Can any past Looper tell me the approment distance from Panama City to Fort Meyers by way of the Big Bend?Thinking of going there next.Any suggestions of basic Marinas would be nice.
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Can any past Looper tell me the approment distance from Panama City to Fort Meyers by way of the Big Bend?Thinking of going there next.Any suggestions of basic Marinas would be nice.
From Carabelle to Clearwater straight across was about 170 miles as I recall. Watch for crab pots!
We did Clearwater to Carrabelle 2 years ago. It was 170 statute miles across.
Coming north, we stayed at Clearwater Beach Marina in Clearwater, Twin Dolphin Marina in Bradenton, Crows Nest Marina in Venice and the City of Ft. Meyers Marina.
Going into Tarpon Springs would be a little shorter.
I think you can make some shorter hops around the bend if your draft will let you. I knew we couldn't get into some of those places, so I didn't really research it.
It never made sense to me to do the bend.
It is about 153 NM from Appalachicola to Johns Pass.
Why go way east only to end up 20 miles north at Clearwater?
The apalachicola inlet is virtually un-usable in anything over 3.5' draft. I just was up there and told not to go anywhere near it since there has been a lot of shoaling.
We ran from Apalachicola through St George sound to East Pass near Carabelle leaving at 3 A.M. We then set out into the gulf and crossed to Clearwater arriving around 6:15 P.M. I would rather arrive before dark or at least before pitch black since everyone above is 100% correct about it being crab pot city.
We then ran the ditch all to Sarasota, and then finally to Legacy Harbour.
I did not know it had shoaled so badly it has been a few years. Unless the weather was real bad I would have gone Clearwater to Boca Grande. It is a 13 hour trip doing the ditch. You went by my house going through Madeira Beach.
Well, if you're being lazy, just start at the end and read your way forward for a reverse route. :)
http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/sho...nd-ready-to-go
Seriously, unless you're in a hurry to get to Fort Myers and/or want to do something different, seems to me like it would be to your advantage to run where you have some familiarity. I can't really see you wanting to run at night, and that's pretty much what you're going to have to do unless you want to spend the $$$ to get her up on plane and do a more direct route. Even then, you're going to be running in the dark at one end or the other this time of year. I think Brenda would enjoy seeing what you and I saw on your first trip.
If it's only 170 statute miles why can't he make the run? That would be about 148NM. I'd think he'd be able to cruise easily and efficiently at 17kts with those Cats. That would be less than 8 hours. Bump her up a bit faster and he can be there in less than 8 hours. How fast can he run?
I'd have to go back and look at that same thread as I honestly don't remember how fast the boat will cruise. Bottom line is, he will use a LOT more fuel running a fast, direct route than he will use taking the route we went. Then comes the fact he's in Panama City, not Carrabelle, and there's just not a whole lot to see out in the Gulf.
I can't really tell what you are asking, but if the question is "what is the best way to get from PC to FM?" then the quick answer is PC to Carrabelle via the GICWW, then a straight shot across to Clearwater [my preference] or to Tarpon Springs. Then using the ICWW to FM. The only challenging portion is the hop across the Gulf, which can be done safely and easily if you wait for the right weather window. This time of year, some of the trip will be in darkness regardless of how fast you run. On an older boat like yours and mine, I don't want to push her hard, so I plan on an overnight run with arrival offshore Clearwater in the morning so that I can see my way through the pots.
OTOH, if your question is "Straight shot across the Gulf, or hopping along the Bend?" then my response is that hopping along the Bend is only if you want to visit places like Steinhatchie, or Cedar Key, or Crystal River. The trip out to deeper water, then up relatively complicated channels to limited anchorages or marinas, isn't worth the extra time and distance, if your only objective is to avoid a night time transit.
I personally would avoid the ICW on the west coast until Boca Grande or Gasparilla unless you absolutely have to use it due to weather. No doubt you want to duck inside at one of those two places for the last leg to Fort Myers, and you have to take Brenda to Cabbage Key.
I do not remember the time but I do remember the fuel! Crystal river to Carrabelle @17KTS 220 gallons!!!!! About 130 NM:cool:
This last Summer we drove the bend up to Apaloochacola and checked out some of the places mentioned. Basically we didn't see anything we wanted to dock at overnite and the reason was, there were no facilities of substance between Carabelle and Tarpon.
The concern was the amount of time spent getting inside, draft and what was waiting for you when you got there.
It was fun driving it but it changed our minds on how we would approach the trip.
I just (for the heck of it) did a quick plot on Time Zero from Tarpon to Carabelle dock to dock at about 147NM. At 8K that is about 18.4 hours. Under good circumstances I might anchor out along the West Coast of the Peninsula to bust this up. Freedom can still hit 21K but that is still 10 hours hauling the mail and that would pretty much suck the tanks dry on our boat since she only holds 385 chock-o-block.
I took a 41 Chris Craft that I had just repowered with new 454 EFI from Johns Pass to App with 1.3 hours on the engines. Held 350 gal and brought 8 jerry cans. Ran 13 kts and were in before dark.
Same with a new Bayliner and some jerry cans.
Brought a 31 Silverton back from App to St Pete with a fuel stop in Cedar Key and made it in one day. It was the summer though. ran 17kts
Done a number of faster boats fron PAG to Panama city in 10 hrs.
A friend ran a 37 Hatt from Texas to PAG on one engine stopped in Port Eads in LA for fueland ran straight to ST Pete.
Should be no problem for a well founded Hatt.
If you are making landfall coming from the west at night the easiest inlet is Clearwater by far. Tarpon Springs is very difficult.
If you are trying to make time then go from Clearwater on the outside and go in at Venice. Venice is the easiest inlet to enter at night. 2 markers and a seawall. I enjoy the scenery on the ICW route but there are bridges and no wakes etc. Do not go outside and re-enter the ICW using either Sarasota passes unless you are feeling lucky or have a seeing eye trawler to follow.
The run to Boca Grande on the inside is interesting but does have some bridges. If you go on the outside and enter at Boca Grande be safe and go to the sea buoy. With local knowledge you can cut straight to the pass and save some miles. I have the knowledge and it still scares me every time.
From Boca Grande to Fort Myers, you need to make sure you do not do the "Miserable Mile" in the dark. It is a narrow channel north of the Sannibel Causeway that has a ripping cross current. The markers are far apart and often missing because people run into them and knock them down.
You will see a lot of cruisers anchored at Ding Darling park just around sunset so they can take on the mile at dawn rather than get caught in the dark there.
Have a great trip.
Bruce
Freestyle
1986 67 CPMY
Tampa
We have done it in a 53MY via Panama City to Clearwater Beach, Carrabelle to Steinhatchee, and Carrabelle to Clearwater Beach. Where to go depends on what speed you are willing to go and if you are willing to go overnight. If you go slow and want to make it during one day, Carrabelle to Steinhatchee is only 70 miles. You could also go to Yankeetown, FL on the Withlacootchie River if you can get a tie-up. It's a truly beautiful cruise about 10 miles up the Withlacootchie to a small boat marina that has a good tie-up for shrimp boats and may let you stay there if you call in advence. If you go slow overnight, do Panama City to Clearwater Beach and if you go fast in one daylight day, go Panama City to Clearwater Beach. No crab pots after you get into deeper water farther away from ports, but lots as you leave and arrive.
By far the best, most comfortable, is going fast from Panama City to Clearwater Beach in one day. Steinhatchee is Ho Hum and only one decent marina with few big tie-ups. We also visited Crystal River, which sucks.
Doug
It is about 200nm from PC to Clearwater. Give Cape San Blas some clearance to the South, then on to Clearwater. Watch the weather in the winter it can get real choppy in those waters. Clearwater to Boca Grande in the Gulf about 85nm. Boca Grand to Ft. Meyers in the ICW about 40 nm. There are a lot of good marinas to stay at and anchor from Clearwater to Ft. Meyers. Personally, I like from Venice to Ft. Meyers best.
Two good sites for traveling which you probably have:
http://www.waterwayguide.com/waterwa...l=27.6,-85&z=7
http://mapsof.net/gulf-of-mexico
The second site has a lot of maps and tools. I like the point to point distance feature under tools.
Totally great marina is Marina Jacks in Sarasota. Walk to restaurants, park & downtown easily, excellent marina, and this time of year see the sunsets over the little park from your aft deck if you bow in to a transient slip on the South side of the marina. South side has no wakes, North side gets wakes from the bay.
Also fun to take the ICW from Sarasota south to the excellent protected anchorage at Cayo Costa State Park. Dingy to park dock to walk the trails to the gulf side beaches or dingy to the nearby inside beach, or take a fun 2 mile ICW dingy ride to Cabbage Key, supposedly the island and restaurant about which Jimmy Buffet wrote “Cheeseburger in Paradise”. You can only get there by boat and restaurant has a free dingy dock.
Doug
Well thanks to everyone .I'm chicken and we will probably do what Randy and I did in reverse.I can do 8kts or push it up to ten but I haven't had this boat on a plane this whole trip.We are still at PC and we are waiting on Oil anylis results from Cattapiar.I'm 20 hours from oil change and Hopefully they'll recommend an extention.Oil for the 31seris Cats is $30 per gal and I need 14 gal plus filters.Should hear Back from them soon.Hoping for a 75-100 hour extention.Even 50would help.We also have friends coming over from Mobile and we would like to run this section across to Stienhatchee togather.they should be here this weekend.Also Russ Appleton should be here on his 43 this weekend and we enjoy being with them.So I don't see us leaving unti early next week.I may wind up doing the oil change and it takes me the better part of a day.We shall sea!!!
"we will probably do what Randy and I did in reverse."
So, you're gonna run with a busted engine, but on the opposite side as ol' Freebird? :p
Well I spent 15 days with him and I'll never regret it !!!
Sea Hag Marina is where we stayed on that trip, and I've been there since. Gotta be sure to take the dually ride (alligator skin seats) to the local seafood joint, the name of which escapes me right now.
http://seahag.com/
Well ,Good news!Oil samples came back cleaner than a whistle.Resample in 100 hours.Bright Angle got here yesterday.We will probably leave on the 26th.
Well its 0500 Sunday Morning and we are at Carrabelle.Looks like 2-3's to cross and I don't think Bren could handle that.We are still running with a pack of about 6 boats 4 slow ones and two fast ones .We are running with Bright Angel a 44 Jeff.Yesterday in App sound near the dredge just past the bridge we had to plow our way thru.Dont wont to do that again.So I'll get with Bryon in a few minutes and we will decide what to do.
Bryon Bren and I hashed it out and its no getting to be daylight.Looks like we will see the rest of the year here.It would be a really rooley pooley ride and a tough day so here we sit it out for a better weather window.
Just a suggestion, but you might want to take a little ride out into the Gulf and let Brenda experience those 2-3's. No doubt the boat can handle them, but if they cause her problems, you may want to rethink a few things because that's about as good as it gets. The best time to find out you're prone to seasickness is when you can put your feet back on dry land in short order. Then it's time to head to the drug store.
The boat will ride better at speed. It rocks a lot less when on plane.
It's not rough out there. It's Hatteras weather.
Hey Robby, When it comes to weather, what you see is what you get... Forecasts are great, but check the buoys as well. We left Marathon with forecast 5 to 8, but never saw anything that big...the buoy observations are real time.. http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/maps/Florida.shtml
Yep, speed helps. I'm sure you remember what it felt like trying to run 8 knots vs 15 knots in 3+ seas. Going through them is a lot better than up and over and back and forth unless you just enjoy that sensation. This leg and the leg to Clearwater is where you might want to spend a few extra bucks in fuel to get a more comfortable ride.
We just came back from Key West at conch harbor to Fort Myers and made it in about 7 hours running 19 mph. There were scattered 4-5's near key west but it became a mill pond when we neared Marco Island. In the short distance offshore you really are crossing from Carabelle to Clearwater it shouldn't get too bad and I'd expect 2-3' to be the norm. We crossing in 2's with ocasasional 3's mixed in at 11 knots.
It's not even Hatteras weather. 2'-3' is about as good as it gets once you venture outside. Push the throttles forward and let the boat do what it's designed to do. It's a planning hull and will handle seas best when on plane. Trawlers have a very different hull design. Fuel is cheaper and those little Cats don't burn much anyway. Run her fast and you'll never turn back!
I have to wonder how many extra miles are added by wallowing around and zig zagging back and forth at hull speed in sloppy weather
Wow, its seems the weather isnt cooperating. Well, I pick the days we travel for sure. Wave direction makes a ton of difference. I can plow though 3-4 ft waves on the nose with no problem. 2-3ft on the beam is uncomfortable. Our boat is very top heavy and rolls like crazy. A following seas is terrible also. Not rolling as much but I cant steer worth a flip. Dodging lobster pots would be crazy hard. I have traveled from Marathon to Ft. Meyers at night with 1 ft seas and could see the pots on the radar and cut through the string of pots. However, last Oct we were running in the gulf to key west from Marathon and I got tangled in ropes that were running under the water with no maker bouys. I had to stop and swim down and cut the ropes off the prop. The water was dead calm that day. Anyway, I cant stand dodging lobster pots. Even if you could plan and go 25kts, its real hard to see those dang pots. Good luck finding a day to cross. Maybe the wind will change to East.
Yeah it Sucks.We are still in Carrbelle and wil probably be until next week.Theres been some talk about strait across to Tarpon Springs ,we shall sea.Its not that Byron and I couldn't hack it it the girls we are worried about.
Problem is you rarely get less than 2-3ft seas in open water. That shouldn't be an issue for your crew or the boat. You should give it a try and if it is too uncomfortable, head back in and wait for a dead calm day. Keep in mind that days when the winds are less than 10kts and the seas are under 2ft are few and far between.
I have never been in this area before but if its anything like the Keys (in the winter) there are very few days of calm winds. The winds were honking 15-25 NNE every day. We spent 30 days in Marathon an a mooring ball (boot key) and we couldnt even go snorkeling offshore. I agree with trying it to see if its not too bad. Test the waters and turn around if it gets too bad (what ever bad is). My wife was really scared at first about the rolling action. Me scaring the pants off of my crew in the Beaufort inlet didnt help matters either (now they are gun shy). Thats was 4 years ago and now my wife has gotten used to the rolling and bucking that 2-4ft seas gives. I still dont want to take on the gulf stream unless its really good conditions.