Channel 5 Or 7 mile Bridge to go from FL Bay to Hawk Channel?

[sail50]

Hi All - sailing from Naples to Boot Key Harbor via Little Shark River and then to Hawk channel. What are the pros and cons of either bridge? Currents, clearance (mast hight from water level is 64ft) or waves? I draw 5.5ft. Thank you in advance.......... Trying to be in the Keys for the mini lobster season.

[geoleo]

Best is oldspanish channel which starts at North side Big Pine key-then to 7 mile bridge

[sail50]

It looks like I need to change my plans argghh.... There is a temporary(?) power line in the same location of the old bridge. My hard air draft is 63.3 ft and the soft draft is around 66 ft which includes a 4 ft whip. the whip is very flexible but not sure I want to brush the power lines. Best solution is remove my antennas before entering the harbor.

Can someone with local knowledge confirm that the power cable is indeed there and when will they will remove it?

Thanks

[Dulcesuenos]

Where did you hear that and whats the supposed height? Its not that bad of a run to long key channel 5

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[the_alpine]

How deep is your draft? You could go directly to Hawk Channel from Boot Key Harbor by going out Sister Creek.


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[sail50]

The reported cable high is 65 and installed 5 yrs ago (?), I was there in Feb 2103 and don't remember if the cable was there or not. My draft if 5.5 ft - not sure i want to try Sisters creek.

[CaptainBW]

Not sure about the power cable so I can't comment on that. As for the bridges, we also draw around 5.5 feet and we scraped the bottom near low tide about mid way between 7 mile bridge and channel 5 bridge on the Florida Bay side. Just watch the tide or go to the hawk at 7 mile bridge. You will not have a draft problem there. Currents will be close to the same at either bridge.

[FSMike]

I think that sail50 is referring to a power line at the site of the old Boot Key bridge, and is referring to possible depth problems in the Sisters Creek entrance to Boot Key harbor.
Of course I could be wrong.

[CaptainBW]

Originally Posted by FSMike

I think that sail50 is referring to a power line at the site of the old Boot Key bridge, and is referring to possible depth problems in the Sisters Creek entrance to Boot Key harbor.
Of course I could be wrong.

I think you are right, but I was also responding to the original question. In addition, Sisters Creek will be problematic at low tide with your draft.

[sail50]

thanks for the information. My main concern is the power cable at BKH, although with the western winds this past few days i am also concerned with waves that may make the the bridge clearance less than ideal at 7 mile bridge. We will be coming from Naples/Little Shark River River.

[gunkylump]

We were there in January.

Our air draft is 66', our keel draft 6'. We had no issues whatsoever with the cables at the old bridge.

We went through at low tide, and another great boater from inside the harbour climbed up the embankment to let us know if there was going to be an issue.

There was not. Cliff Ryder told us that there was at least 4' of clearance between our VHF antennae and the cables.

gunk
s/v Moorahme

randbsailingadventures.wordpress.com

[sail50]

Reality Check!!!

Cable is at least 65. use this information at your own risk. Waves/wake were minimal but there was no wind, just a lot of lobster fisherman around. I was here in Feb 2013 and the cable was not an issue. After sitting in Marco Is for 4 days it felt good to be moving. Happy sailing!!!