Southeast boat guys - safe harbor

[cstreit]

I've started a few threads on this dream.

My retirement goal is a liveaboard Cat for 5-6 months out of the year.

...but I'm starting to get nervous about marina availability and weather/insurance in Florida. Where else do I need to start looking to find a hurricane safe marina in the Southeast with good weather and reasonable pricing?

[KFC911]

I don't wanna be a Debbie Downer ... but ....

There are at least a couple of guys on here with experience.... mebbe they'll chime in !

Good luck!

[Sebscst]

What do you mean by “ hurricane safe marina” ?

[2.7RS]

Sorry to burst your bubble.

Look elsewhere if you need a safe harbor in the south east

Or get a really fast boat and get ahead of the hurricanes

I always wonder if the intercoastal waterway near Jacksonville or up the river near Savannah are options for a safe harbor. Just an idea....

[pwd72s]

I did wonder about that...a buddy moved to Sarasota, telling me hurricanes were 100 years events there. Two years later....

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Sebscst

What do you mean by “ hurricane safe marina” ?

One in San Diego .

Odds are slim on a hurricane hitting any specific marina, but every marina in the southeast has exposure... even inland. It just is...

My bud's parents restored a 72' Wooden Schooner in Jax over mebbe 20 years. It was then trucked across the USA after completion for that very reason.

I could not live on a boat ... takes a special breed ... three days max for me .

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by 2.7RS

Sorry to burst your bubble.

Look elsewhere if you need a safe harbor in the south east

Or get a really fast boat and get ahead of the hurricanes

I always wonder if the intercoastal waterway near Jacksonville or up the river near Savannah are options for a safe harbor. Just an idea....

Nope .... nowhere up the east coast, or in the Gulf, or 100 miles inland ....

Cue The Beverly Hillbillies song .... said CA is the place you wanna be

[KFC911]

Do you care if you are landlocked on a big azz lake? Then you can find marinas in the SE that are "probably" hurricane safe ... Lake Norman in NC comes to mind. Plenty of large lakes like that too.... inland.

[porsche tech]

We have 2 marinas here on Hilton Head Island that have locks and are mostly protected from tides. One is Windmill Harbour where my buddy keeps his boat. Many boats were brought up here from Harbourtown marina during hurricane Matthew and none were damaged during the storm.



Others like these at Palmetto Bay marina did not fair so well.

[tdw28210]

If you want out of the hurricane "box"on the East Coast you need to go to Chesapeake Bay. But even then, you're not 100% guaranteed. If you can stomach the occasional brushes with hurricanes, but without near the frequency of Florida, the Georgia coast up to maybe Beaufort, SC is where to look.

[cstreit]

This is what I was afraid of... I want to spend my days in the Caribbean and the gulf. ...but Im not averse to putting it back on the hard somewhere else. ...but sailing it back to the west coast every year seems like a real PITA.

How safe are they "on the hard deck" during hurricane season? Like lets say I put it up in the carolinas and have it hauled out. If I put it on land when I'm not living aboard (and presumably could move it out of harms way) is it going to be okay? (caveats in play of course)

[tdw28210]

Originally Posted by cstreit

This is what I was afraid of... I want to spend my days in the Caribbean and the gulf. ...but Im not averse to putting it back on the hard somewhere else. ...but sailing it back to the west coast every year seems like a real PITA.

How safe are they "on the hard deck" during hurricane season? Like lets say I put it up in the carolinas and have it hauled out. If I put it on land when I'm not living aboard (and presumably could move it out of harms way) is it going to be okay? (caveats in play of course)

I assume you mean the West Coast of Florida not the US? Because yeah, the Panama canal would truly be a PIA. As for "safe", you're probably fine if you are on the hard and properly set during a hurricane. How big a cat are we talking though? Getting hauled out on short notice may be tough. If your over 26" beam your options will be somewhat limited outside of S. Florida. I think Thunderbolt in Ga (near Savannah) might be able to handle hauling out a larger cat. Also you could post the same question here. https://www.cruisersforum.com/. Basically the Pelican forums for cruisers/sailors.

[Baz]

In the event of the occasional hurricane why couldn't one simply set sail and get away until the hurricane is gone? I mean it's not like you don't have any notice. And if it's a live aboard vessel, you already have your home with you wherever you go.

Just my thoughts, FWIW....and we don't get that many hurricanes here either......

[Racerbvd]

There are areas on the St Johns River inland and this place isn't far from my and they can handle dry docking your Cat.
https://www.mobromarine.com/contact_us/

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by tdw28210

I assume you mean the West Coast of Florida not the US? Because yeah, the Panama canal would truly be a PIA. As for "safe", you're probably fine if you are on the hard and properly set during a hurricane. How big a cat are we talking though? Getting hauled out on short notice may be tough. If your over 26" beam your options will be somewhat limited outside of S. Florida. I think Thunderbolt in Ga (near Savannah) might be able to handle hauling out a larger cat. Also you could post the same question here. https://www.cruisersforum.com/. Basically the Pelican forums for cruisers/sailors.

I'm thinking liveaboard Oct- May - then haul out and go back to the mountains for spring/summer.

I'm looking at about a 40-45' Leopard so not something that can be ad-hoc.

Again, the only time I'd be away from the boat - it would be on the deck.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

There are areas on the St Johns River inland and this place isn't far from my and they can handle dry docking your Cat

Tucking that away, thanks,

[KFC911]

My bud's parents' 72' was restored along side of their dock on the St. Johns river (just north of the Ortega Bridge) and when the mast was put on, it was our landmark when night sailing and returning to the dock on my bud's 30'er for years . The 72'er was hauled out and shipped to San Diego when restoration was complete .... due to hurricane potential. Bud's uncle was a crane operator down in Green Cove Springs (I've sailed in/out of there many times), and bought a 50'er (for peanuts) when the co. he worked for had their cranes and barges up in Charleston hauling away boats stacked up like matchsticks after a 'cane hit. He kept it Green Cove (on the "hill") for years and then docked in Green Cove for many more. My bud lived on his 30'er in Green Cove too after a divorce ..... as did his uncle..... on his 50'er for years ... he travelled with his crane co. a lot tho'.

I could NOT live on a boat .... not even a '72-er docked in one of San Diego's nicest marinas with excellent ammenities (America's Cup Marina - Dennis Conner's hood) .... that cost BIG BUCKS. Green Cove is cheaper .... but keeping a big boat ain't cheap ... anywhere.

A 30'er is tiny .... to live on.

"Boat People" are ... a different breed.... I am not one..... is your wife.... really ?

That 72'er ended a LONG marriage .... she turned out not to be one after all.... reality .

I think my former manager from 4 decades ago still owns the Jax. Yacht club/sales, and the NFCC (North Fl. Cruising Club) might be good resources too.... hth.

PM .... DrCoastline .... he hasn't been on Pelican lately tho' .... but he knows boats.

Good luck! Dream it .... then go live the dream!

Take yer wallet

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by KC911

"Boat People" are ... a different breed.... I am not one..... is your wife.... really ?

Good luck! Dream it .... then go live the dream!

Take yer wallet

Thanks and wise questions. Well I'm not buying anything until we've done a few charters and possibly rented one as an air bnb in a marina. Its too big of a commiment. I'm essentially going to budget for it as our summer home

I don't know if either of us are boat people. I love sailing... If we don't do a liveaboard then it will be a condo somewhere for summer and a smaller boat.

[Gus Berges]

Chris: if you will sail from Florida to the Caribbean, perhaps consider sailing to Panama (Central America). No hurricanes down here... No need to go thru the Canal. You can stay on the Atlantic side of things and there are a couple of nice marinas on that end too. Just something to consider...

[Superman]

I am in the Caribbean now, and thinking it would be wonderful to just sail here on a liveaboard and spend several months. But I also know this is about the most expensive way to see the Caribbean.