Miami to Key West - intracoastal

[AllenP]

Hello there,

I am planning a trip this weekend from Miami to Key West and there is a cold front forecasted to 20-30knts winds out of the north east with +7ft surf.

I was originally planning to sail Hawks Cannel for the majority of the trip however with the current wind/wave forecast I am thinking about navigating the intercoastal. My boat is a 440 Jeannaue, 65ft tall with 5’2” draft.

My question to the cruiser forum community is - has anyone here done this passage with a similar draft? I am looking at the charts and there seem to be some questionable channels with unclear depths (looks like 4-5 ft) in the upper/middle keys (grouper creek etc.)

Looking forward to some advice and fyi hawks channel is not a great option for me because I will be traveling with my family (some of whom are older and or prone to seasickness)

Thanks !

[massnspace]

I did that run about 10 years ago. But with a 5’6” draft choose to play it safe in Hawks Channel. I did run into some people in KW who told me they hit bottom quite a bit on the gulf side coming down the keys.

Again. This was 10 years ago so I don’t know if it dredged better now…

Do you have a wing keel? If so, be careful. Harder to get off if you ground out…

[AllenP]

Hi, I spoke w a few guys from Sea Tow in the upper and mid keys and they said if my draft is less than 6ft and I stick to the center of the channels I should be ok. Apparently there’s a dicey area around cotton key but I should be able to get by.

Just wanted to mention this here in case anyone else in the future is looking for similar intel.

[motion30]

I've made that trip a bunch of times, but I've always taken Hawks channel South America. I know there is a way to get for Marathon to key West on the inside but I do not know where it is or what the depth is

[motion30]

I know there is a way around Big pine through the Spanish channel out to the Northwest channel south of key West. I have never run that