Things you don't see in Minnesota, and the Goldilocks gambit

[nightowle]

OK guys.....I need to learn a couple things here. Why is motoring down the ICW not a good idea? And, what do you like about sailing around the Miami area? I'm here in the PNW and not familiar with either. Been to Miami a few times for business, not for sailing and have no knowledge of the ICW. I'd like to consider FL as a retirement possibility that includes cruising, in the not too distant future. BTW - the ICARUS artwork is awesome!

 

[hutch5151]

After arriving in MIA, take the metro rail to Coconut Grove Station and then transfer to the free trolley that will drop you off in front of the Dinner Key Marina and mooring field. Recommend the "Skipper Bob" cruising guide for motoring down the intercoastal. It's inexpensive and eliminates all of the advertisements and only lists pertinent information. We stage out of Dinner Key mooring field every winter waiting for weather window to the Bahama's

 

[pateco]

OK guys.....I need to learn a couple things here. Why is motoring down the ICW not a good idea?

It isn't that it's not a good idea, it is just a little boring and slow. It is not a straight shot south, but winds a bit using the existing inland waterways connected by sections of dredged canals. The ports of call can be interesting, but there can be lots of waiting for bridge openings, and tide changes to get under fixed bridges. Outside run can be much faster, but then you are at the mercy of the weather, seas and current.

OK guys.....I need to learn a couple things here. And, what do you like about sailing around the Miami area?

Warm Water, lots of sunshine plenty of places to poke around, and good food and nightlife near many of the marinas and anchorages. The close proximity to many Caribbean islands is also a great plus.

As stated in the Huffington Post
Luxury In The Yachting Capital Of The World
"With 300+ miles of inland waterways and 50,000 registered yachts, Fort Lauderdale is often dubbed “the Yachting Capital of the World.”

It’s home port to the two largest cruise ships in the world and home to the largest boat show in the world (Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show). The famed Intracoastal Waterway offers close — and scenic — proximity from the inland waterways to the Atlantic.

Factor in 3,000 hours of sun annually, and it’s obvious why this South Florida town would be the ultimate Stateside haven for a boat-up luxury lifestyle"

 

[Jackdaw]

After arriving in MIA, take the metro rail to Coconut Grove Station and then transfer to the free trolley that will drop you off in front of the Dinner Key Marina and mooring field. Recommend the "Skipper Bob" cruising guide for motoring down the intercoastal. It's inexpensive and eliminates all of the advertisements and only lists pertinent information. We stage out of Dinner Key mooring field every winter waiting for weather window to the Bahama's

Great info thanks! I scored a copy of the Clairborne Young Cruising Guide to Eastern Flordia off Amazon. Mostly ICW stuff, but decent info on inlets and anchorages. Trick as always, stuff changes fast. So I spend most of my time on the on-line WaterWay Guide.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Oh a shuttle near Cocoa Beach. We were crossing the Okeechobee waterway and seen a Giraffe and a water buffalo in the back of a home,

That was likely the Brevard Zoo, the best little family run zoo I've ever seen. They let you pet the rhinos and kayak among the giraffe enclosures. It is right near Cocoa Beach.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[pateco]

First POC is Fort Pierce. Next is Lake Worth, or a inlet or two farther if we are making good time. Any tips, shout them out!

1. If you go south of Lake Worth, the Boynton Beach Inlet should be avoided as it very narrow, and can be a real bear to get in.
   
2. Boca Inlet is easily navigable, and Lake Boca just inside the inlet is a nice anchorage that our club uses for regular overnight raftups.
   
   
   
3. The next inlet south is Lighthouse Point inlet, and there is a small sheltered anchorage just inside the inlet, and a park with dinghy dock and parking. There is also a West marine nearby if you need any immediate parts. This is the inlet I sail out of, and I would enjoy meeting you on your way through. (sent you a PM)
   
   
   
4. The next inlet south is Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. This is a pretty busy Cruise ship and Cargo port. Anchorages are sparse, but there are some good marinas, and a HUGE West Marine. I would suggest Bahia Mar as a Marina. Our club is hosting a Coastal race to that location and will be staying there for a Father's Day Cruise event on the weekend of June 16th & 17th. (if your in the area stop by.)

 

[Jackdaw]

Congrats on the new boat and new sailing locale.
If things go well, you may even find the southbound countercurrent. It will be a matter of pitting your will to find it against your desire not to get too close to shore, which is really only a problem if there are strong easterlies. I don't remember exact distances, but I believe we often found it in 30 to 60' of water. Shouldn't be many obstructions in 30+ foot water.
However, if you have not done the ICW, it is one of the most amazing trips one can do anywhere in the world. All kinds of water creatures including gators, manatees and even dolphins from time to time. Then there are the mansions and towns you pass right through.
Perhaps, if it's a nice day, your better half will turn a blind eye to the bikini-clad beauties sunning themselves around the pools behind the mansions, while you sneak a peak, every now and then.

Good to know. Yes the plan was to stay close, for mostly slack water. Nice to know we might get a bump. Jodi is a big fan on Bikinis herself. All part of my master plan!

 

[Jackdaw]

1. If you go south of Lake Worth, the Boynton Beach Inlet should be avoided as it very narrow, and can be a real bear to get in.
   
2. Boca Inlet is easily navigable, and Lake Boca just inside the inlet is a nice anchorage that our club uses for regular overnight raftups. View attachment 151662
   
3. The next inlet south is Lighthouse Point inlet, and there is a small sheltered anchorage just inside the inlet, and a park with dinghy dock and parking. There is also a West marine nearby if you need any immediate parts. This is the inlet I sail out of, and I would enjoy meeting you on your way through. (sent you a PM)View attachment 151661
   
4. The next inlet south is Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. This is a pretty busy Cruise ship and Cargo port. Anchorages are sparse, but there are some good marinas, and a HUGE West Marine. I would suggest Bahia Mar as a Marina. Our club is hosting a Coastal race to that location and will be staying there for a Father's Day Cruise event on the weekend of June 16th & 17th. (if your in the area stop by.)

View attachment 151659

Thanks for LK on inlets. I've hear that about Boynton. I sent you a text.

 

[Pirate Dave]

Hey Jack,
I've been from CT to Florida and back a few times. Used both the ICW as well as short hops outside on the coast. ICW is fun and preferable in the late fall. Short days and frequent storms. This time of year , I would opt to the outside unless there is something you want to see. One thing you could do is hop on and sail next to Fort Lujune. It is one the port coming up and you can see the Atlantic on the starboard.

 

[pateco]

One last heads up.

Keep a good monitor on your depths. I don't know what you draw, but every storm seems to move the sand bars around near the inlets. Our club keeps a constant update on the depths at our inlet. We have a permanent dredge boat on site (you can see it anchored near the breakwater on the left in the below picture), but it some times takes a day or two after a storm to get the inlet channel dredged back out to its standard depth.

 

[Jackdaw]

One last heads up.

Keep a good monitor on your depths. I don't know what you draw, but every storm seems to move the sand bars around near the inlets.

We draw 6 feet. I'm used to watching depth, my last 36.7 drew 7.25! This boat a little slower, but still a respectable 82 in PHRF.

 

[Kings Gambit]

Congratulations, JD! Sounds like a whole new(?) world of sailing is opening up for you. One small piece of advice; be very careful, even to the point of avoidance or rescheduling a departure time, entering passes from sea the first time after dark. They can be, and have repeatedly proven to be, treacherous, as pateco referenced above. Not a bad idea to call ahead the harbor master, if there is one, to get a report b/f committing yourself to entering one. Also, hard to believe, a 6-ft draft is still a bit deep for much of the area around FL. My Pearson 30 drew 5 ft and I struck bottom often gunkholing along the SW coast. A trip out to the Dry Tortugas some day is worth putting on the plan!

KG

 

[Jackdaw]

Congratulations, JD! Sounds like a whole new(?) world of sailing is opening up for you. One small piece of advice; be very careful, even to the point of avoidance or rescheduling a departure time, entering passes from sea the first time after dark. They can be, and have repeatedly proven to be, treacherous, as pateco referenced above. Not a bad idea to call ahead the harbor master, if there is one, to get a report b/f committing yourself to entering one. Also, hard to believe, a 6-ft draft is still a bit deep for much of the area around FL. My Pearson 30 drew 5 ft and I struck bottom often gunkholing along the SW coast. A trip out to the Dry Tortugas some day is worth putting on the plan!

KG

For sure, I've developed a healthy respect for cuts, inlets, and banks. I know the draft will be a bit limiting, but I've chatted with many of my racing and cruising friends in the bay that say that they make out just fine, it just limits where you can go. I had the same issue with Kestrel.

 

[Jackdaw]

Congratulations Daedalus! Nice sailing grounds and close to the airport.

Ha! Daedalus was a rock-star engineer who designed some crazy stuff. Google 'Pasiphae' and see what I mean.

 

[nightowle]

Thanks, Pateco and Jackdaw for your info on both the ICW and Florida in general. I deal with the bridges (2) and a canal lock to get out to the sound from downtown Seattle here. And I've done a self-drive canal barge trip in France, so I know the pain of waiting around (and power boats spoiling your comfort), so your info is well received. Fl is such a large state, I think I'll have to spend more time doing some armchair research before the Admiral is ready to retire (maybe 3 years) and figure out what will be a good place to launch from. JD......hearty congrats and looking forward to posts on your travels so I can learn more. Maybe a FL sailing charter is in my near term future!

 

[Jackdaw]

Well. We had the survey done, and got the preliminary pictures. It’s clear that the listing broker lied to us and our broker agent about the condition of the boat. We declined to accept the boat. Back to square one, but no worse off. Out 1000 bucks, but job #1 for me is a safe and secure boat for the people I love. This was not it. And I have a brokerage in cocoa beach that I’ll not trust to take out the trash. Onward!

 

[JRT]

Bummer, good luck with the quest.

 

[jssailem]

Sorry to here the downer news. Better to have said no now than to have to say... Noooooo... when things go wrong.
There will be another. Who knows maybe your find something out here in the great Pac NW.

 

[Will Gilmore]

Good for you, though. Sometimes the dream overcomes good sense.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Jackdaw]

Sorry to here the downer news. Better to have said no now than to have to say... Noooooo... when things go wrong.
There will be another. Who knows maybe your find something out here in the great Pac NW.

Exactly. Here’s the deal. I take any opportunity on my boats to deal with a breakdown or upgrade as an opportunity to make the boat better. BlueJ, Kestrel and Jackdaw etc are better boats now then when I got them. This boat was a POS, owned by an owner who took the low road on every fix. And represented by a broker who hid that. Shameful. Wanna know who to avoid, PM me.