New Liveaboard's first post from Florida

[Remedy]

Hi all, Tom and Sue here, moved aboard our 46 Ocean last month, Everything we hoped for. Wondering why we didn't do it sooner. Now that we are getting settled in , we are trying to figure out where our first trip will be. Going to start with a 4 or 5 day excursion first. any suggestions from the Sarasota area???

[GordMay]

Free online anchorage guide to Southwest Florida Anchorage Inventory:
http://www.flseagrant.org/program_ar..._inventory.htm

[Remedy]

Thanks for the info. Looks like the Sanibel Island area is where we are going. Do we have any members from the Sarasota area?? I would like to get some "local" knowledge / tips for this area

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Tom and Sue,
Welcome aboards! I can't answer your question but hope other here can.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[CaptMark]

Well it's about time. congratulations on the move. I'd work your way down the coast until you you get to key West. It's only a 3-4 day trip down there with lots of stopping places along. the current and winds are in the right direction for you.

[slomotion]

Also, for a real change of pace from Key West, don't miss the Dry Tortugas.

[Remedy]

Is there special I should know about dropping anchor when I go to Dry Tortugas? I draw 4'

[CaptMark]

DO NOT drop a Hook in The Dry Tortugas you may go to Jail Mooring Balls ONLY. Head overboard Valves Must be ZIP tied shut. NO pumping out of anything, take your garbage home with you when you leave the island and area. Leave NOTHING behind. get a facts book from the state parks service before you go.

[Remedy]

Thanks for the info. I'll get the book. Really looking forward to new adventures around the Keys

[GordMay]

The Dry Tortugas National Park consists of seven tiny islands composed of coral reefs, white sandy beaches and the surrounding tropical waters.
The park has no boat moorings or slips.
Overnight anchoring is permitted only within one mile of the Garden Key Harbor Light.
Bird Key Harbor, southwest of the fort, is used by larger vessels, and is usually a little quieter than the area around Fort Jefferson.
The bottom is a mix of soft sand, hard sand, coral rubble, and grass in both areas.
The dock at the fort is limited to two hours per day per vessel (when not in use by tour boats) and is closed after sunset.
Dinghies can be beached south of the pier.

See the Dry Tortugas Chart #11438
Chart 11438

The approach to Garden Key from the east is deep and wide in Southeast Channel, taking R “2” Fl R 4s to starboard and split the distance between Hospital Key’s R “4” and the Fl G 4s 16ft 4M light on Iowa Rock.
Making a slow U-turn to the west, then south, look for the poles marking the north-south channel between Garden Key and Bush Key. These nav aids have been damaged repeatedly by hurricanes but the poles remain, making a good reference for daylight navigation into the anchorage.
The pass between Garden Key and Bush Key had shoaled over in recent years, but thanks to Mother Nature, was again open and navigable late in 2006 with minimum depths over 7 feet.

A slightly longer route, but with better nav aids and a little more room for error, is the channel west of Garden Key. Continuing due west past Iowa Rock and the north end of Garden Key, R “6” marks a shoal but G “3” and R “2” just to the southeast set you up for the curving channel leading southeast.
Turning east at R “8” and G “9” south of Garden Key leads to the anchorage closest to the fort.

Approaching from the south, a 357ºM course from Y “A” Fl Y 2.5s to G C “1” (with Loggerhead Key ahead) sets you up for the marked channel leading northeast, then south to either the Garden Key anchorage or Bird Key
Harbor.