Caladesi Island State Park
February 10 – 12
Rookie Cruise Leaders: Steve and Laura Lang
Steve Cell: 321-228-4984 – Home: 407-656-5562
Hello Everyone!
We are in the process of setting up the Caladesi island cruise on the weekend of Feb. 10, 2012. (The first weekend after football season)! We have the pavilion located next to the marina reserved for Saturday night. To properly plan (it appears their is a Jimmy buffet/parrot head theme is evolving) I would like to get a head count as soon as we can, so please respond and let me know if you are planning to attend. I will need the following information:
Name, address, senior discount if eligible, arrival date, number of nights, number of people, vessel name, hookup needed, length/width of vessel.
If you have not been to Caladesi before it is located a short trailer trip from Orlando just off Clearwater Beach area. It is a gorgeous state park and only accessible by boat. It has been at the top of Americas best beaches many times. The Marina is in protected area surrounded by mangroves on the east side of the island. There will be more info upcoming as far as directions, ramps, and etc.
Below is information on the slip rates and other information from our friendly ranger at the park.
There a few marina regulations boat clubs should be aware of before registration.
The marina has 108 slips available for dockage. All of the marina slips are equipped with 30-amp shore power and potable water hook-ups, except for slips 1, 2, 33, 34, 65, 66, 97 and 106. All slips are first-come first-served, except for slips 22, 24, 26, 52 and 54, which may be reserved through Reserve America at 800-326-3521.
The first-come, first-served slips rent for $1 per foot of boat length per night. Florida resident senior citizens 65 and older receive a 50 percent discount, paying 50 cents per foot per night. Because Reserve America operates from a remote location and cannot verify boat length, that company charges a flat rate of $24 per night for the five reserve able slips, or $12 for Florida resident seniors.
The end caps on the aluminum docks (slips 31/32, 64/65 and 95/96) consist of two slips separated by a power pedestal in the middle. In order to accommodate larger vessels, park policy states that these T-docks may be occupied only by boats 40 feet or longer in length or by boats too wide to fit into inside slips, such as large catamarans. Because vessels on the T-docks are in effect taking up two slips and being provided with two power outlets, T-docks rent for $2 per foot of boat length per night. The cost for Florida resident seniors is $1 per foot.
The power pedestals on the marina are equipped for 30-amp power cords. Some vessels have two power cords or require 50-amp power and have a splitter cord needing both outlets on the pedestal. Attempting to draw too much power from the 30-amp outlets will trip the breaker and/or destroy the outlet. Vessels requiring two power outlets on the aluminum docks must pay for the additional slip they are plugged into at the regular per-foot rate. Vessels on the concrete dock (slips 97 – 108) are not allowed to use more than one power outlet. This is because we have a very limited number of slips over 12 feet in width, and once a vessel has plugged into an additional outlet we cannot have another vessel occupy that slip.
Information for New Boaters Coming to Caladesi Island:
Rental boats are welcome at Caladesi Island State Park. The park management asks that you follow some basic rules and guidelines when you come to visit.
Please pay close attention to the channel markers and all other signs as you approach Caladesi. An Internal Combustion Motor Exclusion Zone encompasses the flats on the entire east side of the island. The only way to enter the marina is through the marked channel. Boaters who enter the exclusion zone may run aground and will cause serious damage to sensitive, protected grass flats which take decades to recover. Various law enforcement agencies patrol the area and will ticket you if you are caught entering the exclusion zone with an internal combustion (gas or diesel) motor. This includes personal watercraft.
Please note the Slow Speed Minimum Wake area as you enter the inner channel. As you come into the marina, you should be at idle speed with no wake. Violators may be asked to leave the park and could be fined by law enforcement.
Alcohol is not permitted in Florida State Parks. You may have alcohol on your boat in the marina, but it is not permitted off the docks. Beer sold by the cafe may not be taken off the café deck.
Pets are welcome at Caladesi Island State Park but may not be taken onto the beach. All pets must be on a leash and attended at all times.
Please do not bring glass containers onto the beach.
Do clean up after yourself, and do not litter. This includes cigarette butts, which ruin the most picturesque setting and take decades to decompose. Butts are not made of cotton, but a form of plastic.
Please take your trash with you when you leave the island. The park’s ability to remove garbage is limited and expensive because it must be transported to the mainland by barge.
Take a few moments to look at the attached map and familiarize yourself with the marina layout before you arrive. D Dock is set aside for large boats with beams greater than 12 feet. Rental boats less than 12 feet wide must use A, B or C dock. The T-docks, also known as end caps, at the end of each dock are reserved for very large boats.
A fee is required for all entry to the park.
If you have any questions you may email me at slang@cfl.rr.com, call my cell phone, 321-228-4984 or you can call the park at 727-469-5917 with any questions.
Thank you and looking forward to a great cruise1
