ICW : 39 Bridges Between Here and Miami

[lorenzo b]

Has anyone survived this? I'm only to Cape Canaveral and I'm already a mess. It's rough outside and my cat/Life Coach Tony spews vile fluids from every orifice when the seas are over 2 ft.

Should I just close my eyes and feel my way through? Or drain the cat and head outside?

[Vasco]

Wait until you get to the section between Lake Worth and Boca Raton.

[wingontherock]

We were there about this time last year with the same weather pattern... when we left from St. Augustine... bad weather kept us in the ditch... but we waiting it out in Lake Worth... caught a window and sailed home to the Keys... just too many bridges, traffic further down as was already indicated... if you have the time... I'd wait it out... best of luck...

[Captain Bill]

Only 39? sure feels like more.

[marc2012]

Yes & they only open at certain times.Been there done that,really sux.marc

[ActiveCaptain]

Lorenzo - the worst day is Lake Worth to Ft. Lauderdale. I think there were 18 bridges we needed to have opened. It's not far in miles but the restricted openings cause delays.

If the weather is not good, I'd set waypoints for each bridge and time the approach by speed so you don't have to sit around and wait for 20 minutes at each one. There's a lot to see around there - you won't be bored. It's not so far either. The weather was rough outside for us last Winter so we stayed inside - left at 7 and got to Ft. Lauderdale by around 2. I made a real bone-headed move that ended up snapping our SSB antenna - blog entry here:
http://takingpaws.blogspot.com/2010/...like-this.html

Ft. Lauderdale to Miami is similar - but fewer bridges, still not many miles. Gosh, there's an issue at Bakers Haulover Inlet for you though. You have to hit this spot with tide assistance.

It's 5.5' there. There have been some recent dredging around there - it's just a spot to plan for with your boat if you go inside.

Lots of places to play in Miami and Miami Beach - good anchorages, excellent facilities.

[teejayevans]

sucks more if you have a slow boat (<6 knts) depending on current, because many south of Lake Worth open a schedule.
Tom

[chuckr]

not sure what kind of boat you are on but if the mast is over 55' you may want to go outside from ft lauderdale to miami as there is a 56' bridge at miami -

if your cat gets sick on 2' seas where in the world are you going where there are less than 2' seas

chuck patty and svsoulmates
on a mooring miami

[Vasco]

You can get a couple of more feet under the julia Tuttle if you play the tide and go through the draw west of the main draw, about a foot or so more there. Have taken a B423 and a Whitby 42 under there at half tide in bad weather rather than wait in Ft. Lauderdale.

[lorenzo b]

My boat is a large steel fishing trawler that only needs 22 ft at a bridge, and i plan on going everywhere, but I can't bear to see my cat so miserable. And i worship this cat. my other cat too. It's important to have a spiritual life.
Maybe the stabilizers from hell and some cat Quaaludes.

[motion30]

so you travel the icw and wait for the bridges You are not in a rush

[Vasco]

Lorenzo,

Have you muffled that dry stack yet? Or was that a generator.
My cat couldn't handle bad weather either. She stays at home now.

[SVMorningStar]

You're in my neck of the woods. We live nearby and used to keep our boat in one of the marinas on the Barge Canal. The ICW run from Canaveral to Ft. Pierce is not at all bad. Mostly big open river until you get down to Vero. I think it's a pleasant run. You won't see a drawbridge (outside of the 2 Barge Canal bridges and the lock if you're coming from the inlet to the ICW) until you get to Ft. Pierce. Between Ft. Pierce to Lk. Worth, you'll get slowed down by bridges so you have to time it right but still doable. S. of Lake Worth, it really gets bad. Lauderdale was a concrete sided ditch back in the 80's and hasn't improved any since then. All that said, you should do fine inside until Lake Worth. Then, look out!

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

. . . but I can't bear to see my cat so miserable. And i worship this cat. my other cat too. It's important to have a spiritual life.
Maybe the stabilizers from hell and some cat Quaaludes.

If you consult a vet you will find out that felines (cats) use the same motion sickness medicine as humans. Just 1/4 dosage. Put the 1/4 pill in whatever treat/food that you cat "must" gobble down or grind the pill back to powder and put in the "treat." So cat owners know how to get a pill down a cat's throat without having their wrists slashed to ribbons, but not me, so I use the "hide it" in a treat method.

[timbenner]

I agree with SVMorningStar, it's a nice ride to Ft. Pierce. Spend a night anchored in front of the Vero Mansions or the Vero City Marina. I just checked Buoyweather and they say you've got north winds for the next few days. Perfect, sail the ditch in comfort. Stop overnight at the 520 bridge in Melbourne and dingy over (southwest corner of bridge) to Cocoa Village. If you're not in a hurry, it's the best!!