Boca Grand Pass,Florida

Bill Bell · Dec 17, 2008

I always set a route to go north from the 7 mile bridge then around #3 at Bullard Bank. From there set a route to the west of Sanibel, then to Boca Grande Markers 4 or 5 then turn east into the channel. Not a bad trip. Sometimes it is nice to hop up the coast, but beware of the "no see ums" at Little Shark river.

capnjim2 · Dec 17, 2008

Boca Grande Pass

seadaddler said:
I will be sailing my Hunter 36 with 5 ft draft around the keys soon and will be most likely leaving from Marathon heading up to Punta Gorda.
If weather is good we will come in Boca Grand Pass into Charlotte Harbor, is there anything I should know or be aware of with this inlet.
If weather is bad we may decide to enter San Carlos bay and up the ICW in this area,any advice.
Nick

Nick'
Boca Grande Pass is a good deep pass, however the tides really rip through there. It is good to go at a rising tide so that it will carry you in or no tide. If you want to anchor, Pelican Bay is right to Stbd. and has some fairly deep water, but also some very shallow water. Anyway, if you have time Charlotte Harbor is a beautiful place to sail. Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda has some great restaurants.
Good Sailing

Capnjim
S/V Kairos O' Day,27

LANCE ON CLOUD NINE · Dec 17, 2008

Hey there Nick-

Man it is hard to beat Cayo Costa and Pelicans Bay for a safe place to anchor and relax. The last time I was there, four of us had the entire seven mile long beach to ourselves. Pop, ice, and restrooms are on the island but the rest is undeveloped. You can get your boat in there but a good cruising guide would be handy. "A Gunkholer's Cruising Guide To Florida's West Coast" by Tom Lenfestey has worked well for me. Keep us posted of your progress and I'll cross paths with you someday for lunch.

Benny · Dec 17, 2008

Nick, that is a good pass. The markers go way out, they start at #2 which is about 4.75 NM from shore. I don't know how you calibrate your depth sounder as some utilize actual depth and others use an offset below the keel. In any instance my point is get used to sailing with 3-5 feet under your keel and don't panic until you start seeing less than one foot. Sometimes the best escape is to turn around 180 degrees and get out the same way you got in. Plan your outings so that you always go out and come in on a rising tide that way you may not be stuck for long. A wing keel is a drawback as it acts as an anchor and you cannot heel the boat to decrease draft. You'll get used to it; welcome to Florida.

Bill Bell · Dec 18, 2008

Never came thru the Channel 5 bridge. Many friend do. You will see 6 feet for several miles on this route. I normally like to spend a few days at Marathon in Boot Key Harbor.

The guys are right about Cayo Costa and Pelican Bay. Great place to anchor. As far as the wing keel, I have been aground several times and have never gotten stuck where I couldn't do a 180 and come back out the way I came in. I have never been aground while sailing, only with the engine on coming into some shallow anchorage or in a skinny channel to a marina.

Don't know when you will be here, but maybe I will see you. We will be in the Bahamas from Feb 1 till June 1 this year.

Bill

Sailm8 · Dec 18, 2008

For more on anchorages at pelican bay

http://www.cruisersnet.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=153&Itemid=394

Scroll down and see the discussion on Pelican Bay.

Here's more:

http://www.cruisersnet.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5078&Itemid=337

shemandr · Dec 18, 2008

Seadaddler,
You are killing me. I finally got my cover on and had to do it while it was forty degrees and blowing 15 knots - that was my best choice. From then it has been worse. Now we're going to have snow and I'm having trouble figuring out why my boat is shivering on the hard at Brick Cove and yours is enjoying nearly tropical water.
I hope your trip goes well but, really - you're killing me.