Cruising Florida Bay

[tholepin]

Hello Everyone,

I sail a CP-16 in and around Buzzards Bay, MA.  For a change of scene, I'd like to cruise the thin-to-none water in Florida Bay.  After reading some guides, old and new, books (Waterwagon by Rube Allyn - interesting), and magazines, I thought I would ask those who have been there.

What was your experience in the outback?  Are the mosquitoes manageable?  Has this beautiful space become too crowded? 

My experience level is ICW twice, up and down, and a year in the Bahamas (1981).  I would be so thankful for your knowledge, advice and adventures in the Bay.

Thank you,   Tholepin

[HenryC]

I've never cruised there myself, but I have cruised extensively around Florida mangroves.  Be sure you are prepared for mosquitoes, the salt water marsh variety is an awesome beast, and not to be trifled with.  If you plan to anchor out on summer nights,  I recommend sewing up an "airtight" mosquito net and rigging it up as a boom tent. 

Find waterproof plastic tubs for storage the right size so you can fit them in the cockpit sole while anchored so you can unroll a thin foam mattress across them and the benches and sleep outdoors on hot, windless nights.  These can be easily stowed below while sailing, or left in the cockpit if you have to go below to sleep out of the rain.

I believe Florida Bay is one of the few areas of Florida where limestone and coral bottoms are found, so carry appropriate ground tackle. You may also need to be prepared for mud, Turtle grass and sand too, so I suggest two anchors, (Danforth and rock grapple, with chain and chafing gear.)

Charts may not be reliable in that area since it gets so little big boat traffic, so printing out some Google Earth satellite images may be helpful. Make sure you have a backup GPS, everything out there looks the same, and there are few landmarks to rely on for piloting, so it is easy to get disoriented. Make sure your compass is well adjusted, fortunately the local Declination is near zero.

I can't think of a better boat for these waters than a CP-16.  Its shallow draft is perfect for the area; you can always get out and push. But watch out for the mosquitoes.  They can make your life unbearable.

Have a great time, and send us a full report.

[shamblin]

have cruised the keys and florida bay for a week at a time in a c16.  you can be just a few miles out in the bay and not see anyone for days in january which is when we would always go back in the 80's and 90's.    mosquitoes were not bad if you anchored  a couple of hundred yards downwind of a mangrove island.  closer- mosquitoes   farther-chop at night.  water was wetsuit cold.

the bottom is clay marl in lots of places so you have to swim down with a diving mask to set the anchor, so anchow before sunset unless you like diving in dark water,    some of the bay is national park, so you cant fish/crab?

we had a fine time though. whenyou have shade and there is wind you can stay cool enough even in hotter months.  carry at least a 2gallons water per day per person.   have good charts and a gps. 

[Frantic]

Florida Bay is where I do most of my sailing in my CP16. You will absolutely love it! It's a pretty large area and a lot of it can be to shallow to enter.

The advice given here so far is spot on. Keep in mind that most of the bay falls into Everglades national park boundaries and you are not allowed to go ashore on about 99.9% of the islands. Only on Carl Ross Key, North Nest Key and the Rabbit keys are landings allowed. They have recently constructed some camping platforms out in a few places. I haven't had a chance to see them yet but they look pretty cool.

Also, I would highly recommend either South Dade Marina or Flamingo in the everglades as a launch site depending on which part of Florida Bay you wish to spend the most time in. I prefer the Eastern half for all but the winter months myself.

Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions, I'd be glad to help you enjoy my favorite place

[HideAway]

I ve heard stories of folks anchored on the Little Shark river - I think it was - in the Everglades only to be awakened by a loud buzzing and realize they were under attack.  The one who drew the short straw had to gear up and race to the anchor - the skeeters biting through his clothing all the way.  Then after the anchor was up the old diesel could not out run the buggers until they were well out in the Gulf of Mexico.   They swore the skeeters had  the word  Cessna  printed on them.... M