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26-05-2017, 11:23
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 3
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Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
We just bought a sail boat in Marathon FL and need to sail to Fort Myers. We will have charts, new Garmin GPS, so will be ok...heard it was tricky because of depth. Our draft is 4'8". Love to hear from anyone who may have tips...I know stay in the channel
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26-05-2017, 11:42
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SW Florida
Boat: Grand Banks 49
Posts: 572
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
Quote:
Originally Posted by trisht
We just bought a sail boat in Marathon FL and need to sail to Fort Myers. We will have charts, new Garmin GPS, so will be ok...heard it was tricky because of depth. Our draft is 4'8". Love to hear from anyone who may have tips...I know stay in the channel
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You'll be OK if you watch the charts. We draw 5 1/2 and have never had a problem. In settled weather you can anchor off of Cape Sable first night, in Big Marco pass second night. Coming north from Moser Channel leave Red Bay Bank to stbd and Bullard Bank to port.
Everglades City also makes an interesting stop if it is too windy to anchor off Cape Sable.
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26-05-2017, 11:54
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 3
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
Thank you, Wayne! Will follow advice.
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26-05-2017, 12:05
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 1,131
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
Quote:
Originally Posted by trisht
We just bought a sail boat in Marathon FL and need to sail to Fort Myers. We will have charts, new Garmin GPS, so will be ok...heard it was tricky because of depth. Our draft is 4'8". Love to hear from anyone who may have tips...I know stay in the channel
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I presume you're going to go under the 7-Mile bridge then across Florida Bay, rather than around Key West? I sailed that in the opposite direction a few months ago, with a 5'9" draft, no problems with depth. Watch out for crab pots though, they can be thick and you will need to keep a sharp eye out. Better to leave early so that you can get through the worst of the pots in full daylight. A line cutter on your prop shaft could alo come in handy.
-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
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27-05-2017, 08:26
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SC
Boat: None,build the one shown of glass, had many from 6' to 48'.
Posts: 10,208
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidhoy
I presume you're going to go under the 7-Mile bridge then across Florida Bay, rather than around Key West? I sailed that in the opposite direction a few months ago, with a 5'9" draft, no problems with depth. Watch out for crab pots though, they can be thick and you will need to keep a sharp eye out. Better to leave early so that you can get through the worst of the pots in full daylight. A line cutter on your prop shaft could alo come in handy.
-David
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Amen on the traps.
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27-05-2017, 08:30
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SW Florida
Boat: FP Belize, 43' - Dot Dun
Posts: 3,823
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cadence
Amen on the traps.
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Traps *should be* gone. Season ended May 15th.
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27-05-2017, 08:36
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Gulf Coast of FL
Boat: Pearson
Posts: 408
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
You should be ok. Marco is a good overnight. Stay off sanibel light , shoals, favor ft. meyers side. some trap lines are very long, favor windward side of trap lines , a boat hook or gaff and a sharp knife helps if you snag. If going up cal. river, intercoastal markers change favor starboard side of channel, try to avoid on the weekends, barnum and bailey s circus has closed so look out for extra clowns. good luck🤡😧
__________________
Ken Z
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27-05-2017, 08:45
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 36
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
Don't stop @ Shark River overnight! The mosquitos are overwhelming. You could hear them through the screen on our hatch. The next morning my hubby discarded about 50 dead ones from the one screen!
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27-05-2017, 08:50
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SW Florida
Boat: Grand Banks 49
Posts: 572
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
Quote:
Originally Posted by jholder51
Don't stop @ Shark River overnight! The mosquitos are overwhelming. You could hear them through the screen on our hatch. The next morning my hubby discarded about 50 dead ones from the one screen!
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That's true but it's a great stop during January and February. We have frequently anchored off Cape Sable during mosquito season.
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27-05-2017, 11:33
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Cape Coral Florida
Boat: Hunter 41
Posts: 26
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
I made the same trip coming to and from the Bahamas with a 5 ft draft. Stayed at Cape Sable and factory bay in Marco. The traps should be pulled as of 5/15 as the season is over. I would still be careful as there can be abandoned traps or those that don't care.
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27-05-2017, 13:19
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SC
Boat: None,build the one shown of glass, had many from 6' to 48'.
Posts: 10,208
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
Quote:
Originally Posted by wnischt
I made the same trip coming to and from the Bahamas with a 5 ft draft. Stayed at Cape Sable and factory bay in Marco. The traps should be pulled as of 5/15 as the season is over. I would still be careful as there can be abandoned traps or those that don't care.
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Ghost traps. Unfortunately they just keep catching. I'm sure the lobster men don't want to lose them.
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27-05-2017, 18:06
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#12
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Aboard
Boat: Seaton 60' Ketch
Posts: 1,338
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
We've anchored in Little Shark; make SURE to be out in the wind! And agree, watch out for the pots; with your draft have a great trip. Stop in Marco Island (Smokehouse Bay) if time permits; neat anchorage
__________________
Scott Berg
WAØLSS
SV CHARDONNAY
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28-05-2017, 13:46
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 3
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
Thank you so much all of you for your helpful responses!
Trish
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28-05-2017, 13:55
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 1,131
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Re: Sailing Keys to Fort Myers
Quote:
Originally Posted by trisht
Thank you so much all of you for your helpful responses!
Trish
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Have a safe, and fun, trip [emoji3]
__________________
“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
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