Looking on the internet...there are alot of choices and prices for guide books with charts. Are there any favorites or best for the money suggestions out there? Thanks
Chart/guide book for florida keys
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Fla. Keys
This is not really a response perhaps, but more like an extension. I'm planning a trip next summer to Florida on both the east and west coast. I'm a trailor sailor with a Venture 21. I've always wanted to sail down by the keys, but never got around to it(Boat too small, boat&trailor too old to make the trip...). I've sailed on lakes as big as lake George with my 18' and 21' boats. Is a trip going to the Keys (starting out From southern Fla) just too much open water for a 21' Venture? How about charts and safe ports if i want to do more than just a daysail out to one of the keys?
This is not really a response perhaps, but more like an extension. I'm planning a trip next summer to Florida on both the east and west coast. I'm a trailor sailor with a Venture 21. I've always wanted to sail down by the keys, but never got around to it(Boat too small, boat&trailor too old to make the trip...). I've sailed on lakes as big as lake George with my 18' and 21' boats. Is a trip going to the Keys (starting out From southern Fla) just too much open water for a 21' Venture? How about charts and safe ports if i want to do more than just a daysail out to one of the keys?
Hey, Newbie I'll send you mine
Forget the title, its a couple of years old, but it was the "recommended" guide. If I ever get back there I'll get a new version. Find my email in the hunter directory and send me your mailing address. I also have the Softchart Region 32 Florida Keys, CD works with "The Captain" PC nav program, free for the asking. Scott Wilson H37 "Celebration"
Forget the title, its a couple of years old, but it was the "recommended" guide. If I ever get back there I'll get a new version. Find my email in the hunter directory and send me your mailing address. I also have the Softchart Region 32 Florida Keys, CD works with "The Captain" PC nav program, free for the asking. Scott Wilson H37 "Celebration"
Keys Cruising
We either go to the keys or through them to the Bahamas every spring. Our guides are old, but we use Capt Pappy's Keys Cruising Guide, and a couple of others. We normally just anchor in Key West, Tortugas or Marathon Boot Key Harbor and maybe a couple of other places, so we don't need up to date info on marinas etc. We use the West and East coast chart kits which both include the keys for paper and the softcharts for the PC and the south Florida to Bahamas chip in the plotter/radar. For small boats (less than 4 ft draft) you can go between Miami and the middle or lower keys on the Florida bay side. The seas are pretty calm there. For an online look and somewhat of a cruising guide, go to www.bootkeyharbor.com. http://www.bootkeyharbor.com/ Bill
We either go to the keys or through them to the Bahamas every spring. Our guides are old, but we use Capt Pappy's Keys Cruising Guide, and a couple of others. We normally just anchor in Key West, Tortugas or Marathon Boot Key Harbor and maybe a couple of other places, so we don't need up to date info on marinas etc. We use the West and East coast chart kits which both include the keys for paper and the softcharts for the PC and the south Florida to Bahamas chip in the plotter/radar. For small boats (less than 4 ft draft) you can go between Miami and the middle or lower keys on the Florida bay side. The seas are pretty calm there. For an online look and somewhat of a cruising guide, go to www.bootkeyharbor.com. http://www.bootkeyharbor.com/ Bill
Florida Bay
Bruce, you can do the trip in the Gulf or Bayside side of the Keys. You will be close to land and to a multitude of cays should the weather turn. You can always find a destination 20 to 30 miles away for each day. Boats your size regularly sail these waters but constantly check your weather. Years ago we took a Starwind 22 from Bicayne Bay to Tampa Bay making stops along the way. Homestead to Islamorada through Hawcks Channel on the Atlantic side. Crossed to Bayside and next day sailed to Cape sable. Spent the night at anchor in Cape Sable and then on to Marco Island. From Marco sailed to Big Carlos Pass in Estero. From Big Carlos to Cape Coral. Left the boat in Cape Coral for a couple of weeks and finished the trip on a long weekend. Cape Coral to North Captiva we entered the intra coastal at Redfish Pass. The weather had turned so we followed the intra-coastal to Sarasota and continued through Ana Maria Island to upper Tampa Bay. The 6 Mile treck from Ana Maria to under the Sunshine Skyway bridge we did at a blistering pace with NE 20+ knot winds in slightly over an hour. the whole trip took a total of 8 days at a leisurely pace. We stayed at Marinas in Isla Morada, Marco, Cape Coral and Sarasota and the rest of the nights at anchor. Your boat would be perfect to cross the state from Stuart to Ft. Meyers through the Ochechobee Lake. There is a series of canals and locks which connect both sides of the State through what is known as the Ochechobee Waterway. We did that trip in two full summer days overnighting in Clewiston. Again watch the weather as the lake can get nasty. Fix up that trailer to avoid inconviniences on the road and come down to sail.
Bruce, you can do the trip in the Gulf or Bayside side of the Keys. You will be close to land and to a multitude of cays should the weather turn. You can always find a destination 20 to 30 miles away for each day. Boats your size regularly sail these waters but constantly check your weather. Years ago we took a Starwind 22 from Bicayne Bay to Tampa Bay making stops along the way. Homestead to Islamorada through Hawcks Channel on the Atlantic side. Crossed to Bayside and next day sailed to Cape sable. Spent the night at anchor in Cape Sable and then on to Marco Island. From Marco sailed to Big Carlos Pass in Estero. From Big Carlos to Cape Coral. Left the boat in Cape Coral for a couple of weeks and finished the trip on a long weekend. Cape Coral to North Captiva we entered the intra coastal at Redfish Pass. The weather had turned so we followed the intra-coastal to Sarasota and continued through Ana Maria Island to upper Tampa Bay. The 6 Mile treck from Ana Maria to under the Sunshine Skyway bridge we did at a blistering pace with NE 20+ knot winds in slightly over an hour. the whole trip took a total of 8 days at a leisurely pace. We stayed at Marinas in Isla Morada, Marco, Cape Coral and Sarasota and the rest of the nights at anchor. Your boat would be perfect to cross the state from Stuart to Ft. Meyers through the Ochechobee Lake. There is a series of canals and locks which connect both sides of the State through what is known as the Ochechobee Waterway. We did that trip in two full summer days overnighting in Clewiston. Again watch the weather as the lake can get nasty. Fix up that trailer to avoid inconviniences on the road and come down to sail.
New charts are a must!
Newbie, 4 years ago I missed a family trip the Bimini. My brothers did tell me about it because Dad took his charts. They sailed from Ft. Lauderdale to bimini with Dads circa 1985 charts. They had no problem in Bimini. However, they sailed back to Biscayne Bay Via Stiltsville. They arrived in Stiltsville after dark. They put the gps location of #1 marker into the gps and they searched frantically to find #1 marker going into Stiltsville from Hawks Channel visually. They , somehow made it to the second mark and made it through the channel. After that situation, Dad said that the land does not change but the water does. The channel change by a fairly large distance. Enough that even online planning charts showed the differance. Buy new charts of the area you are sailing. Keep you and your boat safe. The next trip two years later to the Dry Tortugas,(Fort Jefferson, yes , we took those same charts with Dad's idea that the land does not change the water does), the Charts showed a channel to the east side of the Fort. Well between 1985 and now, a storm filled in a 30' deep channel that was solid ground when we got there. Charts are a must, cruising guides have great opinions on the local things you may want to know. Another point, Port Evergades was not always Port Everglade. A hurricane Filled in the inlet at (can't find the chart) I think it was Bahia Mar, about 4 miles north of the current inlet at Port Everglades. r.w.landau
Newbie, 4 years ago I missed a family trip the Bimini. My brothers did tell me about it because Dad took his charts. They sailed from Ft. Lauderdale to bimini with Dads circa 1985 charts. They had no problem in Bimini. However, they sailed back to Biscayne Bay Via Stiltsville. They arrived in Stiltsville after dark. They put the gps location of #1 marker into the gps and they searched frantically to find #1 marker going into Stiltsville from Hawks Channel visually. They , somehow made it to the second mark and made it through the channel. After that situation, Dad said that the land does not change but the water does. The channel change by a fairly large distance. Enough that even online planning charts showed the differance. Buy new charts of the area you are sailing. Keep you and your boat safe. The next trip two years later to the Dry Tortugas,(Fort Jefferson, yes , we took those same charts with Dad's idea that the land does not change the water does), the Charts showed a channel to the east side of the Fort. Well between 1985 and now, a storm filled in a 30' deep channel that was solid ground when we got there. Charts are a must, cruising guides have great opinions on the local things you may want to know. Another point, Port Evergades was not always Port Everglade. A hurricane Filled in the inlet at (can't find the chart) I think it was Bahia Mar, about 4 miles north of the current inlet at Port Everglades. r.w.landau
updates as well
Not only are the latest charts necessary, but the mariners update notices must be added to make them current. Though this doesn't guarentee the charts will be accrate, but it helps. In the Caribe we travel in many areas where the charts are off relative to the GPS Datum or haven't been surveyed since the 1800's. You would be amazed how out of date some charts are. This is where a lot of guides become invaluable. We have cruised into many of the Venezuelian outislands with the guides rather than the the charts. Get and use as many tools as you can. Charts are not the sole best source.
Not only are the latest charts necessary, but the mariners update notices must be added to make them current. Though this doesn't guarentee the charts will be accrate, but it helps. In the Caribe we travel in many areas where the charts are off relative to the GPS Datum or haven't been surveyed since the 1800's. You would be amazed how out of date some charts are. This is where a lot of guides become invaluable. We have cruised into many of the Venezuelian outislands with the guides rather than the the charts. Get and use as many tools as you can. Charts are not the sole best source.
What date signifies a new chart?
I have charts of the lower keys...change my plan to do the whole thing and will look at charts for that. It seems like most of the charts I have bought "new" are actually pretty old, and say to contact the Coast Guard for changes. Where do you find out the dates the charts were made, and how often do they (Coast Guard?)survey for changes and put out new charts?
I have charts of the lower keys...change my plan to do the whole thing and will look at charts for that. It seems like most of the charts I have bought "new" are actually pretty old, and say to contact the Coast Guard for changes. Where do you find out the dates the charts were made, and how often do they (Coast Guard?)survey for changes and put out new charts?
A metal pipe sticking out of the water reported...
in whale harbour (keys). Guess this kind of info. (along with the unexploded ordinance reports, just adds a little excitement?! Makes you understand the importance of simple "eyeball" navigation, along with as much other info. you can get.
in whale harbour (keys). Guess this kind of info. (along with the unexploded ordinance reports, just adds a little excitement?! Makes you understand the importance of simple "eyeball" navigation, along with as much other info. you can get.
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