Gordon Pass and Nearby Anchorages (near Naples)
Gordon Pass is the only inlet that serves the Naples region (until you get all the way south to Marco Island). Thus, it is an important artery for cruising craft traffic, but for the last several years, this passage has been shoaling along its northern flank. After reading Captain Russell’s message below, it looks like that unhappy process is continuing.
There are also a whole collection of good and well sheltered anchorages nearby. Captain Russel does a superb job of detailing these overnight havens!
Gordon’s pass continues to shoal on the North side so favor the red. It’s about 7 feet( IF FAVORING THE RED!) at MLLW tides it’s no problem but, I perfer a deeper water passage (8 feet MLLW) it runs on a SW heading(if your out bound) just after you pass the breakwater simply head SW. This puts all markers to the WNW or seaward of your track line as you depart. I use that route about 10 times a week doing charters (6 foot draft)or with my own boat that draws 6’8″. I like that route and use it in all sea conditions as it gets me away from the big wake maker monster boats much faster which is safer for my passengers.But it also keeps you away from the ebb tide current much longer. This is nice if a seabreeze or a frontal passage has kicked the waves up as it\’s a much smoother passage.
There is another trouble spot during low water. If you draw over 5 1/2 feet and the tide is very low consider hugging green # 13 if you don\’t, and make for red #12 (staying on the proper side for incomming traffic) you will find shoaling about 200 feet before arriving at red #12. Once you pass by 13 (going inbound) you will be fine to get back on the proper side of the channel.
Now I add the disclaimer to be very careful to get past the end of the breakwater before turning and try this passage in settled weather until you are comfortable with it ect, ect….But in the effort to share info, give it a try sometime you’ll like it.
You can still anchor in the nice coves out of the current and wakes amongst the big houses. This is a great spot to overnight saving the 3 mile run up river. The most popular cove is about 150 feet before arriving at green #13. Just turn North to enter this cove. But remember you have to hug the western shore for the deepest waters. If you stay TIGHT (like 20 feet of the dock pilings!)to the western shore you\’ll have 6.5 feet at MLLW. Many boats anchor in this cove which has a very soft bottom. But if you hug the this western shore and see another bay that opens up as you look due East you can turn to starboard and head up in there. Note that as you head across this first bay and away from the western shore you where hugging the depth will get shallow. This is a very soft bottom and we get through this part with our 6′.8″ draft at a zero tide. But we have the RPM’s up as we trudge on through this soft muck. As you reach the enterance to this next bay the depth will drop off to about 8 feet. This is the bay to raft up as you are in total idle speed protection. Either bay is a great anchorage area but all private, please don’t take your dog ashore even to an empty lot as I’ve seen a cruiser do! That behaviour makes it harder on us who fight and speak in city concil meetings etc for anchor rights.
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