Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 22-02-2018, 11:51   #1
Registered User
 
Clipper4730's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Keystone CO
Boat: 50 Bene
Posts: 254
Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Hey y’all just planning our spring cruise and was curious as to the possibility of going straight from Naples to marathon without having to go around key west. Looking at the chart there seems to be just enough water but no real marked channel, just lots of seemingly random markers all over. Was hoping for some waypoints to plug-in ala Mackey shoal type route. Any help would be appreciated.

Will
__________________
Money can't buy happiness, but you can buy a boat and it's pretty much the same thing......
Clipper4730 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-02-2018, 12:44   #2
Registered User
 
atmartin's Avatar

Join Date: May 2010
Location: US East Coast
Boat: Mauritius 43 Sloop
Posts: 209
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

From long key to cape sable, just outside of Everglades markers, we had consistent depths between 5-6’ for long stretches. Charts gave 7-8, but we saw nothing that deep until the Cape. Not sure if it was north winds or hurricane changes.
atmartin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-02-2018, 13:55   #3
smj
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2007
Boat: TRT 1200
Posts: 7,265
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Shouldn’t be a problem going straight to Marathon. Hit the markers at Bullard Bank and follow the marked channel to the 7 mile bridge.
smj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-02-2018, 17:00   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Delray Beach, Fl
Boat: 1998 Rosborough 246 LSV
Posts: 563
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Stop overnight at Shark River. The flying insects will eat enough to reduce your draft to 3 feet. We never saw less than 6 on our last trip.
__________________
Capt. Stuart Bell
Rosborough 246 LSV Shearwater V
stu@shearwater-sailing.com
captstu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-02-2018, 17:21   #5
Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 439
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Hope you get a break from the crab pots......
Flyingriki is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-02-2018, 17:57   #6
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Florida
Boat: FP Belize, 43' - Dot Dun
Posts: 3,823
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Quote:
Originally Posted by smj View Post
Shouldn’t be a problem going straight to Marathon. Hit the markers at Bullard Bank and follow the marked channel to the 7 mile bridge.
^^^^^ This! No problem for 6' draft. Round Romano Shoals and head straight for Bullard Bank. You can stop at Little Shark if a daylight only passages are required.
DotDun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-02-2018, 17:59   #7
smj
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2007
Boat: TRT 1200
Posts: 7,265
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Quote:
Originally Posted by DotDun View Post
^^^^^ This! No problem for 6' draft. Round Romano Shoals and head straight for Bullard Bank. You can stop at Little Shark if a daylight only passages are required.


Or if fast enough can be done in daylight!
smj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-02-2018, 18:08   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Florida
Boat: FP Belize, 43' - Dot Dun
Posts: 3,823
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Quote:
Originally Posted by smj View Post
Or if fast enough can be done in daylight!
Average 9kts, sure.
DotDun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-02-2018, 18:10   #9
smj
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2007
Boat: TRT 1200
Posts: 7,265
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Quote:
Originally Posted by DotDun View Post
Average 9kts, sure.


Did anchor up in Factory Bay to anchor down in Boot Key in a little over 9 hours. A very memorable sail averaging about 10 kts.[emoji1303]
smj is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22-02-2018, 18:11   #10
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Florida
Boat: FP Belize, 43' - Dot Dun
Posts: 3,823
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Quote:
Originally Posted by smj View Post
Did anchor up in Factory Bay to anchor down in Boot Key in a little over 9 hours. A very memorable sail averaging about 10 kts.[emoji1303]
That was a fun day!
DotDun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-02-2018, 05:41   #11
Registered User
 
Davy J's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Tampa Bay
Boat: Gemini 105Mc
Posts: 767
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Just made this trip last month. Except we anchored in the Little Shark River. From there we pointed at Green "15" then between G"13" and R"12" and then on to Seven Mile Bridge. Chart 11442.

As mentioned, traps are like a mine field..........
Davy J is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-02-2018, 06:53   #12
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Jupiter FL
Boat: temporarily boatless...
Posts: 803
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

I can't give specific waypoints, but we basically followed the magenta line until we passed Cape Sable (headed north). You'll squeek through in some spots, but we saw nothing less than 7' or so, which is also what is charted. You are right, there is no formal 'channel,' just follow the lines, especially east of Yacht Channel. BTW I would try to avoid going through the latter in the dark, there is a dizzying array of buoys and lighted buoys, including several green in the same region with flashing 4 seconds.

Pete
pete33458 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-02-2018, 07:13   #13
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Florida
Boat: FP Belize, 43' - Dot Dun
Posts: 3,823
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

Quote:
Originally Posted by pete33458 View Post
I can't give specific waypoints, but we basically followed the magenta line until we passed Cape Sable (headed north). You'll squeek through in some spots, but we saw nothing less than 7' or so, which is also what is charted. You are right, there is no formal 'channel,' just follow the lines, especially east of Yacht Channel. BTW I would try to avoid going through the latter in the dark, there is a dizzying array of buoys and lighted buoys, including several green in the same region with flashing 4 seconds.

Pete
Pete,

He is talking about 7 Mile Bridge/Moser Channel, not Channel 5. He'll be at least 10nm west of Cape Sable and no where near Yacht Channel. Depth should be >10' the whole way. Crab pots will be the biggest challenge.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	3 - 1.jpg
Views:	315
Size:	145.5 KB
ID:	164672  
DotDun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-02-2018, 07:17   #14
Registered User
 
atmartin's Avatar

Join Date: May 2010
Location: US East Coast
Boat: Mauritius 43 Sloop
Posts: 209
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

I was thinking yacht channel, just outside the 'glades markers. My mistake. It's shallow there!
atmartin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-02-2018, 08:37   #15
Registered User
 
Davidhoy's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 1,131
Re: Naples to Marathon with a 6ft draft

I did it on my Morgan 462 with a 5'9" draft. no problem with depth, only with crab pots. What I did not realize when I did the trip was that it was the first week of crab season, and it was impossible to avoid all the traps. Got hung up in the middle of Florida Bay at 3am, and waited for daylight to go over the side to cut ourselves free. From there we motored and had someone on the bow calling out the pots. Fun times ;-)

-David
__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
Davidhoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
draft

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
6Ft Draft in Bahamas aussiesailorboy Navigation 11 22-01-2018 05:18
For Sale: HUNTER PASSAGE 42,6ft FOR SALE Lawrie Classifieds Archive 1 26-09-2016 04:49
Naples, FL to Marathon, FL - Advise Wanted NautiNurse63 Sailor Logs & Cruising Plans 12 14-11-2014 04:33
Possible to cut 6ft off a mast ?? capcook Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting 50 26-04-2012 19:32
Naples to Marathon Yolosetodo Powered Boats 10 22-06-2011 13:27

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:06.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.