Boating in Punta Gorda/Charlotte (Cape Coral, Venice: to buy, to live, shops)

[Tujuleez1]

Originally Posted by wpc691

I'm thinking the map the realtor gave you is referring to "depth at dock". The 5' section (I call it the Rim Canal section) has dock depths ranging from 10' on the Rim Canal itself, to 4-ish on the outfall side of side canals where silt has built up (can be dredged for about 3 grand). Ours is probably typical, and is 6' at the dock. I only have a bay boat, but there are 2, 42-footers on our side canal that have no problem coming and going.

I think the depths she mentioned were minimum depths the city would guarantee. That's how I understood it.

She warned us about rim canals with mangroves on one side being very narrow at those depths. And something about limits as to how much space your boat could take up extending out into the canal. I remember hearing no more than 10' in some areas. There are a lot of boats with more than a 10' beam.

Another thing any homeowner/boater needs to consider is maintenance of the seawall. I think PGI is the only canal system in the area maintained by the local municipality.

[wpc691]

Originally Posted by Tujuleez1

I think the depths she mentioned were minimum depths the city would guarantee. That's how I understood it.

She warned us about rim canals with mangroves on one side being very narrow at those depths. And something about limits as to how much space your boat could take up extending out into the canal. I remember hearing no more than 10' in some areas. There are a lot of boats with more than a 10' beam.

Another thing any homeowner/boater needs to consider is maintenance of the seawall. I think PGI is the only canal system in the area maintained by the local municipality.

Our canal is about a hundred feet wide, the Rim Canal much wider in most places. There are some quite narrow spots up in the Bird Section, and canals are generally shallower. The boat width restriction is probably the same as for lifts - no more than 25% of the width of the canal, as someone noted here awhile ago. Last year, a guy on the upper rim canal tried to get a variance so he could put his 50' Cat on a lift. There was a big outcry, and the request was dropped after a short while.

[Harbor Hopper]

To the OP, you'll really need to come down for a few days to discover the area and find a town that suits your needs. In this generally area, you have sailboat/trawler water available in Venice, Nokomis, Englewood, Boca, Placida, El Jobean/Gulf Cove, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Burnt Store, and Pirate Harbor. Your budget and property requirements will help determine which areas to focus on.
When we moved down from MI, we brought our 36ft cruiser with us. Everyone said "you'll sell it right away" or "the harbor is too shallow for that boat", and on & on... I did my research. LOTS of research and we decided to bring it. and we LOVED it for 5 years. We did weekends on the hook or at marinas and made a lot of family memories exploring the area by water. Eventually our son got older and it was getting too difficult to keep a 5yr old entertained in a confined space for too long, so we decided to sell & downsize and be day boaters for a while.
Do your research (which your're obviously doing by being on here) and come on down to check it out.

[Mike Hammer]

Wow. Thank you all for the input. A lot to absorb and research. I am not hearing too many fans of SE Cape Coral.

I realize Punta Gorda is further to the gulf so of course that is something to consider. BSI does not seem to have many big boats due to water depth.

Cape Coral is closer to the Gulf.

[SeaRay35]

Originally Posted by Mike Hammer

Wow. Thank you all for the input. A lot to absorb and research. I am not hearing too many fans of SE Cape Coral.

I realize Punta Gorda is further to the gulf so of course that is something to consider. BSI does not seem to have many big boats due to water depth.

Cape Coral is closer to the Gulf.

SE Cape is not that bad, but most have bridges and can be a ride to open water. We have a rental in SE.

[Messing About]

Don't fail to look at Burnt Store Marina homes.

[Macgregorsailor51]

BSM But Cape Coral ... ???? Hummmm iffy.. but each to his own..

Originally Posted by Messing About

Don't fail to look at Burnt Store Marina homes.

[MartyGras]

Originally Posted by Macgregorsailor51

BSM But Cape Coral ... ???? Hummmm iffy.. but each to his own..

I can't imagine that anyone who has read the Cape Coral forum would want to live there.

Gary

[BigMunch]

Don't forget the tides, never go out on the water before checking the tides for that day. Will save you a lot of trouble if you know where you can go and where you will not be able to go.

[MikMal]

Originally Posted by BigMunch

Don't forget the tides, never go out on the water before checking the tides for that day. Will save you a lot of trouble if you know where you can go and where you will not be able to go.

Good advice, especially if you're planning on fishing some shallows. If I plan on fishing some skinny water I usually do it on a rising tide; the last thing I want to do is get stuck on the flats because the tide went out on me leaving me high and dry (figuratively).