Stefin298

Has anyone ever taken the intracoastal waterway from down to South Padre? I have a 32' Monterey sports cruiser and am think of taking a trip this summer. I would trailer it from Fort Worth then put in around Matagorda or Freeport. Might consider starting in Corpus as it looks to be 120 miles by boat from there.

Any suggestion or stories of anyone who has?

Barrydet

Sir: I have contemplated a similar trip also.....then I read about the piracy going on around Port Isabel. Folks like to overpower you with the threat of firearms and put you ashore on the sand. Then your boat goes south forever!! The article was in Texas Monthly. I was then wondering if a trip northbound might be smarter. You would be running with the wind most of the time and not spending a lot of time at the southern end. Just have not done it yet!!!

Stefin298

Barrydet - thanks for the info, I tend to forget about all the problems near the board, but a very valid point. I couldnt find any thing on the web or Texass Monthly website, but I have friend who live on boarder towns they tell me it is getting bad. I might need to consider another trip. Have you even through Lousisana to Florida via the ICW?

Barrydet

I personally have not done that trip. I have several boating buddies based around Houston that often travel ICW from Clear Lake to the Louisiana state line. They stay overnight at the casinos and make a fun week end of it. When the time is up...everyone convoys back to Clear Lake. One of these days we plan to make that trip. Have you considered trailering to Florida and visiting the Keys or Bahama islands. We have made these trips three times. That is a hoot!!!

joew.

Le Berge is the way to go from Galveston. Much more to do when you get to the location. And when/if you break you are a phone call away from your budy bringing your truck to the Casino. Different story on a 8hr drive to Padre. My .02 We had an awesome time going two years ago.

Stefin298

Barry - I am not sure of driving 24-36 hours to Miami, then boting to the Keys / Bahamas. I have been to the Key's twice is it is much cheaper to rent a boat there. At the most, we have though of going to Orange Beach, AL and driving along the Florida coast to Destin or around there for a week. That would be about 12 hours from Ft Worth.

Barrydet

I hear you sir....however, there is nothing finer than a real photo of you, yours and YOUR boat anchored in the beautiful waters off of the Florida Keys or a Bahamian beach!! On our last trip, we took 3 drivers and rolled non-stop to Miami in 24 hours. All 5 of us considered the trip worthwhile and cost effective......even at $6.20 a gallon in the Bahamas...barryd

boatman22

Barry....you up for another Bahamas run. I putting another run together to Freeport end of May.
Here is the info from the TOPPS BS thread post#26629

Memorial Day is on the 25th of May. Every one could have the 23-24 weekend to tow to West Palm Beach. We could leave WPB on the morning of the 25th. Stay all week in the Bahamas and leave the morning of the 30th which is a Sat. That way everyone has a weekend to drive to WPB and a weekend to drive home.

Anyone going or thinking about going should look at these websites. They will give you all the information you will need to cruse the Bahamas. As with the other trips I done EVERYONE is responsible for their own Hotel and Slip reservations. I will try to get a group rate but YOU ....REPETE YOU must make you own reservations. So let’s get the list started.



http://www.bahamas.com/bahamas/regulations

http://www.portlucaya.com/marina/

http://www.lakeparkmarina.com

Stefin298

One of these days I will make it down to south FL with the boat. I would be in for the Memorial Day trip, but for the past 4 years, we have been going to Matagorda Beach and getting stupid drunk the whole weekend. Thought of taking the boat this year, but not sure.

Side question: when you run your boat for multiple days in salt water, does it hurt anything? I know I would have to flush the engines, A/C and genset with fresh water upon pulling it out and wash the boat, but anything else I should know?

boatman22

Running in salt water for a week does not harm your engine or assy. Just flush it good when you pull it out. When I get back home depending on what time it is I always run it in the lake for 20-30 mins and then it gets a good flush...So far there are 6 boats planning on the trip...1 from Canada