FT Lauderdale to Tampa

[Paul Edward]

Looking at buying a sailboat in Ft Lauderdale and bringing it back to Tampa area. Draft is 5'8" and mast is 64'1".
What are my options? And how long will it take doing only daylight sailing?

[Snore]

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays!

Safe route is down Hawk and around Key West. If you ‘feel lucky’, cut across at Marathon. With 5’8” of draft it will take some careful navigating to cut across. But given that you are asking, take the conservative route.

Time depends on the cruise speed under power. Guess 2-3 days to Marathon (top off fuel), 2-3 days to Sanibel and a day or so up to Tampa.

If you are interested in hiring someone, please PM me.

[Paul Edward]

So you think we could be in Tampa in 10 to 12 days?
Are you a delivery captain?

[Snore]

Originally Posted by Paul Edward

So you think we could be in Tampa in 10 to 12 days?
Are you a delivery captain?

That is on the high side. With a 64’ stick, I assume the boat is +/- 44’. She should average over 6kts. if so, then there is fat in that estimate.

Yes I am. Please check my profile for a link to my website. Also the tracking page of my website shows some of the deliveries I have done and provides a link to my inReach Tracker.

[captlloyd]

If you drop your mast you could take the Okeechobee water way.

[rancher44]

That draft will cause you a lot of problems . recommend you consider a boat with no more than 5' that will give you many more enjoyment and options for west coast fl.
Get a guide book for Fl waterways. It gives you all the bride heights , fuel stations. and so much more. Very good info

If you need more info drop me a message . I have sailed the lower west a lot

Good Luck

[Sailingveterinarian]

3 weeks ago I delivered a 44 foot Helia from Riviera Beach to Longboat Key.
We left with a full tank of fuel and refueled in Key West.
We went through Hawks Channel.
We went straight through, motoring and motor sailing when possible. The trip took 54 hours.

[boatman1]

Well, if’n I was you, I’d take advantage of the fact that this trip could/should be enjoyed as you’ transit some of the finest sailing in Creation. You can sail Lauderdale to Tavernier Key in a good long day: the last half you’re started to enjoy the often gin clear water of Hawks Channel off Elliot Key and Key Largo. A superb transition from sailing by the greatly developed Lauderdale/Miami stretch into real tropical waters. After heading north from Marathon or Key West it would be a shame not to get in as close to southwest Florida as weather permits and dinghy in to some of the rivers and creeks draining the Everglades-prime in the winter months.I can’t remember how much draft you can carry into Shark River: maybe you can take the big boat into it.. So, you could make the passage in five daylight segments, or somewhat longer with a stop or two.

[jewt]

boatman1route is very good choice just keep good lookout of crab/lobster pots floats even in the middle of Hawks channel. They make NO attempt to keep the channel clear. We brought our "new to us" 44 footer with a 5' draft and 63' mast back from Tampa to North Carolina in December '77 without problems in that area (don't ask about Ga. or SC).

jewt Bifrost-8
'89 Morgan-44New Bern, NC

[Snore]

Originally Posted by Sailingveterinarian

3 weeks ago I delivered a 44 foot Helia from Riviera Beach to Longboat Key.

We left with a full tank of fuel and refueled in Key West.

We went through Hawks Channel.

We went straight through, motoring and motor sailing when possible. The trip took 54 hours.

That’s the difference. First OP asked for day trips.

Also I don’t run Hawk at night- Especially on a delivery. It is impossible to see the crab pots. Would hate to break something.

[JasonS]

If you plan on spending most of your time in Fl, especially the Keys and West coast, recommend you look at options with a draft of less than 5 feet and mast less than 65’, and preferably less than 62-63’.

You certainly can take that boat through Hawk Channel and you currently will make all bridges, with the exception of Julia Tuttle. You must go out between Ft Lauderdale and Miami.

There is so much to see in Keys along the way. We are currently in Islamorada. You would have been dragging along the ICW between Key Largo and here. We saw 5’ areas, or less, in several areas. I wouldn’t take anything much over 5’ in this area.

Same would hold true for Bahamas where shallow draft is an advantage.

If you are planning on leaving Florida for more Blue Water sailing, then Deep draft has its advantages.

Good luck

Jason

[Stmurray62]

I’m also a delivery Captain (Master 100, ASA instruct); interested in this voyage, please pm me...

[Talk Story]

Originally Posted by Paul Edward

Looking at buying a sailboat in Ft Lauderdale and bringing it back to Tampa area. Draft is 5'8" and mast is 64'1".
What are my options? And how long will it take doing only daylight sailing?

Have you moved a boat before? You could probably do it in a week going 24/7 for some parts of it.

[Scaramanga F25]

7 or 8 daylight days if the weather holds, minimum.

[Seighlor]

Have done this numerous times cutting across Florida Bay at Marathon, early on with an eight foot draft; more recently with a six-foot six-inch draft. Never had a problem.

The approach to the bridge from Hawk Channel was my only concern and I focused on doing that at high tide. Beyond that, it's a matter of maintaining a close watch on your chart, staying in the marked channel and avoiding lobster pots.

Holding to daylight hours, once clear of the bay you can anchor off the coast in fair weather or transit a short distance up the Little Shark River for a more protected spot. Keep in mind, mosquitos are at times nasty in the river anchorage.

This route saves many hours over the transit around Key West.