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Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 12:49 pm
by ranjr13
Hello all - looks like I will have about a week in mid-May to make the run to somewhere sunny and warm, and able to bring our 18 Outrage. We have three locations in mind to be able to keep the boat in the water for the week and run half-days or three-quarter-days to a 20-mile radius for gunkholing, snorkeling, sightseeing, etc. The crew is small crew, likely me and the pup out most days. Coming down from New England, I am considering:

--Sanibel,
--Islamorada,
--and Key West for points of stay.

I've rented from Sanibel, and had family who lived in Islamorada. So if you had an 18, and perhaps five days you could spend in any of these three places in mid-May, where would you go and why?

I'll have good electronic charts of any area we go to. Thanks in advance.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2019 2:28 pm
by jimh
Non-Floridian here, but I'd like Sanibel for these reasons:

--not as far to drive as Key West
--probably not as expensive as Key West
--lots of protected water behind barrier islands
--lots of really shallow water so perfect for a shallow draft boat, while keeping bigger boats out

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 10:03 am
by Jefecinco
Key West would not be on my list. Much, much too busy for me.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 7:55 pm
by fno
Pines and Palms in Islamorada is a very quaint old Florida hotel/motel with a dock and slips. Not too deep but doable in a smaller craft. Don't forget a stop at the World Wide Sportsman for lunch and try to go by boat. Dockage is free, lunch menu is great and the shopping will make your boat look cheap.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 12:30 pm
by Dutchman
Jefecinco wrote:Key West would not be on my list. Much, much too busy for me.


I ditto the above no matter how quaint the Islamorada motel is. it is a long drive to the islands and there is a lot to see far North of Miami.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:56 pm
by Hoosier
Try the Panhandle. Hurricane Michael did a number on parts of Panama City Beach and almost destroyed Mexico Beach, but further south and east Port St. Joe (PSJ), Indian Pass, and Apalachicola are still okay. We've snow-bird-ed in Port St. Joe a couple of times and it has fabulous water for an 18 Outrage. Go look at the area on Google Earth; you will find easy access to the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way and can go from PSJ north to Panama City or South to Apalachicola. St. Joe Bay is one of the most pristine bodies of saltwater anywhere on the East and Gulf coasts. Don't forget your fishing gear.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 9:35 am
by Jefecinco
The Eastern Panhandle is an excellent recommendation. One thing we appreciated about the area was the lack of crowding and the friendliness of the locals. Of course the waters were pristine and the fishing very productive. Not to be forgotten the prices were, relative to South Florida, very reasonable.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2019 10:43 am
by EricH
The Florida mid-keys and northern-keys are nice. We are going there in mid-June. We live in Citrus County, and here, too, there are nice places. We will have our new 170 Montauk, and we are looking forward to the boat trips.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2019 6:09 am
by AdamKW
I live in Key West, and can certainly say our water beats any of the other choices. The KW that most think of is busy, drunken tourists on Duval St. Theres a whole rest of the island, then the rest of the lower keys. Theres a reason a 900sq ft house is a million bucks. Youd have a great time snorkeling the reef, riding out in the backcountry to "locals" sand islands, etc. The lakes passage out to the Marquesas is a fun day trip. We do it all in our classic Nauset. If you need specifics,let me know.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2019 10:29 am
by MOCON4TN
Tough decision and all great choices. I lived on Captiva Island (north of Sanibel) and Sanibel has much to offer. That said, I vote for Islamorada. One of my best boating experiences was spending time there with my family snorkeling one of the many shallow reefs there.i have a Montauk 17’.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2019 10:45 am
by Rascal
The Sanibel area is great for a smaller boat like your 19'. Plenty of protected areas to boat if it's windy or you can head out in the Gulf of Mexico most days. Lots of places to dock and eat including a Keys-like experience at the Cabbage Key restaurant (and that place is very touristy just like Key West). The pup will be happy with all the sandbars to pull up to and run around. One our nicest boating memories was docking at the Sanibel Marina (our favorite), having lunch at Grandma Dots, then walking our dog a mile down the road to see the Sanibel Lighthouse. May is good in Sanibel since you won't be into the really hot summer temperatures.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2019 8:10 pm
by NCWhaler828
Do you like to fish?

That time of year Anna Maria Island is excellent. Clean water, the tarpon are there, the snook are there. You can boat from Ft. Desoto, around Egmont Island, and down to Longboat Key Pass. I've boated all of Florida and to me that's my favorite.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2019 8:56 am
by jimh
The OP has not commented on any replies in 40-days.

Re: Recommendations from Floridian Whaler Owners

Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2019 8:51 am
by ranjr13
JimH--I have been viewing but not replying.

I appreciate all the comments.

Four locations look like great possibilities==from Panhandle to the Sanibel-Captiva to Silamorad to Key West

Sanibel-Captiva I'm somewhat familiar with. I rented from Sanibel Marina in past.

I really appreciate the comment on Key West. I associate it mostly with the raucous behavior late at night on Duval Street.

Thank you all. I will be getting the Outrage 18 in for spring tune up within the month, including trailer checkup, then set plans in place. Much appreciated to all who have replied.