We have just purchased Moonshadow a Pearson 323 and hope to sail this weekend. Anyone have suggestions as to where to anchor overnight in or near Choctawhatchee bay??? Hopefully a place without too many bugs or other boats.
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Rick Webb
I'll Ask Around
All of our trips have been out and back. The places I do see boats anchored out are pretty crowded. All along Okaloosa Island seems quiet and if you want to get off and eat you could anchor out by the Ft Walton Beach Landing (just past the Brooks Street Bridge) and then everything downtown is in walking distance. I will ask others and let you know. BTW why move your boat to Mobile seems like it is the same drive to here and it is a nicer place to sail.?
All of our trips have been out and back. The places I do see boats anchored out are pretty crowded. All along Okaloosa Island seems quiet and if you want to get off and eat you could anchor out by the Ft Walton Beach Landing (just past the Brooks Street Bridge) and then everything downtown is in walking distance. I will ask others and let you know. BTW why move your boat to Mobile seems like it is the same drive to here and it is a nicer place to sail.?
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tom
good question!!!
I-65 is Quicker to the coast than the backroads to get to Niceville. But we plan to move the boat around every few months. I really like around Panama City. If there are no good anchorages we can stay at the dock. But we've always enjoyed waking up in a quiet anchorage when we lived in Tennessee. In the TVA lakes it wasn't unusual to wake up with deer of turkeys on shore. We hope to move aboard and cruise sometime next year. But everything depends on everything!!!!
I-65 is Quicker to the coast than the backroads to get to Niceville. But we plan to move the boat around every few months. I really like around Panama City. If there are no good anchorages we can stay at the dock. But we've always enjoyed waking up in a quiet anchorage when we lived in Tennessee. In the TVA lakes it wasn't unusual to wake up with deer of turkeys on shore. We hope to move aboard and cruise sometime next year. But everything depends on everything!!!!
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Frank Walker
A Little Exposed
Tom, I am going to assume that your mast will clear 50 ft bridges, and suggest an anchorage about 5 miles west on the ICW. Just west of green #26 you can slip in behind and island to a nice well protected anchorage. Water is about 6 to 7 feet going in but plenty deep once you clear the side of the ICW. As far as the Bay proper there are not many protected anchorages except on the north shore and most of those are pretty well developed. Bayou Cinco is a possibility but busy this time of the year. Blue Water Bay Marina on Rocky Bayou is another possibility, and I have anchored out by the 331 bridge on the north side of the bay in settled weather. The weather is not very settled right now. There are some good anchorages around Pensacola and some ones around Panama City but Chotawhatchee comes up a little short in that respect.
Tom, I am going to assume that your mast will clear 50 ft bridges, and suggest an anchorage about 5 miles west on the ICW. Just west of green #26 you can slip in behind and island to a nice well protected anchorage. Water is about 6 to 7 feet going in but plenty deep once you clear the side of the ICW. As far as the Bay proper there are not many protected anchorages except on the north shore and most of those are pretty well developed. Bayou Cinco is a possibility but busy this time of the year. Blue Water Bay Marina on Rocky Bayou is another possibility, and I have anchored out by the 331 bridge on the north side of the bay in settled weather. The weather is not very settled right now. There are some good anchorages around Pensacola and some ones around Panama City but Chotawhatchee comes up a little short in that respect.
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Johnny
Local Waters for me....
Hello, The Bridge Clearance at Destin is 50', as are most all on the ICW. If approcahing from the Gulf of Mexixo pay very close attention to the Time, and Recent Charts. Time is a factor because of the Destin Fishing Fleet, the Destin East Pass gets very crowded in AM and PM by Commercial and Private Vessels. Far as a good Anchorage goes, there are quite a few decent ones. My favoreite is on the Nrth of Destin in Joes Bayou. Bear in mind this is Flawda, so bring the Citronella and Bug Repellant,,no matter where ya go!
Hello, The Bridge Clearance at Destin is 50', as are most all on the ICW. If approcahing from the Gulf of Mexixo pay very close attention to the Time, and Recent Charts. Time is a factor because of the Destin Fishing Fleet, the Destin East Pass gets very crowded in AM and PM by Commercial and Private Vessels. Far as a good Anchorage goes, there are quite a few decent ones. My favoreite is on the Nrth of Destin in Joes Bayou. Bear in mind this is Flawda, so bring the Citronella and Bug Repellant,,no matter where ya go!
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Bob
Manatee point
I agree with Frank on green can # 26. there is also another ancorage about three miles west of that spot. I don't have my chart but its located south of the channel as you approach the open water in the sound. It is labeled on the charts as Manatee point. deep water to the shoreline, quiet and protected.
I agree with Frank on green can # 26. there is also another ancorage about three miles west of that spot. I don't have my chart but its located south of the channel as you approach the open water in the sound. It is labeled on the charts as Manatee point. deep water to the shoreline, quiet and protected.
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Terry Arnold
Tom, if you'll get in touch, I can give you the best driving instructions to Niceville since I have made it a lot of times. Is your Pearson 323 at Bluewater Bay marina? If so, there is a suitable anchorage in the cove shown on the chart between the Bluewater bay entrance channel and the Hwy 20 bridge. tgarnold1@msn.com
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Tom
Mast height 45'4"
When I was looking for a boat mast height was a concern. At 45'4" Moonshadow should go under most bridges that we expect to encounter. And with a 4.5' draft I should be alright in most gulf coast bays. We've always enjoyed anchoring out even if we were only a couple of miles from the marina. Hopefully we'll find some good spots. Thanks for the suggestions they have been noted and I'll check them out. Tom
When I was looking for a boat mast height was a concern. At 45'4" Moonshadow should go under most bridges that we expect to encounter. And with a 4.5' draft I should be alright in most gulf coast bays. We've always enjoyed anchoring out even if we were only a couple of miles from the marina. Hopefully we'll find some good spots. Thanks for the suggestions they have been noted and I'll check them out. Tom
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Rick Webb
Neighbor Knew a Spot
There is a series of islands in the Santa Rosa Sound known as "The Narrows". Many of the islands have steep enough shores to almost back up upon and step off of the boat. You will not wake up and see dinner staring at you well, you might if dinner is going to be coming out of the water. Have a good time.
There is a series of islands in the Santa Rosa Sound known as "The Narrows". Many of the islands have steep enough shores to almost back up upon and step off of the boat. You will not wake up and see dinner staring at you well, you might if dinner is going to be coming out of the water. Have a good time.
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river9150
Drive from B'ham
We have a 31 at the Deckhands Marina (Lat-30'23N LON-086'W) and will be insterested in your anchorage experiences. We've been there for over a year now and have yet to anchor out all night. As far as the insects are concerned, never had a problem. The Gulf Breeze seems to push them North. Do you know the short cut for the drive down from B'Ham? I make it from Huntsville to Fort Walton Beach in 5.5 hrs, normal driving, 4 hrs from B'ham. Regards
We have a 31 at the Deckhands Marina (Lat-30'23N LON-086'W) and will be insterested in your anchorage experiences. We've been there for over a year now and have yet to anchor out all night. As far as the insects are concerned, never had a problem. The Gulf Breeze seems to push them North. Do you know the short cut for the drive down from B'Ham? I make it from Huntsville to Fort Walton Beach in 5.5 hrs, normal driving, 4 hrs from B'ham. Regards
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tom
We take 331 from Montgomery to Niceville
and it usually takes less than 5 hours. If you have a better route let me know. Have you sailed in the Gulf?? We plan to take vacation in October and hopefully sail at least to Panama City. If all goes well all the way to Port St Joe. The PO said that he had never sailed out of the bay in three years.
and it usually takes less than 5 hours. If you have a better route let me know. Have you sailed in the Gulf?? We plan to take vacation in October and hopefully sail at least to Panama City. If all goes well all the way to Port St Joe. The PO said that he had never sailed out of the bay in three years.
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river9150
Route
Go on down interstate 65 to Georgiana, Alabama. Then follow Hwy 55 through Andalusia. Don't take the "Short Cut to Destin." Go straight onto Hwy 29 then turn left onto Hwy 137. Follow the signs to Crestview/Niceville. I haven't been out in the Gulf. I'm 48 feet from water line to top of mast. My daughter and her husband sailed over from PC the 4th of July last year through the Destin pass. She said it was close,their antenna touched and the power boaters show no courtesy. I think they went back on the ICW. Send your e-mail address and I will reply with directions and maps attached. Search the Owners Directory on this site (see link) for Bill Chandler for my e-mail address.
Go on down interstate 65 to Georgiana, Alabama. Then follow Hwy 55 through Andalusia. Don't take the "Short Cut to Destin." Go straight onto Hwy 29 then turn left onto Hwy 137. Follow the signs to Crestview/Niceville. I haven't been out in the Gulf. I'm 48 feet from water line to top of mast. My daughter and her husband sailed over from PC the 4th of July last year through the Destin pass. She said it was close,their antenna touched and the power boaters show no courtesy. I think they went back on the ICW. Send your e-mail address and I will reply with directions and maps attached. Search the Owners Directory on this site (see link) for Bill Chandler for my e-mail address.
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Rick Webb
Another Route
From Montgomery 331 south to Gordon and then 285 Right into Niceville. We go to Montgomery from time to time and that is how we go. It is 150 miles and takes a little less than three hours, alot less when I drive by myself.
From Montgomery 331 south to Gordon and then 285 Right into Niceville. We go to Montgomery from time to time and that is how we go. It is 150 miles and takes a little less than three hours, alot less when I drive by myself.
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Bob Rutland
Emerald Coast Poker Run
This weekend is "boat week". Saturday is the Emerald Coast Poker Run with over 250 high power go fast boats participating. If you are looking for a quiet ICW sail, good luck ! Part of the run is a 1 mile stretch down the ICW with speeds of 100 MPH+ !! If you are looking for a party, Crab Island (at the Destin Bridge) is hosting what is billed as the worlds largest boat party. The North end of Rocky Bayou near the Hwy 20 bridge will be a quiet anchor or Tom's Bayou off of Boggy Bayou is another good place. Don't anchor in Boggy Bayou due to barge trafic. Nothing is worse than being woke up at 2 AM by the spot light of a tug barreling down on you !!
This weekend is "boat week". Saturday is the Emerald Coast Poker Run with over 250 high power go fast boats participating. If you are looking for a quiet ICW sail, good luck ! Part of the run is a 1 mile stretch down the ICW with speeds of 100 MPH+ !! If you are looking for a party, Crab Island (at the Destin Bridge) is hosting what is billed as the worlds largest boat party. The North end of Rocky Bayou near the Hwy 20 bridge will be a quiet anchor or Tom's Bayou off of Boggy Bayou is another good place. Don't anchor in Boggy Bayou due to barge trafic. Nothing is worse than being woke up at 2 AM by the spot light of a tug barreling down on you !!
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Rick Webb
Forgot About That, Thanks Bob
Has all of the makings for a drunk fest. That would make the area over towards Hurlburt even more inviting as there is a speed limit through that area. I may go out there if I can sneek away from the plans my wife and kids have.
Has all of the makings for a drunk fest. That would make the area over towards Hurlburt even more inviting as there is a speed limit through that area. I may go out there if I can sneek away from the plans my wife and kids have.
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Monica
Nice Spot
There is a real nice spot, just at the entrance to the inlet where Tom's Bayou and Boggy Bayou is. I cant remember the marker number right off hand, but if you go just a little into the inlet and on the shore side of the first red marker, there is a beautiful spot with about 15 ft of water. We anchor there overnight a lot and have rarely had a morning where we didnt see the dolphins playing and feeding. Also, no bugs is a plus!
There is a real nice spot, just at the entrance to the inlet where Tom's Bayou and Boggy Bayou is. I cant remember the marker number right off hand, but if you go just a little into the inlet and on the shore side of the first red marker, there is a beautiful spot with about 15 ft of water. We anchor there overnight a lot and have rarely had a morning where we didnt see the dolphins playing and feeding. Also, no bugs is a plus!
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tom
Hwy 331 bridge
We sailed saturday to the 331 bridge from Blue Bay. Anchored on the south east side of the bridge. Not a great spot but we had dolphins around next morning. It was great if stormy sailing. The knotmeter said 7.4 a couple of times. We had 6.5 on the GPS another time. Never cross checked the two.
We sailed saturday to the 331 bridge from Blue Bay. Anchored on the south east side of the bridge. Not a great spot but we had dolphins around next morning. It was great if stormy sailing. The knotmeter said 7.4 a couple of times. We had 6.5 on the GPS another time. Never cross checked the two.
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