Florida and the ICW

[seadog2]

Hi, I do not know if I am repeating this question but, would you be able to sail the ICW if your mast is around 35' without any bridge issues?

[capngeo]

Yes The lowest fixed bridge I know of is 63'

[Fishspearit]

They're all 65' except the Julia Tuttle near Miami, which is 56'. The Okeechobee waterway cutting across the state has about a 55' height limit.

I don't know that I'd call it 'sailing' the ICW, more like motoring through most of Florida with the exception of the Melbourne area, Keys, and the Gulf side.

[capngeo]

Originally Posted by Fishspearit

They're all 65' except the Julia Tuttle near Miami, which is 56'. The Okeechobee waterway cutting across the state has about a 55' height limit.

I don't know that I'd call it 'sailing' the ICW, more like motoring through most of Florida with the exception of the Melbourne area, Keys, and the Gulf side.

Thanks.... I thought that was 63'! I stand corrected!

[doug86]

depends on what you consider "issues". You will be able to transit FLA on the ICW, but you will be waiting for many many draw bridges to open, and many of those are on a fixed schedule. This can add hours to your day and days to your trip.

[witchcraft]

There are some sections where it seem virtually impossible to make the timing, at least for us it was... Still it's a means to an end.
Fair Winds

[cabo_sailor]

My biggest problem with the ICW is not the bridges but the shoals. There is a section just north of the Dunedin causeway on the west coast where 5 ft draft will bounce in the middle of the channel. Not to mention all the folks in small, go fast boats, that have no concept of rules of the road. Given the choice, and I'll admit its not always a good choice, I'll stay outside thank you.

Rich

[lorenzo b]

If I were "sailing" the florida ICW I would take down the mast completely and ship the keel by truck. Blow the bridge tenders a kiss for me as you go by and a lovely wave to the water police.

[Hudson Force]

We often sail within portions of the Florida ICW as we did yesterday along areas from St. Lucie Inlet up to Vero Beach. For this day, we opened one bridge at Fort Pierce and it was timely on request. From West Palm Beach to Miami the ICW is narrow and there are 29 bridges to open over the 70 mile distance. The currents are considerable in places and this will affect your options too. We have often sailed with a genoa and mizzen staysail in the ICW as we can put these away without turning into the wind. This is a cautionary option when sailing in a restricted channel. Our options that allow us to sail in the ICW are also increased because we have little concern with making a great distance in our daily travels.

[boatsmith]

vertical clearance on the Okeechobee Waterway is 49' and change. This is at the railroad bridge just east of the lake at Port Mayaca.

[cabo_sailor]

While I will not willingly go down the ICW and for sure some bridge tenders need to be slow roasted, I must admit that at times they can be superlative. I recall a trip from Long Boat Key to Tarpon Springs. The winds had been 20-30 kt for almost a week hence the decision to come up the ICW. Most of the bridges are on a time schedule but since there was very little traffic on the water and the weather nasty, almost all of the bridge tenders were great. I would radio ahead to inquire their next opening time and most responded their next opening was when I got there. Sure enough as I came within sight of the bridge, they stopped traffic and raised the bridge. It was a very..... I don't even have the word.... It was just great that there were still people like that.

My thanks to those ladies and gentlemen, it would have been a bit difficult to go into holding pattern under those conditions. Not impossible, but a hassle.

Rich