Sailing in Florida

[Ron810]

Hi I’m new to sailing and I’m considering purchasing a boat with a 5 foot draft. Should I be concerned? I live in Florida and would like to travel some and also I’m purchasing g the boat in Boston. Planning on sailing to Florida. Any problems with 5 foot draft or should I consider a shorter draft?

[skipmac]

It will depend to some degree on where in Florida you plan to sail. SW coast of FL is very different than NE FL of SE FL or panhandle or the Keys.

Bringing the boat from Boston 5' draft is not a problem at all. Just read the charts and make sure you check the latest notices to mariners or hazard warnings on the several websites that post that information. Waterwayguide.com, activecaptain.com are two.

[BenBowSirocco]

Skipmac said it.

But to me it seems more important what type of sailing YOU want to do. Bob Perry once said something like- draft with almost never work against you in terms of sailing performance. Thats why some race boats draw over 20ft.

But if your favorite kind of sailing is small and snug bays, rivers or creeks, probably wont meet your needs. Life is a compromise.

No matter what draft you choose, watch videos of how to kedge off the ground, we all end up with a sudden stop once in a while.

[Ron810]

Originally Posted by skipmac

It will depend to some degree on where in Florida you plan to sail. SW coast of FL is very different than NE FL of SE FL or panhandle or the Keys.

Bringing the boat from Boston 5' draft is not a problem at all. Just read the charts and make sure you check the latest notices to mariners or hazard warnings on the several websites that post that information. Waterwayguide.com, activecaptain.com are two.

Thanks for the info I really appreciate it

[sanibel sailor]

At least in SW Florida, four feet is fairly trouble free, 5' is not too limiting, only a few marinas you cannot get into. Six is much more so.

[Ron810]

Thanks for the info

[iyamwhatiyam]

I sail in NE FL. Watch the tides in the ICW, shifty sand bars await. Even eight miles offshore is not so deep in spots. Your navigation skills will be a bigger asset then a shoal draft.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by iyamwhatiyam

Your navigation skills will be a bigger asset then a shoal draft.

Exactly. I've sailed the banks of the Bahamas with 3 1/2' draft and a 6 1/2' draft and bumped bottom about the same number of times with both. You just allow for the draft you have and plan accordingly.

Originally Posted by iyamwhatiyam

I sail in NE FL. Watch the tides in the ICW, shifty sand bars await. .

When out riding in my little ski boat I've towed a couple of boats off a shoal in the middle of the ICW on the west side of Amelia Island. It was in the channel but also well noted in Active Captain so avoidable if you checked the hazards warnings.

[sailorboy1]

Now that I'm on the west coast of Florida I have to be real careful when reading a guide when it says "there's good depth".I discovered that when talk about there being lots of depth they are talking about "for a boat with 4.5' draft". Not a lot of help for my 6.3' draft boat.