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08-05-2012, 19:43
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Key Biscayne Florida
Boat: Grand Soleil 39
Posts: 14
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Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
I have moved from Italy to Miami and now thinking of bringing my beloved Grand Soleil 39 to sail it here. Its draft is 6',3: would it be possible to cruise it along the coat to the Keys and at the Bahamas?
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08-05-2012, 20:14
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#2
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
Certainly it is possible. You will have to plan your trips a little more carefully, some harbors you cannot enter but plenty of places you can go. Enough to keep you busy for years if you like.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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08-05-2012, 21:03
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami Florida
Boat: Ellis Flybridge 28
Posts: 4,057
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
Welcome to Miami! I wouldn't want a boat with much deeper draft but you'll be fine. Carry a good dinghy that you can explore the shallower areas with. Please stop by my store and say hello.
__________________
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supplies
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08-05-2012, 23:28
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Valencia, Spain
Boat: SAGA 27 AK
Posts: 509
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
No problem Alex, I have a six foot draft and have not been too constrained. Just get good charts, watch navigation and work your tides (what little there is of them). Enjoy the Keys, it's a great cruising area.
__________________
Sweet are the uses of adversity.
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09-05-2012, 01:51
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Boat: HR 40
Posts: 3,651
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
You'll run aground from time to time if you are at all adventurous. When you do look toward the shore. Between you and the beach will be some guy with a 5' draft, aground. Between him and the beach will be a boat with 4' draft, aground. *grin*
I can't speak to South Florida, but in the Bahamas 6'3" draft won't cause you to miss much at all. Have a great time.
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sail fast and eat well, dave
AuspiciousWorks
Beware cut and paste sailors
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09-05-2012, 03:35
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Tampa Bay area, USA
Boat: Beneteau First 42
Posts: 3,961
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
Alex--
We have been cruising the Southwest coast of Florida and the Keys with a 6.5' draft for 10+ years and have had little difficulty. Some areas are too skinney for us, but we simply anchor out and do our explorations by dinghy and still have quite a good time. Being somewhat further off, one also tends to have a bit less problem with bugs during the hot season and somewhat more air movement around the yacht on quite nights.
FWIW...
__________________
"It is not so much for its beauty that the Sea makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the waves, that so wonderfully renews a weary spirit."
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09-05-2012, 05:01
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Heathsville, VA
Boat: Gemini 105Mc 34'
Posts: 1,457
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
Welcome aboard! There are sections you might want to avoid on the inside route through the keys, but even most of those are navigable with careful planning with tides. Bahamas shouldn't be much of a problem; however, be VERY careful in areas with coral heads. Getting stuck on a sandbar is an inconvenience...hitting a coral head at 6 or 7 kn is another story. Have a great trip and enjoy!
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09-05-2012, 07:19
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#8
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,138
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, alexdiomedi.
All good advice, particularly Auspicious' observation (#5):
Quote:
Originally Posted by Auspicious
You'll run aground from time to time if you are at all adventurous. When you do look toward the shore. Between you and the beach will be some guy with a 5' draft, aground. Between him and the beach will be a boat with 4' draft, aground...
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__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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09-05-2012, 08:00
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Philippines in the winters
Boat: It’s in French Polynesia now
Posts: 11,368
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
At least they have a sandy bottom on FL, for the most part. If nothing else it'll be a soft landing.
__________________
Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful! ........
The measure of a man is how he navigates to a proper shore in the midst of a storm!
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09-05-2012, 14:10
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bahamas/Florida
Boat: Solaris Sunstar 36' catamaran
Posts: 2,686
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
Coincidentally there was a boat in Georgetown, Great Exuma today asking if he could get fuel with a 7' draft. Advice he received was that he could get to the fuel dock at high tide, but he'd best not plan on spending the night.
__________________
Sail Fast Live Slow
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09-05-2012, 18:27
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Key Biscayne Florida
Boat: Grand Soleil 39
Posts: 14
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
Hi Mike thanks ofr the advice, it really motivate me to bring my boat here, leaving it on a stand in italy for the next few years makes me sad. cheers,Alex
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09-05-2012, 19:57
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Live Iowa - Sail mostly Bahamas
Boat: Beneteau 32.5
Posts: 2,307
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
For Bahamas sailing I find my current draft of 4'6" limiting and end up in water shallower than 6 feet almost every day I'm there. I hope to eventually end up with a boat around 3 feet or less draft.
That said, would I automatically trade in a boat or refrain from cruising the Bahamas if I had a boat with a 6+ foot draft?: absolutely not! Study the charts, understand the tides and go have a fun cruise. You'll figure out soon enough whether or not the trade-offs warrant a change for you or not.
Enjoy - the Keys and Bahamas offer some great cruising.
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10-05-2012, 07:30
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Key Biscayne Florida
Boat: Grand Soleil 39
Posts: 14
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
Dear friend, thanks for the advice, like if i needed more encouragement. cheers
Alessandro
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10-05-2012, 07:32
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Key Biscayne Florida
Boat: Grand Soleil 39
Posts: 14
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
Dear Mike, thanks for the advice, i have been sailing for years in Croatia, i know i thing or two about hitting a rock!
ciao
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18-06-2014, 06:56
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Key Biscayne Florida
Boat: Grand Soleil 39
Posts: 14
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Re: Max Draft in South Florida/Bahamas
Dear Mike, i follow up from this old post, i finally have here my boat, it s7' draft and am going to cruis down from miami to key west and the dry tortugas this week,
am curently reading the Waterway guide, but i would be grateful if you could indicate me anchoring and marina options along the route. i have three young kinds and they need to to stretch their legs from time to time. many thanks
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