Back in UK the good old Admiralty published "Tidal Flow Atlases" showing currents in various areas for various states of the tide. I want to cross the "miserable mile" where the Intracostal is a narrow channel perpendicular to the flow between Sanibel Isl and mainland Florida, north of Naples. I'd like to do this at slack water so I don't have to crab across (only a little engine!) but I'm (being a visiting Brit) unable to find this info anywhere, just tidal heights. Can anyone help please?
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If you have a PDA...
...then there a great little tide tool software named, appropriately, "TIDE TOOL". Go to the following like to learn more about it. http://www.toolworks.com/bilofsky/tidetool.htm
...then there a great little tide tool software named, appropriately, "TIDE TOOL". Go to the following like to learn more about it. http://www.toolworks.com/bilofsky/tidetool.htm
Or go online to: *bzz
...see if you can find it here. http://www.tidelinesonline.com/florgulf.html
...see if you can find it here. http://www.tidelinesonline.com/florgulf.html
Tidal Current Data
The only place I can find that has much current is Captiva Pass. The flow there looks like this: 00 1.6kn 01 1.2kn 02 0.4kn 03 0.3kn 04 0.8kn 05 1.3kn 06 1.5kn 07 1.6kn 08 1.4kn 09 0.8kn 10 0.1kn 11 1.0kn 12 1.8kn 13 2.0kn 14 1.8kn 15 1.3kn 16 0.6kn 17 slack water 18 0.2kn 19 0.4kn 20 0.4kn 21 slack water 22 0.6kn 23 1.3kn The only other place in that area with notable flow is Matlacha Pass and it is slack from 4AM to 11AM. It maxes out at 2PM at 0.6kt. Hope this helps.
The only place I can find that has much current is Captiva Pass. The flow there looks like this: 00 1.6kn 01 1.2kn 02 0.4kn 03 0.3kn 04 0.8kn 05 1.3kn 06 1.5kn 07 1.6kn 08 1.4kn 09 0.8kn 10 0.1kn 11 1.0kn 12 1.8kn 13 2.0kn 14 1.8kn 15 1.3kn 16 0.6kn 17 slack water 18 0.2kn 19 0.4kn 20 0.4kn 21 slack water 22 0.6kn 23 1.3kn The only other place in that area with notable flow is Matlacha Pass and it is slack from 4AM to 11AM. It maxes out at 2PM at 0.6kt. Hope this helps.
Larry - where's that current info found?
Larry - Have you got a tidal flow atlas? Where is the info published. Spill the beans! Paul - I can get the tidal heights fine, its the flow I'm having trouble with. Thanks
Larry - Have you got a tidal flow atlas? Where is the info published. Spill the beans! Paul - I can get the tidal heights fine, its the flow I'm having trouble with. Thanks
Tide & Current Tables 
Eldridge's Tide & Pilot book shows the tide and current tables for the East Coast, its published ever year in November. You can also buy NOAA Current Tables, Atlantic Coast of North America. Tide and Current are shown in tabular form, if you want it shown on a chart with current vector arrows, you need to get a software package that will overlay the data onto a digital chart. The publishers of Eldrigde have a software of their book that shows animated current vector arrows, its called Eldridge TideWare. You can also buy other nautical software packages that will overlay the tide and current information onto a digital chart. NOAA Tide & Current Tables: http://www.bluewaterweb.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/cruisingguides/tides.htm?L+mystore4+vyhd7110+1066111068 Eldridge's Tide & Pilot book: http://www.bluewaterweb.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/cruisingguides/prodpages/63535.htm?L+mystore4+vyhd7110+1066100747 Eldridge TideWare Software: http://www.tideware.com/frameld.htm Fair Winds, Clyde
Eldridge's Tide & Pilot book shows the tide and current tables for the East Coast, its published ever year in November. You can also buy NOAA Current Tables, Atlantic Coast of North America. Tide and Current are shown in tabular form, if you want it shown on a chart with current vector arrows, you need to get a software package that will overlay the data onto a digital chart. The publishers of Eldrigde have a software of their book that shows animated current vector arrows, its called Eldridge TideWare. You can also buy other nautical software packages that will overlay the tide and current information onto a digital chart. NOAA Tide & Current Tables: http://www.bluewaterweb.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/cruisingguides/tides.htm?L+mystore4+vyhd7110+1066111068 Eldridge's Tide & Pilot book: http://www.bluewaterweb.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/cruisingguides/prodpages/63535.htm?L+mystore4+vyhd7110+1066100747 Eldridge TideWare Software: http://www.tideware.com/frameld.htm Fair Winds, Clyde
My Memory
If memory serves me correctly, the problem in that area isn't so much current as it is a prevailing wind that is at a right angle to the VERY narrow channel. If you look only at the channel markers ahead of you, you will not realize that the cross wind has pushed you out of the channel. The solution is to constantly look ahead to the next channel marker pair as well as behind you at the last channel marker pair, making sure that you are actually lined up between them in the channel. If you get out of the channel more than about 2 inches you will be aground. For what it is worth, I know many parts of the BOTTOM of Charlotte Harbor a lot better than I would like, but I have never had any problem in or around the Miserable Mile.
If memory serves me correctly, the problem in that area isn't so much current as it is a prevailing wind that is at a right angle to the VERY narrow channel. If you look only at the channel markers ahead of you, you will not realize that the cross wind has pushed you out of the channel. The solution is to constantly look ahead to the next channel marker pair as well as behind you at the last channel marker pair, making sure that you are actually lined up between them in the channel. If you get out of the channel more than about 2 inches you will be aground. For what it is worth, I know many parts of the BOTTOM of Charlotte Harbor a lot better than I would like, but I have never had any problem in or around the Miserable Mile.
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