We who live on the shores of Charlotte Harbor are blessed to have a water wonderland at our doorstep. The purpose of this article is to help residents and visitors learn more about the various ways to gain access to that water. We’ll start by trying to narrow down a few of the why, what and how factors of water access.
Why do you want to get on the water? There are many different reasons why you might want to take to the water. Inshore or offshore fishing, whole day or shorter excursions, overnight cruising, secluded beach access on the Gulf coast of Cayo Costa, dolphin viewing, waterside restaurant dining, or just plain water adventures are just a few of the possibilities.
What type of boat would you like to use? As a trip to any boat show, or for that matter just a wander around the marina will illustrate, boats come in many types, shapes and sizes. Are you a sailor or would you rather use a power boat, or perhaps even a kayak? Are you proficient enough and confident enough to be your own captain or would you rather sit back and relax as a passenger? Some options may require training certifications. How big a boat do you need to accommodate your group? What is your tolerance for getting a little wet?
To purchase or not Boat ownership may provide the best alternative for getting exactly where you want to go on the water in the fashion you desire, but what if you have a limited budget or multiple boating interests, or excursion dreams? A fishing boat may not be a suitable over- nighter, and a sailboat won’t get you to your destination as fast as a power boat. How frequently do you plan to get afloat and what is your budget? These answers may help guide your decision.
Other water access options include fractional membership or ownership interests, partnerships, multi- day or multi-week charters, boat clubs, guided fishing, and hourly self-skippered or captained outings.
Below is a summary of some of the local water access options available for you to consider.
Boat ownership There are a multitude of used and new boat options available to the willing buyer. Alternatives range from modestly priced older models to “sky is the limit” new boats. Boat brokers are available, and will be more than willing to help guide you, but a good place to browse and get your initial bearings are the websites of yachtworld. com, boattrader.com and boatsforsalebyowners.net.
Jeff and Jean of Two Can Sail Yacht Sales and Service, Inc. (727-278-2602) live and work in Burnt Store, and are yacht brokers. They have been involved over the years with boat deliveries, commissioning, surveys, training, and particularly enjoy working as a buyer’s broker (which costs the purchaser nothing). Southwest Yacht Sales (239-257-2788), who are affiliated with SailTime, is the Florida dealer for Beneteau. Pier One Yacht Sales have closed their Burnt Store Marina office, but have a large brokerage operation in Punta Gorda (941- 639-7777).
It is wise to think a little farther ahead when contemplating a purchase. Where will you moor the boat, or if trailering it, store it when not in the water? Remember that you may be in Florida for only five months, but the boat must be stored or moored for twelve. All boats require some maintenance, but older ones can be a “hole in the water” to pour money into. With any, you’ll quickly get acquainted with the terms Boat Bucks ($1,000) and the acronym BOAT (bring on another thousand). Mooring, storage, maintenance and insurance are some of the pricier items.
Safe Harbor Burnt Store Marina is quickly recovering from hurricane damage to its dock infrastructure. The new docks are designed to be much more resilient, though there is currently a waiting list for wet slips. Dockage also includes access to a pool, laundry, grills, discounted fuel, reciprocal rights at other Safe Harbor marinas, and many other amenities.
Fractional membership and ownership Fractional membership or ownership are hybrid methods of experiencing some of the benefits of boat ownership without the huge up front cost.
Fractional membership provides you with regular access to a boat which is shared by a limited number of other members. The management company looks after maintenance, insurance and mooring, and your use of the boat is contractually determined and priced based upon your selection of type of boat, period of use and the amount of boating you want to do.
Fractional ownership is different in that you actually acquire an ownership share in a new boat. You may receive a modest return on your investment from charters of your boat to others. Again, the management company looks after maintenance, insurance and mooring and your access is contractually determined.
SailTime and PowerTime Southwest Florida (941-210- 0093) in Burnt Store Marina have a variety of fractional ownership and membership options. Training is required to access both membership and ownership opportunities and you will need some financial acumen to decipher all of the monetary implications.
Charters and sailing schools SailTime makes some of its fleet within Burnt Store Marina available for charter. Assuming you have the appropriate training or experience you can rent a late model sailboat for days or weeks at a time for a true bareboat experience.
Another Burnt Store Marina charter operation is Yachting Vacations Charters (239- 910-7774) with their 35 ft. catamaran.
Both SailTime and Yachting Vacations (Gulf Coast Sailing School) offer ASA affiliated sailboat training courses which combine learning with lots of quality time on the water.
Boat clubs Freedom Boat Club (888- 781-7363) has a substantial presence in Burnt Store Marina with 30 boats on B dock. Many local residents find this to be an ideal solution for getting out on the water. Mid-January initiation fees during a special $2,500 “Boat Show” discount promotion were $3,500 (5 day), $5,500 (7 day) and $7,500 (two couples – Friends and Family Plan) plus sales tax. Fees are paid monthly throughout the year, regardless of the term of the plan. On an annual basis, fees can vary from $3,408 to $7,719 plus sales tax, based on whether 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, or Friends and Family Plan. Minor insurance protection is provided and more extensive coverage is available for $750 plus tax per year. This membership buys you access to a fleet of newer boats and the training to learn how to use them. Freedom is owned by Brunswick, the largest manufacturer of marine products in the world. In Burnt Store Marina there are (as of January 15, 2025) 6 pontoon boats, one 22 ft sailboat, five bowriders, five offshore boats, 13 center console fishing boats, and some kayaks. These are day use boats. A membership also grants limited access to other Freedom locations across North America, including Pine Island, Punta Gorda and Cape Haze (last two currently out of operation due to recent hurricane damage). It might be helpful to speak with other members to fully understand the boat access features and limitations of your membership plan before joining.
There is also a “Your Boat Club” outlet (941-263-3335) at Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda with a similar operating model. They have four 24-foot tri-toons, two center cockpit fishing boats, 2 bow riders, and a small cabin cruiser.
For those interested in boats and the water, the Platinum Point Yacht Club (941-639- 0733) in Burnt Store Marina provides a great opportunity to mix with other like- minded individuals. Boat ownership is not required and there are opportunities to get out on the water with lunch cruises, fishing trips, monthly organized kayak outings and Monday sailboat races, in addition to a myriad of other land based social activities.
Daily boat rentals LeisureTime Boat Rentals (239-922-5651) in Burnt Store Marina currently have five boats available for daily rental, both pontoon and single hull. They range from 20 to 24 feet, 5 to 12, and $350 to $485 per day.
Fishing guides The Safe Harbor – Burnt Store Marina Fishing Guides Association consists of 13 guides who will be willing to take fishermen and women out for mostly inshore fishing. See chart at right for a recent list of guides and their phone numbers. These inshore guides will pick you up at the BSM gas dock and supply all the licenses and gear required. Most operate on a catch and release basis for redfish and snook, though some will keep trout, always staying within the regulated limits. Most of the offshore fishing guides operate out of Pine Island ports. A good option is Randy Frank (239-243- 7283). Bryan Ball listed on Exhibit 2 also goes offshore with his 36-foot Yellowfin.
Excursions For the less confident or mobile person, who just wants to get out on the water, Kingfisher Fleet at Fisherman’s Village has large 55-foot and 64-foot boats that do 90-minute sunset and harbor tours ($39) and all-day trips to Cabbage Key ($59). They also have a 29-foot Harbor Cat that carries up to 6 passengers for $475 (2 hours) or $1,040 (6 hours).
Another fun option is offered by Charlotte Harbor Water Shuttle (941-219- 9217), who provide a water taxi service from Laishley Marina in Punta Gorda to the Riviera Bar & Grill on Alligator Creek, where a meal reservation will be guaranteed for you. For $30 ($15 for children 3-11) you get a 1.25-hour trip to and from the restaurant. Departures from Laishley Marina are 11:30 a.m. for lunch and 4 p.m. for dinner.
Wilderness Boat Tours (317- 997-4639) offer 2.5-hour tours from Laishley Marina in Punta Gorda up the Peace River for $37 + tax on a pontoon boat, and also offers charters. The bird rookeries are fun to see during the spring.
Seeing dolphins jump out of the water is always a thrill for visitors and residents alike, and if you are lucky can sometimes be experienced with various of the boating alternatives. An inexpensive option, one hour from the marina, is a water taxi ride to Rum Bay Restaurant (941-697-0566) on private Palm Island. The taxi departs 7092 Placida Road and costs $6 for the 15-minute ride (11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.). The restaurant has a boardwalk through the mangroves, a nice island vibe and the dolphins often jump in the wake of the water taxi.
Jump on Charters with Captain Benny (239-955- 9233), also listed on the fishing guides exhibit, has other excursion options from Burnt Store Marina, which can be tailored to your preference, including beaches, shelling, restaurants, island hopping and wildlife viewing. Rates range from $350 (4-hour cruise for 6) to $550 for a 6-hour inshore fishing outing for 4. The boat is a 21-foot, 220 hp outboard with an enclosed head.
For the more adventurous (and perhaps less environmentally sensitive) souls, Peace River Charters (863-884-4000) offer airboat and swamp buggy excursions in Nocatee.
Tips are normally expected with the fishing and excursion outings.
Kayak Rentals and Tours Several of our favorite kayak rental outfitters in Matlacha are currently out of business, but will hopefully return in the future. Other options are Carmen’s Kayaks (239- 333-7332) on Jug Creek in Bokeelia, and Steve Burroughs’ Kayak Eco Tours (813-857-4634) at the Nav- a-Gator Bar & Grill on the Peace River.
If you own your own kayak, and want ideas for where to paddle in southwest Florida, I recommend the two Paddles in Paradise guide books by Ed and Deb Higgins.
Boat partnerships A hybrid form of boat ownership worth considering are boat partnerships. Partnerships have elements of fractional ownership and boat club membership, but without the advantages (and costs) of professional management.
I enjoyed two such partnerships over the last number of years. After reviewing all of the considerations listed at the top of this article, I determined that the type of boat(s) I wanted were not available in the club or fractional fleets. I wanted a racing sailboat with better performance than available through Freedom Boat, and a power boat that would allow overnight cruising, anchoring at the gulf beach on Cayo Costa, and enough freeboard to handle the Charlotte Harbor chop when the wind comes up.
Like with any partnership, the choice of your partner(s) is likely more important than the choice of boat. I was very fortunate in both regards. In one case we had a formal legal agreement which spelled out our cost sharing and had a well thought out exit plan clause which we executed recently. In the second case, the agreement was less formal but still worked out well until my partner had to move back north due to family health issues, and I bought him out.
Whether you are setting sail, cruising, fishing, paddling or just taking a boat ride, I encourage you to get out there and take advantage of the many water access options available on and around Charlotte Harbor.
Note: Graham is on the water regularly on his sailboat (Spirit) and kayak (So Far So Good). Up until recently he and Diane cruised up and down Charlotte Harbor and the SW Florida intercoastal waterway on a Sea Ray Sundancer (Kismet) and on Lake Ontario on a Catalina 400 (Soulstice). For five years Graham also owned and helped market a sailboat (Ceilidh) managed as part of a charter fleet in the Florida Keys. His book about the history and geography of Burnt Store Road, published by the Burnt Store-PPYC Charitable Boating Foundation, is available for download at https://wheredowelive.com/
