Traveling the ICW

[flysci]

Osiris,

I draw only 4'11".

As to Canaveral to St. Mary's, while alone I have to avoid such long passages. I need my beauty sleep! More seriously, I wouldn't trust my judgements or reactions for entering a strange inlet and finding shelter after more than 10 straight hours at sea. So alone that's not a choice really. Not til I have more experience anyway! But it's what I would prefer, for sure!

Margo

[colemj]

Originally Posted by osirissail

Depending upon your draft (over 5 ft) there are some "skinny" places in the Florida ICW especially up by Ponce de Leon Inlet.

The Ponce inlet area has been dredged - lots of water there now.

Mark

[flysci]

Osiris,

I draw 4' 11". As to going Canaveral to St. Mary's, I don't think I could do it single handed. Too Far! I need my beauty sleep! Seriously, I wouldn't trust either my judgement or strength after more than about 10 hours sailing alone. Not til I have more experience. So it's inlet to inlet for me.

Margo

[flysci]

Thanks Mark! Good news about Ponce.

Margo

[motion30]

Hey Margo
I do hope you make the islands this season

[KittiwakeCD28]

The Julia Tuttle Bridge (between Miami and Ft Lauderdale) has vertical clearance of 55 or 56 ft. Usually head north from Keys in April, seems to be about the beginning of the spring thunderstorm season in FL - can be a real pain. As described above, Chesapeake in Sept/Oct, watching weather. I know people that leave in Jan/Feb, and have to deal with ice in VA/NC sometimes, and it can be fairly nice, or very cold. A reminder about cruisers reviews - you are basing your actions on what other people have said they did, so think about finding more than 1 review of something (e.g. anchorage, shoaling) - it does seem that sometimes people are sure they're in the channel when they describe shoaling, but no one else has problems at that spot - hmmm??

[motion30]

I dont have my bridge in front of me but 35' is not correct 54 -56'

[Captain Bill]

The Julia Tuttle Bridge is charted at 56 feet, that's why it's also known as the dyslexic bridge. I have a friend that goes under it all the time and he has a 48 foot mast and a 3 ft antenna.

[GordMay]

Oops - my apologies - you're all correct - I was wrong ! I've deleted my erroneous post.

The 36th Street Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge (AICW mile 1087.1) has a fixed vertical clearance of 56 Feet.
➥ http://www.hisc.org/Cruising/Florida...ridgeGuide.pdf

[Vasco]

Julia Tuttle can be done with a lot more than 56 feet. The draw to the west of the main draw has good water and is a foot or two (here's the tricky part) higher. At half tide we took a B423 and a Whitby 42 and a Morgan 384 under it. It was a bit nerve wracking but not half as bad as watching big cats go under bridges backwards in the ICW so they can really goose it forward if they touch. We took the Julia Tuttle instead of waiting for weather in Ft. Lauderdale.

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by colemj

The Ponce inlet area has been dredged - lots of water there now.

Is that a statement about the inlet itself or the ICW section inside?
Tom

[teejayevans]

Originally Posted by flysci

Osiris,

I draw only 4'11".

As to Canaveral to St. Mary's, while alone I have to avoid such long passages. I need my beauty sleep! More seriously, I wouldn't trust my judgements or reactions for entering a strange inlet and finding shelter after more than 10 straight hours at sea. So alone that's not a choice really. Not til I have more experience anyway! But it's what I would prefer, for sure!

Margo

The most important thing you can do is study the charts BEFORE you leave, and have a plan for each inlet (write down notes), so when you arrive you don't have to be making snap decisions. Things to know: select anchorage/marina and a backup, inlet layout/ranges, tides, any particular danger spots.
Having a roller reefing genoa enables a single handler to do more motor-sailing, I ease the throttle when motorsailing to maximize wind assistance.
Tom

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by teejayevans

Is that a statement about the inlet itself or the ICW section inside?
Tom

Coming home this spring (May) Ponce was good but Matanzas was tricky, not the inlets but the sections of the ICW. The worst spot was the corner just north of the George Munson bridge. A barge had run aground and had sat there for a while and built up a bar where the deep water use to be! Of course that was in May and everything could have changed by now. Always call Towboat US and ask them the conditions if you are in doubt.

[flysci]

Thanks Tom! I'm busy studying and making those notes right now. Getting ready.

Margo

Originally Posted by teejayevans

The most important thing you can do is study the charts BEFORE you leave, and have a plan for each inlet (write down notes), so when you arrive you don't have to be making snap decisions. Things to know: select anchorage/marina and a backup, inlet layout/ranges, tides, any particular danger spots.
Having a roller reefing genoa enables a single handler to do more motor-sailing, I ease the throttle when motorsailing to maximize wind assistance.
Tom