East Coast Florida to Keys and Punta Gorda

[seadaddler]

I'll be making a trip from Fort Pierce down to Marathon and up to Punta Gorda.
So I am looking to here from others who have made this trip or part of this trip and advice and places that you have anchored along the way.
I have already been given some great advice from some Hunter forum sailors
and just want to here your story.
I am thinking once I put together crew that I may start the trip after Xmas,any info on when where you started and stopped along the way.
Nick

 

[Sailm8]

We have done this several times. One time straight through to Boca Grand from Key West. Our usual route is Marathon to Little Shark river. Little shark to Marco (factory bay) Marco to PG or Pelican Bay via either red fish or Captiva Pass and the ICW. Many stop at Estero Bay and visit Ft Meyers but we usually can see the finish line and push on.

Never saw so many skeeters as Little Shark. They were so thick it sounded like a fan running. Worst part is you can't outrun them.

 

[KD4AO Bob]

I did this a few years ago. Pompano Beach to Hurricane Hole on east side of Key Biscayne, overnight there. Down Hawk Channel to Channel 5 Bridge, overnight inside Channel 5 to Starboard. Across Florida Bay through Yacht Channel (pay attention to the markers here, you basically make an "S" turn). A 27 hour run from Channel 5 to Burnt Store Marina. Lots of crab pots to watch out for but otherwise a great trip. Only did it once, moved to PGI. Bob

 

[seadaddler]

Keep it coming with info and any stories,I am sure it has been done many different ways,it will all come in handy when I make the trip.
My wife wants to learn to play golf so what the heck until the boat over here in
Burnt Store I told her I'll give it a try,we live in a Golf community and every one is helping out and wants us to join them but I think once the boat is hear you never know I am retired so plenty of time.
Nick

 

[james2034]

Punta Gorda/key West

I've made the trip from Punta Gorda to Key West single handed several times. Once direct from PGI to Key West then returned by way of Key Direct to Factory Bay then Punta Gorda. Next time Punta Gorda to Naples then Key West. Returned the same route. All required overnight passage and at time pretty rough sailing.
Well worth the experience.
Each time I have gone I anchored at the field off the Coast Guard base and rowed to the bight.
Looking forward to a new adventure this winter.

Good Luck

Jim

 

[Steve Kamp]

Nick, While you are in the Ft.Pierce area, consider Vero Beach Municipal Marina. They are run by the City of Vero Beach, have excellent slips and a mooring field that is tucked in off the ICW. Good access to VB via bus for shopping/provisioning. Cruiser friendly. Many folks come here to wait for weather before making the jump accross the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas.
If you would rather anchor out while near Ft.P, try Faber Cove, approaching from the ICW just south of Ft.P Inlet.
Further south, if you are still in the ICW, consider the anchorage in the north end of Lake Worth, or the Palm Harbor Marina at West Palm. The dockmaster was very accomodating here; we only intended to stop here for fuel on Thanksgiving Day, but the DM gave us several hours to walk in town, access wi=fi from a hotspot below a condo, chat with a police bicycle patrolman and do laundry at the marina laundromat.
You are more than likely planning on going outside at Ft.Lauderdale/Port Everglades. Just south of the Las Olas Bridge on the west side is a mooring field operated by the City. No one came by to charge us a fee for the night, but they might.
Prior to exiting the ICW we nosed up the 15th street canal about a mile to it's western end and tied up at the Southport Raw Bar for dinner. They have an excellent platter. While there we walked out the front door and crossed the street to a Winn Dixie Grocery to top off our groceries.
We left the ICW at Ft.Lauderdale inlet, Bahamas bound; I cannot give you anymore about anything further south except you will have to go outside here as well due to the fixed 55' clearance of the Julia Tuttle Bridge in Miami.
Fair winds,
Steve Kamp, H-38 Carolina