florida since the 1950s I have to disagree. The East Coast of Florida has long barrier islands with narrow cuts; many of which are almost impassible with the wrong tide and wind. The mainland is built up to the extent than anchoring and landing is restricted and often priced at levels that are shocking. It is common to see crowds of sometimes a thousand boats on sandbars with loud music and too much alcohol for safe boating. Not saying there is not an active boating scene, just that it is often over crowded and expensive; not to mention a real distain from a segment of the population that lives on dirt.

Since the prevailing wind is from the East the West Coast of Florida has more protected waters and fewer cuts that are hard to navigate to get out to open water. Not to mention the Gulf Stream on the East Coast can cause real problems if the wind has a component out of the North. As a rule you can anchor either inside or outside the barrier islands on the West Coast since it is very shallow for some distance off shore. There are three basic areas on the West Coast; the South/Middle section (where Sarasota is located) contains places like Tampa Bay and Ft. Myers with attractions like the Dome Houses and Egmont Key. If you spend a couple of days sailing North you wind up on the Emerald Coast with beautiful white sugar sand beaches on barrier islands and mostly uncrowded sailing. To the South it is a days sail to the Everglades and places like Middle Cape. Insects can be bad at times but in the winter it is usually great weather. Another days sail and you are in the Keys. From there you can go to the Mule Keys (the Keys West of Key West) that are really uncrowded and another days sail to Dry Tortugas. Not to mention it is a day sail to Cuba (if politics allow it) and the Bahamas. Sarasota itself has a very active sailing scene and I would rate it as a great place to start out and get experience.

You know it sir!!

[Frankly]

The Florida West Coast ICW is a miserable cruising area. 19 operable bridges (most timed), narrow channels, and lots of watercraft (some operated by folks that should be home watching TV). Last time I tried it on the weekend "never again".

As others have said the near shore can provide great sailing and many protected places to anchor (some quite popular on the weekends). Lots to explore from Anclote Key south to the Fla Keys.

North West Fla best of all, but have to keep the mast shorter than 50 ft.

Frankly

[zemurray]

NW there are only a couple bridges under 65 ft, those are right around Destin at 48’. Easy to go around on the outside in a day

[DDabs]

Originally Posted by tomfl

As someone who has lived and sailed in Florida since the 1950s I have to disagree. The East Coast of Florida has long barrier islands with narrow cuts; many of which are almost impassible with the wrong tide and wind. The mainland is built up to the extent than anchoring and landing is restricted and often priced at levels that are shocking. It is common to see crowds of sometimes a thousand boats on sandbars with loud music and too much alcohol for safe boating. Not saying there is not an active boating scene, just that it is often over crowded and expensive; not to mention a real distain from a segment of the population that lives on dirt.

Since the prevailing wind is from the East the West Coast of Florida has more protected waters and fewer cuts that are hard to navigate to get out to open water. Not to mention the Gulf Stream on the East Coast can cause real problems if the wind has a component out of the North. As a rule you can anchor either inside or outside the barrier islands on the West Coast since it is very shallow for some distance off shore. There are three basic areas on the West Coast; the South/Middle section (where Sarasota is located) contains places like Tampa Bay and Ft. Myers with attractions like the Dome Houses and Egmont Key. If you spend a couple of days sailing North you wind up on the Emerald Coast with beautiful white sugar sand beaches on barrier islands and mostly uncrowded sailing. To the South it is a days sail to the Everglades and places like Middle Cape. Insects can be bad at times but in the winter it is usually great weather. Another days sail and you are in the Keys. From there you can go to the Mule Keys (the Keys West of Key West) that are really uncrowded and another days sail to Dry Tortugas. Not to mention it is a day sail to Cuba (if politics allow it) and the Bahamas. Sarasota itself has a very active sailing scene and I would rate it as a great place to start out and get experience.

I grew up sailing in Sarasota- it sure teaches you one thing, how to run aground

I meant go up the East coast and out of Florida, lol

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by Frankly

The Florida West Coast ICW is a miserable cruising area. 19 operable bridges (most timed), narrow channels, and lots of watercraft (some operated by folks that should be home watching TV). Last time I tried it on the weekend "never again".

As others have said the near shore can provide great sailing and many protected places to anchor (some quite popular on the weekends). Lots to explore from Anclote Key south to the Fla Keys.

North West Fla best of all, but have to keep the mast shorter than 50 ft.

Frankly

Is staying in any ICW really Cruising??

[Frankly]

NWF is, Apalachicola Bay, St Andrews Bay, Choctwatchee Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, Pensacola Bay, and on West. A wonderful collection of reasonable depth bays some connected by motoring waters. Not a single da** Bascule Bridge.


Frankly

[zemurray]

I’ve sailed under them all, the only downside is the 3 or 4 hours of motoring in some spots. It’s very pretty though, and the smell of the pines and quiet ICW was wonderful. I think it’s fantastic. Especially in summer when you need to move away from a tropical storm and have great inside routes.