Looking for a good Florida guide (book)

[wildspeed]

Got my boat few weeks ago and I'm looking for a good cruising guide for FL, especially the central gulf coast.<br /><br />I've been looking at :<br /><br />Maptech Embassy Guide <br />

<br /><br />Cruising Guide to Western Florida <br />

<br /><br />Didn't saw any in person yet.<br /><br />I'm only planing to do do some inshore coastal daily cruising and fishing since my boat is only 17'.<br />I have a Meridian GPS with BlueNav and would like something on paper with some charts, good infos (fuel dock...), ramps & more<br /><br />Any recommendations, suggestions and or experiences with those guides or any others will be very helpful and appreciated<br /><br />Thanks

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Looking for a good Florida guide (book)

Chain getting too easy for ya??<br />Check out the Winter Haven Nautical Club sometime. They cruise a lot in some awesome places. They all have bigger boats, but you would be welcome. winterhavennauticalclub.com<br /><br />Gazette Tier backroads guide sold at WalMart might have useful info. Walmart has maps in sporting goods that help.

 

[Navigator]

Re: Looking for a good Florida guide (book)

Be carefull and call ahead of you are planning to visit any marina's or boat yards. On the central Gulf Coast the developers have bough up most of the marinas and boat yards to build Condo's on the property. Most are leaving the marina part, but the docks are soley for the use of the owners.<br /><br />Most of the local boat yards (and local culture) are gone in Tampa Bay. There are a few on the St Petersburg side, but they are always full. Add this to the number of prohibited soil islands and there really are no overnight places left.<br /><br />The cruising guide to western florida is the one I have and its pretty good. Dont go by the rates because they have gone up due to supply/demand. If you are planning to visit any areas, call ahead and get the latest info. There's nothing worse than arriving late just to find out your marina is now a private dock for a wealthy few.<br /><br />Nav

 

[Navigator]

Re: Looking for a good Florida guide (book)

Wildspeed,<br />Sorry, I just noticed you're from Winterhaven.<br />In your case I would go the the following link<br /><br /> http://www.baysoundings.com/wint03/tbep.html <br /><br />and look halfway down the article. The tampa bay estuary publishes a map called "a boaters guide to tampa bay". Its free and it outlines all the ramps/parks/restricted areas in the bay. It's designed to educate boaters on Tampa Bay. The article has a phone number you can call to get a copy. They also give them away free at most of the local boat shows.<br /><br />This would be your best starting resource...and its FREE <br /><br />Another site for boating day trips in the bay area is<br /> http://www.boatclix.com/CGuide/CGuide.htm <br /><br />Hope this helps<br />Nav

 

[wildspeed]

Re: Looking for a good Florida guide (book)

Thanks everyone for the infos

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Looking for a good Florida guide (book)

Best of luck to ya, wildspeed. And if you see a blue 19' Searay Seville out onthe Chain named "BOB", say hi to the captain, his name is Bill, and he's my dad.<br />If you're out in Tampa Bay and you see a 30' Chaparral named Grin N Barrett, waive to him again!