Tampa Local Info, Please

[Hampton]

Planning the trip from PCB to St Pete (Vinoy). Will likely stop in Hudson for 1 day, Clearwater for 1 day, and then head to St Pete on the inside. Where should I enter? Just stay inside from Clearwater to St Pete? (I know it's slow going.) What are the gotcha's? What is the actual route? Is it obvious, or do I need to know when to take a sharp turn to port/stbd and change canals...

Thank you in advance.

 

[Bucit]

I just made this trip in a 2012 610 Dancer although we went from St. Pete to North Clearwater. The channel is well marked and really no tricky spots. It is slow going when you enter the "narrows" but depth is fine. It took us roughly 3 hours. It will take you longer beacuse once you get into St. Pete you will then need to access Tampa Bay and make you way around St. Pete to get to the Vinoy. When are you going to be in town?

 

[Hampton]

I just made this trip in a 2012 610 Dancer although we went from St. Pete to North Clearwater. The channel is well marked and really no tricky spots. It is slow going when you enter the "narrows" but depth is fine. It took us roughly 3 hours. It will take you longer beacuse once you get into St. Pete you will then need to access Tampa Bay and make you way around St. Pete to get to the Vinoy. When are you going to be in town?

Good info. Not sure just yet. Was supposed to be last week, then 08 Feb or so, now maybe mid Feb. I'll keep you posted.

 

[Big Daddy II]

From Clearwater Beach to the Vinoy its 2:20 on the inside and about 2 hours on the outside. Your adding a lot of miles outside and 50% more fuel. The ICW gets alittle skinny in areas just follow the markers and don't cut them. When you get near the Skyway and the Don you head east towards Tampa Bay and not out Pass a Grill. Once in Tampa Bay again follow the marker, its shallow in spots. If you do the trip outside come in Pass a Grill at St Pete Beach. The Vinoy is fabulous as long as there is no East wind. Its has an exposed opening to a basin that creates quite a rock and roll if wind much more than 15kts. Wave when you go by us in Belleair Beach.