I am looking for any info , as for stops, straight through,or any information on the sail. I have a Hunter 306 and would like to do this trip in April. If I can stay out of the crab pots I think this would be a great overnight sail. Thanks for any HELP.
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port charlotte to key west
I have a freind who lives in port charlotte and has a irwin 37, the last trip he made was to marathon and it was rough. He has sailed to key west several times. I think it takes him like almost 30 hours. I'll call him tomorrow and ask him about it. I know on the way back from marathon he did some intercoastal. Watch out for all of the seagrass beds. Big fine
I have a freind who lives in port charlotte and has a irwin 37, the last trip he made was to marathon and it was rough. He has sailed to key west several times. I think it takes him like almost 30 hours. I'll call him tomorrow and ask him about it. I know on the way back from marathon he did some intercoastal. Watch out for all of the seagrass beds. Big fine
Get the charts and Claiborne's guide
It's okay to get other people's opinions but it'll be your butt out there so you want your numbers and routes first hand. Since you asked, though, the only way you'll make KW in day hops is to stop at maybe, Naples and/or Marco on your way to Little Shark. From there it's nearly 70 miles to a KW anchorage or marina which is quite a daylight push in a 30' boat even in good conditions. I make it around 155 miles from Punta Gorda to KW (depending on where you boat is docked.) If you wanted to do it in one shot you could leave at first light, average 5 knots, and put in after noon the next day. If there's only two onboard and you want to take it easy you could break it up with a stop in Naples (there's a fabulous anchorage there that nobody uses) then sleep in, leave in midafternoon and arrive KW the next day in time to hit Irish Kevin's or Schooners for some happy hour margaritas. Crab traps at night? Fuggedaboutit. They're out there and you're going to hit 'em. We all avoid 'em when we see 'em but the truth is, at night you can't avoid 'em. We just got back (see our log at our site at link) and they were thicker than we've ever seen them. We found that if the boat is moving fast enough (5+ knots) they'll slide right off the keel and rudder and won't get into the prop (especially if you're not motoring and the prop is locked.) Could it happen? Sure. But even then it's not the end of the world. A quick nervewracking dive when conditions allow, cut it free and you're on your way. Don't let it keep you from heading out. April is as good as it gets. Go for it and have a blast.
It's okay to get other people's opinions but it'll be your butt out there so you want your numbers and routes first hand. Since you asked, though, the only way you'll make KW in day hops is to stop at maybe, Naples and/or Marco on your way to Little Shark. From there it's nearly 70 miles to a KW anchorage or marina which is quite a daylight push in a 30' boat even in good conditions. I make it around 155 miles from Punta Gorda to KW (depending on where you boat is docked.) If you wanted to do it in one shot you could leave at first light, average 5 knots, and put in after noon the next day. If there's only two onboard and you want to take it easy you could break it up with a stop in Naples (there's a fabulous anchorage there that nobody uses) then sleep in, leave in midafternoon and arrive KW the next day in time to hit Irish Kevin's or Schooners for some happy hour margaritas. Crab traps at night? Fuggedaboutit. They're out there and you're going to hit 'em. We all avoid 'em when we see 'em but the truth is, at night you can't avoid 'em. We just got back (see our log at our site at link) and they were thicker than we've ever seen them. We found that if the boat is moving fast enough (5+ knots) they'll slide right off the keel and rudder and won't get into the prop (especially if you're not motoring and the prop is locked.) Could it happen? Sure. But even then it's not the end of the world. A quick nervewracking dive when conditions allow, cut it free and you're on your way. Don't let it keep you from heading out. April is as good as it gets. Go for it and have a blast.
Good Grief!!
All of the advice sort of makes you want to sell your boat and move to Oklahoma. Make it from PG to Key West in two legs. The first day, go to Cayo Costa and anchor there for the night. Leave early the next morning and sail to Key West. It is approx. 130 miles from the sea bouy outside Boca Grande Pass to Key West. You should arrive in Key West before noon the following day. It WILL require an overnight sail. The anchorage at Cayo Costa is at Pelican Bay. You get into the anchorage by going to marker 72 on the ICW, then follow a heading of 240 degrees which will put you within 50 yards of Cayo Costa. DO NOT attempt to get into Pelican Bay by going thru the middle of the opening. You WILL run aground as there is considerable shoaling north from the small island on the west side of Pelican Bay. With my 5 foot draft I generally would not attempt getting into the anchorage anywhere near low tide. In April there will probably be several dozen boats anchored there, so you shouldn't have any problem figuring out where to go. If you get there early enough, you should dinghy over to the dinghy dock on Cayo Costa and ride the tram across the island. It is a pretty neat place. We found lots of sea anemonies and even a couple of conch on the gulf side beach. Don't attempt this trip without good detailed charts. As noted by the other posters on this thread, you don't want to find the bottom; and believe me, there are pleanty of places to find it on this trip.
All of the advice sort of makes you want to sell your boat and move to Oklahoma. Make it from PG to Key West in two legs. The first day, go to Cayo Costa and anchor there for the night. Leave early the next morning and sail to Key West. It is approx. 130 miles from the sea bouy outside Boca Grande Pass to Key West. You should arrive in Key West before noon the following day. It WILL require an overnight sail. The anchorage at Cayo Costa is at Pelican Bay. You get into the anchorage by going to marker 72 on the ICW, then follow a heading of 240 degrees which will put you within 50 yards of Cayo Costa. DO NOT attempt to get into Pelican Bay by going thru the middle of the opening. You WILL run aground as there is considerable shoaling north from the small island on the west side of Pelican Bay. With my 5 foot draft I generally would not attempt getting into the anchorage anywhere near low tide. In April there will probably be several dozen boats anchored there, so you shouldn't have any problem figuring out where to go. If you get there early enough, you should dinghy over to the dinghy dock on Cayo Costa and ride the tram across the island. It is a pretty neat place. We found lots of sea anemonies and even a couple of conch on the gulf side beach. Don't attempt this trip without good detailed charts. As noted by the other posters on this thread, you don't want to find the bottom; and believe me, there are pleanty of places to find it on this trip.
PG 2 KW
Jim, I did Naples to Key West and back in July and just got back on Monday from delivering a buddy's 33.5 from Ft Lauderdale to Marathon to Naples trip. #1 Make sure you watch the weather reports. I have heard of some pretty ruff seas out there. Two stories come to mind. 1.) The captain & crew did not check the weather and just left at there scheduled time. They were so scared they kept checking the Ebirb just in case. They also said the seas were so high that as the sun was setting they could see the fish in the waves. 2.) I read a story in one of the sailing mags about a couple who did the Naples to KW trip and went when there was a wind watch. (I have never heard of a wind watch before or since) The boat started smoking - it was so scarey -etc. etc. #2 Anchorage I have two favorites 1.) Naples - Champeney Bay. Go in Gordon Pass (East) the channel turns (North) then turns (East). On your left is Champeney Bay. If you need fuel go on down to City Dock. I was told a moring ball was $10. 2.) Marco Island - Coconut Island. Go in big Marco Pass and right on your right is Coconut Island. Anchor behind the island and watch the Sun Set on the water. Go ashore, and go on the Gulf side of the Island and you would think 10 Dump Trucks came in and dropped Shells there. #3 Anchorage in KW We stayed at the Gallion. #4 Tow Boat US Members get discounts on Docks and Gas. #5 While in KW I recommend renting Bikes. We had a blast cruizing around and seeing the island. #6 I hope you have an auto pilot, GPS, and Charts. If so, you can make it anywhere. Good Luck, Have a Blast, Daddy's Dream
Jim, I did Naples to Key West and back in July and just got back on Monday from delivering a buddy's 33.5 from Ft Lauderdale to Marathon to Naples trip. #1 Make sure you watch the weather reports. I have heard of some pretty ruff seas out there. Two stories come to mind. 1.) The captain & crew did not check the weather and just left at there scheduled time. They were so scared they kept checking the Ebirb just in case. They also said the seas were so high that as the sun was setting they could see the fish in the waves. 2.) I read a story in one of the sailing mags about a couple who did the Naples to KW trip and went when there was a wind watch. (I have never heard of a wind watch before or since) The boat started smoking - it was so scarey -etc. etc. #2 Anchorage I have two favorites 1.) Naples - Champeney Bay. Go in Gordon Pass (East) the channel turns (North) then turns (East). On your left is Champeney Bay. If you need fuel go on down to City Dock. I was told a moring ball was $10. 2.) Marco Island - Coconut Island. Go in big Marco Pass and right on your right is Coconut Island. Anchor behind the island and watch the Sun Set on the water. Go ashore, and go on the Gulf side of the Island and you would think 10 Dump Trucks came in and dropped Shells there. #3 Anchorage in KW We stayed at the Gallion. #4 Tow Boat US Members get discounts on Docks and Gas. #5 While in KW I recommend renting Bikes. We had a blast cruizing around and seeing the island. #6 I hope you have an auto pilot, GPS, and Charts. If so, you can make it anywhere. Good Luck, Have a Blast, Daddy's Dream
Made it twice!
I have made the trip twice with a friend of mine who has his boat in PG-a 32 ft steel tahiti ketch. We leave PG in late morning sail to the last buoy off Boca Grande Pass and stay about 15 miles offshore until abeam Sanibel. From there it is straight to the buoy at the north channel entrance to Key West Harbor. UNtil you are familiar with the Key West Harbor, stay in the channel. Just north of Key West Entrance Channel and a little west of our course, there is Smith Shoal - it is lit and very shallow there so stay well to the east. There are several large towers that you may see or encounter midway on the trip and they make good landmarks as they are lit and have loud horns. You will probably encounter dolphins near the towers. We have every time. Also rig a jack line and wear a harness off shore. My friend was down near the Dry Tortugas this fall and the CG was looking for a sailor who fell off the boat. His mate was asleep when the accident occured. I don't think they found him alive. We have made the trip in October both times, but my friend makes it frequently. It will take about 40 hours if conditions are normal. You will do a combination of motor sailing and sailing, but mostly motoring if like my past trips. Waves will vary from flat seas to 10 ft depending on the condiitons. The weather has been very variable on both my trips. The large waves will occur during storms, but don't last more than an hour or two generally and then fade away. You WILL GET WET so take your foul weather gear and by all means take charts and preferrably a gps with a chart built in. You will run into a lot of crab pots along the way. Keep a good watch - there are not a lot of boats along the way, but we have run into shrimp boats and once at night on return got nearly run down by a fishing boat doing about 20 knots with no one in at the helm - AP set and just flying! It is a great trip and Key West is great fun. Our wives meet us there and we stay three to four days and then sail back. The return trip is faster each time and it seems we sail more coming back, but still plan on a good bit of motoring if you try to make any kind of schedule. I plan on coming down there in my 356 next fall and winter from KY Lake. Have a good time! SV H356 Persistence
I have made the trip twice with a friend of mine who has his boat in PG-a 32 ft steel tahiti ketch. We leave PG in late morning sail to the last buoy off Boca Grande Pass and stay about 15 miles offshore until abeam Sanibel. From there it is straight to the buoy at the north channel entrance to Key West Harbor. UNtil you are familiar with the Key West Harbor, stay in the channel. Just north of Key West Entrance Channel and a little west of our course, there is Smith Shoal - it is lit and very shallow there so stay well to the east. There are several large towers that you may see or encounter midway on the trip and they make good landmarks as they are lit and have loud horns. You will probably encounter dolphins near the towers. We have every time. Also rig a jack line and wear a harness off shore. My friend was down near the Dry Tortugas this fall and the CG was looking for a sailor who fell off the boat. His mate was asleep when the accident occured. I don't think they found him alive. We have made the trip in October both times, but my friend makes it frequently. It will take about 40 hours if conditions are normal. You will do a combination of motor sailing and sailing, but mostly motoring if like my past trips. Waves will vary from flat seas to 10 ft depending on the condiitons. The weather has been very variable on both my trips. The large waves will occur during storms, but don't last more than an hour or two generally and then fade away. You WILL GET WET so take your foul weather gear and by all means take charts and preferrably a gps with a chart built in. You will run into a lot of crab pots along the way. Keep a good watch - there are not a lot of boats along the way, but we have run into shrimp boats and once at night on return got nearly run down by a fishing boat doing about 20 knots with no one in at the helm - AP set and just flying! It is a great trip and Key West is great fun. Our wives meet us there and we stay three to four days and then sail back. The return trip is faster each time and it seems we sail more coming back, but still plan on a good bit of motoring if you try to make any kind of schedule. I plan on coming down there in my 356 next fall and winter from KY Lake. Have a good time! SV H356 Persistence
Last Week
I took th KeyExpress ferry from Marco to Key West last Monday and carried my GPS. From the outer red buoy at Marco to the Yellow mark at the end of the SUBMERGED breakwater that begins the channel into KW, it was about 85nm. Keey the mark to PORT. It's open water all the way and you will loose cell phone coverage thru the center part of the run. Be certain of the channel into KW because of that breakwater. The channel is well-marked into KW. I was speaking to a Naples Harbormaster (grew up in KW) and he told me that the breakwater is littered with blue bottom paint markings because it is so difficult to see. Stay in the wide channel all the way into KW and watch your depth color contours on the way in. It's about 5nm in from the previously-mentioned mark.
I took th KeyExpress ferry from Marco to Key West last Monday and carried my GPS. From the outer red buoy at Marco to the Yellow mark at the end of the SUBMERGED breakwater that begins the channel into KW, it was about 85nm. Keey the mark to PORT. It's open water all the way and you will loose cell phone coverage thru the center part of the run. Be certain of the channel into KW because of that breakwater. The channel is well-marked into KW. I was speaking to a Naples Harbormaster (grew up in KW) and he told me that the breakwater is littered with blue bottom paint markings because it is so difficult to see. Stay in the wide channel all the way into KW and watch your depth color contours on the way in. It's about 5nm in from the previously-mentioned mark.
Tahiti Ketch is sloooow!
My friend's Tahiti Ketch - all steel, 32 feet is a full keel boat with lots of drag. It is not for speed, but would sink a container in a flash! It will do 5 knots in a 20 knot wind with full sails. He's been it it solo in 30 foot waves so it is a tough boat. It also has no amenities - ie comfort. My 356 is totally the opposite with all the amenities including sat tracking TV. He calls my boat a "floating condo" - not a boat! Isn't it great that there are so many opinions out there. SV H356 Persistence
My friend's Tahiti Ketch - all steel, 32 feet is a full keel boat with lots of drag. It is not for speed, but would sink a container in a flash! It will do 5 knots in a 20 knot wind with full sails. He's been it it solo in 30 foot waves so it is a tough boat. It also has no amenities - ie comfort. My 356 is totally the opposite with all the amenities including sat tracking TV. He calls my boat a "floating condo" - not a boat! Isn't it great that there are so many opinions out there. SV H356 Persistence
Sat tracking TV?
Man, you guys must have some interesting conversations about boats. Seriously though, I think the 356 is a pretty fine boat. I'm a believer of the "it's the singer, not the song" philosphy. I'm pretty sure that a dollop of good seamanship to go along with your boat's amenities and performance probably keep you just as safe as your buddy. Hell, maybe even safer. But that's a good topic for another thread. Fair winds to ya, dude.
Man, you guys must have some interesting conversations about boats. Seriously though, I think the 356 is a pretty fine boat. I'm a believer of the "it's the singer, not the song" philosphy. I'm pretty sure that a dollop of good seamanship to go along with your boat's amenities and performance probably keep you just as safe as your buddy. Hell, maybe even safer. But that's a good topic for another thread. Fair winds to ya, dude.
Made this trip
...many times from Naples. With good wind we've done it in 12hrs. If the wind dies you'll just have to motor. North channel entrance at night is tricky if you've never done it. Suggest you plan for a daylight approach
...many times from Naples. With good wind we've done it in 12hrs. If the wind dies you'll just have to motor. North channel entrance at night is tricky if you've never done it. Suggest you plan for a daylight approach
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