Miami to Marathon: ICW or HC? And Where to Anchor on HC?

[Alecadi]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

Thanks! I was thinking you had some magic secret local knowledge.
When you are northbound you can anchor inside Key Biscayne and you can also take your draft into Lake Sylvia at Lauderdale, but you'll need to stay well close to the east (to port) during the entry in the channel toward Lake Sylvia when heading south from Bahia Mar.

CaptForce : I pass the Angelfish Creek from West to East last year end of may not even at full high tide with 5' draft without problem.

[geoleo]

Why anchor?

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by georgetheleo

Why anchor?

As true "cockpit potatoes we can answer this question with any of the following:
to sleep; to enjoy where we are now; to fish; to snorkel; to drink; to have a daylight landfall; to eat; to read; to languish in the hammocks; to run the generator with the air conditioning and watch a movie with popcorn..........the possibilities are endless.

[Christiansailin]

Sorry to be the illiterate one but what does "HC" stand for?

[tandem tantrum]

If you look at a chart of the area, you would see that the (HC) is the Hawk Chanel on the outside. Welcome to CF.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Christiansailin

Sorry to be the illiterate one but what does "HC" stand for?

Thanks for asking this! I am often frustrated with these abbreviations myself. I even came late to understand "LOL"! Tandem Tantrum has correctly identified Hawk Channel as being "outside" or on the Atlantic side as opposed to the "bayside" (Florida Bay). Hawk Channel is still inside a barrier reef and generally protected from waves and swell with depths averaging from ca 12' to 25' while bayside, still more protected averages depths from ca 5' to 10'; however, those traveling on the bayside usually move to Hawk Channel west of Marathon or take Big Spanish Channel out to the Gulf of Mexico if they stay on the bayside.

[Christiansailin]

Thanks all. I thought I knew but since I was sitting at a Truckstop in NE TN.....
Anyhow, to stay on topic, Safe journey's to the thread starter and as an "aside", last year when I was in Key Largo, I met a Canadian Family traveling back from Trinidad and they were anchoring just outside of John Pennekamp State Park. Not sure of his draft but the LOA was approx. 40. This was in May and there were no others around and the trip to shore was very easy. Conventient to grocery, fuel, etc....

[Alecadi]

Originally Posted by georgetheleo

Why anchor?

Ask the admiral...

[Alecadi]

Originally Posted by Christiansailin

Thanks all. I thought I knew but since I was sitting at a Truckstop in NE TN.....
Anyhow, to stay on topic, Safe journey's to the thread starter and as an "aside", last year when I was in Key Largo, I met a Canadian Family traveling back from Trinidad and they were anchoring just outside of John Pennekamp State Park. Not sure of his draft but the LOA was approx. 40. This was in May and there were no others around and the trip to shore was very easy. Conventient to grocery, fuel, etc....

I thought anchoring was prohibited at the JPSP?

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by Christiansailin

.................and they were anchoring just outside of John Pennekamp State Park.............

Yes, but there's no restriction to anchoring outside the park. There also used to be anchoring permitted within the lagoon to shore past the marina and the park concession area. That was twenty years ago,- I'm not sure if that is still available.

After a quick search I can add that the place I was speaking of in Largo Sound is available with moorings only and the access is limited to 4 ft at MLW. I was in there in the early eighties anchored with a shoal draft.

[Christiansailin]

I dont think they were "inside" the park per se but definitly within site.