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Old 14-01-2018, 06:55   #1
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Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

Hello everyone,

I am finishing a yard period in Florida and have a couple of boss trips coming up, each one a fortnight.

I am struggling to come up with itineraries and was hoping someone might know something i don't.......

We have a 9' draft and an 80' air draft which is severely impacting our options.

Does anyone know of any stops between Miami and Key West? I can't find anything suitable.

Additionally, if anyone knows of anything reasonable in the Bahamas I would love to know. It seems that our draft requires more than daysailing distances to get between anchorages.

thanks in advance and if anyone has a dredger we could maybe go cruising together.....
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Old 14-01-2018, 08:32   #2
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

On calm days and threading your way in carefully, you might anchor in Hawk Channel west of the reefs and north of Tavernier
Other than that, go straight to Key West. But good luck because you will be running against the gulf stream. I would think your best bet is Nassau
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Old 14-01-2018, 08:33   #3
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

Nassau. But a bit more than daysailing. Then the Exumas but no hidey holes for you if a front comes through.
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Old 14-01-2018, 08:43   #4
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

You can cross off the Keys with a 9' draft.
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Old 14-01-2018, 08:57   #5
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

With 8' I went straight to Key West. Anchoring there was a challenge, and I was glad I didn't have 9'.
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Old 14-01-2018, 09:10   #6
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

We have a friend with a 9' draft who has been too the Bahamas many times from the lower Keys, and we have an 8' draft. You can take Hawk's Channel all the way to Key West.

You can, very, very carefully thread your way through the Abacos, Berry Islands, Nassau, Eleuthera, and Cat. You might be able to poke into some harbors in the Exumas, and Clarencetown on Long Island, and there is plenty of depth in the lee of Crooked Island. I am not certain about the southern Bahamas.

Regardless, you will always need to be vigilant of uncharted coral heads in the Florida Keys and Bahamas.
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Old 15-01-2018, 09:13   #7
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

Ouch !!! What propelled you to buy an 8ft draught
If your hanging around the keys and Bananas.
I hope you got a big powerful tender with it..
You can carefully get into a couple of places on
The way to key West..around key Largo, tavinere
Area ,,and down Hawk to key West,,there are
A few deep holes that you can get into at high
Tide for anchoring..
Bananas ? Across the top of nth Bimini and the
Banks in deep water,,down the east side of the
Berrys with a couple of places you can get into
If you need cover.
Then on to Nassau going in thru the main ship
Channel,,either dock or find a deep spot to anchor.
You wont get under the bridges there so if you
Want to go further sth.. Come out and go thru
Ship Channel passage into exuma sound..there
Are cuts that you can anchor in on the way down
The chain but watch those winter fronts,,winds
Up to 60kts can precede them..
You can get into Georgetown bay but only from
The sth amd will still have to dinghy a mile or
Two into town.....
I've carried 8ft across the banks, nudged the
Bottom a couple of times so unless your 9ft is
Made of steel,,,take your time and be careful..
AND beware those winter fronts,,they're getting
Nastier..
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Old 15-01-2018, 09:26   #8
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

I am not be sarcastic. But i feel for you big boat owners in shallow waters. Me, i would be a nervous wreck threading my way through that skinny of water.

I never have to worry about big boat problems. Divorce took that option away long ago. Smile....
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Old 15-01-2018, 09:50   #9
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

Quote:
Originally Posted by mindsofman View Post
Ouch !!! What propelled you to buy an 8ft draught
.
I have a feeling the OP is a crewed yacht, a small one mind you.
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Old 15-01-2018, 10:13   #10
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

In settled weather you could try to anchor between and south of Tavernier and Rodriguez or south of Indian Key in 10 to 12 feet of water at low tide. These places will be rolly in an easterly or southerly breeze. West side of Marathon would be better in most conditions.
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Old 15-01-2018, 11:15   #11
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

You can run a mile or two east of the reefs all the way. If you have the crew I would go non-stop but anchoring in 20 or 30'of water off shore is possible almost everywhere. I think the tidal rise is under 3' most if not all of the way. Being close in will avoid most of the NB current but you need to maintain a sharp lookout for fast boats as you pass inlets especially at night or daybreak.
Key West could get interesting if not going to a marina. I suggest you book a slip.
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Old 15-01-2018, 11:27   #12
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

I have sailed the Keys and Bahamas with 76 ft air draft and 8 ft draft. All fixed bridges are too low and you must stay outside in the Keys. With care you can work Hawke's channel and anchor out of the 'traffic lanes'. Much easier to stay outside the reef until you need to get to Hawke's channel.

In the Bahamas you need to stay off the banks. In Nassau you can get in but not under the bridge and anchoring is limited with such big boat. On the edges of the Banks you can anchor anywhere you might not get run down but that is unlikely to be near a nice pub. You can get into the main harbor in Freeport.

The real problem you have is that if you go hard a ground you will need a small commercial tug to get you off.

Wrong boat for the location you need to get down to the Caribbean.
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Old 16-01-2018, 04:27   #13
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

We met a sailing charter boat in the Exumas last season with a 17' draft. Bahamas is certainly doable with good planning and forward looking weather analysis ( since you are limited in where you can tuck into). It would be essential to have a nicely powered dinghy that can get all crew "on plane" since you will likely be anchored some distance from the action.
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Old 16-01-2018, 05:31   #14
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Re: Florida and Bahamas with 9' draft

Man, do I feel fortunate to have a roomy boat with a 3.5 ft draft. Can't imagine the challenges of a 9' draft boat in florida/bahamas.
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