Spend a little time in Southwest Florida and you’ll come face to face with all kinds of wildlife, but being out on the water can get you even closer to Florida’s first inhabitants! From coral reefs to canals, wetlands to mangroves, and everything else in between, the Sunshine State has some of the most diverse ecosystems in the country. If you stop and enjoy the silence, you may be able to see these fan favorites while out on our waterways.
We think boating is certainly the best way to spend time on the water, but we also care about the environment just as much as we do a fun day of boating. When boaters make poor decisions or don’t take the proper preventative measures, many unintentional and unexpected consequences can affect our famous Southwest Florida environment.
With boat show season in full swing, many people will soon be thinking about adding a new boat to the family. But what about ‘Ol Faithful? You may choose to work with a broker to sell it, trade it in, or forego both and sell it yourself. If you choose the latter, be sure to follow these dos and don’ts.
By Terry and Laurie Carlson
Wednesday morning the 8th of November the marina staff at Useppa Island greeted the Cape Coral Cruise Club arriving boaters with both sunshine and calm seas for a wonderful cruise arrival. Eleven boats arrived at the Marina and were carefully nestled into their slips by the attentive Useppa marina staff. Cruise leaders Rich and Robyn McGloin greeted arriving members and assured a relaxing stay at one of the premier private islands in the area. Wednesday afternoon provided plenty of relaxing leisure time to explore the island along the winding, lush botanical trails. Some decided to lounge by the pool, walk the beaches or visit the historic Useppa Island museum.
As the holidays approach, many of us scramble to come up with unique gift ideas for the boaters in our lives. Whether you’re searching for a big surprise or just need some nautical stocking stuffers, our Holiday Boater Gift Guide features our top picks for every kind of boater and every kind of budget.
We’re gearing up for our largest event of the year – the Fort Myers Boat Show! With so much to see, learn and do, we want to make sure you feel as prepared as possible to get the most out of your boat show experience, no matter what show you’re at. Whether you’re there strictly for the boats, interested in discovering fishing tips from local anglers, or making your holiday wish list filled with the latest gadgets, you’ll want to make sure you aren’t leaving anything out. Whether you attend the show regularly or are planning your first visit, you can benefit from our tips below.
In 2016, Fort Myers was ranked in the top 5 cities with the most boat thefts in the country. Locking and tracking technology becomes more advanced every year, but unfortunately, so do the culprits. Thieves aren’t always out to steal an entire boat and are often looking for easier items to grab like outboard engines, trolling motors, props, and electronics. Big ticket items can come in small packages. Keeping up to date on the latest preventative measures can help keep your boat where it belongs—with you.
By: Stokes Marine
No two boat lifts or docks are exactly the same so chances are you’ll need a bit of customization to fit your needs. These needs might include washing your boat, boat maintenance, entering and exiting the boat, and accessing different areas around your boat.
If the dock does not wrap all the way around both side of the boat, washing the boat can become very difficult. Washing the hull of a boat while being on the boat can be rough on your back and sometimes impossible depending the what kind of hull you have.
OK, well the bad news is no one has time to fish. We are cleaning yards, helping friends, or just getting back in the swing of life. But if your family and property are OK and you can manage a trip down Harbor, there are fish to be caught.
By: Stokes Marine
If you are in the market for a new lift, or just curious about how they work, we have compiled some basic information to educate you on boat lifts.