Anchorages in Florida

[StuartArmstrong]

We are sailing down to Florida in 3 weeks time. To stay for 6 weeks. We prefer to be at anchor. We have a draft of 8 feet and mast high of 69ft . We are looking for locations near Fort Lauderdale and Miami with shore access for a dingy, any advice please

[Amapola]

That's a tall order and I can't think of one anchorage with all of your requirements.

[Waterway Guide]

No Name Harbor would be my pick near Miami, although it can get very wild on the weekends. Beautiful park with water and laundry. Self-pay of $20/night on the honor system. Groceries, hardware, restaurants, etc… a mile or two bike ride. Anchorage map of the Waterway Guide centered on 25.676960237693, -80.1628589630127 | Waterway Explorer anchorage map


Middle River might be the only choice in Ft. Lauderdale There’s a park with access at the bridge to the north. The city is trying to make this anchorage off-limits by declaring it a “Watersports Zone” – Anchorage map of the Waterway Guide centered on 26.1315525812793, -80.1166820526123 | Waterway Explorer anchorage map

[Vasco]

Biscayne Bay is about it. Off Nixons. You can take a dink in past the Yacht Club, tie to a tree on the church property. Or you can dink into Hurricane Harbor and tie to the bridge at the end if you are spry enough to hop up the abutment and squirm around a barrier.

As for Ft. Lauderdale, I don't think your draft will get you into Lake Sylvia.

[s/v Moondancer]

We have a 8 ft draft and 76 ft mast and have visited Biscayne Bay 4 times...

Come in via Biscayne Channel on a rising tide you may bump at low tide.

You can anchor in No Name Harbor but we prefer to be outside on the other side of the channel in 12-15 ft.

We anchor just outside the Dinner Key mooring field to the north of the Brennan Channel but we ground at low tide. Holding is poor anywhere in the Bay except No Name.

At low tide you will probably run aground in Dinner Key Marina.

We also anchor outside Marathon on the north side.

Phil

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Stuart.

[UNCIVILIZED]

By dinghy, are you meaning, access within 1/2 mile row, or something a bit further, reachable say, via a planing RIB?

Also, there are some other, free, online; harbor, marina, & anchorage etc. guides. Which my undercaffeinated brain can't think of at the moment, but perhaps someone else can chime in with their name(s) & links?

[StuartArmstrong]

Thanks to everyone very helpful
I will study these suggestions