Dania Cut-off canal - and trip south - need info

[Ididntdoit]

any local knowledge on the canal here? - current? conditions? Bridges? Depth? and anything else I should know (nothing really on Active Captain) I'm looking to go just past the I-95 bridge - sundance marine.....I will be making my way down from Merritt Island this weekend - I was thinking of trying to make it as far as palm beach the first day (inside) any other suggestions on where to stop, trouble areas, where to get fuel (gas).....Also, if anyone is interested in riding along, let me know

 

[davidh82]

I wish I had specific information on that canal. I've boated by it on the ICW plenty of times, but never entered.

 

[Gimme Time]

Going down the ICW is always very slow with all the no wake areas. Kept our boat for 8 months in 2007 just South of the Ft Lauderdale inlet on the way down to Dania Beach. Plenty of places all along the ICW to get fuel especially around Ft Lauderdale as well further South. If I were in the area I'd ride with you but the wife and I are now in Fulton, NY on the Great Loop trip for the next 11 months. Planning to spend the winter in FL and Jan into March next year in Key West for the winter. Have a great run and just use common sense and a good chart plotter and you'll be fine. Get local knowledge on any inlet entrances or exits and be sure and know what the seas and weather is doing and going to be doing while you're underway.

 

[FootballFan]

Came back from the west coast FL across the lake in March. Bad conditions outside, turned south on the ICW at Stuart. Went to PB the first day, second day was Palm Beach to home marina.

Pull my #$%^^^Z toenails out... Was glad to have the option of inside, but - ugh - that was a long trip. I forget how many bridges had to open. There was the bridge that opens once an hour - saw it closing when I was about 2NM away.

Then there was the kids learning to wakeboard...

Mark

 

[Alex F]

I don't recall any troubled areas where you would have to be concenred about. Since you an Active Captain member, just use it as your guide and you'll be fine. Obviously, bridges are not a problem for your DA. You may have to open couple, but it's easy to manage once you learn the heights and schedules. Review the route in AC, keep an eye on the hazard markers. The trouble spots will only become trouble once if you don't follow the advice given in AC reviews.

In general, AICW in this area is in great shape. Of course it'll be slower ride, but it's very enjoyable.

As always, the ICW gets packed during the weekends, especially in congested areas like WPB, Boca, FTL, Miami, etc. Keep a sharp lookout, as Mark said, wakeboarders, water skiers, tubers are very comon right in the ICW channel. Coming back from Boca, one boat smashed into a bulckhead just few min we came across the area. Tubes and skiies were part of the towing rig.

Plenty of places to get fuel. Just shop around where it fits your planned stops. Some places I've used:

- Sea Isle marina (Miami)
- City of Hollywood marina (Dania)
- Mariner Cay marina (St. Lucia)

 

[Ididntdoit]

Thanks Guys.....Ill let you know how the trip goes....Are the manatee/speed restricted zones well marked as I head further south?

 

[Alex F]

I keep a pair of binocs at the helm to assist with signs in a distance. I'd say for the most part they're well marked. As you may know Manatees are very slow, so be careful when cruising on plane.

 

[FootballFan]

From PB to Lauderdale - not many places that I can think of where you would be on plane. From a planning perspective, plan on hull speed at best.

Mark

 

[ocgrant]

That bridge is only 11 feet. I have seen plenty of boats sitting there waiting for tidal help. Be careful. Not sure your clearance but be careful. I only go down that channel in my dingy. Stay in the center for sure. Lots of debris on the sides. Any reason that marina? So many other places. If you have a dingy you can always drop the hook in lake Sylvia or grab a mooring ball at las olas. Or come up the river to downtown, only 15 mins from ICW with plenty of places to dock and much nicer area to explore on foot.

 

[Ididntdoit]

That bridge is only 11 feet. I have seen plenty of boats sitting there waiting for tidal help. Be careful. Not sure your clearance but be careful. I only go down that channel in my dingy. Stay in the center for sure. Lots of debris on the sides. Any reason that marina? So many other places. If you have a dingy you can always drop the hook in lake Sylvia or grab a mooring ball at las olas. Or come up the river to downtown, only 15 mins from ICW with plenty of places to dock and much nicer area to explore on foot.

Took your advice - im at las olas - and your right about the river too, a friend docks his boat behind the riverside hotel - as far as the ride down, it was positive. Took about 12 hours over 2 days. Day 1 merritt island to jupiter, day 2 jupiter to lauderdale - took on fuel in jupiter. As alex said, i only had to open or wait for 3 bridges. Had a raw water hose blow off due to a rusted clamp (not possible to double clamp) at lake santa barbara......luckilly i was able to anchor there and fix it quickly......it was the output side so the impeller was fine. Ill try to update a bit more with pics when i get home - thanks again for the help guys

 

[ocgrant]

Glad to hear it worked out. Are you keeping the boat down here for awhile or just turning around?

 

[Ididntdoit]

Glad to hear it worked out. Are you keeping the boat down here for awhile or just turning around?

I'll be here a while - would love some info on good "day trips" will probably be at Bahia Mar 7/15-8/15

looking to do Miami/coconut grove, boca chita and the keys

would love some suggestions on where to keep the boat on the hard for a couple months at a time

will be heading back to either Merritt island or Ft Myers within 6 mos

 

[Ididntdoit]

As i had noted the trip the trip down was "uneventful". I was alone, but tried to take a few pics - the first was heading out the "barge canal" towards the ICW
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_114309_resized_zpsme9lyemz.jpg
One of the many man made "spoil islands" where people hang out.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_120207_resized_zpswnctwljq.jpg
After many miles in the indian river, it starts to neck down around vero beach. It was overcast most of my first day.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_135631_resized_zpsymfjyugy.jpg
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_154142_resized_zpsc5vvmxfi.jpg
At 10' or so of "air draft" I didn't have to wait for many bridges.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_081430_resized_1_zpssgahlaln.jpg
The farther south I got, the nicer the houses were.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_135623_resized_zps2gw8jaoh.jpg
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_065238_resized_zpsxy0jkvnj.jpg
I spent the night at a great local anchorage near Jupiter island - the locals called it devils point - a sea turtle visited, but he was too shy for a pic - the scenery was great though.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_194015_resized_zpsg7fexlr3.jpg
I even had some neighbors.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_194051_resized_zpsc7eiurgv.jpg
The next day I gassed up at Jupiter inlet (the crew at Castaways is great).
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_081414_resized_zpsidsbtc58.jpg
Lake Boca was next, really neat spot many boats anchored in the center (very shallow)
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_122130_resized_zpsmatksld3.jpg
This bridge opens every 20 mins......I was making a little too much wake trying to make the 12 opening........the local PD reminded me it gets expensive when you rush to make bridges.....he verified my safety gear and let me go with a verbal warning......I followed the "Lady Go Diver" through 20min later
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_122126_resized_zpsyvhi5rvg.jpg
In the home stretch, going through Pompano a got a very loud BEEP - overheat - luckily, I was just approaching lake santa barbara - I was able to anchor here just off some new construction to access the situation - the culprit.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150615_080204_resized_zpsbk6cpfh1.jpg
20 min or so later, and I was on my way.......and finally after a 7hr day
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_142022_resized_zpsfnpgvx8n.jpg
and tied up in her slip - and yes, I know, the antenna is layed back - its for bridge clearance
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_154241_resized_zpsnzbm1r3t.jpg
nice spot
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150615_091550_resized_zpsc22ewtda.jpg
As i had noted the trip the trip down was "uneventful". I was alone, but tried to take a few pics - the first was heading out the "barge canal" towards the ICW
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_114309_resized_zpsme9lyemz.jpg
One of the many man made "spoil islands" where people hang out.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_120207_resized_zpswnctwljq.jpg
After many miles in the indian river, it starts to neck down around vero beach. It was overcast most of my first day.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_135631_resized_zpsymfjyugy.jpg
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_154142_resized_zpsc5vvmxfi.jpg
At 10' or so of "air draft" I didn't have to wait for many bridges.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_081430_resized_1_zpssgahlaln.jpg
The farther south I got, the nicer the houses were.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_135623_resized_zps2gw8jaoh.jpg
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_065238_resized_zpsxy0jkvnj.jpg
I spent the night at a great local anchorage near Jupiter island - the locals called it devils point - a sea turtle visited, but he was too shy for a pic - the scenery was great though.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_194015_resized_zpsg7fexlr3.jpg
I even had some neighbors.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_194051_resized_zpsc7eiurgv.jpg
The next day I gassed up at Jupiter inlet (the crew at Castaways is great).
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_081414_resized_zpsidsbtc58.jpg
Lake Boca was next, really neat spot many boats anchored in the center (very shallow)
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_122130_resized_zpsmatksld3.jpg
This bridge opens every 20 mins......I was making a little too much wake trying to make the 12 opening........the local PD reminded me it gets expensive when you rush to make bridges.....he verified my safety gear and let me go with a verbal warning......I followed the "Lady Go Diver" through 20min later
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_122126_resized_zpsyvhi5rvg.jpg
In the home stretch, going through Pompano a got a very loud BEEP - overheat - luckily, I was just approaching lake santa barbara - I was able to anchor here just off some new construction to access the situation - the culprit.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150615_080204_resized_zpsbk6cpfh1.jpg
20 min or so later, and I was on my way.......and finally after a 7hr day
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_142022_resized_zpsfnpgvx8n.jpg
and tied up in her slip - and yes, I know, the antenna is layed back - its for bridge clearance
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_154241_resized_zpsnzbm1r3t.jpg
nice spot
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150615_091550_resized_zpsc22ewtda.jpg

As i had noted the trip the trip down was "uneventful". I was alone, but tried to take a few pics - the first was heading out the "barge canal" towards the ICW
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_114309_resized_zpsme9lyemz.jpg
One of the many man made "spoil islands" where people hang out.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_120207_resized_zpswnctwljq.jpg
After many miles in the indian river, it starts to neck down around vero beach. It was overcast most of my first day.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_135631_resized_zpsymfjyugy.jpg
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_154142_resized_zpsc5vvmxfi.jpg
At 10' or so of "air draft" I didn't have to wait for many bridges.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_081430_resized_1_zpssgahlaln.jpg
The farther south I got, the nicer the houses were.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_135623_resized_zps2gw8jaoh.jpg
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_065238_resized_zpsxy0jkvnj.jpg
I spent the night at a great local anchorage near Jupiter island - the locals called it devils point - a sea turtle visited, but he was too shy for a pic - the scenery was great though.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_194015_resized_zpsg7fexlr3.jpg
I even had some neighbors.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150613_194051_resized_zpsc7eiurgv.jpg
The next day I gassed up at Jupiter inlet (the crew at Castaways is great).
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_081414_resized_zpsidsbtc58.jpg
Lake Boca was next, really neat spot many boats anchored in the center (very shallow)
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_122130_resized_zpsmatksld3.jpg
This bridge opens every 20 mins......I was making a little too much wake trying to make the 12 opening........the local PD reminded me it gets expensive when you rush to make bridges.....he verified my safety gear and let me go with a verbal warning......I followed the "Lady Go Diver" through 20min later
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_122126_resized_zpsyvhi5rvg.jpg
In the home stretch, going through Pompano a got a very loud BEEP - overheat - luckily, I was just approaching lake santa barbara - I was able to anchor here just off some new construction to access the situation - the culprit.
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150615_080204_resized_zpsbk6cpfh1.jpg
20 min or so later, and I was on my way.......and finally after a 7hr day
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_142022_resized_zpsfnpgvx8n.jpg
and tied up in her slip - and yes, I know, the antenna is layed back - its for bridge clearance
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150614_154241_resized_zpsnzbm1r3t.jpg
nice spot
http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/b453/ididntdoit1960/20150615_091550_resized_zpsc22ewtda.jpg

 

[ocgrant]

Good to hear. Yes I was out on Sunday just a usual day trip for the family out to the barracuda reef buoys. Did some snorkeling and sun bathing with my wife and kids. The mooring buoys are always a great few hours the earlier the better as it can get a little choppy. http://www.broward.org/NATURALRESOURCES/BEACHANDMARINE/Pages/mooringbuoys.aspx Short of that most of our time is spent on scuba diving or rafted up in lake Sylvia where the kids like to wake board. Trips up and down the ICW for a different resturant is always fun. As far as dockage I prefer up river as I travel so this time of year I want protection and fresh water to prevent growth. I am in a small marina with 10 boats right at the Davie Blvd bridge. Super protected, mostly fresh water and quiet. I am headed to Coconut grove for a month probably in August with my marina owner. Lots more to do down there just have to watch the weather because if it turns I have to run home for protection.