Cruisers' Net | Cruisers Helping Cruisers

May 1, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Rough Night in Bahia Honda Channel/State Park Anchorage, Hawk Channel, Florida Keys

Bahia Honda Channel/State Park Anchorage - Click for Chartview
Bahia Honda Channel/State Park Anchorage lies between the two Bahia Honda bridges, off the westerly shores of Bahia Honda Key.
Waters get very rough at night with a lot of rocking and rolling. More of a jerky roll. Park looks nice but if you want a good nights sleep don’t stay here. winds got to 30 knots and boat next to us drug anchor. winds were SE to S.
Mickey
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Bahia Honda Channel/State Park Anchorage
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Apr 7, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from Cowpens Northeastern Anchorage, Florida Keys Inside Route near St. M. 1154.5

NE Cowpens Anchorage - Click for Chartview
The northeastern anchorage is on the northeastern reaches of charted Cowpens Anchorage. This body of water comprises the southeasterly section of Cotton Key Basin and borders on Plantation Key. Wouldn’t want to get caught here in fresh western or southwestern winds, but otherwise, this spot makes for a good Florida Keys place to drop the hook!
Anchored 3/31/13 off south west anchorage. We were located right outside Plantation Yacht harbor in about 6 feet of water. A short dinghy ride to the beach at Founders Park.
Russ
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For Cowpens Northeastern Anchorage
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Apr 7, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report fromBack-country – Bottle Key Anchorage, AICW Statute Mile 1147.5

Bottle Key Anchorage - Click for Chartview
Mariners piloting craft that draw LESS THAN 5 feet have a whole host of what might be described as “wilderness anchorages” available off the ICW/Inside route between Buttonwood Sound and the Waterway’s intersection with northern Tavernier Creek. Be SURE to have a well functioning chart plotter aboard before trying this, and be aware that there is the possibility of keel meeting up with bottom. If you can overcome these limitations, be ready for an evening you won’t soon forget!
We anchored here on 4/2/13. We were at least a 1/4 of a mile or more off Bottle Key. No one else around. We were open to a 10 kt East wind that kicked up around 3AM, but we held firm. Very quiet. Mosquito’s were a bit hungry though.
Russ
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For The Back-country ‘“ Bottle Key Anchorage
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Apr 7, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from No Name Harbor Anchorage, AICW Statute Mile 1096

No Name Harbor - Click for Chartview
No Name Harbor Anchorage is on the waters of the tadpole-shaped harbor, indenting the westerly banks of south Key Biscayne, near Cape Florida.
We anchored here on 4/3/13. There were about 13 sailboats in the harbor. It seemed a little crowded although we didn’t have any problems. It was very quiet but weekends might be a different story.
Russ
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For No Name Anchorage
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Mar 20, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from Marathon Marina and Boat Yard, Boot Key, Marathon, FL

Marathon Marina and Boatyard - Click for Chartview
Marathon Marina and Boat Yard lines the northern banks of the western Boot Key Harbor approach channel, west of the now permanently open Boot Key bascule bridge.
We stayed here a week-rate $613 with tax et all for a 40 ft cat. The staff was very friendly and fuel prices excellant. The residents are extremely friendly and the internet works well both at the dock and the captains lounge for non-wifi connection. Pump outs are tueday, wednesday, and thursday. The resteraunt is also excellent go for happy hour and appetizers(inexpensive). Would like to stay a month at another time(warning they book as far as a year in advance for a month dockage). Not as centrally located as the city marina, but with bikes, you can get anywhere.Publix(3 miles) and cabs are $5 for a trip on the island.
John Pholeric
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Marathon Marina and Boatyard
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Mar 13, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Great Dry Tortugas Photo Album

Photo by Captain John Boone
In response to the March 12 “Photo of the Week” here on the SSECN (see /?p=108282), Captain John Boone sent us the note below, and, most importantly, a link to his really superb photo album of a recent visit to the Dry Tortugas. If any of you are contemplating the (approx.) 70 nautical mile cruise from Key West to Garden Key and Fort Jefferson (or any of the other Dry Tortugas isles), then take a look at these images. They may whet your appetite, or help you decide the other way around.
I came up on deck there one December morning in 2007 to get underway and came face to face with your a similar sight.
We went back below and had another cup of coffee!
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd304/jsbpbacct/Sailing/AS-Thread%20-%20Dry%20Tortugas%20Trip%202007/IMG_4485.jpg
Great shot, thanks for sharing’¦.
John Boone
Good evening Claiborne,
Thank you for your kind words and posting of the link to my Tortugas album. What a great place to sail to and spend some time.
I created that photo album in conjunction with a write-up I did on the Anything-Sailing forum, http://www.anything-sailing.com , as we were trying to build content for that site when it was new.
Here is a link to that write-up if you are interested.
http://www.anything-sailing.com/showthread.php/1419-Cruise-to-Ft.-Jefferson-Dry-Tortugas-Florida
Feel free to use any of the photos in the album. I’m honored to be included on your forum.
Best Regards,
John Boone
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Mar 9, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from Islamorada Anchorage, Inside Route Statute Mile 1160, Upper Matecumbe Key.

Islamorada Anchorage - Click for Chartview
Islamorada Anchorage is found in Barley Basin on the northwest side of Upper Matecumbe Key, north of Little Basin and southeast of marker #86. Lor-e-li Restaurant, Cabana Bar and Marina lies within dinghy distance, southeast of the anchorage on Upper Matecumbe Key.
Anchored in the Southwestern part of Barley basin in light winds. Good holding and more than adequate depth for 5′ sailboat draft. Took 10 minute dinghy ride into Lor-e-li restaurant dock which was the quintessential beach restaurant/bar experience. Good food and service. Crowded at sunset. Live music on a Tuesday evening. Many more land patrons than boat patrons. All in all a very good experience.
Victor
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Islamorada Anchorage
Click Here To View This Facility’s Full Listing of Services on the Florida Keys Marina Directory
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Mar 2, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Report on Key West – Fleming Key Mooring Field
More and more cruisers are choosing to spend their time in delightful Key West, Florida, by tethering their vessel to one of the mooring balls east of Fleming Key. This field is managed by the Key West City Marine in Garrison Bight (one of two Key West city marinas, the other being located in Key West Bight).
Through a rookie’s eyes: We arrived at the mooring field on Feb 19, in beautiful weather and light winds. I had called ahead to get instructions (rookie-remember?) and was told how to pick up a mooring. It was not how it was described; we have an 8 ft high bow and the only way to attach a line is by hand at water level (you cannot lift these mooring balls out of the water). A very helpful boater came with his dinghy, looped the lines through and handed them back up. If we come again, (and we plan to) we will have to grab a buoy at midships by lying on deck at the hatch, get a line through it, and walk it back to the bow, and use the dinghy to get the second line on. All this after being told we could pull it aboard at an 8 ft high bow! In defense of the staff, it was the only mistake we encountered; they were wonderful otherwise. One other note for first time visitors: Finding the office is a bit of a trick: Enter [Garrison] bight in your dinghy; The first docks you see will be filled with houseboats. The dinghy dock and amenities for the mooring field are on the west side of the bight, past these houseboats and the channel to the inner part of the bight (under a bridge) But to check in, go under the bridge, turn left and go all the way to the boat ramp. Tie up and find the office in a long gray trailer in the parking lot. We had to stop and ask directions twice.
Lisa Keith-Lucas
Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For the Key West – Fleming Key Mooring Field
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Mar 2, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
Thoughts on Cruising From Key West to the Dry Tortugas
Don’t anyone ever think it’s just a casual day cruise from Key West to Garden Key or any of the other Dry Tortugas isles. This sojourn requires careful preparation and planning!
Plan very careful to take your own boat to Las Tortugas. Tide Hiker is large enough to handle heavy seas and carry substantial stores. Prevailing winds in the winter season center around SSE, and can blow at 25 kts or more for weeks on end. You not only need to get there, but you need to get back, too. I know of several smaller boats that have been “trapped” by the weather and had to re-provision by taking the fast cat back to Key West, provision, and take the fast cat back to their boat. There are no facilities at Las Tortugas; no water, no trash disposal, no dockage, no showers and no laundry. Heads are only available during the day time hours when the fast cat is there. Pumping overboard is a strongly enforced no-no. If you have pets (dog), check with the NPS to be sure you can land them. You will need to be entirely self-contained, and if the winds blow up, it can be a long stay indeed.
Hope this is useful.
Jim
I have been there in good weather, and it still can be a difficult trip. Navigation is tricky and the holding ground marginal. Best to
go in April when the winds are down, and the thunder storms has notstarted yet. The fort is interesting to see once. Seaplanes land
in the main channel, so do not anchor there. Go the south route over and the north route back for the sights.
Al Hackett
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Feb 28, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Newfound Harbor Northern Anchorage Off-Limits to Masted Vessels, west of Hawk Channel, Outside Route Statute Mile 1207

Newfound Harbor Northern Anchorage - Click for Chartview
Newfound Harbor Northern Anchorage lies north of marker #8, hard by the tip of the charted tongue of deep water. Captain Mickey reminds us that this anchorage is a restricted area from the southern tips of Little Torch Key and Little Pine key. Note B of the NOAA chart states “No anchoring by sailboats or other masted vessels due to the presence of high tension power lines.” There are three additional anchorages south of the restricted area which ARE open to sailcraft and other masted vessels – see link below.
Masted vessels are not allowed here. They have white PVC markers and a sign. As soon as I anchored a small boat came out and informed me of the markers and signs. Designated anchorage is to right of the markers as you approach from the south.
Mickey
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For Newfound Harbor Channel Northerly Anchorage
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of the Newfound Harbor Channel Northerly Anchorage
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listings For All Anchorages, off the Hawk Channel, From Sombrero Key to Key West
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Feb 24, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from A & B Marina, Key West Bight, Key West, FL

A & B Marina - Click for Chartview
A & B Marina overlooks the southwestern banks of Key West Bight, just south of the Galleon Marina.
I attended Fantasy Fest in October 2012 and pulled in A&B to fuel. I purchased 4K worth of fuel. I ask dock hand if I could load my tender while tied up since the wind was at over 20 KTS and he replied yes. The loading took around 30 minutes. Just as we were finishing the dock master showed up and told us we needed to get the f??k out of the fuel dock. There were no boats waiting to fuel. Needless to say I was not impressed with A&B and will never return.
On a side note I kept a 55′ boat there for over a year a few years back and during FF had eaten at their restaurant.
R C Roberts
Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For A & B Marina
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Feb 17, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from Boot Key Harbor, Marathon, FL,

Boot Key Harbor - Click for Chartview
Boot Key Harbor on the southside of Marathon, near statute mile 1195, is accessible from Hawk Channel and from the Inside Route via Moser Channel.
The next day, we returned via the Florida Bay side from our overnight in Boot Key Harbor. Staying on the Magenta line on the ICW was without incident. The only tough part was to keep watch and steer around the numerous lobster/crab traps inundating the ICW route.
Victor
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Boot Key Harbor
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Feb 17, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 24.838,-80.77349999
Good Depths in Bowlegs Cut, Florida Keys Inside Route, Statute Mile 1165

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Bowlegs Cut - Click for Chartview
Capt. Victor confirms earlier reports that all hazards have been removed and markers in place in this narrow channel through Peterson Keys in Florida Bay. Channel Five Bridge is 4.5 nautical miles southwest of Bowlegs Cut. BTW, any idea why several official charts spell “Bowlegs” with a “y” – “Bowlegys”?
Bowlegs Cut
Headed through Bowlegs Cut without a problem and again at low tide there was more than adequate draft for 5′ sailboat. After Bowlegs Cut there was no problems heading out to Hawk’s Channel through the Channel 5 bridge on our way to Marathon.
Victor
I can’t speak about `bowlegys’ but my Garmin chartplotter has mispelled signs as `sings’ in multiple places.
Al
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Bowlegs Cut
Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Marina Directory Listing For Channel Five Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Channel Five Bridge
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Feb 17, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments 25.6192,-80.95369999
Successful Voyage from Miami to Plantation Key, Statute Mile 1155, AICW Inside Route

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Plantation Key - Click for Chartview
Always good to get reports of “no grounding” since we post so often of shoaling on the AICW.
Cruising News:
Miami to Plantation Key
Happy to report that from Miami to Plantation Key in Islamorada via Biscayne Bay, Card, Little Card, Barnes and Blackwater Sounds was no problem with a sailboat drafting 4’10”. Sticking to the ICW Magenta line and even at low tide, there was no grounding.
Victor
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Plantation Key
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Feb 17, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from Lignumvitae Key Mooring Field, Inside Route near Statute Mile 1162.5

Lignumvitae Key Mooring Field - Click for Chartview
The Florida State Park mooring field reviewed below lies off the northwesterly shores of Lignumvitae Key, which is itself found near the Indian Key Channel and Lignumvitae Channel, off the Florida Keys Inside Route near Islamorada.
We spent a night on the western side of Lignumvitae Key due to east winds of 18-20 knots. We were well protected in the lee of this island with good holding in sand with our Delta plow anchor. There was again, only one mooring ball at the northern tip of the key and since it was very exposed to the east wind we decided not to use it.
Victor
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Anchorage Directory Listing For the Lignumvitae Mooring Field
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Feb 17, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Stopover in Shell Key Anchorage and Mooring Field, off Florida Bay, Statute Mile 1161

Steamboat Channel - Click for Chartview
Shell Key Anchorage and Mooring Field is a series of 5 five mooring buoys off the Shell Key’s northwesterly shoreline, maintained by the State of Florida. Florida Keys Inside Route passes through Steamboat Channel, which divides Shell Key Bank.
Steamboat Channel and Shell Key
From Plantation Key we headed towards Steamboat Channel. Prior to the Steamboat Channel, there was some sailor angst about shallow water at low tide even on the ICW Magenta line, but we never touched bottom. Steamboat Channel had adequate depth and we went through without any problems. Spent overnight on the northwest side of Shell Key. Good holding with a Delta plow anchor. There was only one mooring ball visualized and of course taken by late afternoon.
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Western Florida Anchorage Directory Listing For Shell Key Anchorage
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Feb 16, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from Dinner Key Mooring Field, AICW Inside Route, Statute Mile 1094.5

Dinner Key Mooring Field - Click for Chartview
Dinner Key Mooring Field lies generally southwest of Dinner Key Channel marker #12.
We enjoyed almost all of the experience of staying in the mooring field except the exposure and distance out which made for wet and rough dingy rides. We loved the staff and the new rental bikes. Also they have a great laundry, although it is small. The showers are minimal and just ok. We would probably not stay again when the cold fronts are going through but would when the weather is calm.
Pamela
Click Here To View the Florida Keys Cruisers’ Net Anchorage Directory Listing For Dinner Key Mooring Field
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Feb 11, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Report from Boca Chita Key Marina and Visitors’ Center, AICW Statute Mile 1106

Boca Chita Key - Click for Chartview
Boca Chita Key is a smallish island surrounded by the waters of Biscayne Bay, south of Miami. It is part of Biscayne Bay National Park, and the Park Service maintains a small harbor and “marina” here. Services are minimal, and we have never been able to find more than 4 1/2 feet at MLW, while making our way to the dockage basin. On the other hand, many, including yours truly, find a visit to Boca Chita to be quite charming, particularly on weekdays.
Senior pass buys you $ 10.00 dockage, but be careful of the weekend unless you want all-night salsa. The ranger were there four times a day. The sound went down, and went up right after the rangers left. Elliott Key is closed because of Sandy damage which will not be fixed for a bit so Bocca is taking up the slack.
John Pholeric
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Marina Directory Listing For Boca Chita Key Marina and Visitors’ Center
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Feb 11, 2013by: Larry Dorminy No Comments
Good Words for Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina (FL Keys Inside Route, Near St. M. 1155)

Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina - Click for Chartview
Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina, owned and operated by the city of Plantation Key, Florida, is one of only a handful of facilities, south of Jewfish Creek, and north of Channel Five, which offer ready transient dockage on the Florida Keys Inside Route. We have always found Plantation Yacht Harbor to be a superior facility in every sense, and yours truly recommends this marina without hesitation. Just understand that the word got out long ago, so make your dockage reservations early!
Overall nice marina with slip pump-outs, nice showers, and laundry room. Tim is helpful and friendly, but the pool, tennis courts, and beach are a pay for use city facility. The resteraunts are a mile away, bt you can dingy to one of them(1 mile). $3.00 a foot.
John Pholeric
Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s Florida Keys Marina Directory Listing For Plantation Yacht Harbor Marina
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Feb 5, 2013by: Claiborne Young No Comments
“Yacht Channel” Passage – Southwest Florida to the Florida Keys
The so-called (and charted) “Yacht Channel” is one of three (at least) routes that cruisers might choose to journey from Southwestern Florida to the Florida Keys, or the other way around. The “Yacht Channel” is the shortest and easternmost of the three possible passages, but it is also the shallowest, and it does not lead directly from or to Moser Channel and Marathon, but rather to or from Channel Five.
Our last stop on Florida’s west coast was the Little Shark River, where we anchored out of the wind and current just opposite the “R4” marker. The forecast was for increasing wind and surf over the next several days, so we took the chance and crossed Florida Bay in 15-20 kt. winds, cruising the so called “Yacht Channel” in relatively shallow water from the marker off East Cape to Long Key, instead of taking the more exposed route to Marathon.
This worked fine except for having to dodge thousands of crab traps the entire way with the sun’s reflection on the water in front of us making it difficult to see them. Then we ducked behind Old Dan Bank and anchored at Jewfish Hole for protection from the east wind provided by Long Key and
Fiesta
Key.
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