Punta Gorda and the city itself have guidelines in place that are loosely enforced as to how far your vessel can enter the canal when moored.  The first consideration when looking for a home is to know which canal systems will accommodate which sailboats.  Water depth concerns are a lesser concern for sailors in Punta Gorda Isles or Burnt Store Isles especially for a catamaran or tri-maran hull.  Generally, 6 feet mean low water is the mitigating water depths but having sufficient canal width without entering the navigable area of the canal center is the real concern.

The general rule of thumb (not always) is that 50% of the canal system must be open for navigation.  There are many different canal scenarios that sometimes bring in a city guideline to be aware of but this is the golden rule.  So, with a 100 foot wide canal which is quite typical in Punta Gorda you can protrude into the canal 25 feet from the seawall.  This includes the dock and vessel.

As an example lets look at a home buyer I worked with that was purchasing a Lagoon 46 with a 4’ maximum draft and 26’ of beam.  With a dock of 5’ to 10’ wide you can see that you will need an especially wide canal system to accommodate your catamaran sailing vessel in Punta Gorda waters.  Rest assured there are plenty of locations to accommodate this type of vessel.  If you have a 5 foot dock and a 26 foot beam you are at 31 feet of protrusion from seawalls edge.

So, if you were considering a home on a particular street I would first look at an aerial view.  I have the ability to measure canal widths which is easily done and fairly accurate.  By example, if you were looking at a sailboat water front home on Suzi Street in Punta Gorda Isles, I measured this at 112 feet wide.  Divide 112 by 4 which gives you 28 feet from seawall to canal center which would be 3 feet over the standard rule of 25% for a Lagoon 46.  Is anyone really keeping an eye on such things?  I don’t think so and have never heard of anyone measuring for a few feet.  In fact, one customer that bought a Lagoon 40 with 22 feet of beam on a standard canal and put it behind his house entering the center more than the standard distance.  He called the city to see if there would be problems and got bounced around from many departments with no one willing to take ownership on his questions and concerns about his vessel entering the canal.  They verified the city guidelines that were in place but it appeared they never get that question and my customer decided there was nothing to worry about and that was the end of it.  I am not suggesting putting caution into the wind but we usually can find a home for your boat and you that fits the bill without worry.

Many canal systems have wide and standard widths such as Osprey Street has 130’ of width in some locations or Ryan with 200’ in some locations.  Trawlers and Sportfisherman also have to consider the canal systems when looking for a house and I can help you make the right decision.

The post Catamarns, Tri-marans and Power Boaters. Special Considerations When Purchasing A Waterfront Home appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

The majority of my customers that consider southwest Florida for a home purchase often think about Cape Coral as an option in addition to Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and perhaps points north.  Cost wise once you get outside of Cape Coral to the south and Port Charlotte to the north your price typically doubles, triples or more for a similar waterfront home.  Big cities with the bigger names go with much bigger price tags.  Their only plus is they have closer proximity to the beach.  However, with the beach thing comes a lot of traffic, more crime and overall congestion.

For the sailor there are many considerations for the water aspect of buying a home.  Navigation depths, bridge heights and channel widths are a few considerations in addition to canal depths and depths dockside at your home.

Cape Coral has many special considerations that should be examined.  Let’s start with the easiest one to think about.  1) Bridge heights there may limit the larger sailboats with mast heights exceeding 60 feet.  The longest bridge is the Sanibel Bridge connecting mainland with Sanibel.  Water depths will have to evaluated on a case by case basis as canal depths vary greatly with some shoaling in spots that might make it less sailboat accessible.  Open water navigation means staying between the markers as there are plenty of shallow water spots to be aware of.

The next consideration for the sail boater for Cape Coral is what’s known as the “Miserable Mile”.  Owning a home in the cape means traveling the Caloosahatchee River.  This term was coined back in the 70’s because a long stretch of the water has a very narrow channel with strong cross currents.  Basically, from an area just west of a small island, “Picnic Island” past Shell Point at Marker 101.  What makes this an especially difficult area to navigate is there is no room for error.  Go on the outside of any channel marker and you can expect to instantly run aground.  Sailboats or power boats go aground this way all the time and Tow Boat U.S. is always nearby to lend a hand at a hefty price!

In conjunction with the Miserable Mile is another stretch heading further into the Calooshatchee River.  For the sailor this is not much of an issue because it is a Slow Zone with no wake and is actively enforced by marine police.  For the power boater it makes them miserable because they have more than a mile to put-put along with many other boaters.  This general area has one of the highest incidents of boating accidents in the state largely because of boating traffic is quite heavy. So, there are TWO Miserable Mile stretches in the Caloosahatchee River area depending on who you talk to.  Sail boater versus power boater.

Punta Gorda:  Quite a different story with navigation here.  Sailors will find Charlotte Harbor (or better to think of it as Charlotte Bay as harbor implies a marina perhaps which there are none on the open waters or shores of Charlotte Harbor), a piece of cake to navigate.  The harbor is a wide open space with no navigation features to be concerned about with only one exception.  Nightime navigation.  There are some piling areas on the harbor that are not lit which makes no sense.  However, they are well marked on any chart and easy to spot on your chart plotter.  Daytime navigation is easy!  Only one significant underwater sandbar located off of green day maker 5, with 3 second flasher which marks the end of the sand bar off of Cape Haze Point.

Water depths are also not a problem in Charlotte Harbor.  Most depths exceed 10 feet.  The harbor with its exit into the Gulf of Mexico through Boca Grande Pass is well marked with no concerns for cross currents or narrow passages.

Charlotte Harbor also has the luxury of the harbor itself because it is a sailing destination.  You do not need to go into the gulf to sail with ease.  Just leave your home and enter the harbor and put your sails up!

The post Boating for Sailors in Cape Coral Compared to Punta Gorda appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

Fortunately, there is no better place for a catamaran sailboat skipper to dock his boat than southwest Florida.  Here we have great weather, reasonable prices on homes and land and waterways that will accommodate your craft with reasonable proximity to blue water.

The biggest concerns in this order are 1) having adequate canal width for safe navigation and also meeting the city or county ordinances of how far your boat can protrude into the canal system from your dock.  2) having sufficient mast height clearance from 45 feet to maybe 80 some depending on the vessel and 3) having adequate water depth at all tide phases, in particular, low tides in the worst of conditions (full moon, northeast winds).

The above constraints narrow the available waterfront homes considerably however there will still be plenty of great options.  In regards to the first point being “her beam”.  Larger vessels will have 25 feet and more in beam.  The general guideline but not always is that your vessel cannot protrude into the canal system more than 25% from the seawall.  There are variances depending on the configuration of the canal, location on the canal and a handful of other variables.  But overall we start by thinking about the 25% rule.  By example, a typical canal in Charlotte County, Punta Gorda Florida is 100 feet.  The City of Punta Gorda in this case specifies in their codes that from the centerline of the canal, 25% from that to either side must be left open for navigation.  A catamaran with 25 feet of beam will need a dock and if the dock is 5 feet wide then you are now at 30 feet of exposure into the canal and over the specified limit.

In the real world you might get by with this depending on your location, neighbors and vessels moored on your canal, but I will always guide you to a location where there is no worry.  Fortunately, there are canal systems that are 110 feet wide and wider.  There are ends of canals that are perfect, tip lots with larger water frontage with a radius that allows for a cat and other intersecting canal scenarios that will make a nice home for you boat.  I have a list of canal widths that I have measured myself and will be happy to guide you to the right home with no surprises!

Onto the mast height issue, point number 2.  For Charlotte County the neighborhood of Punta Gorda Isles has no bridge restrictions.  There are neighborhoods on the Peace River that are advertised as sailboat waterfront neighborhoods but have a limiting bridge restriction of 45 feet at mean low tide.

Point number 3 is water depth concerns.  For the most part, this is a minor concern for a catamaran hull even if loaded down with water, fuel and provisions heading for a long adventure.  The Punta Gorda area has plenty of water in their canals and exit systems to Charlotte Harbor which leads to the Gulf of Mexico.  Mono hulls have to be more mindful of depth of course, and a general guideline for a mono hull is not to exceed 6’ in draft and less is better.  The mitigating water depth is in the exit systems:  Ponce de Leon Inlet and Buckley’s Pass (currently under construction).  The city maintains these water ways to 6 feet mean low water.  I have sold homes to sailors that had sailing craft with 6.5 feet of draft and they would depart on higher tide phases and never had a problem.  Even if you bumped bottom, our bottoms are soft mud, not coral or rock like the islands, so no worries.

One catamaran customer of mine looking to buy a home was concerned that just plain navigation in the canal systems themselves would be a daunting task.  When viewing an aerial view of the canal systems in Punta Gorda they look narrow and concerns with getting by docks and moored boats would be a challenge especially with an approaching vessel.  First, an aerial view does make things look tight but the reality is different.  Something to realize is that despite plenty of homes, more than 50% have no boat at their dock.  Of the remaining 50%, 25% are used only on holidays and when company comes to town.  Of the remaining 25%, 15% is for show and never used, leaving 10% of us that boat frequently.  The summation is that boating traffic is extremely light and folks in our friendly town work together on land and sea.  No worries on navigation in canal systems!

The last thing I wanted to point out is there is a huge sailing fraternity in our area.  There are many clubs or organizations and some just for catamaran sailors.  It’s a great resource and easy to make friends when you have the same interests.  These same sailors can share a wealth of knowledge in getting around the islands, where to go or not go, navigational considerations, the best restaurants, shelling beaches and mooring sites.

Call The Captain! if you are thinking about buying a home for your boat 😊

The post Catamaran Sailboat Waterfront Considerations When Buying A Home appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

Manatees are also a common sighting.  They are very boat friendly and often curious about your presence.  One way to spot a manatee is to look for a slick spot on the water which almost always is observed in the shallows of 6 feet or less.  The photo shows you what it looks like.  The slick travels with the manatee as it flips its tail it creates a series of circle patterns that smooths out the water behind it.  Its basically a Manatee Wake!  If you approach quietly and perhaps with a trolling motor the manatee will often come up to the side of your boat and stick its head out.

If you see them at your dock, they will sometimes come by for a drink of fresh water, literally!  Put the hose in the water and they will come up and suck on it.  I have seen them fed lettuce and greens in the Florida Keys but of course, that is actually illegal to do.

So, when you travel around the harbor keep your eye out for a moving slick spot on the water.  Manatees are very commonly found in the back waters of Burnt Store Marina.  This is a very reliable location in the winter.  In front of the east or west side of the harbors right along the sandbar is a normal hangout especially in the spring.

We love seeing manatees any time of year and always are careful to avoid a collision with them.  They are not very wary of boaters on Charlotte Harbor and often you will see gashes on them where a propeller struck them.

For fisherman, Manatees attract a fish known as a Cobia.  Cobia normally range from 2 to 4 feet in length and are one of the best eating fishing in the ocean.  Cobia follow the manatees in the shallows because the manatee disturbs the bottom as they move along causing shrimp, crabs and fish to jump out of their wake and the cobia is right there following.

The post Manatees In Charlotte Harbor appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

First, let me say there is a lot of shallow water but in the same breath I can say that navigation is actually very easy once you understand a few basic things about the harbor.  Let’s take a look at a typical trip from the Peace River Bridge (bridge connecting Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte) to Boca Grande Pass which is the entrance to the Gulf.  This route is particularly good to understand if you are a wayward sailor and looking to moor to the public mooring buoys on either side of the bridge in Punta Gorda.  Mast height on the Peace River Bridge is 45 feet so that eliminates many sailing vessels which desire to use the moorings east of the bridge but there are still plenty on the west side.

From the bridge making way westward you can sometimes become a little confused at many different day markers what they mean.  To your east you will see Fisherman’s Village and there is a long set of channel markers to lead you there.  Your first bearing point will be Red Marker 2, which has a flashing beacon.  Your water depths throughout the Peace River in this area will be 8-12 feet or more.  Colony Point (often not shown on charts) is the beginning of the large fat point for which Punta Gorda was named.  Punta Gorda is Spanish for fat point.  We often refer to this area as Colony Point because of the condos in the area and the road bearing the same name.  Colony Point is a good place to avoid getting too close to land as the water comes up very shallow on this point and adjacent mangroves.  The west side of the point is Ponce de Leon Park which is a primary exit for all of Punta Gorda Isles (PGI).  THIS IS THE MOUTH OF THE PEACE RIVER.

If you follow from Red #2 to Green #1 there is plenty of water up to 16’.  Nothing tight about navigating or staying close to the markers.  There are many sailboat races each year at the mouth of the river with plenty of room with no worries about running aground even with deep draft sail boats but still be mindful of the shallows on Colony Point and either side of the channel markers to Ponce Park.

From Green #1, the harbor is wide open!  On either side of the harbor for your southern track is a sandbar a ¼ mile off the mangroves so basically you have miles of water to enjoy with no worries.  In general, there is water from 7 feet and deeper as long as you stay off this sandbar which is often visible at low tides.  There are tons of room for any style boat heading south.  THERE ARE NO NAVIGATIONAL MARKERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HARBOR (I guess they are not really necessary).

Your next point for navigation can be Green Marker #5 which identifies the end of an underwater point (and land point) known as Cape Haze Point.  DO NOT CUT THIS SHORT UNTIL YOU KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND!  It will be a soft grounding if you run too close to the land point but countless many of us, me included have made that mistake and it normally means waiting for high tide to get off.

You could also target Red Marker #6 in front of Burnt Store Marina and then head West with a straight line track to Boca Grande which will be barely visible at this point.  Proceeding westward you can follow the day markers to the Pass but there is plenty of water to explore and enjoy so you don’t have to stay anywhere close to the markers until you get closer to Boca.

BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE HARBOR!  MOST ARE POORLY MARKED HOWEVER NONE ARE IN YOUR TRAVEL PATHS BETWEEN MARKERS:

North of Marker #1 near the entrance to the Peace River is The Old Tire Reef.  Not much there on the bottom but there are pilings sitting out in the middle of nowhere that you might not expect.

Mid harbor there is a large artificial reef known as Alligator Creek Reef.  It is poorly marked!  You will see a large concrete piling sticking out on either end.  They are not lit at night!  Crazy, so before traveling at night a run through the harbor at day time is recommended.  Alligator Creek Reef is in front of Alligator Creek which has a marked channel.  Between the concrete pilings the fish attracting debri on the bottom should not cause any issues with navigation as there is about 10-12 feet of water there.  Here is what the pilings sitting in the middle of nowhere look like!  The first photo is the north end and the second is the south end of the artificial reef.

Once you are passing Green Marker #5 on Cape Haze Point beware there is a public artificial fishing reef known as Cape Haze Reef north of your trajectory line between #5 and Red marker #4.  It is well marked with Yellow floating cylinders that protrude about 5 feet above the water line.

The next obstruction to be aware of is called Danger Reef.  I think this is a great name for this as there is a sunken 40 foot boat on the bottom.  It is marked with a single non-descript piling that in my opinion is woefully inadequate.  This should not be a problem unless you are just tooling around exploring the harbor.  It is unlikely you will not see it but I find it sneaks up on me.  At night it is not lite!  Very dangerous so you need to know your way around very well during the daytime prior to traveling at night.

That’s about it for obstructions however most will never cause you an issue during daytime navigation.

Charlotte Harbor and the adjoining waters will provide you with a lifetime of enjoyment without navigation worries.  Just take your time and watch what other mariners are doing.  I find some of my customers that are not experienced with saltwater buy larger boats than needed.  Particularly fisherman.  Since they may have come from lakes and perhaps not understanding channel markers and saltwater navigation they tend to buy boats that draft too much, are too long, gunnel height is too high and perhaps have twin outboards.  I will give you guidance on what type of boat to optimize your fishing goals.  For sailors, there are no real worries on running aground and there are plenty of homes to accommodate a 6 foot draft (or less) but sailboats with deeper drafts may have to make concessions on tides.  Its important to know that your home is truly sailboat accessible before you enter into a contract however the open harbor will never be a problem.

The post Shallow Spots and How To Navigate On Charlotte Harbor appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

With that said, I never had a strong opinion as to how the creation of Buckley’s Pass, making a shorter boat ride into the harbor would affect property values.  With that said, it is implied I was not convinced it would, so I decided to look at current market trends as presented below.

Home Comparison

The metric I chose for comparison to the Bird Section’s currently long boat ride to open water was in contrast to the old (or original) sailboat section.  The old sailboat section in PGI has the closest access to the harbor, with deep water.  Most travel times to the harbor are 10 minutes or less for the old sailboat section.  Most travel times from the bird section to the harbor are 40 minutes or less with some much longer at over an hour at the north end of the bird section.

Looking at the 2018 home sales statistics from the MLS database, I chose to consider sales that involved only 3+ bedroom homes with a pool, which constitute the largest number of homes in either location.  Here are the stats:

Bird Section:  48 sales (as of December 1, 2018) at a median sales price of $520,000

Old Sailboat Section:  40 sales (as of December 1, 2018) at a median sales price of $465,500

So, the median sales price was significantly higher in the bird section and the total number of sales was higher.  The people that live in the bird section bought their home knowing that they might have a long boat ride out.  Obviously, they would not have bought if they didn’t like the house and location and most of these homes were not new construction.

You can read into this what you want but does this make you think property values will go up once Buckley’s Pass has been created?  There is a lot more vacant land in the bird section than the old sailboat section.  If shortening the boat ride times in the bird section occurs will this affect the lot values in the old sailboat section since they won’t be the only location in town with really short boat ride times?

The post Sales Comparison Bird Section to Old Sailboat Section in PGI: Will Buckley’s Pass Increase Property Values? appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

The estimated cost is 2.5 million which will be paid for through a special assessment to be appropriated through 2,622 home owners that apparently will benefit from this new channel.  The purpose of this channel is to connect the Bird Section of Punta Gorda Isles to Alligator Creek and shorten the boat ride time to open water significantly.  See the map below for where the channel will be cut.

Previously, in my research there was mention of environmental factions that had the project under review and required approval but I have not heard any mention of issues with this.  The city has printed time lines for every step so it appears there are no expected hurdles.  The engineering firm Hans Wilson started on this back in 2015 and was recently contracted for the final engineering phase.

With all of this said, it looks to be almost a certainty that this project will go through!  Boaters will definitely be happier with shorter boat ride times out to the harbor!

If you are a property owner in Punta Gorda Isles and particularly in the Bird Section, I have done a statistical analysis of sales there compared to the fastest section out to open waters.  You can email me and I will share with you my findings on current sales information.  You will likely be surprised.  The City of Punta Gorda I expect in time will see fit to increase taxes in the Bird Section because the property should be worth more once the project is complete.  Time will tell how much more, if any property values will increase.  At the moment watefront lot sales in the Bird Section are experiencing no signifiant increase in sales price and sales have remained flat for over 2 years.

The post BUCKLEY’S PASS aka Bird Section Cut-Thru DECEMBER 2018 UPDATE and MAP appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

This Blog is a reprint from a few months back but was a bit hard to find in my Blog section.  As such I have reprinted here and this and all future Blogs regarding this topic will be found under Buckley’s Pass.

The project that has been underway for 3 years to add a waterway exit from the Punta Gorda Isles (PGI) “Bird Section” to Alligator Creek has taken on many names over the start of the project.  Call it “PGI Bird Cut-Through”, “Alligator Creek Bypass”, “Additional Harbor Access Project” or “Bird Key Cut” has now had a name change!

It is now called: “The Buckley’s Pass Project” or “Buckley’s Pass” and it looks like this navigational short cut will actually happen!  First, the new name is to honor the late Capt. John Buckley who was instrumental in making this come to fruition.

Based on my research, the City of Punta Gorda cut a deal with land owner Robert “Buckey” McQueen and the land purchase was approved on August 22, 2018.  This parcel is a land mass that separates a navigable portion of the bird section canal system to the waters of Alligator Creek.  This 4.24 acre parcel is being purchased for $440,000 and the city will create a channel through it that is 1,446 feet long and 60 feet wide.  This connection to Alligator Creek will shorten the boat ride from all homes in the locally named “Bird Section” of Punta Gorda Isles and my guess is it will cut the boat ride time in nearly ½ from the ride it takes to go out (for many homes) to the existing Ponce de Leon channel to the north and west.  This location also places the mariner several miles to the south on the harbor and of course, closer to the Gulf of Mexico.  With that said there are a lot of advantages to use this short cut.  One of key factors that has been missing in the mention of this bird cut through is WATER DEPTH!  They talk width and length but not depth!  Of course, to a serious boater like myself this would be one of the first points to be highlighted but I anticipate a minimum of 6 feet mean low water (MLW).  Anything less would prohibit many large sailing craft and deeper draft power boats from using it.  Add to that I believe it was no coincidence that Charlotte County decided to DREDGE Alligator Creek earlier this year to a new DEEPER water depth that was prescribed to be dredged to 6 feet MLW.  With these depths, they match the city’s prescribed maintenance depth of 6 feet MLW at Ponce de Leon channel.

For those not familiar with the “Bird Section” of PGI, this area got its name because all of the streets are named after birds.  Whether it is a shore bird or upland game bird you will find an interesting mix of names.  This section of Punta Gorda Isles is the newest section within this Punta Gorda neighborhood with most homes being built in the late 80’s to current and with that it has a newer appearance with the absence of homes built in the 60’s and 70’s that can be found in other parts of PGI.

Other important issues that have been met with this project are:

Army Corp of Engineers approved the cut through on August 7, 2018 (Permit NO. SAJ-2016-02715 (SP-KRD).  This was a big hurdle to overcome.

One approval that was previously reported was necessary was the NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES.  I have not heard mention of this and wonder if this is still an outlying issue.

One other point on this project that I have contemplated is that the channel they are cutting is only 60 feet wide.  Granted this should be fine for most vessels that pass in the channel, but more would be better.

The big deal is that it looks like the Bird Section cut through is actually going to happen!  Exactly when no one has reported as the City of Punta Gorda is now figuring out how to assess the property owners in a fair manor to cover the cost of the project estimated at approximately $2 million to complete.  Also, the date of the actual land purchase has not been determined either.  Of course, once completed I would expect the city hopes to assess bird section taxes at a higher millage rate since they will have a shorter boat ride time out.

For sailors and power craft this area of Punta Gorda Isles will become more attractive if a shorter boat ride is important to you.  It remains to be seen if Buckley’s Pass increases property values.

The post PGI Bird Section Cut Through, Harbor Access Project, Buckley’s Pass UPDATE! appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

This is a very common thought when wanting to live the Florida dream if you are a boater.  Waterfront homes come at a higher cost because of access to Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf.  It’s all about the location and after wanting to live on the water my entire life in Maryland I finally satisfied the dream over 16 years ago.  It’s just as amazing today as it was then and I still can’t believe I am so lucky to live on the water!  My backyard is really the harbor, gulf, beaches, intracoastal waterway and the rivers.

Many people come here from around the U.S. that own a large home that is very upscale.  Perhaps their home is worth $450k in Texas and they have dreamed of having a sailboat behind their house in Punta Gorda.  This amount of money will buy a nice house here but it will not be the “Mcmansion” that they were accustomed to.  Some people place more importance on living on the water over having the perfect house and others have to have a spectacular house as to what they always have been accustomed.  To have both the water and spectacular house requires an adjustment in thinking on what you will have to spend.  If the desire for a house of perfection persists, some will consider an inland home with thoughts of mooring their vessel at a local marina.  This is certainly a nice option.  The marina’s will be close to your residence so getting there will not take much time but you will sacrifice the ability to tinker with your boat and wander back and forth from your garage with tools in hand.  This is pretty special I must say and I get great pleasure in seeing my boat(s) at the dock, I never tire of the water view which includes my boats, never.

Let’s look at the cost of docking your boat at marina’s in Punta Gorda.  There are 3 options as shown below.  In general you can expect to pay $12.00-$13.50 per foot on an annual basis.  So a 40 foot vessel at $13.00 per foot will cost you $520.00 per month to keep your boat in a slip plus electric and taxes.

For my way of thinking, this might be considered a 1/3 of a small house payment that never goes away with no return on investment.  If you factor this cost into the inland home you purchase you just might find spending more money up front on the house and have your boat at your own dock might be a better option for you.

Call me and let’s talk it through.  Living the dream in Punta Gorda or Port Charlotte is going to be good as long as you are close to the water.  These are waterfront towns and we all love it here.

Laishley Marina

Fishermans’ Village Marina

Daily: $2.25

Monthly: $15.50

Annual: $13.50

Burnt Store Marina

• Daily$2.00 per foot/day + $5.00/day for electric
  • Discount for groups of 10 or more transient boats
• Weekly$ 8.00 per foot/week + $5.00/day for electric
• Monthly$16.50 per foot/month + electric per month
• Seasonal(6 months) $14.50 per foot/month + electric per month
• Annual$13.50 per foot/month + electric per month
• Live-Aboard$150/month
• All rates plus 6% tax.  Rates are subject to change without notice.

The post Buying A Waterfront Home Versus Keeping Your Boat In A Marina appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

It is now called: “The Buckley’s Pass Project” or “Buckley’s Pass” and it looks like this navigational short cut will actually happen!  First, the new name is to honor the late Capt. John Buckley who was instrumental in making this come to fruition.

Based on my research, the City of Punta Gorda cut a deal with land owner Robert “Buckey” McQueen and the land purchase was approved on August 22, 2018.  This parcel is a land mass that separates a navigable portion of the bird section canal system to the waters of Alligator Creek.  This 4.24 acre parcel is being purchased for $440,000 and the city will create a channel through it that is 1,446 feet long and 60 feet wide.  This connection to Alligator Creek will shorten the boat ride from all homes in the locally named “Bird Section” of Punta Gorda Isles and my guess is it will cut the boat ride time in nearly ½ from the ride it takes to go out (for many homes) to the existing Ponce de Leon channel to the north and west.  This location also places the mariner several miles to the south on the harbor and of course, closer to the Gulf of Mexico.  With that said there are a lot of advantages to use this short cut.  One of key factors that has been missing in the mention of this bird cut through is WATER DEPTH!  They talk width and length but not depth!  Of course, to a serious boater like myself this would be one of the first points to be highlighted but I anticipate a minimum of 6 feet mean low water (MLW).  Anything less would prohibit many large sailing craft and deeper draft power boats from using it.  Add to that I believe it was no coincidence that Charlotte County decided to DREDGE Alligator Creek earlier this year to a new DEEPER water depth that was prescribed to be dredged to 6 feet MLW.  With these depths, they match the city’s prescribed maintenance depth of 6 feet MLW at Ponce de Leon channel.

For those not familiar with the “Bird Section” of PGI, this area got its name because all of the streets are named after birds.  Whether it is a shore bird or upland game bird you will find an interesting mix of names.  This section of Punta Gorda Isles is the newest section within this Punta Gorda neighborhood with most homes being built in the late 80’s to current and with that it has a newer appearance with the absence of homes built in the 60’s and 70’s that can be found in other parts of PGI.

Other important issues that have been met with this project are:

Army Corp of Engineers approved the cut through on August 7, 2018 (Permit NO. SAJ-2016-02715 (SP-KRD).  This was a big hurdle to overcome.

One approval that was previously reported was necessary was the NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES.  I have not heard mention of this and wonder if this is still an outlying issue.

One other point on this project that I have contemplated is that the channel they are cutting is only 60 feet wide.  Granted this should be fine for most vessels that pass in the channel, but more would be better.

The big deal is that it looks like the Bird Section cut through is actually going to happen!  Exactly when no one has reported as the City of Punta Gorda is now figuring out how to assess the property owners in a fair manor to cover the cost of the project estimated at approximately $2 million to complete.  Also, the date of the actual land purchase has not been determined either.  Of course, once completed I would expect the city hopes to assess bird section taxes at a higher millage rate since they will have a shorter boat ride time out.

For sailors and power craft this area of Punta Gorda Isles will become more attractive if a shorter boat ride is important to you.  It remains to be seen if Buckley’s Pass increases property values.

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