Nav questions for keys and Bimini

[motoryacht lover]

I would like to go to Hawks Key in June and read on this forum that if you draw 5 feet or more this channel can be a problem. I draw 5 feet, if I time the tides will I clear with ease or is best to stay away? Is it coral/rock or a sandy bottom? Also I am going to Key Largo can I get in that channel where the 2 or 3 hotels and Marinas are with a 5 foot draft? Left my charts on the boat, is there a break in the reef outside of Key Largo where I can get through and go to Bimini? Any tricks to getting into N Bimini or should I play it safe and go to S Bimini? Thank you very much for your time.

 

[Fanfare]

It's been about seven years since I was last at the Hawk's Key Resort. Things may have changed. I draw 4 ft. and had no problem going in and out. Their finger piers are a trifle short for my 50 ft, but it all worked. I think the tide is about 2.5 ft there so you should have no problems. We enjoyed the Resort then, great for small children. However, I went on line two years ago to investigate a repeat visit. Reports there said that due to the economy sales were off, and service had greatly suffered. We went elsewhere then. Hope things are better now. Please report!

The Anglefish Creek Channel just north of the Ocean Reef Club has a rumored rock at its east end. As we were going through a big old Trumpy behind us asked me to check the water for him. I read seven feet all the way through, and no rock. Don't remember the tide state then. Exit from there to Bahamas is easy and well marked.

I prefer to clear into Bahamas at Cat Cay because channel is easy, clear customs at Cat Cay Club private docks. No extra charge for customs if you spend the night at their marina, otherwise $100. Heard good reviews of Bimini Big Game Club's new docks. I don't go to Bimini because I think it draws the worst kind of clientele--weekend warriors who give the worst impression of Americans with their misbehavior. But I haven't been there in years. Probably should give them another chance.

 

[Pascal]

5' is ok at hawks, but try to get some tide to play it safe. Most of the channel is deep except for a short hump near the dolphin lagoon.

I ve taken the 70 footer that I ran into duck once, with a 6+ draft, but into the first basin which is just before the hump. At $5 a ft though you d think they have a deeper channel and decent docks...

I was in bimini a month ago. The entrance has a pair of red/green, split those, then a single green. Read the water and don't pass too close to the green and after the green don't turn in too quickly as the shoal extends in towards the beach, make a wide curve. Take it slow and read the water, it s easy.

South bimini has the same entrance so not much to gain

Bimini bay is ok, nice docks, but "cold"atmosphere too far from Alice town... Big game has just reopened and is nicer.

I m not a big fan of cat cay, really nothing to do there since it s all private.

There Are many cuts in the reef to get out of hawks channel and across.

 

[captddis]

I ve taken the 70 footer that I ran into duck once, with a 6+ draft, but into the first basin which is just before the hump. At $5 a ft though you d think they have a deeper channel and decent docks... quote


They used to have big boats in the first lagoon and it had about 7 ft. When they overbuilt the place with All the villa's, they did away with the deep marina and seawalled the whole area and made it for the villa's.

5Ft is not a problem as long as you have some tide And watch the current as it rips throught the last few slips.

Hawks used to be my favorite spot, but they have priced themselves out of my budget.

 

[GJH]

I have been in and out of Anglefish with 5' draft a few times in the last 4 years, no issues. I favored the reds slightly, well, because, that's where I always seemed to be.

 

[motoryacht lover]

Thank you all for the info

 

[ron6785]

Thank you all for the info

Yes as Pascal mentioned the Sand Bar extends quite a bit south of North Bimini and due to west winds silts towards the shore of South Bimini. I sat for three days in North Bimini and finally came out in a west wind with about 7ft rollers on my way to Gun to stage for crossing the bank to the Berries.Bout Time handled it great Chief of Naval Operations was not as happy, but that was the worst weather in 4 + months in the Bahamas and only for about 10 minutes.

 

[Pascal]

You don't have to run outside all the way to Gun. I usually get on the bank at the sapona then run SE to a point 2 or 3 miles W of gum/cat

Actually with a 5' draft you can cut in just south or south Bimini, reducing how long you spend rolling around

 

[ron6785]

You don't have to run outside all the way to Gun. I usually get on the bank at the sapona then run SE to a point 2 or 3 miles W of gum/cat

Actually with a 5' draft you can cut in just south or south Bimini, reducing how long you spend rolling around

That's the same way I went it takes about 10 minutes