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Comment by Robert Watson on January 24, 2009 at 7:10pm
We're doing a slow cruise down the Fl east coast ICW, anchored tonight at Titusville. Want to stay in Ft Lauderdale and commute to the Miami Boat show in Feb. We may speed things up a bit and visit the keys, heading out at West Palm beach. Any suggestions?
Comment by CAN DRAC on January 23, 2009 at 12:39pm
We're docked at Pier Sixty Six marina in Ft Lauderdale for the night, hoping to cross over to Bimini tomorrow. Come say hi!
Franc,
Look FWD to metting up with you in West Palm Beach tomorrow
Cameron
Comment by Stuart Bell on January 11, 2009 at 4:07pm
Channel 5 Channel is just below (South) of Marathon and is one of the few "tall" bridges in the keys that can accomodate a 65' mast at mid-to low tide.
Big Spanish Channel is fairly well marked - and the marks move from time to time as the channel changes. It goes from Marathon to Florida Bay. There are no significant issues - but anchorages are approached by eyeball navigation - the charts don't reflect changing conditions caused by storms.
Once you leave Marathon on Big Spanish, there are no services.
Talking to more folks today and they keep mentioning something called "Channel 5". Pardon me for being clueless, but then I've never been to the Keys either. I am assuming that the channel from G "1" into Key West is well marked, but if I go in are there any recommendations for places to drop the hook? Likewise, if I am heading directly to the Big Spannish Channel for Marathon are there any significant "marks" I shouls look for to either use or avoid?
Thanks again fo all your advice.
Capt Tom
S/v Cayo Mio
Ask me questions about Boston Harbor or the New England Coast and I can contribute ;-)
Comment by Melissa Renee on January 11, 2009 at 12:54am
Bella - I understand the crap/lobster people have to make a living. What I STRONGLY object to is their laying the traps in ICW. It isn't that wide to begin with. It is a major highway on the water and they have no right to lay their traps in the middle of the road. They have the rest of the bays and ocean to set their traps. For us sailboats with keels we have no other option but to run down the ICW vs running aground. If one goes aground in the Keys and god forbid hit a reef the fine is astronomical to the point on can lose their boat. It can and has approached in the 100k range. Powerboater with deep drafts face the same problem as well not to mention their prop getting tangled up.
No Name Harbor this time of year is mostly empty except for Friday or Sat. The fee is mimimal, I believe $10 but stadium bay is free and only a short drive from there.
Comment by Capt Tom on January 10, 2009 at 10:39pm
Hey All,
Thanks for your input. I learned on my passage from Boston to Florida that "local knowledge" is a great thing, butonly IF you have it! I've spent most o the evening studying charts. The easy part (assuming cooperating weather) will be from Ft Myers to G "1" off Key West. The rest looks challenging from there to the cut at Marathon via Big Spanish Channel. Any suggestions.
Good news is I reinstalled a working depth sounder todayso I will no longer relying on just my keel ;-O
"Hi All,
french built 2010 43 has been very dry down below but now a slow leak has occurred which is showing at the limber holes under the floor board in forward cabin. Bilge pump goes every 3hrs for 20secs. Not sure if it’s fresh/rain water or…"
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