Southwest Florida Yachts has added the Heather Michelle, a 34-foot “Pilothouse Trawler” to its charter fleet for cruising the protected and scenic Gulf barrier island corridor from Sanibel/Captiva to Boca Grande.

With headroom of 6′, 5″, sleeping accommodations for up to four persons, and a big upper viewing deck, the newest yacht in the fleet makes a comfortable, economical cruising vessel for young families to enjoy dolphins, manatees and tall wading birds in their natural environments, said Barb Hansen, owner-manager of Southwest Florida Yachts, N. Fort Myers.

Made by American Tugs, Heather Michelle has a large, forward cabin that sleeps two and a double-wide berth in the salon that converts back to dinette seating. Other conveniences include air conditioning, heat, hot and cold water, refrigerator/freezer, stovetop and oven, microwave, flat panel TV, DVD player and more.

With its six-cylinder engine, the roomy vessel consumes only four gallons per hour while cruising at a rather brisk nine knots. A bow thruster helps skippers maneuver in marinas. The skipper has the use of a modern assortment of controls and gauges including hydraulic steering, auto-pilot, speedometer, depth recorder, GPS with chartplotter and radar.

Hansen said Heather Michelle is available for charters for only $1,483 for three days in the summer and only $1,873 for three days in the high season. But, through 2010, the company is awarding extra cruising days, free, during the company’s 25th anniversary celebration. Summer charters receive two extra free days of cruising for charters of three days or longer. High season charters of three days or longer receive one extra cruising day at no additional charge.

Founded in 1984, Southwest Florida Yachts charters power yachts from 32 to 42 feet from Marinatown Marina in N. Fort Myers and sailing yachts from 24 to 35 feet out of Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda.

Magazine articles have ranked Southwest Florida among the top ten yacht sailing and cruising areas in the world and the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva among the best islands to visit for their ambiance, beaches, friendliness, restaurants and scenery.

For more information about Southwest Florida Yachts and Florida Sailing & Cruising School visit: www.swfyachts.com , www.flsailandcruiseschool.com, www.swfyachtsales.com Mailing Address: 3444 Marinatown Lane, N.W., N. Fort Myers, FL 33903. Telephone: 800-262-7939 or 239-656-1339, or email info@swfyachts.com.