[Rhodes22-list] cruising guide quest, and dumb question

[John Lock]

At 08:23 AM 8/23/2008 -0400, Joe Babb wrote:
>We are looking for a cruising guide for the western coast of Florida
>that would be more detailed than the Waterways guide, specifically the
>areas around Apalachicola to St. Marks.  Anybody ever tried the "A
>Gunkholer's Cruising Guide to Florida's West Coast" by Tom Lenfesty?

I have the Gunkholers Guide... 12th edition (1981) and I don't think 
it has been revised since.  There are only about 2 pages devoted to 
that specific area - covering Cedar Key northward to Apalachicola 
(which would include St. Marks).  I haven't sailed with it, so can't 
tell you more than that.  Being 27 years old, I wouldn't depend on it heavily.

The other guide I have is a Pelican book - Cruising Guide to Western 
Florida by Claiborne S. Young 6th Edition, 2004).  There is now a 7th 
Edition released just this year.  This is a hefty book, but focuses 
more on the southern portions.  The final chapter is "The Big Bend" 
which covers the whole area from about Tarpon Springs north to St. 
George Bay (includes St. Marks).  Doesn't get to Apalachicola, but it 
does provide a lot more detail than the Gunkholers book and it's up to date.

Then you might add to your list Young's "Cruising Guide to the 
Northern Gulf Coast" (I don't have this one).  This takes up where 
the other guide left off and covers Apalachicola west thru 
Louisiana.  If I read correctly this revision is from 2003, so it's 
reasonably up to date.  If it is written with the same attention to 
detail you couldn't go wrong buying both for the trip.

Cheers!

John Lock
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s/v Pandion - '79 Rhodes 22
Lake Sinclair, GA
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