Ft Lauderdale to Marathon

[motion30]

I'm not sure if this is the right form but my question is is the possible to run the inside from Fort Lauderdale down to Marathon with a 6' draft? Or is it possible to run Part way and any good inlets head offshore Beyond government cut

[model 10]

Angle Fish Creek won't work for you. I'm 5' and I bounced into the anchorage.

[motion30]

Are there any inlets that will work for us ?

[W32PAMELA]

The last outlet below government cut would be at the south end of Key Bicayne where you can take the Cape Florida Channel or the Biscayne Channel out and then take the Hawk channel south. This keeps you inside the reefs but will probably require at least one anchorage on the way if you are a sailboat. You can cut into Florida Bay when you get down to Channel Five Bridge.

[Group9]

I know people who have done it, but the last time I took a five foot draft on the inside route through the Keys, I plowed sand for a quarter mile before running hard aground in the middle of the channel near Cotton Key.

My advice is to take Hawk Channel and spend the night at Rodriguez Key, waiting for weather where that is viable.

[Snore]

Like Group 9 said take Hawk. There are several spots you can anchor, may not be the smoothest nights sleep, but they hold well. With 6’ I would get out of the ICW at Everglades or Government Cut.

I think you could squeeze out through the Stiltsville channel, but why risk it?

[dennismenace111]

Originally Posted by Snore

Like Group 9 said take Hawk. There are several spots you can anchor, may not be the smoothest nights sleep, but they hold well. With 6’ I would get out of the ICW at Everglades or Government Cut.

I think you could squeeze out through the Stiltsville channel, but why risk it?

The Cape Florida channel near Stiltsville is not a problem with your draft....Done it many times in a DuFour 34 that drew 6'6".... at night, before there was GPS... Ceasars creek can be done at high tide.

Id go down as far as the Miami Marine stadium or to No Name Harbor on Key Biscayne...as long as you do it on a weekday.... stay clear on weekends unless you love LOUD LATIN MUSIC till the wee hours. Marine Stadium has more swing room and deep mud bottom... protected on all sides. Then either head out Government Cut or down to Cape Florida to get to Hawks Channel.



I grew up sailing in Biscayne Bay... ;

[michaeld]

You can do the ICW to Biscayne Bay if you can get under the Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge, fixed at 56 feet. I have been in and out of the Bay many times at the south end of Key Biscayne, near No Name Harbor. You won't have any problem with draft... just keep an eye on your charts. Years ago, I went on the inside down as far as Channel 5. Don't try it. I bumped bottom with a 4.5 ft. draft. I can't speak for Angelfish Creek.

[a64pilot]

This is I believe stiltsville channel and unless it’s silted in, in the last couple of years, there is plenty of depth.
Neat thing to see, I think it’s worth seeing myself.


We ran aground five years ago in Anglefish, I think there and South is too far.
I took us up back to stiltsville to go through, cost most of a day.

[Dave22q]

it's been some time but my recollection is that you need to go offshore before hitting Biscayne Bay. The ICW south of Miami is not good for your draft. As it is no a very long run you might consider anchoring offshore at least one night.

[JasonS]

Agree with previous posts. We draw less than 4 feet and have lightly touched bottom in a few places on the inside within the last 8 months where 5+ indicated on charts.

Take Hawks Channel as recommended from Govt cut. Rodriguez Key is great stopping point approximately midway and you can dinghy in for some dinner. You'll have roughly two 50 mile sails.

Enjoy,
Jason

[flyingfin]

ICW at Hillsboro can be tricky for your draft. This time of year it will be calm offshore. Go outside at Lauderdale and go south all the way outside. Once you get even with Key Largo, you can run the calm water inside Hawk Channel