Traveling the Great Loop

Join us as we travel North America's rivers, waterways, and canals; visit U.S. and Canadian cities, historical landmarks, national parks and river towns. We may even take you to the Bahamas.

Gulfport, Gulfport Marina, Boca Ciega Bay; and, Longboat Key, Barrier Island, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

Gulfport: Jan 14, 2024; mile 114.5; Day’s run: 25 miles. The day we left Clearwater for Gulfport, it was cool enough, that we donned hats and gloves in preparation for the trip.

Following the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway:

We passed beneath 4 bridges that day. You can see why knowing your boat’s air draft is important. It is also good to know what the level of the tide is at that given time too.

The railing you see on the left side of the picture is ours; the boat in the centre was just moments ago in front of us. Until he ran aground right where you see him, just metres away; an example of how narrow the channel can be in parts of the Intracoastal Waterway system. Wind, tides and water surges are constantly moving sand bars with the result that charts can be inaccurate. (In the picture, the two boats are not heading in the same direction due to the current in the Waterway. )

Keeping inside the channel while running from one buoy to another can be challenging. In areas where dozens of buoys lead into the GIWW from side channels, it can be similar to selecting the right piece to complete a picture puzzle. We look for a small yellow square or triangle at the top of the markers that identify the GIWW channel.

We are members of C-Tow Marine Assistance, and BoatUS. It is recommended that boaters not use the Intercoastal Waterways without joining at least one of these towing services. Towing can be expensive. The skipper of the boat pictured above, was successful in easing his boat off the sandbar and back into the channel.

Gulfport: Formerly, a fishing village, now with a population 11,700, is located approximately 20 minutes SW of St. Petersburg.

From the boat we could walk into town and to the beach.
A boutique sort of town with brick paved streets lined with towering oak trees, restaurants, shops and privately owned inns.
There are no franchises or chain stores in Gulfport.

Built first in 1906, then reconstructed in 1930, and again in 1935 due to the destructive effects of a hurricane, the Gulf Port Casino stands at the end of the main street, Beach Blvd., and just off the beach. In early days, it served as a steamship ticket office, post office and a refreshment stand; gambling has never been part of its history but instead a meeting place for the community. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Tropical storm Eta, (2000), Hurricane Elsa, (2021), and Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, (2022), have left their mark on the town’s shoreline, including the beach. Owners of damaged vessels are responsible for removing them, but if no identification is found on the vessel, it is difficult to track those accountable for the cleanup.
I don’t know what to say…

Longboat Key; Longboat Key Club Moorings, Sarasota Bay

Jan. 15-16; Day’s run: 25 mi.

Population 7,500. Longboat Key has almost always been a vacation destination.
It’s been years since Longboat Key received a direct hit from a hurricane, but high winds and storm surges from Idalia in 2023, left their mark.

Longboat Key Club Moorings, a small facility with 270 fixed finger docks, and a shuttle ride from their resort, charged $5.75 per foot for dockage fees plus a $45 resort fee ( that we never saw); in total, the highest we had paid.

A golf course was in walking distance, but only members and guests of the hotel were allowed to play.

You can’t win them all!

A COLLECTION OF BOAT NAMES

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One response to “Gulfport, Gulfport Marina, Boca Ciega Bay; and, Longboat Key, Barrier Island, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway”

  1. 117gbl avatar
    117gbl

    Geoff, How are you? I have attached my latest post, Gulfport and Longboat Key. Hope you are doing well Hugs Donna

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