Moving to FL

[wfetter]

We are going to be moving to FL at the end of summer. We are having the boat shipped down from the Great Lakes. (Yes, I know we can drive it) We are shooting for the Jupiter/West Palm area on the east coast. There are reasons for this, relatives, jobs, etc.

I'm looking for recommendations on where to ship the boat and marinas in the area. We have been looking but thought I'd access the hive mind. The boat will need to be made ready for blue water, i.e., bottom redone, mags changed to zincs, possibly having electronics upgraded, etc. We'd like to ship the boat to a location that can do this work as well as recommissioning her when ready. Once the work is done, we are looking at a marina that has good amenities, security, reasonably priced for Annual slips, fuel and easy access to the ocean. It also needs to accommodate our draft of 7' at low tide as well as our length of 43'.

Looking forward to hearing thoughts and recommendations.

[Lowcountry]

West Palm Beach has a great inlet and several boat yards nearby.

[Outlaw7]

Your 7 foot draft is going to limit you severly to marina's and boat yards near inlets south of Jupiter Big $$$$$

[michaeld]

I have lived in south FL since 1980. West Palm is probably your best choice. https://www.rybovich.com/west-palm-beach is worth looking into, but I use facilities in Fort Lauderdale (Do It Yourself Boat Repair Facility in Dania Beach - DIY Boat Maintenance Yard | Playboymarine.com), so you could launch from there then move to WPB or Jupiter. The WPB inlet (actually called the Lakeworth Inlet) is a commercial inlet: quite wide and deep for freighters and cruiseliners. I have been through the Jupiter Inlet with a 6 ft draft. Personally, I would pick the Jupiter area as a home base. What is your mast height? There are some fixed bridges with 65 ft vertical clearance.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by wfetter

Once the work is done, we are looking at a marina that has good amenities, security, reasonably priced for Annual slips, fuel and easy access to the ocean. It also needs to accommodate our draft of 7' at low tide as well as our length of 43'.

Looking forward to hearing thoughts and recommendations.

It's all there but Great Lakes reasonably priced and Florida reasonably priced are two very different things.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Vasco

It's all there but Great Lakes reasonably priced and Florida reasonably priced are two very different things.

You get to South Fl and nothing is reasonably priced

[pete33458]

In my opinion, Ft Pierce is your best option hands down. Good marinas and yards, lower (by FL standards) prices. The downside is that there is nowhere to go from there in a short sail (a day or less). From Ft Lauderdale south there is the option for the Keys or the Bahamas or Biscayne Bay and the sounds to the south, but yes very expensive, generally $4 per foot or higher for transient dockage, proportional for long term.
Pete

[pete33458]

Originally Posted by michaeld

Personally, I would pick the Jupiter area as a home base.

Seriously? I live there and I've been in and out on powerful boats (like 3 x 275hp) that struggled with current and standing waves. I consider myself a brave man but I wouldn't touch Jupiter inlet except at slack tide on a calm day.


Pete

[wfetter]

Thanks for all the info folks! We have boated in and out of Jupiter inlet on a powerful boat and it was a little dicey hehe. I think the Palm area may suit us better. We have the advantage of spending time to go south before easting to the Bahamas so no worries there.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Outlaw7

Your 7 foot draft is going to limit you severly to marina's and boat yards near inlets south of Jupiter Big $$$$$

Yep, that draft is going to be a challenge all over FL.

The Keys around to the W coast is a much better crusing ground than the E coast, but that draft is going to limit your routes and achorages. Ditto for the Bahamas.

7' draft ought to make for a good offshore boat though. [emoji6]