anybody have any advice on sailing from st.pete to daytona beach...good marinas to stop at, where to cut through the keys,etc.
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Dave Laing
There's a short cut!!!!
If you want to by-pass the Keys you can cut across at Lake Okachobee. (not sure of the spelling) There is a system of locks on both the west and east side of the lake. Good Luck Dave Laing
If you want to by-pass the Keys you can cut across at Lake Okachobee. (not sure of the spelling) There is a system of locks on both the west and east side of the lake. Good Luck Dave Laing
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Dakota Jim Russell
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Dakota Jim Russell
Check the Bridge Hts if you take short cut (nm)
As I recall, the 410 might have a problem taking the short cut because of bridge heights. That's easy to check however via charts.
As I recall, the 410 might have a problem taking the short cut because of bridge heights. That's easy to check however via charts.
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Nils
Bridge Heights
Yes, check the bridge heights. There is a rail road bridge closer to the Gulf that was the lowest structure. I moved a 37' Cutter Hunter from the Gulf to Atlantic. We had to remove the antenna from the mast and it still was a close call getting under the bride. It was the only structure we had problems with on the trip. Watch your markers closely when crossing the lake becuase it is very shallow. It is a slow trip but it beats going round.
Yes, check the bridge heights. There is a rail road bridge closer to the Gulf that was the lowest structure. I moved a 37' Cutter Hunter from the Gulf to Atlantic. We had to remove the antenna from the mast and it still was a close call getting under the bride. It was the only structure we had problems with on the trip. Watch your markers closely when crossing the lake becuase it is very shallow. It is a slow trip but it beats going round.
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Guest
Keys Route
If you decide to travel through the Keys, your boat can cross from the bay side to the ocean side under the Channel 5 bridge, under the 7 Mile bridge, and through Key West harbor. On the bay side, the easternmost/northernmost marina that I know of that can safely take sailboats is Faro Blanco resort in Marathon. This is between the Channel 5 bridge and the 7 Mile bridge. Faro Blanco also has a marina in Boot Key harbor on the ocean side, right at the 7 mile bridge. Further up on the ocean side is Hawk's Cay Resort marina, on Duck Key. Once you get farther north than this, the approaches to the existing marinas can get pretty tricky for sailboats, although it's possible. Robert Pancza
If you decide to travel through the Keys, your boat can cross from the bay side to the ocean side under the Channel 5 bridge, under the 7 Mile bridge, and through Key West harbor. On the bay side, the easternmost/northernmost marina that I know of that can safely take sailboats is Faro Blanco resort in Marathon. This is between the Channel 5 bridge and the 7 Mile bridge. Faro Blanco also has a marina in Boot Key harbor on the ocean side, right at the 7 mile bridge. Further up on the ocean side is Hawk's Cay Resort marina, on Duck Key. Once you get farther north than this, the approaches to the existing marinas can get pretty tricky for sailboats, although it's possible. Robert Pancza
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Jim Ewing
Okeechobee
Bridge limits are 55' except for the aforementioned railroad bridge which is 49'. The 410 is too tall (unless you want to have the mast unstepped). The Keys route I'd take is to come in Big Spanish Channel (check your draft and the tide to make sure you're OK). I've gone out with 5' draft. Then cross to the Hawk Channel at the 7 Mile Bridge. As mentioned before you can also come directly in to Marathon and the Gulf Side Faro Blanco Marina. Make sure you're up on your thin water navigation. Jim "Prospect"
Bridge limits are 55' except for the aforementioned railroad bridge which is 49'. The 410 is too tall (unless you want to have the mast unstepped). The Keys route I'd take is to come in Big Spanish Channel (check your draft and the tide to make sure you're OK). I've gone out with 5' draft. Then cross to the Hawk Channel at the 7 Mile Bridge. As mentioned before you can also come directly in to Marathon and the Gulf Side Faro Blanco Marina. Make sure you're up on your thin water navigation. Jim "Prospect"
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Jack G.
Keys route
As someone else has already observed the 410's mast is to tall for the lake route. You can go through Big Spanish Channel but probably not at low water. You can also get into Key Largo canal, but again not at low water. Give the R#2 daymark a wide berth off your starboard side as you go in, the sand bank extends across the direct route. Once past the entrance the water is plently deep, put you'll more than likely bump at low water right at the mouth of the canal. There are several marinas at Key Largo. Further north you can get into Card Sound through Anglefish Creek. Again, I would be careful about low water going in, the controling depth is a ledge in the entrance. Once in Card Sound you can anchor behind Pumpkin Key if you wish. The channel through Cutter Bank is a bit narrow, and the tide will tend to set you to one side or the other, so be on the lookout for it. From there the next obstacle is the Featherbed Bank with two channels through, both fairly wide. The bridges in Miami are high enough you shouldn't have to worry, except the Julia Tuttle on the ICW north of Miami. You can't get under it.
As someone else has already observed the 410's mast is to tall for the lake route. You can go through Big Spanish Channel but probably not at low water. You can also get into Key Largo canal, but again not at low water. Give the R#2 daymark a wide berth off your starboard side as you go in, the sand bank extends across the direct route. Once past the entrance the water is plently deep, put you'll more than likely bump at low water right at the mouth of the canal. There are several marinas at Key Largo. Further north you can get into Card Sound through Anglefish Creek. Again, I would be careful about low water going in, the controling depth is a ledge in the entrance. Once in Card Sound you can anchor behind Pumpkin Key if you wish. The channel through Cutter Bank is a bit narrow, and the tide will tend to set you to one side or the other, so be on the lookout for it. From there the next obstacle is the Featherbed Bank with two channels through, both fairly wide. The bridges in Miami are high enough you shouldn't have to worry, except the Julia Tuttle on the ICW north of Miami. You can't get under it.
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