Clear Lake to Port Aransas

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vriceflyer

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DiveDaddy

We are thinking about a cruise from Clear Lake to Port Aransas. I sailed, years ago, on the Harvest Moon and enjoyed the trip. Came back in the ditch but did not stop to enjoy the trip. We will launch in Clear Lake then proceed. Where is a good place to launch and leave truck and trailer? We have a SeaRay 270. Have you made the trip? Marina on Matagorda would you overnite? etc.

Vince
 
Vince,

Sounds like a great trip. We have not made it yet because this is our first year running out of Clear Lake.

Since we are marina based and don't trailer I am probably not the best one to ask. But, there are a number of public ramps in the area. The most used I believe are the two under the bridge on Hwy 146 (the tall bridge), I can't say anything about how secure things are in the area, but there sure are a lot of boats left out along the roads, so I suspect the risk is fairly low.

Here's a pic of the one on the Kemah side - multiple ramps
BRAMPboat.jpg


I can't tell you about Marinas in Matagorda, but just a bit further in the Rockport area, Key Allegro get rave reviews.
http://www.keyallegromarina.com/
 
Thanks Eric. We were in Houston a couple of weeks ago for the Boat Show. I am some what familiar with the area. It is one of the largest boating areas in the US. We kept a couple of sailboats at Watergate in kemah. If you like to cruise with a group there is the Galveston Bay Cruising Assn. They put togeather cruise outings. I think Port Aransas is a 350 mile roundtrip. A couple of days over a couple of days back and two days there. We are thinking the end of Feburary. You could load up that 330 and come with us.
 
Watergate is a nice Marina. We keep ours at South Shore Harbour - just a stones throw further up the lake channel. Friends of ours (sailors) keep theirs at Waterford. All are good spots. The whole area is excellent for boaters.

Thanks for the offer Vince. We'd love to join you by right now we struggle with balancing between two careers and three kids -- never enough time. We hope to make it down to the Rockport area this summer, as well as some Bay area overnights. The Admiral wants to see all of the ICW.

There's a lot to enjoy around here.
 
South Shore Harbor is real nice. We looked at some boats there at Marine Max and Tommy Tiptons. I understand about working and dhildren. Ours are grown and left the nest. We are looking forward to trailering to Clear Lake for some kind of cruise.
 
We live in Austin but are in the process of buying a canal front 2nd home on North Padre Island, just a few miles down the ICW from Port A. Most of the boating related destinations are either in Port A, Rockport, or along the Corpus Christi downtown district. Each area has lots of waterside restaurants, full service marinas, and plenty of things to do within walking distance of the water.

There is also a brand new yacht show happening in CC in April, that might be a good time to visit. It is supposed to be the biggest boat show on the gulf coast aside from the Tampa area. They have a ton of big yacht manufacturers coming, and the promoter is flying in a lot of rich folk. I've seen them advertising it as the best place on the gulf to "buy a waterfront vacation home and a yacht for the price of a slip in S. Florida"....

More info:
http://www.txintlboatshow.com/home.htm

Also, be sure to hit the beaches on Padre Island Seashore (about 20 miles south of Port A) as they are white sand, soft dunes, and totally unlike what you find closer to Houston.

-Dave
'04 Searay 320DA, T350 Mag V-Drives
 
Dave,

Thanks for the information. We are looking foreward to the trip.

Vince
 
I have a boat in South Shore that I am trying to sell for an aunt. My uncle passed away a year ago. I have Tommy Tipton brokering it but he does not seem to be doing much other than charging me rent on his pier 14. Cruisers 3575 1998. We go to Galveston frequently, just love it there. Retirement is still 10 years away and we will relocate to that area.
 
Must be "Carol Ann".

As brokers go, Tommy is very productive. The market right now is extremely slow, but should pick up in April.
 
Eric, Carol Ann it is. I am having Tommy spend a thousand to completely detail the boat and fix a support strut under the cockpit floor that is causing the deck to feel soft. Do you get to that dock very often? If you do I would love to have you walk past the boat after the detail is done and tell me if it really got done!
 
I'll be over there all next week. I'll wander over to Pier 14 and take a look and let you know. I assume it's on Pier 14.

I wouldn't expect any problems - Tommy is honest (yes he's a salesman, but an honest one). I would expect that he will have Silda do the work - good crew and do solid work.
 
Thanks Eric but I think it will possibly be a little longer to get it done as I just gave him the green light last Thursday. Who knows, maybe they are quicker than I thought. It is on pier 14 about half way out on the right.

Thanks so much Eric, I hate to pay all the money and just hope it was done! Silda is who he listed on the quote. I need to make time to get back down there really soon. We have a condo in Galveston and have for 20 years now. I get there about three times each year, most times just by myself as I have business in the area. My kids love Kemah!
 
I'll keep an eye on it and let you know what I see. I am there every week, so when it gets done you will know.

I think it's been a bit slow around the marina lately, so it may happen sooner rather than later.
 
Divedaddy,

We have modified the trip to depart Palacious to Port A thence to Corpus to the T-heads. About a 200 mile round trip. The weekend of March 10 or 17th depending on the weather. Five-day trip including the trailer part. Easy sight seeing trip. Might be three or four boats from up here on the trip.

Vince
 
Sounds like a cool trip. Hope the weather holds well for you. We seem to be emerging from the rainy season. Are you planning to Gulf or the ICW?
 
We are planning the ICW. We have 25' to 27' Sea Rays. Not suited for Gulf unless it is calm. We plan an easy trip with time to sightsee along the way and explore what looks interesting. When we step off of the dock onto the boat we are where we want to be.

Vince
 
That's kind of why I asked. As you probably know, this is not usually a good time of the year for calm seas on the Gulf, but there are days where it's good. Right now for coastal (up to 20 NM) they are talking 3 feet today, 2-3 tonight through tomorrow, then building back to 4-6 feet through the weekend.

You should be seeing a lot of waterfowl as you move tough our area - good portion of the Brazoria County coast is wildlife refuge just because of the waterfowl.
 
Hope we see some Whooping Cranes. Watching other birds is always interesting. We are looking foreward to our cruise. I know it is a long round trip from Clear Lake. You are welcome to join us.

Vince
 
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