Could any locals please describe the conditions in SW Florida, from Naples south? I'd like to know about shoaling, etc. in the Naples City anchorage, Gordon Pass, the intracoastal between Little Marco Island and Coconut Island, Capri Pass, Chokoloskee inlet, and the Shark River. Thanks. Joyce
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Great for 3 ft. .... almost.
There really is no long term vistor anchorage area in Naples ... the moorings at city dock are not running right now because of State permit problems. Some slips are available. At my slip at city dock I can be around 5 ft. at low low, but I am sort of inland side of the docks. At a sailing club meeting a couple of years ago some European guy got up looking for a place for his 6.5 draft boat inexpensively ... and they laughed. In the canals you sometimes can see masts resting up against palm trees. I use an Oday 272 at 3 ft. and have had no problems ... but anything over 4 ft. may be a problem in spots at low low tides. Gordon pass was dreged a couple of years ago and the channel is decent from R2 in all the way up to Tin city at the fixed low bridge. maybe a spot of 8 ft here and there. Intercoastal from Naples to Marco seems OK ... but basically high tide for anything over 3 ft. Anything over 5 may be something else. some overnight anchorage at the first little bay north of the channel from Gordon. But it is a long way from town. and no land access. Further south I don't go ... unless it's direct to KW. Out today ... 80 degrees and 10-15 kts. nice. Lady Sterling [see web link] is at Tin City and goes out pretty easily nearly all the time. Vic "Seven"
There really is no long term vistor anchorage area in Naples ... the moorings at city dock are not running right now because of State permit problems. Some slips are available. At my slip at city dock I can be around 5 ft. at low low, but I am sort of inland side of the docks. At a sailing club meeting a couple of years ago some European guy got up looking for a place for his 6.5 draft boat inexpensively ... and they laughed. In the canals you sometimes can see masts resting up against palm trees. I use an Oday 272 at 3 ft. and have had no problems ... but anything over 4 ft. may be a problem in spots at low low tides. Gordon pass was dreged a couple of years ago and the channel is decent from R2 in all the way up to Tin city at the fixed low bridge. maybe a spot of 8 ft here and there. Intercoastal from Naples to Marco seems OK ... but basically high tide for anything over 3 ft. Anything over 5 may be something else. some overnight anchorage at the first little bay north of the channel from Gordon. But it is a long way from town. and no land access. Further south I don't go ... unless it's direct to KW. Out today ... 80 degrees and 10-15 kts. nice. Lady Sterling [see web link] is at Tin City and goes out pretty easily nearly all the time. Vic "Seven"
Thank you Vic. More Qs.
Vic, can you recommend any overnight anchorage spots with 5.5' depth in your area aside from inside Doctors Pass? Does Naples Bay have any overnight anchorage areas? Thanks. Joyce
Vic, can you recommend any overnight anchorage spots with 5.5' depth in your area aside from inside Doctors Pass? Does Naples Bay have any overnight anchorage areas? Thanks. Joyce
Naples South
Naples has some spots you can overnight but not near the town. You can drop the hook in Champany Bay for a relaxing quiet evening. 6 or 7 feet in here. It is in the guides near the Gordon Pass. The long ride up the Bay is a nice one though lines with multi million dollar homes. Best bet is to stay at the City Dock unless you have a Yacht Club membership or want to stay at one of several clube. (in any guide) The IC from Naples to Marco is fine for 5 feet but not at low tide. Timing is important. In Marco Island there is no coconut island anymore. The tree huggers decided about 3 years ago to destroy the non native trees and replant with native species. Result, native trees did not hold and the isand dissolved. They have a nice Yacht Club with a pool for a refreshing dip. They have a lot of new docks. Here you dress for dinner. Marco is not anchorage friendly so don't even think about it. Going South is not a big problem. If you do not want to go straight to Marathon, Key West or the Tortugas (all about 98 miles) you can stop in Little Shark River for the night. It is about 1/2 way. Hard to find without GPS. Stay a few miles off shore on the way down but you can sail with the coast in sight. It has a nice wide basin at the entrance. I also have stopped at Indian Key and anchored. Across Fl Bay is shallow but I have found over 9 feet unless you decide to sail over one of the few spots well marked on the charts. Plan a nice day bvecause the bay can kick up. The sail from Shark River to Marathon is 1/2 day through the 7 mile bridge then into the Anchorage at marathon. (now I think all moorings there though) We prefer 2 day trips and not sailing all night. E mail me off the list if you want more info. Terry in Naples Sailsman10@comcast.net
Naples has some spots you can overnight but not near the town. You can drop the hook in Champany Bay for a relaxing quiet evening. 6 or 7 feet in here. It is in the guides near the Gordon Pass. The long ride up the Bay is a nice one though lines with multi million dollar homes. Best bet is to stay at the City Dock unless you have a Yacht Club membership or want to stay at one of several clube. (in any guide) The IC from Naples to Marco is fine for 5 feet but not at low tide. Timing is important. In Marco Island there is no coconut island anymore. The tree huggers decided about 3 years ago to destroy the non native trees and replant with native species. Result, native trees did not hold and the isand dissolved. They have a nice Yacht Club with a pool for a refreshing dip. They have a lot of new docks. Here you dress for dinner. Marco is not anchorage friendly so don't even think about it. Going South is not a big problem. If you do not want to go straight to Marathon, Key West or the Tortugas (all about 98 miles) you can stop in Little Shark River for the night. It is about 1/2 way. Hard to find without GPS. Stay a few miles off shore on the way down but you can sail with the coast in sight. It has a nice wide basin at the entrance. I also have stopped at Indian Key and anchored. Across Fl Bay is shallow but I have found over 9 feet unless you decide to sail over one of the few spots well marked on the charts. Plan a nice day bvecause the bay can kick up. The sail from Shark River to Marathon is 1/2 day through the 7 mile bridge then into the Anchorage at marathon. (now I think all moorings there though) We prefer 2 day trips and not sailing all night. E mail me off the list if you want more info. Terry in Naples Sailsman10@comcast.net
While I sail out of Doctor's once a week lately ..
so far i haven't seen anyone anchor there ... The channel is fine in but you end up basically surrounded by high rises condos and private homes. Given a choice Champany Bay is about it for Naples ... but that too is surrounded by private homes. City dock is worth an overnight ... a decent wharf restaurant and a couple of french restaurants right there ... bit of a walk to 5th Ave. but way more choice. With the wind in the right direction you don't even smell the seagul's home. Friend of mine got caught in Florida Sound a few years back in driven waves and he told me he bounced "a lot" Nothing like a 3 ft wave in 8 ft. of water. Said the only time he would do it again was if they guarranteed an east or NE wind around 10. At 5.5 I would spend a couple of nites in Naples and just do an overnight to KW, maybe ft jefferson. Out again today ... maybe 7 kts of wind max. ... spots of glass ... 80 degrees or so. sunny. Yesterday we saw one sail boat out ... Today three ... sort of a quiet area to say the least. Vic "Seven"
so far i haven't seen anyone anchor there ... The channel is fine in but you end up basically surrounded by high rises condos and private homes. Given a choice Champany Bay is about it for Naples ... but that too is surrounded by private homes. City dock is worth an overnight ... a decent wharf restaurant and a couple of french restaurants right there ... bit of a walk to 5th Ave. but way more choice. With the wind in the right direction you don't even smell the seagul's home. Friend of mine got caught in Florida Sound a few years back in driven waves and he told me he bounced "a lot" Nothing like a 3 ft wave in 8 ft. of water. Said the only time he would do it again was if they guarranteed an east or NE wind around 10. At 5.5 I would spend a couple of nites in Naples and just do an overnight to KW, maybe ft jefferson. Out again today ... maybe 7 kts of wind max. ... spots of glass ... 80 degrees or so. sunny. Yesterday we saw one sail boat out ... Today three ... sort of a quiet area to say the least. Vic "Seven"
Thanks for the info on SW Fla & marinas in So. Fla
It was very helpful. I just don't know why my posts kept disappearing from the forum.
It was very helpful. I just don't know why my posts kept disappearing from the forum.
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