Hawk Channel

[stacy]

Hi all, it's a little chilly in Florida right now. We want to head from Ft. Lauderdale down to Islamorada. I was wondering if it is ok to do that stretch of the Hawk channel at night or are there too many obstacles, rocks, crab pots etc to worry about. Any advice appreciated.

[Greenflash35]

We Hauled anchor one stormy night off Key Largo and took Hawk Channel south. I didn't like Hens and Chickens at all. But it was still better than that exposed anchorage.

[jimking100]

Did that trip three times at night last year. It gets a little narrow in a few spots but if you have a chartplotter, it is fairly easy. The only problem I had was the bazillion crab pots. After attemping to dodge them for several hours, I just decided to go full speed ahead and take my chances. The crab pots use light weight floats that just slid by the boat so I never snagged a thing. Good luck.
jim

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by jimking100

The crab pots use light weight floats that just slid by the boat so I never snagged a thing. Good luck.
jim

But sometimes they don't use chain so if you are motoring you can suck the line into your prop, I had this happen to me despite having a full skeg, because some other boat had already cut the float so I never saw it.
Tom

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by stacy

Hi all, it's a little chilly in Florida right now. We want to head from Ft. Lauderdale down to Islamorada. I was wondering if it is ok to do that stretch of the Hawk channel at night or are there too many obstacles, rocks, crab pots etc to worry about. Any advice appreciated.

In theory one could make the run at night. As a practical matter, it would be unwise, particularly if you have never covered the course before. Fortunately, there are quite a few spots where you can overnight enroute without unde inconvenience and that would see to be the wiser alternative.

FWIW...

[teejayevans]

At the risk of stating the obvious, on your way back north, you can jump out into the gulf stream and do an overnight plus get extra speed.

There was a poster on this board that ran into a reef on the start of their cruising trip attempting to navigate the channel at night.
Tom

[COCG47]

I've done Hawk Channel a few times and wouldn't do it at night for the reasons mentioned above (reefs, crab pots). Day marks/buoys are widely spaced in places also. No way I would rely solely on a chart plotter in there. What happens when/if you lose GPS or signal degrades? Depending on your draft, there are lots of places to stop and either moor pierside or drop the hook, and if you stay outside from Ft Lauderdale to Miami and avoid the bridges, you can do the trip in two reasonably short/comfortable days (one overnight stop).

[stacy]

thanks for all the info. We haven't made up our minds about how to do the trip yet. It looks like the parts we have been waiting for may come in earlier than expected . If that turns out to be the case then the anchor overnite scenario probably at no-name harbor will be the way to go. By the way, we have a 46ft cat that draws 4'6" so some of the spots may not be accessible for us. If anyone knows of a good anchorage south of no-name along the Hawk channel we would be interested to hear about it. Our destination is the Snake River inlet. Thanks

[DotDun]

We draw 4'3", 2 months ago we anchored in Marine Aquarium in Miami, thru Biscayne Bay & Card Sound, out Angelfish Creek to Hawk Channel, anchored in the lee of Rodriguez Key, Boot Key Harbor, then north.

[AnchorageGuy]

Stacy, Key Biscayne to Rodriguez is a good trip and no problem with your draft. We have done it a number of times with 6 foot. Not a comfortable anchorage in strong easterly winds. Rodriguez to Marathon is an easy day from there. But do watch the wind direction and speeds. Chuck

[defever]

chilly???...it's damn cold!!!

i'd head out of ft. laud, sail to key biscayne and chill out (pardon the pun) for the nite...then inside to the keys until you get "warm"...why go outside at nite? w/ your draft there's no problem all the way down (even at low tide) and there's alot of cool (there's that stupid pun again) anchorages along the way... have fun..

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by teejayevans

... some other boat had already cut the float so I never saw it.

Crabmen/lobstermen have no right to get angry (except at themselves)when their lines/floats are unintentionally cut by other ships/boats. I realize they're just trying to make a living, but they are creating navigational hazards for everyone.

[teejayevans]

BTW, is Biscayne channel depths as good as charted? I assume this is where most start the trip down Hawk channel.
Tom

[capngeo]

Biscayne Bay is pretty accurately charted as I recall. There is a lot of neat spots going down there to hole up too, Cesar Creek, Just South West of Card Sound Bridge (Alabama Jacks is a great watering hole there), Jewfish Creek, Black Sound... I like that area enough to get lost for a couple weeks around there!

[AnchorageGuy]

Originally Posted by teejayevans

BTW, is Biscayne channel depths as good as charted? I assume this is where most start the trip down Hawk channel.
Tom

Tom, It was when we were there about 18 months ago. Chuck