Trip from Tampa around Miami to Stuart

[kingofcary]

I need to move a sailboat with a 56' air draft from Tampa area to Stuart then up the AICW. 56 screws my original desire (I believe) of crossing the Okeechobee WW due to bridge clearance. Any recommendations or advice on the trip around Miami up to Stuart ??? Thanks ...

[Capt.Alex]

Best route is through Moser Channel (7 mile bridge near Marathon). You can pass under the Channel 5 bridge near Islamorada, but the water is pretty shallow in Florida Bay in that area, saves a few miles if draft allows. Both bridges are 65'. With some creativity you may be able to get under the low bridge on the Okeechobee waterway. I know one person that hung their tender from the end of the boom, and placed his large son in it to heel the boat just enough to walk it under the bridge span from the catwalk on the fendering system under the bridge.

[LoudMusic]

Depending on the amount of time saving (which I understand to be A LOT), might it be beneficial to demast and carry the rig horizontal? Distant Shores did it for the Erie Canal. I also like Alex's idea - it's been done quite a few times and there's lots of references online. You're not even looking for much more clearance.

[kingofcary]

They weighted boom end is a creative approach that I have seen on videos only. Cool and creative to say the least !!! I need 56 .. it seems 54' my be one bridge so as you said, I don't need much .. thanks a lot

[sailorboy1]

Waste as much time taking the mast down and putting back up as just going under the 7 mile bridge.

[hobopacket]

If I remember. Isn’t the railroad bridge on the ockeechobee 49’? How many degrees heel do you need to gain 9’ air draft? Test it before you go!

[mindsofman]

Take the Channel 5. Cut, , so much less hassle
And you can sail 24/7 to St. Lucie Inlet..
Just watch ur depth on the west side of
Confusion corner...

[StuartSailor]

In 2010 I took my Tartan 37 from Snead Island to my home base in Stuart via the Okeechobee. I have an air draft of 53’, 55’ with antenna. I called Billy Owens out of Indiantown. He met me on my boat and placed multiple 55 gallon drums to achieve the needed angle (don’t recall what it was but it was significant) to get under the railway bridge. The whole process was about an hour or so. Best $175.00 I spent. Reach out to Indiantown Marina to see if he or someone else is still doing the Okeechobee Limbo. Good luck.

Jesse
S/v Sailsman

[kingofcary]

Excellent suggestion StuartSailor ... thanks. OWW would optimize my trip time-wise vs swinging around tip of Florida. Although I suspect the longer route is a great experience.... if one has the time ..

[cruising_ollie]

Try the trigonometry calculator: http://www.carbidedepot.com/formulas-trigright.asp:

a=48' (1' clearance to bridge)
b=56'
A=31° (angle of heel you need, but shape of hull might increase the b-measurement and thus increase the angle)

Billy Owens out of Indiantown seems like a good option and can probably confirm the angle of heal you need.

[DreaminFred]

Don't assume you cant get under the railroad bridge just east of Okeechobee. The Corps is very experienced at listing a sailboat with water barrels to get you low enough, give them a call to determine what the possibilities are. I did this passage two months ago and it saves a ton of time.

Fred

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by hobopacket

If I remember. Isn’t the railroad bridge on the ockeechobee 49’? How many degrees heel do you need to gain 9’ air draft? Test it before you go!

The RR bridge at Stuart is the only snag. If you can master that, it would sure save time.

[gohawks]

I've done the trip many times both Moser and Channel 5. no real problem either way. What is your water draft? Lots of crab pots in FL bay between Marco I and the Keys. I understand you can't go through locks at night so if you sail straight through, going through the Keys may be faster.

[getyourbone]

Just left Indiantown marina about a week ago. Saw Billy come an go many times as our little catamaran sat right next to where he would take his boat out after the big tip. I believe the max that he can deal with is about 55? Might only be 54. $200 is the going rate.

Did the ditch all the way across okechobee to ft Myers and over to Sanibel island.

Word has it that someone strung fiber optic @ about 35 feet near Belle Glade so you would need to cross the lake rather than follow the canal...according to the rumor Anyways.

We just sailed from Marco Island to Key West a couple days ago. We are sitting Next to Wisteria Island. It was almost a 20 hour sail for us from Marco Island as our little cat only did about four - five knots. A lot of Crab pots along the way. We were thinking marathon but winds were such that dry Tortugas were was where the weather wanted to send us. We settled for a happy medium with Key West. Pulling in at 4 AM in the morning was a little sketchy. Certainly for somebody who only had one real day sail under his belt under his belt...that being me and it was from sailing Sanibel to Marco island a few days before. Wife had never been in a sailboat up until leaving indiantown marina and 4 year old daughter not of much sailing help either.

[robertk445]

Originally Posted by kingofcary

I need to move a sailboat with a 56' air draft from Tampa area to Stuart then up the AICW. 56 screws my original desire (I believe) of crossing the Okeechobee WW due to bridge clearance. Any recommendations or advice on the trip around Miami up to Stuart ??? Thanks ...

Absolutely go around! Stop in Key west for a couple das and have fun! Great anchorage, great dinghy dock right in the middle of all the fun. Up the East coast you have wonderful anchorages.