NE Florida Boating

[alexr254]

I am new to the area, i own a 26ft Imperial 260FC. I am in the Flagler Beach area. (Daytona Beach, Palm Coast, St Augustine)

Any tips on cool places to see or visit? Which is safe with this size boat of course.

I used to boat up in NY, Jamaica Bay, Sandy Hook, Breezy Point, Rockaway.. etc.. I was very firmiliar with all the cool activities and outings there a few years back. Now i am completely out of the loop, have a new boat and in a new area...

 

[LSP_NH_1974]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Although I have no experience with boating in the Flagler Beach area (I've only been out on Lake Weir in FL and NH Lake Winnipesaukee). I just wanted to say "Hi!" and if you're out on the Intracoastal Waterway in the Flagler/Palm Coast area on Saturday September 24 stop and say hello to the Cub Scouts! We'll be out there cleaning up as our September service project

 

[alexr254]

Re: NE Florida Boating

I wont be out yet, still working on her engines, but i am hyping myself up for when we will be out
Couple weeks i hope.

 

[LSP_NH_1974]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Well, then, since you won't be busy... how about coming on over and helping the Cub Scouts?!?! We're going to pick up litter along the water's edge and whatever isn't just plain trash we're going to put in the recycle bins! Later on we're going to take a tour of the recycling center to see what they do with the bottles and cans. This is a terrific group of boys, gives me great hope for the future

 

[alexr254]

Re: NE Florida Boating

I would love to come out!!

I have a 5 year old daughter, is it only boys? My boy is just 5 months old...

I also depends on wether or not ordered parts come in for my engine, its been an ongoing weekend job for us doing a complete rebuild of a mercruiser 3.7ltr engine. If parts do make it before the weekend i will be stuck on the engine from morning to night time.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Anywhere from New Smyrna Beach to Jax is open playground for you. Starting from the south end, go to Ponce Inlet and Disappearing Island for a weekend. It's a great party area with a ton of room and plenty of other boaters. Holidays are the busiest, but most weekends see about 100 boats. Take a trip to the eastern side of the river and walk Ponce Inlet lighthouse.

Lots of little restaurants along the river heading north, including Inlet Harbor, Adventure Landing, DJ's Deck Down Under, Carribbean Jacks, etc. Plenty of room for skiing, tubing, or whatever.

North of Ormond Beach, the river widen up and the boat traffic really decreases. Nice relaxing ride with only a few idle zones. Heading up thru Palm Coast, the river is more narrow and traffic is 25 MPH or less, but minimal idle zones. Stop at Cedar River on your way thru, and look into the bed & breakfasts.

St. Augustine is a virtual endless area of things to do. Use a mooring ball for free of go the that Municipal Marina. If you get fuel there, they will usually let you tie off for a few hours if you want to go walk the town. Or, head east to the other side of the small island and go to the Conch House.

Not a whole lot between St. Augustine and Jax, but a nice ride looking at million dollar homes and million dollar boats. Careful, it will make you want to go sink yours.

Get into Jax, and it's a 25-30 mile ride to Jacksonville Landings, but worth it on the weekends. Giant party area that stretches over 3 blocks. Restaurants, nite life, etc. Just a couple miles from the Jaguars stadium. It's the place to be after the Florida/Georgia game.

Look into Google Earth and pick out areas that look interesting and then do a little research on them. The one thing I will tell you is to stay out of Mantanzas Inlet. It's a rotten place to be stuck, and you will get stuck there.

Let me know if you need any additional info and I'll see if I can help.

 

[alexr254]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Thank you for the info!!

Please expect a PM from me once the boat is in the water

All that stuff sounds cool, although i may pass on dissapearing island, i am all for having fun but being from nyc and moving to FL, i dont like the very huge crowds anymore and i am not a party animal already for 15 years. The google searches showed me a bunch of spring breakers... :facepalm:

I enjoy the solitude and peace

 

[Fireman431]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Thank you for the info!!

Please expect a PM from me once the boat is in the water

All that stuff sounds cool, although i may pass on dissapearing island, i am all for having fun but being from nyc and moving to FL, i dont like the very huge crowds anymore and i am not a party animal already for 15 years. The google searches showed me a bunch of spring breakers... :facepalm:

I enjoy the solitude and peace

Just a stones thrown south of Disappearing Island is another small island on the west side of the river, across from the Coast Guard station. It is usually slow, even on the weekends and more appealing to the quiet crowd. Deep water canal on the backside and is a nice day.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Hey alexr254,

Your old stomping grounds were some of mine. Fireman will happily tell you, I'm just a dumb kid from Brooklyn!!! I did a lot of diving at the Atlantic Beach Bridge. My buddies and I would get in the water anywhere from Beach 5th to Beach 13th Street 1/2hour before the slack tide, ride the current to the bridge and hang on to the pilings until the current calmed down enough. we'd dive the bridge grabbing lobster and spearing blackfish, seabass and an occasional striper until the current took us right back to where we started. I grew up in the Sheepshead Bay area.

It's nice to (almost) meet you. If you're not too busy with your engine work, check this out: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=459032. (No boat required.)

My wife and I were thinking a lot about Anastaisia Island or Flagler Beach. Don't know for sure what the future may hold. Maybe we'll meet up some time... Who knows, maybe this month?

 

[LSP_NH_1974]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Yeah, Spring Break, Bike Week, Race weeks, Biketoberfest...I'm not a fan of any of that stuff & it's not the best atmosphere for quiet family types (IMO). Just stay north of the Daytona area. I LOVE St. Augustine and Flagler and the Jacksonville Landing (I've lived in NE FL within minutes of the coast for almost 20 years). Across the state there's Gulf stuff to do, my sister & BIL are always out scalloping around some "Horseshoe" place?? Cedar Key maybe?

Have fun! Watch out for Katia this weekend!

 

[LSP_NH_1974]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Oh, in order not to offend those to the south, stay North of Daytona...or to the South of it, it's very nice once you get past the giant hotels that cater to the zillion-person events going on all the time at "The World's Most Famous Beach".

 

[Fireman431]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Yeah, Spring Break, Bike Week, Race weeks, Biketoberfest...I'm not a fan of any of that stuff & it's not the best atmosphere for quiet family types (IMO). Just stay north of the Daytona area. I LOVE St. Augustine and Flagler and the Jacksonville Landing (I've lived in NE FL within minutes of the coast for almost 20 years). Across the state there's Gulf stuff to do, my sister & BIL are always out scalloping around some "Horseshoe" place?? Cedar Key maybe?

Have fun! Watch out for Katia this weekend!

Oh, in order not to offend those to the south, stay North of Daytona...or to the South of it, it's very nice once you get past the giant hotels that cater to the zillion-person events going on all the time at "The World's Most Famous Beach".

Before you bad mouth Daytona Beach too much, get some more information. Yes, Bike Week, racing events, Biketoberfest, etc do draw crowds for the attractions, but they have virtually no impact on the waterways, and that's what the topic here is. The racing events are concentrated well over to the mainland at the track. The only crowd attraction that affects boaters would be the offshore racing competitions and the poker runs with the "go-fast" boats, and they normally are thru the area in a couple of hours. Even the annual boat show takes place at the Ocean Center, not on the water. However, there are plenty of reasons to stay in the DB boundries as well. The annual air show events are fantastic with ringside seats from either the river or the ocean. Fourth of July fireworks can be seen up and down the river in DB. The ramps are fantastic those who trailer in. Hit the deep sea charters for a day offshore fishing. Inland fishing, shrimping are great. Plenty of room for skiing, and tubing.

No, I don't work for the DB tourism board...just don't bash it if you don't know about it. BTW, the giant hotels you mentioned are north and south of Daytona. DB has some of the lowest profile hotels in the area.

 

[alexr254]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Hey alexr254,

Your old stomping grounds were some of mine. Fireman will happily tell you, I'm just a dumb kid from Brooklyn!!! I did a lot of diving at the Atlantic Beach Bridge. My buddies and I would get in the water anywhere from Beach 5th to Beach 13th Street 1/2hour before the slack tide, ride the current to the bridge and hang on to the pilings until the current calmed down enough. we'd dive the bridge grabbing lobster and spearing blackfish, seabass and an occasional striper until the current took us right back to where we started. I grew up in the Sheepshead Bay area.

It's nice to (almost) meet you. If you're not too busy with your engine work, check this out: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=459032. (No boat required.)

My wife and I were thinking a lot about Anastaisia Island or Flagler Beach. Don't know for sure what the future may hold. Maybe we'll meet up some time... Who knows, maybe this month?

That would be cool. I am from Brooklyn myself, but grew up in starret city area, exit 14 off belt pkwy. I used to have a boat docked at bay end marina, not far from kings plaza. Me. my wife and kids moved down to Palm Coast about 2 1/2 years ago an we love it here. For the past 2 years i have been working from home for a job i have in NY, but in a week that all changes, i found a really nice gig in Jacksonville, so i will be driving daily up there 5 days a week... will take some getting used to but i am looking forward to something new.
Good thing is i will still have weekends for my hobbies and my family, i guess like a normal person. Working from home is cool, but eventually there is no seperation from work and home, and that bites... Anyway keep in touch we should definately hang out.

I have nothing against Daytona Beach, i go there all the time to shop and stuff, also bike week is cool, everyone is nice and the tourism here is booming.. Without it this place would have 50% less the economy.
Would i live there? Personally no. Would i tell someone not to move there? Absolutely not. Everyone has their own opinion on what they prefer. I prefer quiet and calm, Daytona also can provide that, but its not easy.
I am simply happy to be able to basically boat 12 months a year, and best of all the options. The option of crowds and the options of solitude.

Thanks all!!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Alex, don't forget about trailering your boat west. Get into the St. Johns River and work your way from Palatka to DeLand. Lake George is 12 miles x 6 miles and is fed from the Juniper and Silver Glen springs, both you can boat into.

South from there are plenty of little marinas and restaurants and it is truly "Old Florida". It looked that way 500 years ago. Plenty of alligators, turtles, manatee, and other wildlife. Lots of cruising spots and a few good areas to get off the boat at and swim/hang out. The river finally ends between Volusia/Seminole counties, in Lk. Monroe...that's where we usually keep our boat. If you ever decide to head over there, PM me and we'll meet up. Beer's on me!

P.S. Check the attached pic I took on the St. Johns River. The only thing disrupting the water was a fish jumping.



Here's a few more of the SJR

 

[veritas honus]

Re: NE Florida Boating

That would be cool. I am from Brooklyn myself, but grew up in starret city area, exit 14 off belt pkwy. I used to have a boat docked at bay end marina, not far from kings plaza. Me. my wife and kids moved down to Palm Coast about 2 1/2 years ago an we love it here. For the past 2 years i have been working from home for a job i have in NY, but in a week that all changes, i found a really nice gig in Jacksonville, so i will be driving daily up there 5 days a week... will take some getting used to but i am looking forward to something new.
Good thing is i will still have weekends for my hobbies and my family, i guess like a normal person. Working from home is cool, but eventually there is no seperation from work and home, and that bites... Anyway keep in touch we should definately hang out.

I have nothing against Daytona Beach, i go there all the time to shop and stuff, also bike week is cool, everyone is nice and the tourism here is booming.. Without it this place would have 50% less the economy.
Would i live there? Personally no. Would i tell someone not to move there? Absolutely not. Everyone has their own opinion on what they prefer. I prefer quiet and calm, Daytona also can provide that, but its not easy.
I am simply happy to be able to basically boat 12 months a year, and best of all the options. The option of crowds and the options of solitude.

Thanks all!!

Another Brooklyn Boy... Love it!!! I lived in Canarsie for a little while. I'm quite familiar with the Belt and Exit 14. I took the belt to long Island all my life growing up. I used to go to Hecksher State Park a lot once I started driving. My buddies and I would get on the Belt and take it into the Southern State Parkway for the nice wide lanes and sweeping curves. We ended up at Hecksher State Park where it just dead ends. The park is beautiful.

I'd love to get together some time. Have you checked out the Nettles Island get together? Any chance of you making it?

...Anyway... Try to make it to Nettles Island. It'll be great to meet you.

 

[alexr254]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Another Brooklyn Boy... Love it!!! I lived in Canarsie for a little while. I'm quite familiar with the Belt and Exit 14. I took the belt to long Island all my life growing up. I used to go to Hecksher State Park a lot once I started driving. My buddies and I would get on the Belt and take it into the Southern State Parkway for the nice wide lanes and sweeping curves. We ended up at Hecksher State Park where it just dead ends. The park is beautiful.

I'd love to get together some time. Have you checked out the Nettles Island get together? Any chance of you making it?

...Anyway... Try to make it to Nettles Island. It'll be great to meet you.

Oh man, you dont know how much i would love to make it out... BUT, my boat is not in running condition yet, probably wont be for at least another month or so, I am in the process of rebuilding both engines (one just completed today but still need to break it in), then after I am redoing the kitchen area and repainting the boat. The whole kitchen job wont keep me out the water though, but the engines.. you understand :facepalm:

Thats cool man, who knows maybe when we do meet up and hang out, we know eachother somehow, or at least know some of the same people, its happened before I grew up around the canarsie area but also lived in sheepshead bay and midwood for some time. I also always went out to LI, most of the parks there are really nice. And i used to love going out to captree, the drive was nice, the fishing even was nicer! Of course used to make trips to montauk and the hamptons on ocasion, but thats a long drive out.

My wife misses brooklyn, i cant say i do. I really like it out here in FL.

Boat is up on the trailer parked in front of my house, i can only daydream of going out on the water... These forums help me with that

 

[veritas honus]

Re: NE Florida Boating

I totally agree with everything you said... except for one thing... You don't need your boat to join us on Nettles Island. I'm not bringing mine. I don't know if any of us are bringing a boat. Sasto has several. Fireman's bringing two jet ski's. Cheapboatkev may be the only one bringing a boat, and he'll be arriving in it from across lake Okeechobee. If you simply can't spare the time, that's understood. See what your family thinks. If I havn't talked you in to it, maybe they will!!!

 

[alexr254]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Really? I thought it was a boating outing...

So this get together, its cool for kids? I have a 5 year old and a 6 month old.

Also when exactly is it?
I was reading up on it in the forums, but there are so many posts, i coudnt find the one with the date and times and exact location. LOL
I was on Merrit Island before, thats actually where i got my trailer worked on.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Really? I thought it was a boating outing...

So this get together, its cool for kids? I have a 5 year old and a 6 month old.

Also when exactly is it?
I was reading up on it in the forums, but there are so many posts, i coudnt find the one with the date and times and exact location. LOL
I was on Merrit Island before, thats actually where i got my trailer worked on.

It's a boater's outing. Yes there will be boating going on. Bringing your own boat is not a requirement. We had a terriffic get together in St Augustine in June. Several of us became friends. We spent most of the time together just relaxing on the dock at the marina. It was like a picnic which lasted several days. It seemed more like a family reunion. We'd been posting together for almost a year, and when we finally met in person, it was like a get together with life long friends.

This time we'll probably spend at least a little more time on the water. We've been talking about fishing and some cruising.

This get together is cool for kids. I'm bringing my two sons, 3 and 8 years old. Fireman is bringing his youngest son, 10 years old. Nlain will be bringing his two grandsons, I don't remember their ages, but I think one is pre-teen, and the other, 13. By all means, bring your family.

It's the weekend of the 17th. I'll be getting there on Thursday, the 15th (this month). Sasto is a career Boat Captain. On Friday, around 3:00pm, we'll be going with him to pick up one of the boats he captains. We'll be making a 3 hour return voyage from a protected marina he brought her to for hurricaine Irene. She's a 55' Chris Craft. I'll edit this post with a link to a great thread sasto started for her. Here ya go... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=462079 He's done, and is still doing some beautiful work on her. He loves what he does, and it's obvious.

In so far as exact location, Nettles Island, Jensen beach, Florida. I'll send you a PM.

So... I'll be looking forward to meeting you this month.

 

[alexr254]

Re: NE Florida Boating

Very cool.

Thats actually the weekend of my bday, so it can work out in many ways. I will discuss it with my wife, and i know my 5 year old daughter will love it. She asks me basically everyday if the boat is done yet... If i say were gonna see alot of boats, that would make her jump in joy..haha

Its about a 2 1//2 hour drive from where i live. Straight down i95... So i can definately make it for a day trip.
Knowing my wife, she will say.. ok whatever you want to do..

will look out for your PM

thanks!!

BTW that is one heck of a ship Sasto got there!!! looks amazing!