Originally Posted by Orthobam (Post 4037361)

I don't reasons, I need logistics!!

After this year, I will have the required 2 years of cat ownership so my insurance goes to no lay up period.

I could be on a plane tomorrow for a long weekend if my boat was there now. It's only going to be a high of 19F tomorrow. Already sick of it and it's just starting.

Originally Posted by richanton (Post 4037569)

I kept the boat in Ft Lauderdale three winters in a row before I moved here full time. It's a no-brainer. Yes, the West Coast of FL is nice but I'm sorry if you are coming for the weekend once in a while you don't want to be on the West Coast, you want to be on the East Coast. Logistically, Ft. Lauderdale makes the most sense.

-The airport is small, easy in easy out, they have cheap flights and it is close to EVERYTHING. You can literally be at your boat in 20 minutes.

-Lots of great hotel choices that are reasonably priced, again close to the airport and your boat as well as beaches and nightlife.

-There is a ton of amazing boating from Ft. Lauderdale- Want to head down to Miami? No problem, just head out Port Everglades south to Haulover inlet 15 minutes and now you are in Biscayne Bay. You can either chill at the Haulover sandbar tie-up (every weekend) or from there you can go to South Beach Marina, Monty's in Coconut Grove, Bayside, cruise up the Miami River, the restaurants at Key Biscayne, Key Biscayne sandbar tie up (every weekend), or even head farther south to Gilberts, Postcard Inn Tikibar, Hawks Key, etc. etc etc. Or, you can head north to Boca Raton, lake Boca tie-up (every weekend), West Palm Beach, Peanut Island, etc. The ocean is too rough to go boating? No problem, just cruise the intracoastal, enjoy the scenery of beautiful houses, stare at all the eye candy on the other boats, and head to a waterfront restaurant for lunch or dinner. Bimini is 57 miles away, at 70 mph you are there in 40 minutes door to door.

-I don't think there is another town in the country that is focused on the boating lifestyle than Ft. Lauderdale. Almost everyone here boats, many major boating vendors are based here, nautical stores, parts, etc. Because of the intracoastal waterways that wind thru the city you can use your boat like a car, take it to dinner, bars, friends houses, etc. You want boating lifestyle, this is it.

-Ft. Lauderdale is a fun town, tons of great bars and clubs to suite any taste, and you never have to eat in the same restaurant twice if you don't want to. And I can't stress this enough, everything is CLOSE. The airport, boat, hotel, beaches and nightlife can all be within 10 minutes of each other! That is hugely important if you are only coming down for one or two days at a time.

I used to send the boat down for November 1st, do Key West, do the Miami Boat show run, and I would always be in town for both boat shows. I would try to make it down once a month for a weekend in between. I would keep the boat in FL till May. Fly in Friday, hit up Las Olas for dinner/drinks, stay at the W Ft. Lauderdale Beach, boat all day Saturday, Sunday would be clean, flush, etc. and fly out Sunday night. Boat storage- rack storage I recommend Harbourtown Marina, best around and close to the inlet, right next to the airport. You also have Thunderboat which is substantially cheaper but a longer idle up the river and they won't treat your boat with as much love. For storage on the trailer you have Brand X and Blue Octane, both will provide full service concierge service, drop you in, fuel, etc.

I can tell you that the ocean here can get ROUGH, especially if it is blowing out of the north east and/or wind against tide. I was used to boating in the Northeast where it can get pretty rough, wasn't really expecting how rough it can be here on certain days. I know LOTO gets rough as well, here it can be like driving over mountains some days. Also, some of the inlets can be tricky.

The other thing I can tell you is that you will never regret keeping the boat in FL. Plenty of people (including me) decided to not even bring the boat home for the summers after a while because the boating here is so good. Next thing you know you will have cash bar searching for houses in the area!

Originally Posted by ryder638 (Post 4037650)

I have stored at TnT, with McLean Motorsports, and this year with Blue Octain Marine. They all have their strong points some diff than others, it really depends on you and what you want out of them.... If your really considering it give me a call and I will go over the pro/cons with you chris- 973-713-5967

Originally Posted by PremierPOWER (Post 4037657)

We live in Indiana and keep the Donzi in Florida full time except for Cumberland Poker Run and hopefully LOTO this year. The Formula and Regal we take back and forth; Indy in the summer, Florida in the winter. Nothing is better than ditching the cold snowy weather and heading south for boating a handful of times each winter

Originally Posted by PARADOX (Post 4037686)

Such a problem.. :) YOu just got too many boats buddy.. Wanna buy another. ????

Originally Posted by Orthobam (Post 4037361)

I don't reasons, I need logistics!!

After this year, I will have the required 2 years of cat ownership so my insurance goes to no lay up period.

I could be on a plane tomorrow for a long weekend if my boat was there now. It's only going to be a high of 19F tomorrow. Already sick of it and it's just starting.

Originally Posted by pstorti (Post 4037708)

Orthobam bring it down to Grove Harbor marina and store it there, don't listen to any of those Ft Lauderdale guys boating sucks balls up there. all intracoastal and no wake zones. From Coconut grove idle for 5 min and on plane hauling a$$ in Biscayne bay in minutes. I keep my boat there and all the big shot poker run guys base out of there for Key West and Miami Boat show poker runs. Bring it down and I'll show you around to all the good spots down here, you will love it.

Originally Posted by 314joey (Post 4037492)

Thanks for admitting that the winter weather up North sucks, I've gotten beaten up about it, how is it, if a few can't enjoy Florida they like to bash it, seems funny huh, come try it once and you'll stay.