Naples Bay, FL- local knowledge needed

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My niece is leaving for Naples Bay tomorrow (10/5) and will be boating there for the first time. She will be getting a boat from the Freedom Boat Club.

She says, "I think we will head south to Keewaydin Beach, about 3 1/2 miles from the marina. It appears pretty narrow, similar to the intercoastal. There is a mixture of no wake and wake zones, and apparently lots of restaurants and marinas in Naples Bay. My only concern is going through Gordon's Pass to Keewaydin which can be difficult depending on wind and current. I will talk to the folks at Freedom and at the Naples Town Docks before we head out."

I am hoping there is only one marina in Naples Bay that has the Freedom Boat Club franchise as I don't know the name of the marina. Locals may be able to figure out the marina based on her description.

Can anyone give her some advice on that area? She'll be running a pontoon boat and does have experience running boats. Boating info as well as restaurant info would be helpful!

thanks, Peter
 
As I recall, the run from Naples to Marco is a piece of cake, especially for a shallow draft boat like a pontoon. Its been a number of years now, but I've run a 38 Bayliner ( 39 inch draft) through there with no concern at all.
 
The inlet is no big deal in any weather she should consider OK. There is also the inland route to Marco and Goodland, very rustic and well worth seeing for old florida stuff. The speed limits in Naples harbor to the inlet are very carefully controlled.
 
Last time I was there there were different speed limits/no wake zones on weekends, less restrictive during the week. Need to read the signs. As Bruce says, it is enforced.
 
Good info.

Any suggestions for restaurants and things to do by boat?

thanks, Peter
 
I haven't eaten at any of the waterfront places in a long time. There are a couple of restaurants in Tin City all the way up by 41, and they have some slips for transients. But last time I ate at one of them (probably 10 yrs ago) it had a different name than it does now. There's also a Joe's Crab Shack on the other side of 41; a pontoon should make it under the bridge no problem. They appear to have a dock.

But, I don't know - you rent a boat right there in Naples, and then go 1/4 mile and eat while the boat is on the clock? I guess I would pack lunch and go take a long ride, then hit the restaurant after I turned the boat back in. Maybe Freedom is a different sort of deal than the typical rental?

If they run down to Marco the Snook Inn is something of an institution.
 
It's been a while but as I recall you don't go through, as in in or out, Gordon's Pass from Naples to get to Keewaydin. You just cross inside it.

In fact you cross well inside of the pass as I recall. So she should have no problem.
 
We took a 46 Grand Banks from Marco to Naples on the inside route about 5 years ago and it was very pretty and a lot of fun. Definitely agree on the picnic idea rather than paying for the boat while you eat at a restaurant; that's an expensive meal. The place right at the Naples city docks was always good, as was a place around the corner past the condos, also on the water. Don't remember the names. We also ate at Kelly's Fish House last year that seemed to be a sort of local institution that was fine as well.
 
Though it is acessable by boat driving to Goodland is probably better when paying by the hour for the boat.
 
Hope that isnt the 22' deck boat that capsized with 20, yes 20 people on it yesterday leaving Keewaydin
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

Though it is acessable by boat driving to Goodland is probably better when paying by the hour for the boat.

Click to expand...


Bruce, that could be said about boating, period! If it is about the destination, drive. If it is about the journey, boat.
 
Freedom Boat Club doesn't charge by the hour. She probably got it for the whole day, although you could also get it for a half day. In any event, she's there for the journey!

Peter
 
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