Keel depth sailing in Southwest Florida

[Frank]

In a couple of years we will be moving to the Punta Gorda area and will purchase a larger sailboat. From the articles I've read a keel of 5' or less would be ideal because of the shallow water. Your input and experiences would be appreciated.

 

[Ray Bowles]

Your right on.

We just returned from 2 years of cruising in the Gulf, east and west coasts of Florida and all the Keys. Our 1990 Island Packet 38 had a 5 foot draft. Our best friends had a 2000 HB 39 with a 6 1/2 foot draft and they were limited to less that 50% of the areas we were safe in. Even at that we ran aground probably a half dozen times but were lucky enough to always slide off.Another problem we saw were some boats with fin keels and spade rudders caught a lot of crab pots, and they are available for your pleasure, out to 40 miles off shore on the west coast of Fla.Look and talk to locals before you buy.Ray

 

[Bob]

Shoal Draft

We cruised the west coast and even transitted the Okeechobee Waterway a few times and I had a 35" Coronado with a 5'6" draft. If it were not for the Perkins 4-108 engine in my vessel that literally allowed me to cut my own channels, I would have been lost on some mud bar!! I understand dredging operations are halted and the ICW in many places is shoaling. That extra foot or two of keel depth can mean staying far away from some of the best anchorages on the west coast. My vote will always be shoal draft for coastal cruising.Bob