Made the trip both ways twice with our Hunter 38. There were more high rise bridges the second time. Masthead with VHF clears at 63 feet. Even with extremely high water encountered last spring there were no problems with bridge transits. If in doubt, make a slow approach, put eyes on the clearance boards and stay in the channel center as the spans are arched and around a foot higher in the center than the boards indicate.
Julia Tuttle at Miami will force you to go outside at Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale.
Confusing schedules of restricted openings from Jupiter south will encourage you to consider being outside from Fort Pierce.
Just south of the St.Johns River crossing out going tide combined with river current can give you quite a bit of outbound leeway; pay attention here or you may wind up on a rock breakwater that submerges at high water.
The high rise San Pablo bridge has a standing wave caused by current being restricted, like a venturi tube, to the bridge channel; be ready for leeway here also.
Drawing 5 feet we came through the notorious cuts in SC and GA on a low rising tide.
Tightest pucker factor we had was Jeckyl Creek, although these conditions are constantly changing.
If you haven't already done so, google and get familiar with the Salty Southeast Cruiser's Net. Invaluable info on the waterway and more up to date than published "Cruising Guides" which are usually two years behind from research to publication.
We planned each day's travel while at anchor the night before, using Cruiser's Net and
charts, looking for fuel and provisioning stops, hidey holes and anchorages, and interesting places to visit.
Take your time and have a good trip.
We will be southbound again, God and the weather willing, mid October.
Give us a hail on VHF.
Steve
Hunter 38 "Carolina"
