Tell Us About Your Favorite Cruising Grounds

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:26 am

Tell us about your favorite cruising grounds and why you like it so much. Pictures would be great if you have some.

One of my favorites is Panama City, Florida. It has clean clear gulf water, white sandy beachs, a large uninhabited barrier island for swimming, camping, picnicking and overnight anchoring. All right across from one of the nicest state parks, St. Andrews SP. The fishing is great near and offshore and the diving is fantastic, with tons of reefs, wrecks and man made structures.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:41 am

Foofer - just got back from 5 days in Panama City Beach with my wife, sister her 3 kids and our dog. Stayed at the Sandpiper Beacon ... 6 heated pools, hot tubs, mini golf, go-karts, etc. Every time I'm down on the gulf side I'm ready to move - the water is so pretty! Like the Bamahas.

We cruise our boat a lot up & down the ICW. From St. Augustine to Myrtle Beach. Take the 26 or 18 up to Beaufort,NC some as well. I take the 18 around to boats shows, but seldom have time to "cruise" much on those trips.

Stripermann2 · Post by **Stripermann2** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 9:01 am

I too, loved PCB as that's where I got my F32. We'd fly down every other month, take her out into the gulf fishing and cruising. Love having dolphins swim along side. Very beautiful beaches.

On the back road by the beach was a little place called the Quarter Deck. We'd go in there, they shuck fresh oysters for us at the bar as we'd drink cold beer for hours...our tab would be something like 20.00...good times.

Then I brought the boat north...

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:10 pm

Hey Foofer,

Cant' compare to the blue water in your photograph but this water is fresh, spring fed and clean. This is Crystal Bay located in Amherstburg Ontario at the mouth of the Detroit River leading into Lake Erie. We spend many weekends here on the hook thru the summers. It's only a 40 minute boat ride for us to get there but once we drop the hook, it feels like we could be 1000 miles away from home. This photo is a typical Saturday morning with the remaining flotillas from the night before.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 7:35 pm

Foofer, have things pretty much settled since the spill, has it left any visible effects or is it still an on-going process of clean up? We're thinking of vacationing in the area next year.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:13 pm

Our favorite cruising grounds is the North Channel and Georgian Bay in Ontario. We try to go there every summer since it is so beautiful and pristine.

First two are the Benjamin Islands - great place to drop the hook. That is red quartz rock.

Blueberry Island

Marianne Cove

Two of Little Tub Harbor in Tobermory

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:58 pm

I agree about the Benjamins

Some evenings can be iffy though, we are just north of Byng Inlet anchored for the night, waiting out a passing storm.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:24 am

Georgian Bay is fantastic cruising. When we had a trailer boat, we brought it up to Honey Harbour three years in a row and would spend a week cruising thru the islands from there. I'm hoping to do the North Chanel some day soon with the boat that I have now.

foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:37 am

Paul, we used to raft up every weekend for six months a yaer in Destin Florida when I was coming up.

Ready/K9th, That is some kinda pretty anchorages.

kevinz · Post by **kevinz** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:57 am

Panama citybeach, Destin, and we live in Pensacola. We make the cruise to Destin on a regular basis. Now that the oil spill is history, we will make the cruise to Biloxi, MS. and try some cards. As for Pensacola, Ft. Mcrae is the spot!!. Great anchorage/swimming hole/party spot.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 9:51 am

ditto the north channel.The Benjamin Islands are certainly one of many,many,many beautiful,quiet,pristine anchorages up there.The North Channel is consistantly rated amoung the top fresh water cruizing grounds in the world. My avatar is a shot from the my bridge heading up Baie Fine towards " the Pool.

MTurvey · Post by **MTurvey** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:34 am

we spend a lot of time North of town (Sitka) in Salisbury Sound. Lots of fishing and cruising around. We spent the last week iced in Kalinin Bay in Salisbury Sound holding for weather. We had to leave in 7-10 foot seas, and I don't plan on going back until Spring!

Before the super bad weather - just icy.

Kalinin Bay. All iced in.

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foofer b · Post by **foofer b** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 5:39 am

Jeez Louise< ice on the railings!

Not only will I stop whining about it being cold here, I also take back every past weather related whine I ever uttered!

rbcool · Post by **rbcool** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:13 am

foofer..... great looking Guppies there

The word "Tasty" comes to mind

Ron

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:53 am

MTurvey,

Looks like beautiful cruising waters except for the ice. Do you ever damage propellers due to the ice?