wrote:
Rosalie B. wrote:
"beaufortnc" wrote:

Hi all,

Can someone recommend the best cruising guide for the Ft. Lauderdale to
Key West area.

Special focus on out of the way places to anchor and play.

Or, if you have favorite places of your own, you're welcome to share.

Our draft is 5' 5"

Thanks,

Do NOT get Claiborne Young's guide which was actually authored by
Morgan Stinemetz. Although I like his other books, this one is badly
out of date and inaccurate.

There is a new one out called Managing The Waterway Miami To Dry
Tortugas by the Doyles (who wrote Managing the Waterway), which looks
good. I have not used it myself. I have no financial interest in
it, but I did edit some of it and they used a couple of my photos in
it.

http://www.managingthewaterway.com/keysguide.htm is the website and
pre-publication promo runs through July 31st.

You'll need to enter the following VOUCHER CODE:

0MTWKEYS7027116

The voucher code discounts 20% on ALL purchases, including MTW:ICW and
the new companion electronic charts.

Again - I have no financial interest in this AT ALL. I was not paid
for my time except that they gave me a free copy of the guide.

Other than that, I guess Skipper Bob (anchoranges and marinas) and I
really like to have the latest Florida Cruising Directory and Dozier's
Waterway Guide - Southern

I am sorry to tell you that with such a deep draft your options are
seriously limited.

Actually that's not completely true. Our draft is 5'. A friend of
ours came up the ICW side and did not have a problem (he was running
from a hurricane and didn't have a way to get to the Hawk Channel
side). I wouldn't take that route, but Hawk Channel is fairly deep,
and I know people that cruise in the Keys full time with a draft of
6'6".