Vero Beach Islands and seashell hunting

[Kadorto]

Has anyone visited any of the islands just off the coast. I know boats are available for rental but to make it out to one of the islands do you have to have any ocean sailing experience? Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[JimMIA]

Ummm...As far as this Florida native knows, there aren't any islands off Vero Beach!

Unless you're talking about the Bahamas, more than 100 miles to the Southeast. If you're talking about the Bahamas --yes, you would need ocean sailing experience, and probably some kind of certification, before anyone would rent you a sailboat.

If you're talking about the Bahamas, let me know because it's a LOT more complicated than just getting in a boat and heading east -- definitely not for novices.

 

[Kadorto]

"All of our prices include fuel, and ice for the cooler on the boats. I have 4 new boats 2002-2003, all in excellent condition. Our inventory includes a Deck Boat, Pontoon Boat, twos Center Consoles, plus 4 Yamaha Wave Runners, that seat 3.
- The Deck boat seats 11 passengers it's $350.00 full day, and $250.00 half day.
- The Pontoon Boat seats 10, it's $225.00 full day, $175.00 half day.
- The 21 ft.Center Console seats 9 it's $325.00 full day, $$225.00 half day.
- The 19 ft. Center Console seats 7 it's $295.00 full day, $195.00 half day.
- The Wave Runners are $85.00 hr. and $45.00 half hr.

We also do island parties where we set up the food & drinks, tables, chairs, sun canopy, and,whatever boats and wave runners you want to use for the day. We also provide a captain to shuttle the passengers out to the island and to drive the boat if you want. Their are some nice islands right in front of Capt. Hiram's, it takes 5 min. to get to them. If you interested in this we can work up a price based on the number of people and the equipment you would want for the day.

I found this posted on another thread and is what I was referring to. Its our first visit to the east coast, I knew there wasn't any big islands but after reading this post thought there might be something small to visit just for a seashell hunting trip

 

[JimMIA]

Oh, okay. Yeah, you might well find those good shelling places because of the two hurricanes we had this fall.

Boating, however -- especially sailing -- depends on your level of experience and too many other variables to discuss. I'd contact the people at the resort and see what they recommend.

If it is sailing you want, you might be a lot better off sailing in the protected waters of the Indian River between the mainland and the beaches. I'm not familiar with the Indian River there, so you'd still need to check with local folks.

 

[floridafam]

There are a few islands off of Capt. Hiram's but not off Vero Beach.

I don't know the condition of the islands since the hurricanes.

You won't actually be on the ocean if you sail between Hiram's and the islands. That part of the water is considered the intra or intercoastal (I can never remember how to pronounce it correctly.)

I would give Hiram's a call and see what the condition of the water is like. There were a lot of partially submerged boats all over that section of water after the storms.

Hope this helps.

 

[Kadorto]

Thank you for the replies. I'll call the marinia and check on the "islands" condition. I thought Hirams was the name of the marinia that rented the boats and didn't realize that its not located on vero beach. I'm glad to hear that they are in the intercoastal as I don't think I would want to take a boat out onto the open ocean. Steamboat Willie, I'm not! Thanks again