Jupiter Inlet (FL) local knowledge.

[CF32907]

Originally Posted by GreenWave

you could come up from the south on the ICW instead if Jupiter inlet.

Can't come up from the south. Blue Heron bridge, no go with 68'. You will never get into Jupiter inlet with your draft either... Capt. Vince Rakstis
PS: If you go into Lake Worth, Spencers can pull your stick and go up as a power boat. No using the boat while your there.

[Davidhoy]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Is it possible for Boat US, another friend's power boat or use water bags to heel your boat over as you go through the bridge at low tide.

Never had to do it myself and think it would take a little practice to get it right, but the water bag trick poled out (for stability of positioning the weight out) seems the simplest way to get consistent results. If you needed more weight out could always put some crew on the end of the boom swung out!

Any idea how far to heel to reduce air draft by X feet?

[datapete568b]

[call young bruce sweet he works at rybovich in west palm
561 427 9193 he runs the escort tug,

from uncle peter

[Secondshift]

Jupiter and St Lucie inlets are subject to water management discharges.

These discharges can affect not only the tide times but also intensity.

We've just had a week and a half of rain.



Good luck and Best Regards

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by Jason Flare

I would talk to the local BoatUS or Seatow people and find out if it’s possible, then hire them to find the best depths and guide me in.

You must not have read Gordmays post. Serious shoaling at that inlet, not good when you have close to an eight foot draft. Depths can change overnight.

[flyingfin]

Bridge clearance on charts is usually at MHW and at edge of channel, usually more vertical clearance at center and always more clearance at low tide. Talk to some local sailboats north of the bridge and see what they say.

[Ocean Cowbuoy]

sailed our 7' draft/ 74' airdraft down to florida from newfoundland a few years ago. Had winter berth arranged at palm beach gardens loggerhead. Came in through Stuart then opened 5 (i think) bridges then closed our eyes going under the wires just North of Donald Ross Bridge. Give me offshore any day as opposed to the ditch. My friend said it right that the ocean is relatively safe, it's the edges that are scary.

[Davidhoy]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

You must not have read Gordmays post. Serious shoaling at that inlet, not good when you have close to an eight foot draft. Depths can change overnight.

I called and spoke with TowBoatUS, and they think it's possible, but tricky. Would have to be at high tide on a flat calm day, and they offered (since I have a membership with them), to do some soundings and guide me through. Still not sure I'm too keen on this option, as it makes any coming or going a major production.

[Var Korall]

If you are still considering Jupiter Inlet, and GordMay's photo is not convincing enough, Google or Bing 'Jupiter Inlet accident sportfish' and check out the 45 foot sportfish that broached coming in the inlet on a relative benign day offshore. Never saw the official version, but probably touched bottom in the trough of a typical 'standing wave', broached, and tossed a very experienced captain off the flybridge. Captian suffered fatal injury when he struck the gunnel. Boat righted itself and headed back out to sea before the mate and passengers knew there was a problem. Photos by a professional photographer who just happened to be filming at the inlet. Sept 2010.

[Bill O]

Originally Posted by Davidhoy

Any idea how far to heel to reduce air draft by X feet?

David,
Sorry about the late response but many times I don't get notices that there were replys to threads.

Using basic right triangle calculations you'd probably want at least 25-30 degrees of a heel to clear the 65' bridge. Obviously this is a theoretical calculation and "real" parameters should be taken into account to attempt such a feat.
Real problems would be variable tide levels, waves, boat wakes and keeping the heel angle stable as you traversed the bridge. If you were going to attempt this, would strongly advise to practice (away from the bridge) to ensure you could hold proper heel long enough to clear the bridge and do your own calculations to your own satisfaction.

Bill O.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Davidhoy

I called and spoke with TowBoatUS, and they think it's possible, but tricky. Would have to be at high tide on a flat calm day, and they offered (since I have a membership with them), to do some soundings and guide me through. Still not sure I'm too keen on this option, as it makes any coming or going a major production.

I see this as a viable option if you can manage to position yourself at the right time and remain willing to abort the attempt if the conditions are not right. I spent my first sailing years on the Southeast Florida coast; taking my first small sailboat out on very calm, flat, still mornings to dive on the reef and then sailing about when the winds picked up later in the day.

Timing your attempt at reduced current at a still time with a Boat US guide would be a safe option as long as you slowly poke in and immediately draw back from a soft touch on the sandy bottom and not force your way.

I would also select a time with the last third of a rising tide so your ability to move off a soft grounding would be improved.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Davidhoy

I called and spoke with TowBoatUS, and they think it's possible, but tricky. Would have to be at high tide on a flat calm day, and they offered (since I have a membership with them), to do some soundings and guide me through. Still not sure I'm too keen on this option, as it makes any coming or going a major production.

Problem with this, if you get in and a big storm blows in later the channel could silt up leaving you trapped inside.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Problem with this, if you get in and a big storm blows in later the channel could silt up leaving you trapped inside.

True, but you'd still have some options. There are accounts of those that have their "sticks" pulled for a passage. Many do this for the Eire canal trip to the Great Lakes. I have friends that hired a crane from a sign company to lift their mast on one side of a bridge that had been fixed closed for repairs. They passed under the bridge and had the same crane step their mast back again that same day.

This is likely the safest and most conservative choice to gain access to your liveaboard location for a long stay. You could survey the cost for a West Palm Beach Marina to pull your mast and have a yard like Soverel Marina at PGA Blvd restep it.

[sailnautilus]

Forget Jupiter inlet..impossible in any sizeable sailboat.
Come in St Lucie inlet and go south on ICW.
Several small marinas before any fixed bridges that allow liveaboards, you will be very close to Jupiter and avoid all traffic which is south of Jupiter towards west palm beach.
I have 52’ monohull, 6’ draft and 72’ air draft. Kept her at Loblolly Marina, associated with a condo complex, just S of St Lucie inlet on ICW. Almost in Jupiter. Other choices as well.

[michaeld]

Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. My wife and I just returned from Tequesta via the Jupiter Inlet. The weather conditions could be described as a "Chamber of Commerce" day. Upon entry, we had zero issues, although I could "feel" that we were in skinny waters.
Three days later, we departed about 1.5 hours before low tide. In the channel about 100 yards from the jetty we "touched" bottom. We draw 4'10". We continued outbound and turned north as we cleared the jetty, expecting to reach deeper waters. No bananas. We encountered shoaling, stopping us, having to back off, eventually turning around and continuing north. A second soft grounding was averted, and we eventually found our way to deeper waters. I highly doubt that I will EVER try to navigate the Jupiter Inlet again.