Embassy Cruising Guide Florida by Maptech
Author:Maptech
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Maptech
The shallow lagoon at Marco Island’s Tigertail Beach attracts families with children.
Your rewards for choosing to navigate the Southwest Florida Coast will be readily evident in places like Everglades City, Naples, Marco Island and Fort Myers Beach. The larger cities all have plenty of excellent marinas, restaurants and entertainment options. On the other hand, the Everglades are a splendid place to abandon all civilization and enjoy the quiet, natural beauty. Beaches, restaurants and farmers’ markets will always be there in the major ports, should you tire of backwoods attractions. And let’s not forget the fishing, which draws visitors in droves from around the world.
The average tidal difference in this region runs about 2.5 feet, but winds blowing steadily and strong from the north and east can push water out of the rivers and bays, toward the Gulf of Mexico. Conversely, significant winds coming from the south and west can bring higher-than-normal tides. Moreover, you have to be ultra-careful when dealing with westerlies because they expose a good number of anchorages, reducing your options for finding a sheltered spot to drop the hook.
Also, when setting a course, try to reference more than one navigational aid, whenever possible. Hurricanes and fierce thunderstorms in this region have left some buoys and fixed channel markers in need of repair or missing entirely. The U.S. Coast Guard works diligently to keep the aids in place, but be prepared to navigate even if a marker or two may be missing.
Charts
Use Maptech ChartKit Region 8, pages 2, 6 to 10, and pages 29 to 38. Also NOAA charts 11427 and 11430 (1:40,000); 11426, 11429, 11431 and 11452 (1:80,000). Everglades National Park is shown on 11432 and 11433 (1:50,000).
Tides and Currents
Expect strong currents at the passes (inlets) on the Gulf of Mexico. The mean tidal range in Flamingo is 2 feet; 2.9 feet at East Cape, Cape Sable; and 3.6 feet at the Shark River entrance. In Everglades City, the tidal range is 2.3 feet on the Barron River and 3.4 feet at Indian Key.
Around Marco Island, the mean tidal range is 2.6 feet at Coon Key and Cape Romano, and 2 feet in the Big Marco River. In Naples, the mean tidal range is 2.1 feet. The range at Matanzas Pass is 1.7 feet.
Bridges
Unlike the East Coast, this portion of the West Coast has few bridges. If you are planning to head into Estero Bay via New Pass (not to be confused with the New Pass at Sarasota), you’ll have to clear a fixed 30-foot bridge. If you need an opening, opt instead to travel another mile and a half up the coast to Big Carlos Pass. Its 23-foot bascule bridge opens on request from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you’re heading for Fort Myers Beach via the popular Matanzas Pass, the fixed bridge clearance is 65 feet. The inside route to Marco Island (beginning east of Cape Romano via Coon Key Pass) has 55-foot fixed bridges at Goodland and Bear Point.
Navigation and Anchorages
Offshore Route
From Key
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