Captain Roy’s question below is in response to a posting last spring by Captain Charmaine (see line below). However, I thought he might get more response if I placed it on this “Florida Keys” Cruising News section. I will also post it on the “Ask Your Neighbor” section. Those who have recently cruised the Florida Keys inside passage, please chime in by click the “Comment on This Posting/Marina/Anchorage/Bridge” link below.

Hey Charmaine’¦ how about Bowlegs Cut, Steamboat Channel, and the other rumored `shallow spots’ on the inside route? I’m interested in taking the inside route all the way from Miami, but I keep hearing that depths are less than 4′ in some of these notorious spots. Comments ???
Rapid Roy

Editor’s Note – The waters described below by Captain Turner are part of the so-called “Back Route” from Marathon to Key West. While this is theoretically part of the “ICW – Inside Route,” it is a portion of the Wateway seldom run by cruising size craft. Most captains choose to run Hawk Channel from Marathon to Key West. Conversely, my experience with the inside route from Jewfish Creek to Marathon is that, unless the tide is unusually low, you can count on minimum 5-foot depths! If anyone has seen less depth between Jewifish and Marthon, PLEASE let us hear form you by following the “Comment . . . ” link below!

Did the inside route on nov 2 09, depths for about half a mile
between Cudjoe Key and Big Spanish Key (st. mile 1213) got down to 4 feet during low tide. High tide would give you another 2.5- 3.5 feet
Ed Turner

Click Here To Read Captain Charmaine’s earlier article on depths along the Florida Keys Inside Route