Sounds like fun! Saint Joe Bay is gorgeous and a haven for fishing and scalloping. While I have never sailed my own M17 out of Presnell's, I have taken power boats out.The bay is rather shallow so the folks at Presnell's have dredged a narrow channel so the boat motors don't churn up mud. If memory serves me right, the bay is only 4-6 feet in many places. Plenty deep enough for an M17 but you might need to watch out for shifting sand bars and pay attention to the tides. Cathy M17 #252