If I could have your Opinion please :)

[newt]

If you could park a fourty foot, six foot deep draft Super Compac yacht anywhere on the east coast, where would it be? I need a place that is safe, cheap and accessable to a DIY boatyard. I can park it anywhere from Texas to Newfoundland. Need to keep it there for two years before I sail to Europe. Consider northern waters -less maint?? to Key west (more fun??) and anythiiing in latitudes in between.

[brackish]

more info needed.  Are you looking for a mooring (not typical in the south) or a traditional marina?  I would suggest Gulfport (MS) Municipal because it is brand spanking new, and very nice, just reopend from Katrina damage overhaul, but I don't know if it is either cheap (used to be) or close to a DIY yard.  I used to use a DIY yard in Biloxi all the time, but that was pre-casinos, not sure if it is still open.  DIY yards are hard to find these days.

Port St Joe (FL) Marina is also nice, but once again, not sure about the DIY Yard.  There may be some commercial yards on the canal that leads from the intercoastal to the open Gulf at Port St Joe.

Pensacola Shipyard Marina is a nice marina with with a yard attached but not sure if it allows DIY.

Of course these Gulf and South FL marinas will be limiting to your sailing destinations because of that 6'stick you have on the underside.

Is this for the Valiant?

of course there are the Hurricanes in the Gulf or on the southern atlantic coast.

[newt]

Of course a slip is easier, but I could do a mooring buoy for a couple of years. Yeah, its the Valiant 40, which is really just a big Compac. I was thinking the NE coast of FL or further North, as I will not be able to get to it quickly if a hurricane comes in. ( I will still live in Utah, and spend about 2-3 months a year aboard)

[CaptRon28]

You've got a lot of options. I'd want to leave it closer to home though, if possible. My last boat was a Catalina with the same 40 and 6 foot specs, with a 62+ foot stick to make things even more difficult.

The west coast of Florida and Key West are a little on the shallow side for the 6 foot draw. East side is do-able. The Carolina's are also on the shallow side. The Chesapeake is a very good place to leave it - easy access to the Atlantic and protected water. Eastern shore would give you cheaper rates and some DIY yards. The town of Rock Hall comes to mind - I left my Catalina there for about 6 years. Haven Harbor is the name of the marina, and they allowed DIY when I was there. It's in a hurricane hole called Swan Creek. And there are many more towns closer to the ocean, such as Solomons Island, Deltaville, etc.

[Bob23]

Newt:
   I was gonna suggest the Chesapeake but I have no knowledge about particulars. Of course, NJ is an option but it gets cold and icy in the winter. Either one, I hope to meet up with you if your'e close to my home port. I think you still have a standing invitation for a good NJ pizza, if I remember correctly.
  Who knows...I might just stowaway on your boat!
bob23

[CaptRon28]

Bob -

NJ is not the friendliest place for a 6 foot draft boat. Add approximately 60 feet of mast and the limitations increase. I kept my big Catalina both in the Chesapeake and NY Harbor / Raritan Bay. Both locations are very suitable for this size boat. But moving it back and forth between the two (perhaps 15 times or so) presented some problems as to where I could stop overnight. I could get into Barnegat and Manasquan inlets but could not get much further. Atlantic City was OK, but prices are on the high side. Cape May is also OK, but a little pricey, and this size boat will NOT make it thru the canal (stick too high).

The Chesapeake is a really good choice for almost anyone. It's well known as one of the best crusing grounds in the world. It would take many, many years to see everything there. The Eastern shore should be a little cheaper and is more hurricane proof. More DIY yards as well. I've got a pretty good working knowledge of the bay and would gladly answer any of newt's questions.

[newt]

Hey guys, I posted this question on the other forum I hang out on (Cruisers Forum) and found out Hampton VA is tax free for a documented boat (mine is) I looked up the dock rates, and they are really reasonable, with a pretty short romp to major airports. Would I have to pull my boat during winter? (Would I want to?) What is the bottom growth here like? Do I need to scrape monthly or will I get away with once a year haulout and clean up?

[CaptRon28]

The further south you wind up on the Chesapeake, the saltier the water. Up at Havre de Grace it's almost fresh, down there it's more salt. You should be able to get at least 2 years out of a decent bottom paint, but I'd hire a diver maybe every 2 or 3 months because the boat will be sitting, and it probably will pick up some soft growth. Hampton is pretty close to the ocean, and that has both positive and negative implications. The sailing is probably better in the northern half of the bay.

If you've already paid sales tax to another state, most will let you off the hook, and most will ignore tranients for about 6 months anyway. I wasn't aware of how Virginia handles it. I'd check that out first.

[shamblin]

the claiborne s young waterway cruising guides for a given area give information , phone numbers and yard access info with some pictures.   you can order these fairly cheap at www.alibris.com   .  search on "claiborne young" or "waterway guide" etc.

[Bob23]

How about www.activecaptain.com
I haven't actually used this but it looks interesting.
bob23

[newt]

Actually I used Active Captain to research "leads" that I got from various sailors. Looks like I will berth her in Hampton, Va-with a 3-4 day trip to the Carribean a few times a year. You all are invited, esp if you bring your own Pizza (Bob).

[CaptRon28]

newt -

4 days, averaging about 7 knots, with no stops, will just about get you to the northern edge of the Bahamas (the Abacos). Note that the 7 knots average is probably questionable too, unless you catch some really good weather. Like a solid 15 to 20 knot breeze out of the west for the whole trip, and that you're outside of the Gulf Stream. The Caribbean would be a good 8 days or more under these conditions.