First, there are two inlets to the harbor but not all home locations allow you access to both.  One exit out of the canals is Ponce Inlet and the other is Alligator Creek via Buckley’s Pass, aka the bird cut.  It is important to note that when looking at a map it appears there is a third exit out that is about half way between Ponce and Alligator Creek.  This is not a navigable waterway!

There are homes that access the harbor from the Peace River and have no access to Ponce or Buckley’s Pass and will be covered more below.  There is one exception to the aforementioned and that are the homes on the Colony Point Canal system.  Homes on the south of the Colony Point Bridge area are sailboat waterfront using Ponce.  To the north of the Colony Point Bridge area are sailboat waterfront homes using the Peace River.  Boats that have less than a 12-13 foot bridge clearance can have access to both exits when living on this canal system.

The first thing for sailors to understand is that you will always have access to both inlets, Ponce de Leon or Buckley’s Pass.  Neither exit will encounter a bridge and no concerns with mast height.  Your home proximity with the closest exit will likely dictate your preference.  Implied in this statement is that you purchase a home that is truly sailboat water with adequate depth and no bridges.  For draft concerns with a sailboat the general rule is 6 feet of water at mean low tide at all times in this area and this goes for both Ponce Inlet and the exit into Alligator Creek.  Unusual low tides on full moons with winter winds will cause the tides to get below the norm.

Here is a snap shot of what exit for what area in Punta Gorda Isles (PGI).

Buckley’s Pass, to Alligator Creek

• The area bounded by Aqui Esta Blvd to the NORTH, intersected by Bal Harbor Blvd. to the WEST down to the end of Bal Harbor and only the homes to the left or east of Bal Harbor. This is known as the Bird Section and is sailboat water.  The longest boat ride times at slow idle is about 25 minutes to Buckley’s Pass.  For the Catamaran Sailor this pass is plenty wide for you to get through.  Once through this pass you turn right into Alligator Creek.  The harbor will be visible within a ¼ mile.  Follow the channel markers carefully or expect a soft grounding!
• The area bounded by Bal Harbor south of Aqui Esta, located off of Suzi and Casey Key Drive at the very southern end of Bal Harbor. This general area does not have a specific name but will have the shortest boat ride out of Buckley’s Pass.  Here are the street names in this area and expect less than 25 minutes to the pass, with most having much shorter boat ride times.  Here are the street names:  Suzi, Los Alamos, La Costa Island, Key Largo, Casey Key, Useppa, Pine Island.  Homes on these streets also have access to Ponce Inlet but a much longer boat ride time.

Ponce de Leon Inlet

• All homes SOUTH of West Marion and to the WEST of Bal Harbor Blvd exit out of Ponce and are sailboat friendly streets.
• All homes SOUTH of Bal Harbor and accessed by DEBORAH DRIVE which heads basically west with many streets that branch of Deborah area using the Ponce Inlet.

Peace River Exits

• All homes NORTH of West Marion exit into the Peace River. This area is known as the Old Sailboat Section or the Original Sailboat Section.  A few of these canal systems boast more than 6 feet of water.

The post Boaters! How To Get Out Of The Punta Gorda Isles Canal System appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

Burnt Store Marina

Burnt Store Isles

Burnt Store Meadows

Burnt Store Lakes

Burnt Store Village

All of these “Burnt Store” neighborhoods are indeed quite nice and only two are waterfront neighborhoods.  My first thoughts were why would you name anything after that.  Sounds weird.  So, after a few years here you will become comfortable with the name I assure you.

Many not from here associate the word “Burnt Store” only with the marina itself.  Many of my waterfront property customers will express disinterest in Burnt Store when I mention this is a good neighborhood for sailboat waterfront access or overall a good boating location to have a home.  This meaning they did not want to live in a gated community outside of town with HOA fees.  At that point, I realize they are only aware of the “marina” and not familiar with Burnt Store Isles a sister neighborhood of Punta Gorda Isles and equally popular sailboat waterfront neighborhood.

So where does this peculiar name come from?  You can google the topic and you will see several variations of the story.  The very short version is that there was a trading post situated on the water 20 miles north of the Caloosahatchee River which puts it right about where the marina sits today.  This was back in the early to mid-1800’s.  There were several conflicts between the Caloosahatchee Indians and local settlers of the area.  One of the final conflicts in this area is when the Indians burnt down the trading post located on the water’s edge.  The road leading to the trading post became identified as “Burnt Store Road”.  And there you have it!

The post Burnt Store Road Punta Gorda: Whats In A Name and Some History appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

When considering purchasing a waterfront home in southwest Florida I recommend using an experienced home inspector.  The key things of concern will be:  roof, electric, air conditioning and plumbing.

Most of my customers that come here from the north are not familiar with Tile Roofs and have concerns about them.  Here is some insight into tile roofs.

Many think that a tile roof, normally made of concrete, clay or steel is what protects the house from water intrusion.  Actually, the tile roof acts as a protective barrier to the under layment underneath and is ornamental or decorative to the house.  This under layment material below the tile actually provides a moisture barrier.

A tile roof house when constructed uses normal plywood 4×8 sheets that are attached with a specific nail pattern and attached on the underside with additional strapping.  A “peel and stick” membrane is attached (see below) and the tiles are attached to that.

When considering the purchase of an existing waterfront home you can expect that the home inspector will find some broken or loose tiles.  I would say that 80% of the homes will have a few of these.  Not to worry!  As previously mentioned this normally will not let water in.  A roofer can easily glue the tiles together where cracked or replace which is seldom necessary.  If a tile is slipped out of place than that can also be glued into place.

What maintenance is there with a tile roof?  In our area, every 1-2 years you may want to have the roof power washed as mold will collect on the surface.  The mold is not a big deal and is normal to develop over time and easily removed with power washing.  This cleaning is done to make the roof look more beautiful.

Is it ok to walk on a tile roof?  Generally, not a good idea and you must be very careful to distribute your weight so a tile is not cracked.

How long will a tile roof last?  From my experience 30-50 years and possibly more.

Just a little tile roof history if you care to read.  In 1993 Hurricane Andrew hit the south Miami area near Homestead Florida.  After that, new roof attachment methods were developed to protect in a windstorm and the Miami-Dade County codes were implemented across all of Florida.  Since then, there have been many improvements made to construction techniques. Nearly every home in our area got a new roof after Hurricane Charlie.  Most houses did not need a new tile roof but if only 1 tile was missing the whole roof was replaced!  It made no sense.  But that is the way it was handled.  Perfectly good roofs were removed and replaced on most houses.  The good news for you is that basically any house with a tile roof you are looking at will likely have an excellent roof with a long life still remaining.

When Hurricane Charlie hit in the Punta Gorda-Port Chartlotte area many of the tile roofs were still in good shape and this was with houses built in the 70’s and 80’s.  So, these tile roofs without all the modern improvements were still serving most homeowners quite well until Charlie.  That’s 30-40 years and more of life.  So, with that said, when you consider buying a home on the market today your concerns for roof longevity should be minimal or non-existent.  Of course, if you talk to a roofer they might tell you something a little different for obvious reasons.

The post Florida Waterfront Homes With Tile Roofs: What To Worry About and How They Are Installed and Some History appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

DOCK RULES, BOAT MOORING, BOAT LIFTS, SEAWALLS

Can I build a dock or extend the size of my dock?  Yes, as long as you abide by city setbacks.  7.5 feet from your property line on either side of your seawall.

How many boats can I have at my dock?  There are a number of guidelines on this and I can help you with this one.  Variables include seawall length, lift vs. in the water, canal width, canal position, etc.

How big a boat can I have behind my house?  As long as you stay within your lot set-backs you can have as long a vessel as you please.  Encroachment into the canal is an issue to be cognizant of which becomes a concern with catamaran style hulls with a large beam or a yacht.  There are canal systems that will accommodate very large vessels and yachts!

Can I have a boat roof or canopy over my boat in BSI or PGI?  No

Can I rent my dock out to a third party for a fee?  Technically no, because than your dock becomes a commercial operation.  Do people do it?  Yes, frequently.

Can I live on my boat, moored at my dock on a vacant lot?  Well, from what I can find on this one, you cannot have power or water at your dock without a permanent structure on the lot.  With this said, it would be prohibitive to live there for any length of time.  I am certain there is a city and county ordinance preventing you from living on your boat at a vacant lot but I have yet to find it and no one does it.

WHAT RESTRICTIONS ARE THERE ON MY HOUSE EXTERIOR?

Does the city control what paint colors I can use on my exterior?  No

Does the city define mailbox type?  No, in fact, lots of creativity with manatee mailboxes, leaping sailfish and the list goes on!

Can I leave my trash cans in front of the house?  Only for trash day and must be stored on the side of the house.

What type of roof can I have?  Tile roofs are the norm and what is preferred.  There were exceptions at one time that allowed metal roofs.  Also, there are a few homes from the 60’s with shingle roofs that were grandfathered in.

What type of trees can I plant on my property?  I have never seen any guidelines on this nor restrictions.

Can I add an additional parking pad in addition to that of my 2 car garage pad?  Yes, but you have to have a larger than average lot needing a minimum of 150’ is my understanding.

Can I have a shed for hobbies and lawn equipment in my yard?  No

WHAT RESTRICTIONS IF I AM BUILDING A NEW HOUSE?

First, your builder should be able to advise you on what the guidelines are.  The primary rules are as follows:

-Follow city setbacks from sides (7.5’), seawall (25’), street (25’).

-Building height is limited to 2 stories.

-Building elevation is to exceed FEMA designated heights by 1’.  For example if your lot in PGI is identified at 10’ on the property appraisers website than the builder should build at 11’.  Many builders will build at a slightly higher elevation which will keep your flood insurance very low, usually under $775 per year.

The post Part 2 CONTINUED:  What Restrictions Should I Be Aware Of In Punta Gorda Isles and Burnt Store Isles?  Deed restrictions, neighborhood covenants. appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

We have lots of local festivals that are fun.  They are held in 2-3 different locations and go from rock concerts to flower festivals to wine/cheese/jazz festivals, fishing tournaments, sailing regatta’s and this is the short list.  This town celebrates just about holiday you can think of and involves people of all ages.  For instance, Halloween is a big deal in our town.  The have bands playing for the adults to enjoy and kid stuff and haunted houses set up for the kids.

In town, there are bars/restaurants, night spots for music and lots of choices.  Not too many chain restaurants, most are family run and of course the food is awesome.  There is something for everyone depending on your interests.  This is a diverse community and people with all types of interest will find others easily.  There are art groups, car clubs, music groups, songwriter clubs, exercise groups, dance, horticulture groups, hiking clubs, kayaking clubs, fishing clubs…..there is no shortage of fun stuff.  Over 20 golf courses within a short drive, a local airport with rental planes (lots of pilots live here), sports stuff too and a sports complex for kids that is mind boggling.

Another thing to know is that we are a short drive to Sarasota to the north and Ft. Myers to the south.  You can live in paradise but do day trips to these bigger cities to find other fun stuff to do.  Add to that you can be in the Florida Keys in 3.5 hours!  Wow, you can have an incredible get away with a short drive.  Miami, Ft. Lauderdale on the east coast is 2.5 hours away.

For the sailboater or any boater for that fact the exploits on the water are endless!  There are many destinations on the water that are perfect for a day trip or in the case of a sailor a few days.  Plenty of anchorages not far outside of Charlotte Harbor.  There are hotels on the beach with moorage on the bayside (the ICW side).  There are countless restaurants to visit by water and some are actually on islands!  If the beaches are your thing than you have plenty of them and each provides something a little different.  Some beaches are 30 minutes away and some a bit longer.  Some have tons of shells, some sharks teeth, some very remote and some even have trees for shade.

Life is never dull in Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.  There is more to do here than many will let on.  We try to keep this place a secret!

The post What’s There To Do In Punta Gorda? appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.

First, our canal systems in Punta Gorda and most of Port Charlotte are saltwater.  In fact, the water is normally very salty.  Alligators are freshwater creatures and do not live in saltwater.  With that said, your worries will hopefully go away.  I have never heard of an incident in Punta Gorda involving gators in canals or even in the Peace River where they live.  In fact, there are rope swings up in the Peace River where it is freshwater and kids swim and jump into the river all the time.  Families beach their boat within sight of gators and never a problem.

For canals, gators don’t have a way to access the lawns of the properties.  If a gator were to get in a canal they would have to exit the canal to rest.  I have been told that the eyes of an alligator will cloud up if they stay in saltwater too long so they instinctively know that it is not the place for them.

The only exception I know of with gators in canals is in Port Charlotte where some canals are a long way from saltwater and have a freshwater influence at the top end.  There you might find a gator or two but seldom do you hear of a problem.  Gators are quite afraid of humans in nature.  When you hear of gator attacks in Florida it is almost always when a gator is in a freshwater pond and people have been feeding them.  Of course, this makes big news up north and the media has a field day and often does not present a true picture of what happened.  None the less, you should not have concerns about gators when buying a waterfront home in our area.

The post Waterfront Homes In Punta Gorda & Port Charlotte:  Concerns about Alligators appeared first on Sailboat Home Listings.