Ft Lauderdale to Marco Island -- best route?

[Sea~Wolf]

Hello fellow Hats,

I am planning to pick up my recent purchase in Ft. Lauderdale, 1964 34' sedan fly bridge (poor condition), in a few weeks and (hopefully) cruise her back to Marco Island for restoration.

What is best route? South to the Keys and around the Everglades or the "safer" and easier route north to Stuart, St. Lucie canal, across Okeechobee to Ft. Myers and south to Marco? The southern route is shorter and am told more scenic but after you depart the Keys first marina is 70 miles to Chokoloskee. So if you break down it is you and the alligators.

And by the way, thanks for all the great advise I got on the battery charger, saved me a lot of learning curve time.

Any advise?

Thanks,

Bob

 

[holtcl]

north to Stuart, St. Lucie canal, across Okeechobee to Ft. Myers and south to Marco

Would be best if you have the water level if Okeechobee. Lots of marinas, protected water, with exception of Ft. Myers to Marco. By the time you get to Ft. Myers you'll have a pretty good idea of what you have with exception of sediment in fuel tanks, which stands to get stirred up in open waters. Pick your day and go for it! Good luck and have fun!

 

[Pascal]

if the boat is in questionable condition, i woudl take the OWW route.. water levels are up (over 7' right now) and you have plenty of places to stop if needed.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

We go from Miami to Ft. Meyers Beach every year. We spend a month there, then return. We usually go through Okechobee one way and through the inside passage around the keys the other. From Lauderdale the distance is a wash and there are plenty of places on the route through the lake for services. You have a full day of open water on the keys route from Marathon to Marco. You could stop at Everglades City, and that is an awesome stop, but there are not many places on that whole Keys route to duck into. The marinas on the inside are mostly for outboard boats and have 3' of water. Plantation Yacht Harbor on Platation Key, Marathon, and Everglades City are the whole list. If I were worried about the boat's mechanicals I would surely go north through the lake. There is plenty of water in the lake this year and I found several marinas between the lake and Ft. Meyers including LaBelle.

 

[Sea~Wolf]

north to Stuart, St. Lucie canal, across Okeechobee to Ft. Myers and south to Marco

Would be best if you have the water level if Okeechobee. Lots of marinas, protected water, with exception of Ft. Myers to Marco. By the time you get to Ft. Myers you'll have a pretty good idea of what you have with exception of sediment in fuel tanks, which stands to get stirred up in open waters. Pick your day and go for it! Good luck and have fun!

Hey thanks, I think you are right. And who knows what is in the fuel tanks good point. Should be an adventure and a good time to learn about handling. Appreicate your comments.

Bob

 

[Sea~Wolf]

if the boat is in questionable condition, i woudl take the OWW route.. water levels are up (over 7' right now) and you have plenty of places to stop if needed.

Good advice, think I will go that way, plenty of places to stop. Appreciate your comments.

Bob

 

[Sea~Wolf]

We go from Miami to Ft. Meyers Beach every year. We spend a month there, then return. We usually go through Okechobee one way and through the inside passage around the keys the other. From Lauderdale the distance is a wash and there are plenty of places on the route through the lake for services. You have a full day of open water on the keys route from Marathon to Marco. You could stop at Everglades City, and that is an awesome stop, but there are not many places on that whole Keys route to duck into. The marinas on the inside are mostly for outboard boats and have 3' of water. Plantation Yacht Harbor on Platation Key, Marathon, and Everglades City are the whole list. If I were worried about the boat's mechanicals I would surely go north through the lake. There is plenty of water in the lake this year and I found several marinas between the lake and Ft. Meyers including LaBelle.

Thanks much for your comments. The boat and me are both questionable so I will go the northern route. Once we are both up to speed will try via the keys sometime. Appreciate your help.

Bob