Carrabelle direct to Ft Myers

[almostenuff]

As I plan my upcoming run in mid-Sep with my 390DA (diesels) from IL to Ft Myers, I'm at a quandary as to how to run the last couple of days. Originally, I was planning to make the looper run from Carrabelle to Tarpon Springs, then take the ICW from there to Ft Myers. However, after much research I can't find a reason not to just make the run straight from Carrabelle to Ft Myers. It's 175SM and I plan to be making 25 mph (wx dependent of course). Has anyone made this run? Any gotchas? Obviously, greater than 4-6 footers will dampen my enthusiasm and September has the potential for worse.

 

[fwebster]

One of the fun things about cruising is enjoying the places and people along the way. From you ending itinerary, it appears you are going to miss a couple of really nice stops. There isn't much of anything in Carrabelle except for fuel. But a few miles west of there is Apalachicola, one of the real jewels on "The Forgotten Coast". It is a sleepy little oystering village loaded with local color and some of the best food and nicest people on the coast. It is truly off the beaten path to t he point that you feel like you are visiting a 50's era coastal town. The route from Panama City will show you the best of the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway since this part of the ICW consists of creeks and rivers. There is a nice marina in Apalachicola a few blocks from town if you want fine dining or a seafood restaurant on the marina property if you want it like the locals eat it........fried or raw. Also, the marina pumps more diesel than anyone in the area so the fuel is always good.

From Apalach. I'd go straight to Tarpon Springs. It is also quite unique. Tarpon Springs was settled by Greeks and there is a big Greek cultural influence in the area. If you are a student of coastal eating, one of the thing we look for arerestaurants with Greek proprietors or Greek chefs. Some of the best coastal restaurants along your route are in Tarpon Springs.

From there Ft. Myers is an easy run on the outside. If the weather and seas cooperate, I much prefer to see the coast that the ICW down in that area. If you need to top off fuel, the Clearwater city marina/fuel is just inside the bridge at Clearwater pass.

Also, if you are going to overnight or find some mechancial help needed along the way, one of Sea Ray's best servicing marinas is in Panama City on Grand Lagoon, Treasure Island Marina. They have very few transient slips, but will alway try to accomodate travelers. Who knows.........I might be in town and get to shake your hand if you stay there.

 

[h_gerry]

Before reaching Fort Myers, I would suggest a stop at Cabbage Key on the ICW south of Gasperilla Island's inlet into Charlotte Harbor. Great food, nice place to stop. Also Captiva Island has some nice places, South Seas Resort and Tween-Waters. Unless of course you are just looking to reach your destination.

 

[almostenuff]

I like your suggestion of running the outside. What kind of seas will you run full cruise. 4-6?

 

[fwebster]

I can run my boat in 4-6's very well and can run in 8's at a reasonable speed, but she handles slow speeds in sloppy seas without a lot of wallowing. The 390DA is a shorter boat that is a little stern heavy if you have a hard top. I kinda think finding a comfortable slow speed on plane might be a little harder on your boat.

The Gulf that far south is usually very docile if there are no fronts offshore. The I came from South Fla to the Panhandle in March. We ran from Ft. Myers to Boca Grande in the ICW, got bored to death, then ran outside up to Clearwater in 1 ft or less seas. We took on fuel at Clearwater and headed direct to the Panama City sea bouy from the Clearwater pass. The first hour or so was normal 1-2's then, the seas began to build as we progressed....(there is a lesson here: Don't rely on the NWS for frontal timing....they are just making guesses, perhaps educated ones, but they are still guessing) We ran about 5 hours in 5-6 ft seas (note to self: that is one rough a$$ ride on the bridge of a sportfish) and then had to throttle back for the last hour. As we neared the front some seas near squalls were 8-10's. We were on a 55 Viking and at times I could only wave tops from the bridge.

The good thing is you can travel via the ICW if you don't like the conditions outside. Plan your trip from inlet to inlet and make a "go" or "no-go" decision 30 minutes before you have to commit to run into the next inet. This is, incidently, is exactly how Rusty handled the route planning when we brought the 650 back to Florida. He was worried about being indecisive, but that how I do it all the time. We'd check the weather first thing, then plan a route to the first inlet, ask each other "Can you take it and can the boat take it?". We were able to run outside all the way from Cape Fear inlet....we could have saved a few miles by going straight to our destination, but the safest approach was to leave the option to go into the ICW in case we ran into some heavy seas.

 

[Mystic Dreamer]

From Apalach. I'd go straight to Tarpon Springs. It is also quite unique. Tarpon Springs was settled by Greeks and there is a big Greek cultural influence in the area. If you are a student of coastal eating, one of the thing we look for arerestaurants with Greek proprietors or Greek chefs. Some of the best coastal restaurants along your route are in Tarpon Springs.

From there Ft. Myers is an easy run on the outside. If the weather and seas cooperate, I much prefer to see the coast that the ICW down in that area. If you need to top off fuel, the Clearwater city marina/fuel is just inside the bridge at Clearwater pass.

.

Tarpon Springs also has real cheap diesel at the commercial shrimp/sponge dock, called F and Y Inc. Commercial Fuel. Typically about 30 cents per gallon less than other local marinas.

 

[kevin27]

Tarpon Springs also has real cheap diesel at the commercial shrimp/sponge dock, called F and Y Inc. Commercial Fuel. Typically about 30 cents per gallon less than other local marinas.

+1 on the fuel. 10 cent less if you pay with cash. Thats where I get my fuel.

 

[searay40dad]

what's your plan for the first leg or two of your trip, i.e. getting to the gulf and then to Apalachicola or Carrabelle?

 

[almostenuff]

Coming from IL, I'm doing Hoppies, then Cairo, Green Turtle Bay, Tombigbee to Eastern Shore Marina, Orange Beach, Carrabelle, then shoot the Gulf.
All in all, 12 days planned for perfect conditions...my mileage may very
I do have some concerns/questions running from the bottom of KY lake through the Tombigbee. I plan on averaging 10 knots until at least Mobile Bay. Sound about right?

 

[fwebster]

The Tombigbee is a one mile trip 400 times. That is just my opinion, but I'm spoiled because I am used to boating on the coast where there is something new and interesting to see every day. It has been several years since we ran a boat down from Nashville to Destin, but then, you could get up and run on the waterway. You do have to pay attention to your wake and be vigilant for guys hidden behind some brush fishing in smaller boats and well as the few businesses along the waterway. You also have to watch out for trash in the water if there have been some recent storms upstream.

Unless you have an appointment in Ft.Myers, your agenda is causing you to miss some of the most beautiful beaches, homes and cruising areas in the US. More than one cruiser has decided to abandon plans to go to central Florida after spending a few days enjoying the hospitality and scenery in the Panhandle.

 

[almostenuff]

Per my PM, this trip is 25% enjoyment, 75% utility...unfortunately. I'm permanently moving the boat down to my new house in the Cape and I only have 15 days off, so it's going to be a brutal schedule at best. However, safety is number one and if I don't make it all the way in the timeframe allotted, I will park her at a marina and continue on another day. Yes, i plan on running slow on the Tombigbee especially. I've heard of boaters getting a shot over the bow for waking a fisherman out there and Caelum has a pretty nasty wake while running.
Sorry, this is gonna look like crap on Tapatalk
Here's the "plan"

DATE	LOCATION	MILE MKR	LEG DIST	TTL DIST	LEG SPEED	EST LEG TIME	DAILY TIME	TOT TIME	LEG FUEL	REM FUEL	TOT FUEL	LEG COST	PER GAL	TOT FUEL COST
18-Sep	National Marine	168.5	0	0	0	0:00:00		0:00:00	0.0	275.0	0.0	$-	$4.25
18-Sep	Grafton-Illinois	0.0	168.5	168.5	25	6:44:24		6:44:24	188.7	275.0	188.7	$802.06		$802.06
18-Sep	Grafton-Mississippi/FUEL	219.0
18-Sep	Hoppies OVERNIGHT/FUEL	159.0	60.0	228.5	25	2:24:00	9:08:24	9:08:24	67.2	275.0	255.9	$285.60		$1,087.66
19-Sep	Kidd Oil	52.0	107.0	335.5	26	4:06:55		13:15:19	115.2	275.0	371.2	$489.73		$1,577.39
19-Sep	Angelo Towhead-Mississippi	0.0	52.0	387.5	26	2:00:00		15:15:19	56.0	219.0	427.2	$238.00		$1,815.39
19-Sep	Mississippi OVERNIGHT Angelo Towhead	981.0					6:06:55
20-Sep	Lock and Dam 53	962.6	18.4	405.9	15	1:13:36		16:28:55	22.1	196.9	449.2	$93.84		$1,909.23
20-Sep	Lock and Dam 52	939.0	23.6	429.5	9	2:37:20		19:06:15	8.7	188.3	457.9	$36.78		$1,946.01
20-Sep	OH/TN Confluence	922.0	17.0	446.5	9	1:53:20		20:59:35	6.2	182.0	464.1	$26.49		$1,972.50
20-Sep	OH/TN Confluence	0.0
20-Sep	Green Turtle Bay-OVERNIGHT/FUEL	35.0	35.0	481.5	9	3:53:20	9:37:36	24:52:55	12.8	275.0	477.0	$54.54		$2,027.04
21-Sep	Birdsong	115.0	80.0	561.5	26	3:04:37		27:57:32	86.2	188.8	563.1	$366.15		$2,393.19
21-Sep	Pickwick Dam	205.0	90.0	651.5	15	6:00:00		33:57:32	108.0	275.0	671.1	$459.00		$2,852.19
21-Sep	Grand Harbor-Tennessee	215.0	10.0	661.5	15	0:40:00		34:37:32	12.0	275.0	683.1	$51.00		$2,903.19
21-Sep	Grand Harbor-Tom Bigbee FUEL	450.0
21-Sep	Bay Springs Marina	413.0	37.0	698.5	15	2:28:00	12:12:37	37:05:32	44.4	230.6	727.5
22-Sep	Whitten LD	412.0	1.0	699.5	9	0:06:40		37:12:12	0.4	230.2	727.9	$1.56		$2,904.75
22-Sep	Montgomery LD	407.0	5.0	704.5	9	0:33:20		37:45:32	1.8	229.9	729.7	$7.79		$2,912.54
22-Sep	John Rankin LD	398.0	9.0	713.5	9	1:00:00		38:45:32	3.3	226.6	733.0	$14.03		$2,926.57
22-Sep	Fulton LD	391.0	7.0	720.5	9	0:46:40		39:32:12	2.6	223.3	735.6	$10.91		$2,937.48
22-Sep	Glover Wilkins LD	376.0	15.0	735.5	9	1:40:00		41:12:12	5.5	217.8	741.1	$23.38		$2,960.85
22-Sep	Amory LD	371.0	5.0	740.5	9	0:33:20		41:45:32	1.8	212.3	742.9	$7.79		$2,968.64
22-Sep	Aberdeen Marina	358.0	13.0	753.5	9	1:26:40		43:12:12	4.8	207.5	747.7	$20.26		$2,988.90
22-Sep	Aberdeen LD	357.0	1.0	754.5	9	0:06:40		43:18:52	0.4	202.7	748.0	$1.56		$2,990.46
22-Sep	Columbus Marina	335.0	22.0	776.5	9	2:26:40	8:40:00	45:45:32	8.1	275.0	756.1	$34.28		$3,024.74
23-Sep	John Stennis LD	334.0	1.0	777.5	9	0:06:40		45:52:12	0.4	228.7	756.5	$1.56		$3,026.30
23-Sep	Tom Bevill LD	307.0	28.0	805.5	9	3:06:40		48:58:52	10.3	218.4	766.7	$43.63		$3,069.94
23-Sep	Howell Heflin LD	266.0	41.0	846.5	9	4:33:20		53:32:12	15.0	203.4	781.8	$63.89		$3,133.83
23-Sep	Demopolis	216.0	50.0	896.5	15	3:20:00	11:06:40	56:52:12	60.0	275.0	841.8	$255.00		$3,388.83
24-Sep	Bobby's Fish Camp	119.0	97.0	993.5	9	10:46:40	10:46:40	67:38:52	35.6	275.0	877.3	$151.16		$3,539.99
25-Sep	Eastern Shore Marina	0.0	119.0	1112.5	15	7:56:00	7:56:00	75:34:52	142.8	275.0	1020.1	$606.90		$4,146.89
26-Sep	Orange Beach	0.0	100.0	1212.5	9	11:06:40	11:06:40	86:41:32	36.7	275.0	1056.8	$155.83		$4,302.72
27-Sep	Carabelle	0.0	120.0	1332.5	9	13:20:00	13:20:00	100:01:32	44.0	275.0	1100.8	$187.00		$4,489.72
28-Sep	Tarpon Springs	0.0	160.0	1492.5	26	6:09:14	6:09:14	106:10:46	172.3	275.0	1273.1	$732.31		$5,222.03
29-Sep	Cape Coral	0.0	150.0	1642.5	15	10:00:00	10:00:00	116:10:46	180.0	95.0	1453.1	$765.00		$5,987.03

 

[almostenuff]

Excellent. I'll check out F and Y. Thanks!

 

[searay40dad]

Here's my thoughts and recommendations. you're talking about ~700 miles and 13 locks to get to Mobile Bay. You have about a 200 mile run from GTB to where the Tenn-Tom connects with the Tennessee. the first 120 miles or so you can run a full cruise and make great time. The next 80 will be stop and go as you back down for recreational and commercial traffic and residential docks and boats tied up or pulled up on shore. Once you lock thru Pickwick Lock, I'd recommend Aqua Harbor (Tenn-Tom mm448) and try to make arrangements to fuel up the night you arrive so you can pull out early the next morning. The next days progress will depend on how you manage the locks and how lucky you are. Columbus Marina (mm335) is an awesome place to transient. Its only about 115 miles down river from Aqua but more importantly, its 7 locks. Again, fuel up the night you arrive. The next day leaves you with few choices because once you get to Demopolis yacht basin (mm215), the next fuel stop is at mm118, Bobbys Fish Camp. Covering ~215 miles and 4 locks to get to Bobbys is very aggressive and because of shorter days in late Sept, you'll be more than likely doing some running in the dark. Coming in to Bobbys at night can be a little nerve-wracking if you haven't been there before. Most travelers will just stop at Demopolis. Bobbys and Coffeeville Lock (mm116) is only thing standing between you and Mobile Bay. If you do stay at Bobbys then its an easy run to orange beach the next day. I had to do the ICW due to bad weather as opposed to running the Gulf when we went down. We stayed at Zekes one trip (cheapest diesel in the area by far) and the Wharf last time (most expensive). If you need to stop when you get to Mobile bay, look at Dog River Marina. super nice people.

 

[fwebster]

If you do have to leave the boat for a while, be aware that not every marina has service or the capability to have someone check on or manage your boat in case of a named storm coming ashore, and you are traveling in the middle of hurricane season. For example, East of Panama City, you are SOL for boat management so you would be ahead of the game to head back to PC and hang out at one of the marinas with 24 hour security and service capability. Our marina has an existing hurricane plan......its simple....everyone is hauled out and the marina management makes the decision, you don't even have to pick up the phone.

 

[almostenuff]

SeaRay 40 Dad, thanks I'll look at those options. Sounds like it meshes with what I had in mind
Frank, good call on PC. I was going to leave her at Mobile Bay, but I will keep the PC phone number handy. Thanks guys, you're adding a second dimension to my one dimensional plan

 

[searay40dad]

+1 to what Frank says. I just missed hurricane season but when I extended my insurance coverage to include the gulf, I still had to provide a hurricane plan. The guys at Treasure Island made that very easy. TIM is definitely a great place to keep a boat.

One of my closest boating friends has a place in Cape Coral. in fact, he helped me bring my boat to FL last year. He just sold his 58DB, 320 Whaler Outrage, 250 Select and 15 Montauk a few weeks ago.

 

[almostenuff]

+1 to what Frank says. I just missed hurricane season but when I extended my insurance coverage to include the gulf, I still had to provide a hurricane plan. The guys at Treasure Island made that very easy. TIM is definitely a great place to keep a boat.

One of my closest boating friends has a place in Cape Coral. in fact, he helped me bring my boat to FL last year. He just sold his 58DB, 320 Whaler Outrage, 250 Select and 15 Montauk a few weeks ago.

I wonder if his is the Blue hulled 58 on the Gloriana canal just before you get to Rum Runners. Sounds just like the toy box I pass on my way to the Caloosahatchee

 

[Southpaw II]

Be sure and check with your insurance carier. Some policies didctate staying above a particular latitude from June to November, which for some policies, about Demopolis, AL. If you travel South during those months, there may be a surcharge.

Don

 

[almostenuff]

Thanks Don. I need to get the policy changed and my current insurer thru NBOA was pretty ugly.

 

[searay40dad]

I wonder if his is the Blue hulled 58 on the Gloriana canal just before you get to Rum Runners. Sounds just like the toy box I pass on my way to the Caloosahatchee

his was a white hull, home's on cape harbor side.