Non-BSA Sea Base recommendatons for Sailing adventure?

[Mike F]

It's been a while since I pulled up a camp chair around this virtual campfire!

 

We are tentatively planning to do a sailing/snorkeling adventure this summer, but have too many for one Sea Base crew and too few to afford two sail boats. (You have to pay for 8 people - even if have fewer.) The youngest guys are all 15 and they were bumped from Philmont crew last summer (age, size, readiness). Normally I give priority based on age because younger guys have more future opportunities, but really hard to tell these guys no again. I can draw straws for the limited slots. Or am considering going with another outfitter. That method has worked VERY well for us at Boundary Waters.

So - Does anyone have any recommendations for sailing trips in Florida? We would want to do a similar trip - 5 days on the water with mix of fishing, snorkeling, etc.

 

Thanks!

[Tampa Turtle]

The South Florida Council has Camp Sawyer in the Keys near Sea Base. It has recently been refurbished and the cost is pretty reasonable. I think $4 per boy per day. Pretty primative. You could try a DIY trip. We are going in Marchhere is an article: http://keysnews.com/node/4571

[qwazse]

If you can afford the hop over to Marsh Harbor, Bahamas consider talking to these folks:

http://www.sailingadventures.org/

 

I've talked to a couple of troops who booked the Ciganka -- one who does regularly. They seem to be quite satisfied.

 

For other leads, search: live aboard high adventure sailing florida

[Papadaddy]

Not in FL, but you might want to check out Bayport Scout Reservation in Virginia - Colonisl Virginia Council.

[jpstodwftexas]

If You can Handle another Road Trip take a Look at Galveston Sea Base in Texas

 

http://www.bacbsa.org/programs/sea-scout-base/52615

 

https://www.facebook.com/SeaScoutBaseGalveston

 

 

[dedkad]

There was an ad in the back of Scouting magazine for a Florida company that offers sailing trips for Boy Scouts.

[scoutergipper]

If you're up for some travel, the SS Odyssey up in the Puget Sound in Washington State is a great experience. Not sure they do any snorkeling (water is pretty cold), but the boys run the ship from rigging sails to standing overnight watch.

[Scouter99]

There's Camp Seagull in Arapahoe, NC. http://www.seagull-seafarer.org/

[fred johnson]

We have had local groups use this one.

 

http://www.blackbeard-cruises.com/scouts/

[SSScout]

Not in FL, but you might want to check out Bayport Scout Reservation in Virginia - Colonisl Virginia Council.

Nice programs. http://www.bayportsr.org/

[eaglenjake]

We had an overflow crew use the Dream Catcher out of Key West http://www.sailingkeywestflorida.com/ We left on a Monday and returned on a Friday. All 5 days out at sea which was nice. We had ASMs on board that had done the Sea Base experience prior and said this trip beat that. We plan to skip Sea Base next time and sail directly with him.I cannot say enough about Captain John and the experience he gave our scouts last July. You won't be disappointed.

[eaglenjake]

I should have also noted in my reply that my unit also sent 4 crews to Sea Base as well that week and they had a great time. I didn't want my reply to seem like a bash on sea base, which was not my intent.