Conference vicki::boats

    I know enough to be dangerous - make that very dangerous.  I've spent
    sometime in the Daytona-St. Augstine area. (my inlaws have a place in 
    flagler beach)
    
    Not knowing how big your boat is and what your interest might be, take 
    this information with a grain of salt.
    
    Here's my overview:
    
    Ocean
    
    Good News
    
    There is a major harbor at Daytona, and one at St Augstine.  Two rivers
    enter the Alantic at each city - I've forgotten the names.  (maybe the
    St Johns and the Halifax ?)  
    
    Bad News
    
    Between these cities there is roughly 50miles of beach with no access.  
    I dont think there's even a ramp.  Never understood it.
    
    Netural news
    
    Running between these points is the intercoastal waterway.  This is a
    pretty neat area to explore and can accomidate big boats.  Branching
    off the intercoastal are lots of creeks, rivers and backwaters that are
    fun to explore.   The only draw back is that can only run north or
    south and less than 1/4 mile away is the entire ocean...
    
    Fresh water
    
    I dont have much experience here.  As I mentioned before, there are
    lots of  creeks and small rivers that flow into the intercoastal.  At
    some point they become fresh.  The Tomoka river comes to mind as an
    example. There are lots of lakes and rivers a bit further inland.  
    I got a Sierra Club book on exploring florda for christmas - havent had 
    time to read the details, but the quick view is there are a lot of
    canoe trips to consider.
    
    
    
    Hope it helps,
    
    
    Harlan
    

    HI , Grew up in Jacksonville and lived there for 35 years or so . I
    have fished the state fresh and salt . I would be glad to discuss
    anything you might be interested if you desire.
    
    Al Vorhis
    dtn 2716975

    As part of a backup plan for when/if my job here goes away, one
    of the things we've discussed is a move to Florida.
    
    There's another topic in here somewhere that mentions gators and
    water moccasins in Florida.  I don't like snakes of any kind, and
    the thought of swimming and boating with poisonous ones would be
    enough to keep me out of the water.
    
    An article in a current issue of Offshore, about a couple who rode
    out Hurricane Andrew mentioned the serious threat of water moccasins
    while going ashore, even in salt water areas.  I also have a friend
    who's girlfriend is moving back up north in March, in part because 
    she got tired of finding 5-6' snakes *in her house*!
    
    How serious is the danger of snakes and gators?  I read in the other
    topic that in some areas it's no consideration at all, while in
    others it's very real. Unfortunately, I think in the areas I'd 
    consider moving to it does exist.
    
    rick

    On the brighter side, while visiting my wife's sister in FL last
    month we went thru Port Everglades.  This is where the cruise
    ships come in, and is also the winter home for a lot of the mega-
    yachts and sportfishermen like you see in Boating magazine.
    
    For anyone who's into boats, a trip to this place is like dying
    and going to heaven.  I was in awe of what I saw, and have a whole
    roll of pictures to prove it.   8^)
    
    Rick

    Rick,

    	I Florida Snakes, Gators, Roaches, and all sorts of creepy crawly
    things are a fact of life.  I have friends who have in 20 years of
    boating in FL never seen a Gator, or a Snake.  I have a nephew who is
    serious bass chaser and he runs into them in the central FL area from
    time to time.  Over by the Cape Gators are a real concern as there is a
    large wild life refuge and they are thriving.  I would not let the
    possibility of critters keep me from moving.  

    	Other aspects of FL and boating are more annoying.  The state with
    the best of intentions is really regulating boating heavily.  I would
    check out that aspect. Additionally, I would check out job prospects
    before making it part of any backup plans.  I have friends and family
    who live in various parts of FL.  From what I hear from them the job
    market is not all that great.  I had thought about moving back to FL a
    couple years back checked things out decided against it.  I have given
    thought to the Carolinas but have not really checked into it.

    Forrest

                      -< "need info on Florida boating" >-


   You might ask the same questions in TALLIS::FLORIDA, the Florida Notes
Conference...  I've done lots of Canoeing in the Everglades Nat'l Park and
some of the fresh water canals around what used to be Homestead.  I've seen
lots of gators from the canoe, but never had any problem with them.  Mostly
they take off and leave you alone if you give them a chance.  They aren't
particularly fast in the water, but they can outrun a horse for a short
distance on shore.  As for snakes, I've seen copperheads, moccasins, pigmy
rattlers, and eastern diamond back.  Only the pigmy rattler was the least bit
aggressive towards us.  Usually they just sit there and look at you.  As I was
exploring the boonies I wore snake boots just in case, but I was more concerned
about the spiders.

   The little bit of power boating I've done in Fla was mostly in the inter-
coastal waterway and some freshwater lakes.  Other than the speed limits on
the rivers when the Manatees are around, I haven't found Florida to be much
different than Massachusetts or California, a few more Marine Patrol than other
places perhaps.

Al

    Having been born and raised in N. Florida 60 miles due East of
    Jacksonville Fla., in Lake City I will give you a point of view of a
    native. Are you interested in only the East coast, or is the Gulf coast
    an option? keep in mind the farther South you go the more tourists you
    fight and the more like the North Florida becomes. The state is filling
    from the bottom up with non-native Floridians. You may find your escape
    to Florida will surround you with more people from the North than the
    South. For my money the only true Florida left is from Orlando 
    north. You still have elbow room and land prices are still reasonable
    except on the coasts. Access to either coast is just a short drive form
    anywhere in Florida. You may want to consider acces to the coast via
    rivers like the Saint Johns on the East coast instead of access via
    marinas on the Atlantic. Please let me know if there are any specific
    "local knowledge" questions I can answer. 

            thanks all for the info. My husband lived in jacksonville for
    5 years. We are thinking more south but not too far. more in the Tampa
    area I believe.(we're wingin it right now). I agree with staying more
    northern. We both feel that way. We now have a 25 ft. cabin cruiser but
    we want to trade down so we can trailer this boat from east to gulf
    coasts. I have found just from the florida notesfile that rental etc.
    seems to be very pricy in the orlando area (tourists of course). Are
    there areas where it is affordable to buy land,house,rent etc??
    		Also,how do you feel about living in Florida? Obviously
    you are still there. I have never lived anywhere but mass. but i have
    had enough brown trees and dirty snow for 8 months out of the year to
    last me a lifetime. where abouts are u from? any info given on anything
    regarding living there would be a great help. We arent planning to
    leave for a year or so(trying to get out of debt) but i am very excited
    about it and anything is useful. Thanks again.
    				sue

    Re: .7 60 miles east of Jacksonville is ocean city. Wide open.....
    If I recall Lake City is 60 miles west of JAX on I-10 or route 90
    at highway 41. 60 miles east of JAX is good spot for Spannish and
    some King Mackeral. The mouth of the St. Johns has lots of Amberjack.
    The flats along the St Johns still have some LARGE Tarpon. Lots of
    lakes in North Florida. You really have to look for water moccassins
    nowadays but I wouldn't go wading up any brush covered creek. Gators
    are around but you'd have to be real stupid to get injured. Skeeters
    roaches lizards possums racoons etc are around but only in the sticks.
    South of Tallahasee and around Gainesville you can find Sink Holes.
    Some filled with water some dry. I used to have stops along my route
    when I worked for 3M covering north Fla. I could go on. I got a 10000
    to fix, gotta go. Follow the intracostal all the way around Fla in your
    25 footer. Follow the small country roads in your car. Check out Cedar
    Key.