Florida to New Jersey Spring 2012

[shadow9999]

So the trip north is getting started a little later this year than usual. I usually like to leave around May 10th or so. My younger daughter graduated college on May 11, and my older daughter decided that she wanted to take a vacation with my wife and I to our Florida house the week of May 12 thru May 20. So my friend Bill is flying in tomorrow (Monday, May 21) and we plan on leaving on Tuesday the 22nd.

I'm on the west coast (Punta Gorda) so I need to get east before I can start moving north. I'm still not sure if I am going across the Okeechobee or around the southern tip of the state. I would rather go across in the interest of time. However, the lake is running low again this year so I may opt to go around the tip. Last year when I took the boat north, the lake was running about 11.2 feet which according to the Army Corps of Engineers web site gives a navigation depth for a boat with a draft of about 5.1 feet. However, even though SeaCure draws only about 4 feet, I found lots of very shallow water and touched down twice in the lake. Right now, the lake is running 11.74 feet which gives a navigation depth of about 5.68 feet or so. Definately more water than last year, but 6" isn't really all that much.

I guess I will make that call Monday night depending on how I feel. Going across would be more convienent due to a repair that I want to have made in Stuart as well. I have had work done at the MarineMax in Stuart. They do excellent work there and they are right on the way if I go across the state. I have all ready made arrangements with them and they will get my serviced quickly so I can be back on the water. My port rudder shaft seal is leaking slightly and needs to be repacked. If I go around the tip, then I'm probably looking at a couple of hour delay getting in and another couple of hours getting back out because they are tucked in a bit, not right on the coast. Well like I said, I guess I will make that call on Monday night and take it from there.

 

[osd9]

Good luck with the trip Robert. I look forward to seeing some pics on your way back up....you've got my email. If I can help, just shout out...

 

[mistercomputerman]

Good luck with it. Stop in at Lighthouse Point and say "Hey" to wingy...

 

[Turtlesboat]

Safe cruising, Post pics.

 

[ImpulseIII]

Safe trip.....see you at the Secret Spot this summer.

 

[shadow9999]

Well its Monday morning and I am leaning towards going around the southern tip of the state. The water level is low and I've just been reading some reports of several groundings near a work area in the rim canal between STM75 and STM70. Bent shafts, props, and rudders, even though the groundings were at no wake speeds. I am sure that the area is marked well, and that one should have no issues getting through there, but they have limited the beam size of a vessle that they are allowing to pass through this area, and the rocks can come up on you quickly when you are not in the center of the canal. So it looks like I will head for Marathon tomorrow morning. I'm going to call BoatUS Tow later today to get a report on St. Lucie Inlet. That is where I will need to come in, in order to get over to MarineMax for the repairs I need done. Typically this inlet is a "local knowledge only" type inlet as are most in this area. However just recently, within the past three weeks, a large dredging project was completed, so the inlet should be deep, safe, and well marked. But I will be calling them to get the details. If for some reason the inlet is sgtill not in good shape, I will need to run the ICW from Miami or Ft. Lauderdale (those are two good inlets to come inside on). The ICW is slow south of Stuart going through the Jupitor area. It's an awesome view of mulit, multi million dollar waterfront homes, but it makes for a long day.

 

[mistercomputerman]

You coming to Liberty Landing this year?

 

[shadow9999]

I'm not a big fan of Liberty Landing, so probably not. I will be going on the LI trip though. But I have to make it back to NJ first!

 

[Mikemapva]

Robert,

It's probably a good move to go around. My sister and brother in law just went through the Lake this weekend on the way from Punta Gorda to the Chesapeake Bay in a 34' Willard trawler. This was their comments on the lake passage.

Due to low water in the lake, it only operates on the odd hours. We HAD to make the 3 pm. Moorehaven is on the lake at the SW corner. We went thru the Moorehaven lock and east on the rim canal. Clewiston is at the southern edge of the lake where we headed north into about a 8 mile channel to the deep water part of the lake. Then 17 miles NE across the rest of the lake to Port Myacca. This was my 4th trip across and I have never seen the lake so low. We rarely saw more than 8' and saw a lot of 6'.

Thru the Port Myaca lock and we are on schedule for the 3pm. Then we came to a section in the canal that had water hyacinths packed tightly across the entire canal for over 200 yards.

Mike

 

[ngsamet]

I am sure you are aware that the locks only open every 2 hours on the odd hour. If you miss an opening, it could be a two hour delay.

I crossed a couple of years ago, and because of the delays due to traffic in the locks, it took me 9 hours from Ft. Myers to Stuart in a 48 Sun Dancer.

Good luck.

 

[shadow9999]

So day one has got us to Marathon. We left Punta Gorda at 7:30am

It was a brochure day to be sure!!!

Tied up now in Marathon Key.

We are going to try to make Stuart tomorrrow. If conditions are good, we can make it. Its about a 220NM day, so we would need to be out by first light. I will be checking the forcast later tonight and will see how it goes.

 

[tdschafer]

Robert,
Good luck!! Looks like love and sunshine to start!! Keep the pics coming!!

 

[Alegria]

Thanks so much for sharing the trip!! We just got back from 2 weeks in FL sans boat! Clearwater was beautiful. As we were coming down the causeway there was a house on the water with a Flemming at their dock. Ah paradise.

 

[shadow9999]

St. Lucie inlet is in good shape. They just finished a big dredging project so the inlet is deep and well marked. Normally this is a "local knowledge" only inlet. But since we
can now come in at St. Lucio inlet, we don't have to run the ICW which means we can make it to Stuart tomorrow conditions permitting.

However the forecast for tomorrow is iffy. Showers on the morning, thunder storms in the afternoon, and 3 to 5 foot seas. Can't really run at cruise speed in 3 to 5's. So the plan is to push off the dock before first light and see how far we can get. We will head out to Hawk Channel and make tracks. Depending on the weather, I can bail at either Miami or Ft. Lauderdale if need be. So we will see what tomorrow brings.

 

[shadow9999]

Day two didn't start out so well. When we woke up before first light, it was pouring outside. By about 8am it has cleared up enough to set out.

We boated through several periods of rain, sometimes light, but most often very hard. Later on during the day it cleared up. In Biscane Bay we slowed down for some shallow water and we were running at about 1200RPM when we picked up some dolphins. They stuck with us for about 7 or 8 minutes.

Later on we ran through Miami and ended up in Ft. Lauderdale for the night.

Better weather would have gotten us to Stuart, but all in all, it was a good day.

 

[mistercomputerman]

There are worse places to be than in Ft. Lauderdale.

 

[Alex F]

Beautiful pics, Robert. Safe travels to NJ. It sounds you've made the right call to go around. Looking forward for your updates.

 

[tedd930]

Thank you for the trip info and pics I am born and raised in south fl and have never
traveled beyond the site of land let alone travel up the entire east coast!!
I noticed you departed from punta gorda I am selling am closing on a large corner lot in PGI
on Friday it's in the bird section it looks as if you stated your voyage from there.. I am not familiar with the area and I purchased it in 2005 at the peak and I am about to loose a ton of money .. Is it picking up over there? My agent says I am getting a good,price and advised me to sell for $80k just was hoping to get some input from someone who know s the area..
thank you... Ted

 

[Capt. Rusty Higgins]

Not long ago I entered a post that not only thanked my friend HiFi (Mark) for saying nice words after we finally got to meet in person in the great state of Texas but I made a suggestion for future threads. In that I stated that in as much as I truly appreciate kind words being said about me and the great company I work for, and have for over 27 years, it has to be clear that I am the employee and you folks on CSR are the customer. I said it then and will start today but affirming my commitment that when I meet a club member in person, it will be I that writes about how grateful I am to shake that persons hand. That occasion happened last night in the dark standing next to what I believe to be the coolest looking 410 Sundancer I have ever seen…mind you I am sure I drove this boat in the year 2000 when it came out of the assembly building, ready for its maiden water test run.

Yesterday evening I decided to ride my bicycle to Port Canaveral to get something to eat and to hopefully reduce some girth from the exercise. I stopped at the local restaurant on the water in the port and before I went inside I noticed a Sea Ray was parked in the one and only slip for transient customers at that establishment. Walking towards the boat with bicycle by my side, I started to recognize all the amenities on the vessel that did not come from the factory at build time. Right away seeing the original mast light had been replaced with a solid tower structure that accommodated a DSS dome/ Radar and light assemblies. Next was the really nice inflatable raft secure to the swim platform and a single cable coming from the transom storage as opposed to the two 30amp cables we installed in 2000. The owner apparently put the splitter inside the boat, allowing him to extract only one cable when docking. Plug into a 50amp receptacle, how easy and clean looking is that. I could see lights on inside the boat and knew someone was home but being an old gel coater, I had to sneak the chance to run my finger down its side to feel the up keep. It was every bit as smooth and shiny as the day it left the plant and that would have been 12 years ago. Saw today’s new SR logos on the arch, very nice touch that would have the novice thinking they were looking at a brand new boat. This boat is like an old girlfriend to me so I guess I stayed and starred a bit too long. Gentleman popped up from the entry door and probably right before firing a warning shot passed my nose, he said “can I help you.” I think I said “uh, uh, nice boat sir” he then gave me the chance to speak for a few minutes and to introduce myself as a huge fan of his boat. We talked for awhile and discussed his travel plans from the west coast of Florida heading to Barnegat Inlet in Jersey.

What a thrill for me and what a surprise to see such a beautiful 410 Sundancer right next to a tavern that was rocking and rolling with a ton of patrons. I never made inside the pub that night, me and my bicycle headed home for some leftovers in the frig. I got my fill of enjoyment for the night just by seeing this boat and having the privilege of not only meeting but shaking hands with “Shadow999”. I salute you Robert and will brag about your boat for some time to come. Fair winds and safe journey to New Jersey and I certainly hope we get to talk at a dock again soon!

Capt. Rusty Higgins
Sea Ray Boats

 

[rondds]

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