tampa bay to marathon fl.

[phil]

has anyone sailed to marathon via florida bay side. is it possible not to go around key west and the outside to get there. i am concern with water depth. there is a bridge near by with 65'. thanks

 

[Fred]

Best Route

Yes the way we went was from Channel 5 brideg above marathon and accross Florida Bay to Naples. We did an overnight and it took 21 hours on a Hunter 30. If you want you can stop at the Little Shark river. Our boat draws close to five feet and we encountere no problems. The channel 5 bridge is 65 ft high. Our mast is 50 ft plus antenna.

 

[Kent]

Tampa to Marathon route

I have sailed this route several times. Tampa Bay to Boca Grande. Boca Grande to Sanibel. Sanibel to Marco Island. Marco to Little Shark River. Shark River to Marathon 7 Mile Bridge.Get a good up-to-date chart of the area. Pay very close attention to it when approaching Marathon. The seven mile bridge has 65ft clearance as well as channel 5. Both have strong currents. It's a really great trip. If you are going East from Marathon, Channel 5 has an advantage. If going West, Seven Mile Bridge route.Enjoy,Kent S/V Giggles

 

[Dave Bayes]

fla west coast route

Phil, last year I did Punta Gorda to Miami single handed. I overnighted in Doctors Pass, Everglades City and Little Shark River then turned north for home.From Shark river just follow Kent's good advice. If you draw a lot of water maybe the Municipal dock at Naples would be a better bet and make sure you have bug screens and repellent for Shark river.  Good luck ........db

 

[scottie]

channel 5 bridge

If you want a more eastern route consider the Channel 5 bridge. There is the Yachtman's channel that runs from Cape Sable to the Channel 5 bridge just above upper Matacumbe Key. Depths are usually okay for boats with 4-5' draft. Make sure you do this in daylight, there is one spot that you MUST go between two markers or you will be spenging the night on a bar, and not the good kind.

 

[Johnny Hughes]

Sounds like good advice

I sailed from Channel 5 to Venice in about 32 hours, nice trip lots of lobster pots. SPent the night anchored just inside of Long key and headed north about 0700 best to cover this area in daylight, was well off shore and above Little Shark river by dark(November). I draw 5 Ft and had no problems in the well marked channel north of channel five bridge, just stay in the channel as I saw birds walking just on the other side of the channel markers.Have a nice trip.