Panama City Beach (Shell island)

[MattFX4]

@Coheeba We are staying on the beach at Aqua Condo's. My wife, my 3 year old son, and I. I really would like to bring our boat down, but we don't want to be out on the boat every day, and it's not worth the hassle of parking, towing, etc for only a day or two of boat time.

 

[MattFX4]

@MattFX4 When we would go without the boat we usually rented a pontoon from Panama City Boat Rentals on the map above. Nice people and the prices were fair. Pontoon was in good condition, much better than the ones I've rented in Gulf Shores, so PCB company seems to take good care and maintenance of them. They have a pretty decent fleet of them but you'll want to call and reserve your time as they can fill up quickly during the summer. They will allow you to go everywhere in the bay but can't go out in the gulf. Along the jetties is fine too and there is a nice pocket cove to anchor in at the Shell Island jetties if you want to get ice cream off the ice cream boat.

Cool sounds neat! I will do a little more research as our trip gets closer.

 

[Coheeba]

Hit me up when we get closer and maybe we can hook up.

 

[haknslash]

It's Lagoon Pontoons we used. I think it's the same as PCB Rentals as its just a little tiki shack type hut you rent from right by the dock. Here's their site http://www.thepanamacitybeachmap.com/lagoon-pontoons/

We usually stay at The Princess condominium when we go down with the big family. I like it mainly because of the gated parking and they have spaces for boat trailers at the rear of the parking lot complete with water and power. I use the small, local free public launches that are right across the street on S. Lagoon Drive. Have to get there early but it's much better than using St. Andrews ramp and that clusterf***.

 

[Rod5]

Agree, we've rented from several different outfits and like Lagoon Pontoons the best. A few years ago we rented a 25, center counsel outboard from Scott's or Scotties Rental (I think was the name) more expensive and only place you could rent a center counsel at the time, but you can take it out in the gulf unlike the Toons... Scott's rental is located back in the bay just on the other side of the big bridge in Panama City (not beach) across from the college.

 

[haknslash]

Speaking of @Rod5 ...are y'all gonna be down about the same time again this year as usual? I'm not 100% certain we are going to do PCB this year as we may do Destin instead to change it up. Probably will be around the same time of year again though. Funny we almost make this an annual meeting now

 

[Rod5]

Hey @haknslash yes I think so, but hard to say for sure being that its so soon after the July Bimini trip. Were always in PCB the last two weeks of July, but this time might be shorter and more toward the end of July.
But we are taking the bikes down tomorrow night for 2018 Thunder Beach!

 

[Coheeba]

@Rod5 where will you guys be tonight maybe we can hook up, wife is out of town.

 

[Bennie]

but it's much better than using St. Andrews ramp and that clusterf***.

@haknslash - are you referring to the St. Andrew's Marina or the St. Andrew's State Park?
We've used both and have had much better experiences at the marina. Quite often copious amounts of dead seaweed will float into and almost completely choke out the ramp at the state park. (bad times - really bad times) (overheated both engines and almost floated into the nearby rocks/jetties)

That being said the state park is only down the road where the St. Andrews Marina is on the other side of the bridge.... but right next to Uncle Ernie's and Just the Cook. Both very good places to stop and get some food.

 

[haknslash]

@Bennie St. Andrews Park. That place is not laid out great all, especially if it's busy. It doesn't help that they have picnic tables there so people not even boating or with trailers will park there taking up space. The ramp position sucks too and the concrete seawall is really high and not protected to keep it from beating your boat. The way the seawall is shaped is once waves come into the little cove it just bounces off all the walls.

 

[Bennie]

I am heading down to PCB 06/15-06/23. You guys have any recommendations on rental boats? We would like to visit Shell Island one day, but do not feel like taking our boat down and dealing with it for the week.

@MattFX4 - If you don't mind my .02 I will say that though we live 3hrs away from PCB when we visit we like to bring over our boat. Even though we may only take it out once or twice during a 4-5 day visit.

Its just nice to have your personal boat and go where you want when you're near such beautiful water.

 

[haknslash]

Agree. I usually only take my boat out 2 days out of the 4-5 we're down there. It's just nice to not be constrained by time like a rental is plus being able to venture as far out as you want into the Gulf. That being said it is nice to not have to tow as you can make good time traveling the truck but it doesn't outweigh the freedom of being able to do what you want while on vacation.

 

[Bennie]

I will say that if you do decide to tow your boat @MattFX4 take the hour or two to really go over your cover, boat, and trailer for the long haul.

I didn't get to take my Bennie to PCB on our last trip because even though I ensured the bearings had fresh grease in them I had not checked the air pressure. Then the buckle on the cover snapped while I was tightening it down (albeit rather tight).

The trip before (last year) I had left the bimini on the tower (secured in it's sock and strapped to the tower), however due to sun damage/dry rot the cover ripped off at highway speeds and the cover and bimini and frame went flying somewhere down I-10 in Florida. The new one stays under the cover unless we're using it!

 

[MattFX4]

I will say that if you do decide to tow your boat @MattFX4 take the hour or two to really go over your cover, boat, and trailer for the long haul.

I didn't get to take my Bennie to PCB on our last trip because even though I ensured the bearings had fresh grease in them I had not checked the air pressure. Then the buckle on the cover snapped while I was tightening it down (albeit rather tight).

The trip before (last year) I had left the bimini on the tower (secured in it's sock and strapped to the tower), however due to sun damage/dry rot the cover ripped off at highway speeds and the cover and bimini and frame went flying somewhere down I-10 in Florida. The new one stays under the cover unless we're using it!

Oh yeah for sure. I would double check everything. I don’t know, I’ll think about it may bring it. We live about 5 hours away but would be 6+ towing Boat.

 

[haknslash]

I live about 4.5 hrs from PCB not towing. Worth the drive with the boat IMO. I just take it nice, slow and easy at 60-65 mph.

 

[Coheeba]

View attachment 74184 Finally got the boat on the water.

 

[Coheeba]

 

[Coheeba]

View attachment 74184 Finally got the boat on the water.

 

[Bennie]

Water looks great today @Coheeba !

Looks like you were hanging near Bama Pier. The family loves that area.

 

[Coheeba]

Yes, that’s our normal spot. We took a spin out in the Gulf, it was beautiful.