Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hey Guy & Gals,just about got weekender project completed and plan to run some of the rivers. I would like to make my first one as enjoyable as possible,that is one there is scenic and easy to navigate,no water hazards or low brigades etc. Any help would be appreciated,pictures would be great too.

dunno where you are, florida is a big place, with lots of river systems...

first weekend of June, we're making a round trip week.... 107 miles of the Apalachicola River.... from the dam at Seminole Lake, to Apalachicola... gonna hang out for a few days, then return, same way.

if you're on the Atlantic coast.... the St Johns River is pretty cool

Definately check out Silver Glen. Its along the St Johns River and a good place if you want to camp on the boat for the night. You can launch in Astor on Hwy 40 and its about 10 miles from there or you can launch in Deland at Hwy 44 and its a longer ride up. On most summer weekends there are at least 50 boats in there. Its about 4' deep where you anchor and there will be everything from airboats to yachts in there... the holiday weekends are super busy.

Let us know where your at

Either too much coffee or not enough,thought I said that I live in Inverness, Citrus County Fla.

Look up the Harris Chain of Lakes - Its not too far from you, there are a bunch of places you can go by water. The lowest bridges are on the Dora canal so depending on your height you may not make it through there. This weekend the Classic Raceboat Assoc. has there races in Tavares at Wooten Park.

Going to guess that Crystal River is the closest to you. The town sets on Kings Bay. Winter home to a good population of manatees. Springs keep the water warmer than the Gulf. One low bridge to Three Sisters spring off the bay. We fold down the bimini and get under okay. Lots of manatees in the canals leading to the spring. Nice cruising around Kings Bay. I recall the bay is an "idle zone" during the winter to protect the manatees. Understandable. I have never seen a manatee without prop scars on it's back. From the bay you can head out the Crystal River to the Gulf. Head about 8 miles south to the Homosasa River. Scenic run up the river to the Homosasa Springs.

Rainbow River - Dunnellon. Put in at the public ramp. Half a mile up the Withala???? to the Rainbow River. About an 8 mile run up the crystal clear water to Rainbow Springs state park. One low bridge on the Rainbow near the Withala????. Once again we drop the bimini and no problem.

Fair winds and following seas - Friz

Unfortunately there is no letting the top down so I will have to be careful where I put in but I'll check it out,thanks.

ezrollin wrote:Either too much coffee or not enough,thought I said that I live in Inverness, Citrus County Fla.

I am also in Inverness, and have done the St Johns, putting in at Astor on hwy 40 East of Ocala. The Withlacoochee is very shallow and gets rocky if you try to go from hwy 44 up to hwy 200. (Also have done that a couple of times, but would not recommend).

A fun and interesting trip is to put in on the Oklawaha river, just East of Ocala and go South to the Silver river. You can take the Silver river all the way to the Silver Springs Park. (Idle speed all the way and no fishing gear allowed in the boat) You can see monkeys, and the water is crystal clear. Be sure and use the rest room at the boat ramp, as you are not allowed to tie up when in the park.

Our pontoon is at our dock on a canal from Lake Spivey.