Florida Sailors

Comment

Comment by Melissa Renee on January 10, 2009 at 4:37pm

I just did most of this route two months ago. The ICW is very shallow for sailboats. However it is doable. I stayed in the ICW ditch and the lowest I saw was 5.5 feet. Warning - Low tide is extremely low tide this time of the year. I don't think I would run the ICW up to Miami during low tide. The other Warning is the crab/lobster pots are everywhere. The boats have no ethics what so ever in "Mining" the ICW. They will keep you on your toes. The same can be said in Hawk Channel. They are thick as flies on a pile of dung.
The advantage of running the ICW is there are a ton of anchorages. Not so running Hawk channel. I would not recommend Rodriquez Key at Key Largo with any wind from the east and/or north. The holding here is poor at best.
From Rodriquez Key to Key Biscayne is an 9-11 hour run. If running Hawk channel I would cut in at the Florida lighthouse at Key Biscayne, follow the key close to shore and anchor at No Name Harbor or under Rickenbacker Causeway at Stadium Bay.. Make sure your charts are up to speed. Lots of shallow water here. Follow the markers all the way in. Do not cut across the bay between Rickenbacker Causeway and Terminal Island (cruise ship docking). The charts are wrong here. Very shallow water. Follow the channel markers on the west side of the bay to get to Watson island anchorage.
Anchoring in the keys.. Most of the bottom here is hard limestone with a few inches of sand/mud on top. Therefore, holding is poor at best. The best anchor set-up I know is to have a Fortress/Danforth anchor on 8 feet of chain - daisy chain to your primary anchor,with the Fortress/Danforth in front. I have never dragged witth this set-up.

Comment by Stuart Bell on January 10, 2009 at 12:35pm

Capt Tom, If you have the time, follow the ICW West to Florida Bay and take the Florida Bay side of the keys to Key West - lovely route, very few boats and nice anchorages any where you want to stop.

Comment by Capt Tom on January 9, 2009 at 9:53pm

Looking for "local knowledge". I plan to head over to Miami next week via Marathon from Ft Myers. Any trip planning recommendations or waypoint info I can use?

Thanks,

Capt Tom

Comment by verner j canatsey on January 9, 2009 at 7:00pm

I guess I will start looking at Chris Craft Corinthians older model but not wooden. Really would be looking for one that is ready for a repower. That should reduce the price a good bit. Seen anything sitting in a marina anywhere?

Comment by Robert Watson on January 6, 2009 at 8:06pm

Cruise East Coast Fl ICW?
Am presently in St Augustine and plan a leisurely motorsail down the ICW (mostly) to Ft Lauderdale or Miami in about a week. Are you ready to go, and would you like to spend 2 to 3 weeks exploring on a new Leopard 40 cat?
(Not looking for a relationship.)
Rob Watson
www.changingspots.net

Comment by Cameron & Leighia on January 3, 2009 at 9:28am

Debbie,
We have been based out of West Palm for the past 3 years, just south of Stuart, We anchor out south of Peanut ILD and its Free. There are a couple of the Marina's and the Palm Beach Sailing Club, that do FAIRLY reasonable dingy dockage. Currently we are in Key West and are heading to Marathon today and plan on being back in West Palm on the 16th of Jan.

Hope this helps
Cameron

Comment by Joel Wilkins on January 3, 2009 at 12:36am

Seems like I neglected to introduce myself here on the list...
I'm Joel and live full time aboard my Columbia 45 in St Pete. Been on her 3 years now and love it. Just my dog and me biding our time (while working full time too) and doing projects from the never ending list. Goal is to take off in the not too distant future and see some of the Caribbean Islands. Perhaps a year or three...

Comment by debbie on January 2, 2009 at 6:34pm

hi florida sailors. i've never been to florida but am coming soon. my son just arrived there. he is in stuart with a boat he just bought. he is looking for a guest slip. he said the ones he has found on the internet are very expensive. in calif i pay 50cents a ft to stay as a guest. if anyone knows of a guest slip around stuart please let me know. thanks
debbie

Comment by Capt. Bob on December 26, 2008 at 5:27pm

We live in Fort Pierce. Have home on the water 1 mile from inlet with Sun Dog
our 27' Stiletto behind the house. Looking to sell and move on board a larger catamaran.

Comment by Cameron & Leighia on December 11, 2008 at 8:02am

SV Tranquility is currently in St Pete and are heading north to Tarpon Springs next week. We are in love with the West coast it's beautiful anf low key over here. If you are sailing in the area give us a shout!

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