Hey guys, my girlfriend and I will be visiting the Tampa area from the 14-20 of February. We have a place to stay and a car for the week but really no plans, which is great, except being from Maine, we are dying to get out on the water! Was wondering if there were any locals that would be willing to take us out? doesn't necessarily have to be a performance boat either, that would purely be a bonus.. I would be willing to pay for expenses and fuel, adult beverages (we don't indulge too much, very laid back people!) and food or whatever if we stopped off at a restaurant. Or if someone knows of a charter that we could hop on? Not looking to spend an arm on a leg, just get out for a few hours and see things from a different perspective and make some new friends in the boating community. I realize it's a busy week in Miami for a lot of people in the industry, are there any manufacturers nearby this area? Wouldn't mind paying a visit! Sorry for the rambling, just seeing if it's possible to put something together.

Cheers!
Justin

Sadly my Formula isn't in the water currently, but you can pop down to Sarasota and have a look around ChrisCraft. The bay area and up towards Dunedin and the islands is amazing in the right weather, recently it has been a mixed bag. Renting a boat is easy, but what they have isn't usually very exciting...head towards Clearwater and Indian Rocks beach for boat rentals, or down in St Pete. The further south you go the more fast boats you will see, around here it is cruisers and centre console boats. Hope you have fun.

Cheers Justin. I know you're staying in Tampa but there is a Ferry that goes from Ft Myers area I think and runs down to Key West for the day if you want or you could book your trip back the next day or so and stay over night on the island. Supposed to be pretty cool. You can go in the morning even and come back that night. Key West is a really cool place to roam around if you have never been down. Im going down from the 13th to the 20th. Cant wait. Steve.

Id love to visit key West at some point but may save that for another trip altogether, like the World Finals! Trying to stay within a few hours of Tampa, we are actually staying closer to Clearwater beach, believe the house is in Holiday? She takes care of that stuff, I just nod my head and say yes dear. The house we are staying at are friends of the family and have kayaks that we can use, so one way or another we WILL get on the water, just may not be the ocean!

Justin

Anclote Key and a variety of islands there are lovely and you can easily hire something in Tarpon Springs or the surrounding areas. Lots of boats and if you jump on line you can find some ideas about dining...boating and fishing .

The couple we are staying with also mentioned tarpon springs, I'll have to look into that a little deeper.. Thanks!!

If you look northwards from Tampa Bay, you have St Petersburg, Gulfport, the beaches unto Clearwater, Dunedin, the Tarpon Springs, Port Richie and the awards towards Holiday, Hudson and then the Natture Coast. Tarpon Springs is the boating hub with a whole variety of yards, marinas and specialists. The boating from Dunedin northwards for around 40 miles is amazing with lots to explore. Southwards it is beaches, condos and the inland waterway until you get down towards Anna Marie Island and Sarasota. Loads of marina's, lots of huge houses with boat lifts and gas prices are not outrageous. Just watch out for the lack of depth if out and about, lots of sand banks outs of the channels and shallows. Anklet key, Honeymoon Island and Caladesi are all worth exploring and you will find many places to eat on the water and charter a boat anywhere south of Hudson. There is some good boating thee too so I am sure the two of you will have fun, even if at speeds below 50 mph.

Great info!! Thanks!!