Any boater hearing the name Marco Island remembers its dubious history as the place where local ordinances were enacted to restrict boats from anchoring so that local waterfront property owners could have unobstructed views. Thanks to the organized civil disobedience by local boaters in 2006 and lawsuits in 2007, this ordinance was struck down by a Collier County judge and this gave notice to other FL communities that boaters have rights also.We thought about anchoring in solidarity with a few sailboats perched off the end of our marina, but with 38 degrees forecasted with 25-30 knot winds and the Gulf showing 6-10 foot seas, we wanted to be safe and snug at a dock, We are at Marina at Factory Bay for 4 nights awaiting a weather window to start heading south to the Keys. This is a clear water marina which means that gray water discharge is prohibited but free laundry facilities and clean restrooms are provided. Marina staff, Curtis and Neal, are very helpful.
We were blanketed from some of the wind and cold by the gated hi-rise condos on shore. Marco Island is an impeccably manicured tropical island with lush foliage everywhere, but with the frost expected, gardeners are putting covers on the more fragile annuals. We do that too in MN but that’s in September and the current cover is tons of snow. This was a surreal place to watch the Obama Inauguration.
Snook’s Inn is just a short walk or bike ride from the marina and offers a fantastic salad bar with lunch and dinner entrees. The marina is less than a mile from a real boaters shopping center offering a West Marine, ATM and a Publix supermarket—what more do you need.
