Getting into cruise life style ideas

Yes, you 're right, you can see the bottom almost immediately after you've run aground. You seem to have hit ground a lot everywhere you've been. Curious. How many times would you estimate you've run aground? And just in case you try to return rather than destroying the coral reefs in Cuba, there are some quality charts available now in the US. Cuba has long distributed charts and many are more up to date than US charts. GEOCUBA provides the data.

Hello Guys
I do not want to take this thread in a different direction so I am just going to ask this one question,
Where can I learn about the safe vs not safe places to anchor or moor up along the east coast and especially down south for the winter ?
Thanks,
jim

Charts and cruising guides

As Capt. J points out the charts will give you the bottom (mud, sand, rock, etc.), the depths and a lot about the topography. Cruising guides will give you recommendations. Cruisersnet will give a lot of up to date reports. You might also consider joining the Great Loop Cruisers Assoc. (AGLCA). Many of the members do a lot of anchoring out, and often discuss anchoring / mooring recommendations or you can post to find other's experiences. They have a lot of boats currently running between Florida's west coast, keys, east coast and Bahamas. As spring approaches they'll be moving up the coast or you could check the archives for last years discussions.

Also a lot of information on Active Captain, Cruisersnet, and Waterway Guide.

Thanks Everyone,
I figured tide charts and such would help there However I was going in another direction with this........safe vs not safe as in crime or hastle etc.

Had a feeling that's where you were heading, but there's really no marine answer to it that I know of. Other than monitoring blogs by cruisers, your best bet is being street smart. Beyond that you can look up crime stats for an area on line or contact the local PD. But you're really only concerned with the one criminal who has targeted you, and there's very little protection against that. What I can tell you is that I've never had a problem, and I've done a good bit of U.S. east coast and Canadian cruising. Most U.S. criminals seem to frown on swimming to their targets, and most marinas are poor targets. Between gates, cameras, people around and long walks down docks there are easier ways for criminals to make a living. Once you leave the confines of a marina, there's a good chance you'll not be in a best area, unless you stay at resort marinas. I'm generally armed and my eyes are wide open when I go outside most marinas. Probably your biggest risk at the dock would be when you grab a seawall in a downtown area.

NYCAP123,
Yup thats where I was going !! Thanks for the advice and it makes a lot of sense to me. I really did not have to many concerns at all untill I started reading so many threads about crime and violence towards boaters.......guess common sense and taking nothing for granted is best advice.
Thanks Again
Jim

Fish Catcher Jim, are you going to be a single or a couple? Boats that have full time crew aboard in addition to the Owners, pretty much takes that boat off the Radar, it doesn't appeal to them. They really don't want to kill anybody, just jump on board grab some expensive stuff that they can pawn real quick and be gone. Either have some kind of security system, Or keep a dog aboard, which creates another challenge to the mix. Best way is to find a fairly crowded mooring, invite your closest neighbor's over for a drink or two. That will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling while away from your boat. And the boy scout approach is very effective. " Say neighbor, I'm going to the store for some groceries, do you need anything while I'm there?"

NEO56,
Thanks for the advice and it will be more likely just two of us and even though a dog would be a good thing where this is concerned, I Truly do not want the extra hastle to deal with....
I hope it all comes together later this year and yea it wil be the first live aboard cruise.....
jim

One other thing....the Florida Marine Patrol aren't real excited about... anchoring in Turtle grass. You see the environmentalist feel as though Turtle grass is the same habitat protection as Sargasm . Just to identify Turtle grass, it's long 12-18 inches, 1/4"wide and usually grows on flats and soft bottoms. Being a non-local anchored in a Turtle grass bed will get you a lecture, and depending on your personality, a ticket.

Good to know NEO56,
Yea I have been reading and down loading some pdf's and I am amazed at how well you need to be educated if you are going to cruise or fish anywhere in the florida area. Man the glades and canals sure have a lot of regulations and I understand but I sure do not want to ever hear....ignorance is NO excuse.....here is your ticket......

Keep it coming, I will take all the information and reading you can give me.
Have a great week end
Jim

Does this include the sea walls along the "loop" ?
I read and see where the loopers tie up for the night on this wall or that wall waiting for a bridge or lock the next day or for free electric for the night....Just wondering.......
Thanks and have a great week end
Jim

The docks on the loop are relatively safe, and are town docks, mostly all of them. NYCAP means just tieing up on any old seawall and walking away from the boat would be your biggest liability of things getting stolen. Boat's aren't exactly the hardest thing to break into.

Again, buy a good cruising guide like the Dozier's one, it will tell you everything and anything you want to know about every area, anchorages, marina's, shopping, historic sites, and will be the best $30 you ever spend.

Thank You Very Much Capt J,
I will search for the book and this makes good sense to me.
Jim

Your wife is going to hate me, but go check out Bluewater Books and Charts in Ft. Lauderdale...if they don't have it...you don't need it. They carry a HUGE selection of Cruising guides.

Their website is www.bluewaterweb.com

I used to drive up to Ft. Lauderdale just to browse Bluewater and spend hours going through their inventory. They currently are offering free shipping on orders over $49 bucks.( If that makes any difference)

Greetings NEO56,
Actually she smiled and said YES !! She is as hungry to learn about cruising the loop and beyond as I am. It's been a dream and desire in both of us even as far back as early childhood !!

Thanks for the link and I will be checking them out. I have hesitated in the past about buying cruising guides because I downloaded many to find them to be worthless and others I get excited about and before I order them I would find many people who hated the fact that they even listened to the information.

However...........with you guys in here.........I beleive I can trust your advice..
Have a great week end
Jim

Hey Jim,
The staff that Bluewater has, isn't a bunch of flunkies working for a pay check, they are very knowledgeable and friendly people, if you have any questions about any of their guides...pick up the phone and as to speak with the most knowledgeable person on Florida guide books. I saw 6 or 7 guide books for Florida only, so as opposed to not getting disappointed call before you buy!

NEO56,
Thank You for this tip. That makes a lot of sense calling and talking with some one about the choices I may have found or just advice on making a choice. Good Idea my friend....OBTW i hope you did not think I was talking about blue water in that post. I have not yet been there but I will.

I just did notname the paticular cruise guides out of respect of the forum and dont have solid proof really. However the ones I did get OTHER PLACES sure did read like one big advertisment. lol
Thanks again Neo56