A Yachtsman's Paradise could well describe the waters around the Treasure Coast. Point your bow in from the ocean through the St. Lucie Inlet, and to the north is the sparkling ribbon of intra coastal waterway. You can go all the way to Norfolk at mile marker #1.

To the south you will pass some of the most spectacular scenery in Florida and follow the magenta markers to as far as the Florida Keys. Travel under the new Roosevelt Bridge and the Palm City Bridge and you are on the "jungle ride" to wonders of Lake Okeechobee and the west coast of Florida. Across the Atlantic Ocean, the Bahama Islands are just hours away by boat from the St. Lucie Inlet.

Whether you are paddling a kayak, in a canoe, or on a motor yacht or sailing vessel, you will find a fine diversity of boating pleasures here. You can picnic on a spoil island, tour the lovely homes sprinkled along the shoreline or dock at the St. Lucie Inlet Park to enjoy a nature walk to the ocean.

You may see the elusive and charming manatee, dolphins will roll up and over the surface of the water alongside your boat and mullet will leap and twirl. Martin County waterways are a haven for bird watchers. Several varieties of birds including great blue herons, hawks, ospreys, spoonbills, brown pelicans, egrets and seagulls are a common site.

You can stop to shop the restored and lovely downtowns of Stuart and Jensen Beach. Fine restaurants are everywhere and accessible by boat.

The causeways are a popular spot for wind surfers and jet skiers.

Narrated boating tours are offered for the naturalist by both power and sailing vessels. Charter boats are available for inshore and offshore fishing. Boat rentals are also available. Fine marinas, boat yards and marine supplies are all convenient to the water. Even the hospital has an emergency dock for patients that arrive by boat.

The bright blue skies, moderate temperatures, and gentle breezes make boating in Martin County a year-round pleasure.

Due to the popularity of boating in Martin County's waterways and offshore, the area marine industries contribute more than $200 million annually to the local economy with boat sales and locally manufactured marine products, plus sales from bait and tackle, boating and fishing gear shops, and more.

To show off the industry, the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast presents its annual boat show each January at a marina on the St. Lucie River.

More than 10,000 visitors turn out and approximately 150 business, representing boating and related services, exhibit the most comprehensive display of the latest in the boating industry.

Also in January is the Small boat Show, which is held at the Martin County Fairgrounds.

The show features small boats up to 24 feet as well as boating supplies and services. With the popularity of boating comes the need for safe boating classes outlining information on local waterways, navigation, charts, weather, equipment and knowledge of the rules of the road.

The Chapman School of Seamanship has been teaching power boating and sailing skills since 1971. From weekend courses to private instruction to professional mariner training, the non-profit school is the leader in boating education. The school has a highly regarded boat donation program to acquire vessels for use in its training fleet. For more information, go to http://www.chapman.org, or call (800) 225-2841.

The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 59 is headquartered at Sandsprit Park and offers classes three times per year and courtesy marine examinations year-round. Further information can be obtained by calling 288-0509.

The St. Lucie Power Squadron offers a 13-week course, each fall, for beginners in boating. The squadron can be reached at 335-7309.

In addition, the Florida Oceanographic Society offers a special telephone number for weather information each day at 225-2300. The U. S. Coast Guard from its base in Fort Pierce handles all boating patrols and rescues. For further information about boating in Martin County, call the Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast (MIA) at 283-3999.

Local business leaders and conservationists are working together to maintain the beauty of the St. Lucie River, a prime environmental and economic resource in Martin County. This volunteer effort enjoys a wide base of community support. For more information, call 287-8158.

You can set sail to anywhere in the world from here. Fine repair and refurbishing yards, provisions, charts, electronics and anything needed for your journey is available in Martin County. But once you're here you may not want to leave at all.

For complete information on boating communities in Florida visit http//www.floridabywater.com.