Cruising Florida

[Regular Guy]

Hi All,
I have been back from a 1022 miles single handed sailing trip. I went from north-east Florida down the Intracoastal to Miami from there down the Biscayne Bay to Key Largo, along inside to Channel #5 pass through to the Atlantic. Sailed west to Marathon and further to Key West. From there I sailed eastward on the north side of the Keys and crossed the Florida Bay over to East Cape, Gulf Coast. I sailed then along the Everglades National Park inside up to The Then Thousand Islands and Marco Island. From Marco Island I took the inside passage to South Naples. From there I had to go out again in the Gulf to Fort Myers and from Fort Myers I took the Okeechobee Waterway to the east side of Florida back the Atlantic Intracoastal to where I came from.

At that trip I have made some practical experiences which may be worth in separate threads to share.

 

[All U Get]

That sounds like fun, usually we wind up fixing too many boat parts to enjoy the ride.

All U Get

 

[Sailm8]

I've done most of the same route from Charlotte Harbor Caloosahatchee to stuart south to the keys and back up the gulf coast. Anxious to hear your observations.

 

[bobscaggs]

Sounds like a blast! As much as I love my first mate and the rest of my family (except the cats) I would love that much solitude. What was the timeframe? Started? Ended? Do you have a blog of the trip?

 

[Regular Guy]

bobscaggs,
I started on May the 21st and ended on June 18th, wrote down for myself the mileage, gasoline use, special events, what so happened on each day like; snake on board, alligators around, 13 ft down at a Lock, etc. but, sorry, no blog.

...second on the cats

 

[pateco]

Regular Guy,

How was the canal crossing through the state. I have never done that, and wondered how long it takes, and do you have to drop the mast?

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Wow ! Great trip ! We took our H260 south from Stuart to the Keys. Great boat and cruise. Perfect boat for a trip like yours.
I'm sure others will be asking your advice.
If you have photographs of your cruise and mods on your boat think about a photo album in your profile on this site.
Bob

 

[Regular Guy]

pateco,
are you talking about under crossing the Overseas Hwy at the Keys?
There are two crossings high enough for sailboats: Channel #5 and the Moser Channel.

 

[Regular Guy]

Wow ! Great trip ! We took our H260 south from Stuart to the Keys. Great boat and cruise. Perfect boat for a trip like yours.
I'm sure others will be asking your advice.
If you have photographs of your cruise and mods on your boat think about a photo album in your profile on this site.
Bob

Here my boat's equipments:

Mast Lights:
Anchor
Tri Color
Steaming
Deck

Jib:
Schaefer Jib Snapfurl CF-700
Spinlock PXR Cam Cleats for jib and main sheets

Anchors:
Lewmar Delta 22 lbs
Danforth Fluke 16 lbs
Ring Fluke 14 lbs

Electronics:
VHF Uniden UM415 BK with DSC, extended mic cable to reach helm.
VHF West Marine handheld
Dual AMB600W CD Stereo with radio remote
Shakespeare Mast antenna and AM/VHF-FM Band Separator
Lowrance Elite-5 DSI Chartplotter
Raymarine ST40 Bidata Depth/Speed
NMEA 0183 – DSC GPS-VHF Radio Connection
Extra speaker for mount VHF and voltmeter wired to pedestal guard instrument box

Cabin:
Jabsco Par Max1 water pump pressurized fresh water system
20 Gal mounted water tank, 7 Gal extra canister
Jabsco Marine Toilet
13 Gal wast holding tank
Jabsco Macerator pump Series 18590
Group 24 + 27 Batteries
Battery switch
Shore power, Battery charger
100 Watt Solar power
110V/12V/USB outlets
EdgeStar FP430 Portable Fridge-Freezer, 43 Quarts, 12/24/110 Volt
Breeze Stand alone 12V Fan

Cockpit:
Edson Pedestal Steering
Steering Brake
Rudder/Motor Link
Rudder Clamclead CL257
9.9 HP Honda Outboard
3x3 Gal gasoline tanks in locker
4x5 Gal gasoline extra canisters
Shower

Jacke Line:
Between pedestal and mast
6' tether
West Marine Offshore automatic inflatable PFD with harness

 

[Joe]

pateco,
are you talking about under crossing the Overseas Hwy at the Keys?
There are two crossings high enough for sailboats: Channel #5 and the Moser Channel.

No.... he's asking about the Okeechobee canal.

 

[Regular Guy]

Passing the Okeechobee Waterway was lots of fun. But there were some patterns of thunderstorms in the afternoons and sometimes even at nights on the west part to the lake.
Going through the Locks was new for me; 13 feet lift from the west via 3 Locks and the full level at the St Lucie Lock direct after passing the Lake.
At the Okeechobee Lake I used the rim route because the thunderstorms, did not like to be out there with my mast when lightning.
The fixed bridges on the way are mainly 54 ft, my mast with antenna reached 42 ft, so no problem. Lots of alligators and I had even a snake hitch hiking on my motor mount.
Hart

Yes, second that, Sailm8; Port Mayaca Railway Lift Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 38, has the lowest vertical clearance on the Okeechobee Waterways, when lifted 49 ft.

 

[Sailm8]

This is the problem bridge:
Port Mayaca Railway Lift Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 38, near the tiny (charted) village of Port Mayaca
26 59.242 North/080 36.256 West
Lift bridge
7 feet closed vertical clearance, 49 feet of vertical clearance when fully open
VHF Hailing Channel 9
Usually open unless a train is due (flashing green light means it’s OK to proceed; flashing red light warns of an imminent closing)

You can call Indiantown and have your boat tipped for $200 or do it yourself.