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Old 28-12-2019, 19:35   #1
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Arrow Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

Have any cruisers with 49ft air draft cruised the Intracoastal waters from Pensacola bay to Panama City Recently. We are nearing the Navarre Causeway bridge and are getting concerned.
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Old 28-12-2019, 20:20   #2
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

I would do it but I’d be very cautious.

It’s a 50 foot bridge with just over a foot of tide and it looks like the lows will be below datum.

We have a taller mast and went outside to Panama City.

Also, I can’t help you with whether the batter boards are accurate.

Maybe someone else can chime in with better info.
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Old 28-12-2019, 21:30   #3
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

Ran along this coast with measured 49' stick for a lot of years. Normal tide, Navarre is 49' and a few inches in the middle and 51' two spans to the south. Sounds crazy but you will see when you get there (snuggle up near the North support ). Brooks Bridge at Ft Walton is 50' and a few inches if you avoid the nav lights. My VHF whip caught Hell but survived. The bridge out to the GOM at Destin is 49' (hit when I tried it). This time of the year the highest tides are typically in the evening but are lower than normal after the passage of a front and a good NE wind.

All the height info on the fender boards will indicate lower clearances but I always assumed that was to the nav lights.

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Old 28-12-2019, 21:40   #4
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

Thanks for helping Frankly.

That is some great local knowledge.
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Old 28-12-2019, 23:32   #5
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

Thank you Frankly, we will do as you suggest. It’s good to know it. An be done with our height. Much appreciated.
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Old 29-12-2019, 08:23   #6
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

We Made It! Thank you Frankly for your great advice. Whew Navarre done and dusted. We are extremely grateful.
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Old 29-12-2019, 08:26   #7
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

Brooks bridge in Fort Walton and Destin are low also. Both less than 60.
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Old 29-12-2019, 08:48   #8
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

Tide is a good ft below normal right now so you will have some extra margin. Dupont bridge on the Eastern side of St Andrews Bay is listed as 50 ft but sometimes the antenna would not hit.


Stop and smell the roses. This area is some of the best and most diverse cruising in Florida. Apalachicola has some great seafood. Scipio Creek Marina if you need to tie up, or anchor on the East side of the river 1/4 mile upstream of the brdge (15 ft good sand). Take the dinghy into City Marina. Government Cut can be shallow on the inside. Ask locals about current conditions. East Pass between Dog and St George Island good pass, and can anchor in Shipping Cove overnight in settled weather.

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Old 29-12-2019, 15:36   #9
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

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Government Cut can be shallow on the inside. Ask locals about current conditions.
Very much agree with your comment about Apalachicola; neat area with good places to eat.

It has been 4 years since I went out Government Cut; at the time there was a strong incoming tide but it was not terribly troublesome from a depth perspective (I think 9' was the skinniest we saw). Do you know how it came through Hurricane Michael?
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Old 29-12-2019, 15:49   #10
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

Running the outside in the Gulf is much more relaxing and you could have come back in under the Destin Bridge

At least, that's how we used to do it once each year on our 16' -20' Beach Cats except we did it the opposite way going out under the Destin Bridge after our 0700 start off Leeside Park, Ft Walton Beach. (then taking a right at the sea buoy and going back inside 50 miles or so later at the Pensacola Pass)
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Old 29-12-2019, 15:50   #11
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

We are now in Choctawhatchee Bay looking for anchorage for the night. Got through Brooks Bridge with the antenna hitting all the way through. Tried to get fuel at Destin but they were closed. We were too scared to try and get out at Destin So have continued along the waterways
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Old 29-12-2019, 15:55   #12
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

I've seen boats anchored just outside the Destin Bridge on the West side.

I first saw a boat anchored there in 1993 and thought I'd get that spot one day.
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Old 29-12-2019, 15:58   #13
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

The yacht we are sailing on was built by my husband 40 years ago, in South Africa. Our son found it In Bay St Louis and bought it 35 years later. This is a very emotional cruise for my man
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Old 29-12-2019, 16:03   #14
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

Boggy Bayou or tonight probably Rocky Bayou. Just sneak around the corner towards the bridge for pretty good protection.

I have been cruising this coast for 55 years. You have to beat me with a stick to run that Destin pass.


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Old 29-12-2019, 16:17   #15
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Re: Cruising ICW Pensacola to Panama City

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Boggy Bayou or tonight probably Rocky Bayou. Just sneak around the corner towards the bridge for pretty good protection.

I have been cruising this coast for 55 years. You have to beat me with a stick to run that Destin pass.


Frankly
I've done it maybe 6 times motor less of course on a Nacra 6.0 and Nacra I17R with Spinnaker and I was always glad to get passed that rock jetty...

Once with zero wind but a super strong outgoing tide a couple days after a hurricane and there was a wave of maybe 4'-5' tall just at the end of the pass created by the tide.

First time was 1997 and we had 82 boats in the race and went out under maybe a 5-6 knot NE wind which rotated throughout the day
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