Recommendation for FL Cruising Guide

[Shanachie]

You might need to solicit recommendations on stops and routes rather than looking for a cruising guide. A key to that would be to supply the draft of your boat and when you plan to go.


Depending on the time of year, getting into Boot Key Harbor and a marina in Key West may require some planning and advance reservations.


Boats longer than 40-some feet will find mooring balls scarce in Boot Key. I forget the maximum draft using the channel into there -- maybe 7 feet or so? There is a largely unprotected anchorage outside of Boot Key as an alternative.



If you have deep draft, Hawk Channel is the only option. Even so, protected harbors for emergencies will be limited. The Spanish Channel on the bay side needs less than 5 feet of draft.



The charts to the Dry Tortugas are straightforward and shouldn't present a problem.


From the Dry Tortugas, the best path with a prevailing easterly wind is to aim for Boca Grande or somewhere north to keep the wind on the beam. That's a 1-2 day nonstop trip.



Draft again becomes an issue along the west coast of Florida. Many of the protected inlets have limited depth. Tampa Bay can handle any reasonable depth if you are heading toward St. Pete Municipal Marina.