My 28' sailboat is now in Stuart, Fl after transiting the Okechobee
waterway but I want to get to Bimini and then to the Berry Is. so I
need to get to Miami. However, I am now very tired of the ICW so I
would like to sail down the coast on the outside from Stuart to
Miami. If I stay within 5 miles of land, will I have any problems
with the Gulf Stream pushing me N.?

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
My 28' sailboat is now in Stuart, Fl after transiting the Okechobee
waterway but I want to get to Bimini and then to the Berry Is. so I
need to get to Miami. However, I am now very tired of the ICW so I
would like to sail down the coast on the outside from Stuart to
Miami. If I stay within 5 miles of land, will I have any problems
with the Gulf Stream pushing me N.?


Wouldn't the charts point this out?
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explor...estongyre.html

"Don White" wrote in message
...

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
My 28' sailboat is now in Stuart, Fl after transiting the Okechobee
waterway but I want to get to Bimini and then to the Berry Is. so I
need to get to Miami. However, I am now very tired of the ICW so I
would like to sail down the coast on the outside from Stuart to
Miami. If I stay within 5 miles of land, will I have any problems
with the Gulf Stream pushing me N.?


Wouldn't the charts point this out?
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explor...estongyre.html



It's amazing what the gov't does for people... oh wait....

--
Nom=de=Plume

On Apr 5, 9:31*pm, "Don White" wrote:
"Frogwatch" wrote in message

...

My 28' sailboat is now in Stuart, Fl after transiting the Okechobee
waterway but I want to get to Bimini and then to the Berry Is. so I
need to get to Miami. *However, I am now very tired of the ICW so I
would like to sail down the coast on the outside from Stuart to
Miami. *If I stay within 5 miles of land, will I have any problems
with the Gulf Stream pushing me N.?

Wouldn't the charts point this out?http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explor...round/geology/...

Thanks for posting that, Don.

That's really interesting.

"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
My 28' sailboat is now in Stuart, Fl after transiting the Okechobee
waterway but I want to get to Bimini and then to the Berry Is. so I
need to get to Miami. However, I am now very tired of the ICW so I
would like to sail down the coast on the outside from Stuart to
Miami. If I stay within 5 miles of land, will I have any problems
with the Gulf Stream pushing me N.?


Maybe. If I recall correctly, the Gulf stream extends very close to parts
of the Florida coast, particularly during the winter months. I think I
remember as close as 3 miles in some areas, however I could be wrong,

But, that shouldn't bother you. Hug the coast and use your charts. The
current will be weak and shouldn't affect you much, I don't think. Then
again, when I was in that area I had close to 1000 hp to push me through it.

Eisboch

On 4/5/10 11:47 PM, nom=de=plume wrote:
"Don wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
My 28' sailboat is now in Stuart, Fl after transiting the Okechobee
waterway but I want to get to Bimini and then to the Berry Is. so I
need to get to Miami. However, I am now very tired of the ICW so I
would like to sail down the coast on the outside from Stuart to
Miami. If I stay within 5 miles of land, will I have any problems
with the Gulf Stream pushing me N.?


Wouldn't the charts point this out?
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explor...estongyre.html



It's amazing what the gov't does for people... oh wait....



It'll be the government that rescues froggy after his clapped-out,
poorly maintained boat falls apart halfway to Bimini.

--
http://tinyurl.com/ykxp2ym

On Apr 6, 6:38*am, hk wrote:
On 4/5/10 11:47 PM, nom=de=plume wrote:





"Don *wrote in message
. ..

*wrote in message
...
My 28' sailboat is now in Stuart, Fl after transiting the Okechobee
waterway but I want to get to Bimini and then to the Berry Is. so I
need to get to Miami. *However, I am now very tired of the ICW so I
would like to sail down the coast on the outside from Stuart to
Miami. *If I stay within 5 miles of land, will I have any problems
with the Gulf Stream pushing me N.?

Wouldn't the charts point this out?
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explor...round/geology/....

It's amazing what the gov't does for people... oh wait....

It'll be the government that rescues froggy after his clapped-out,
poorly maintained boat falls apart halfway to Bimini.

--http://tinyurl.com/ykxp2ym- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Your paranoia shines brightly again! It must be pure hell going
through life afraid of everything. So much so that you keep your kids
in their rooms doing practice tests so they won't be hurt in that
dangerous world out there.

On 4/6/10 8:09 AM, Loogypicker wrote:
On Apr 6, 6:38 am, wrote:
On 4/5/10 11:47 PM, nom=de=plume wrote:





"Don wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
My 28' sailboat is now in Stuart, Fl after transiting the Okechobee
waterway but I want to get to Bimini and then to the Berry Is. so I
need to get to Miami. However, I am now very tired of the ICW so I
would like to sail down the coast on the outside from Stuart to
Miami. If I stay within 5 miles of land, will I have any problems
with the Gulf Stream pushing me N.?

Wouldn't the charts point this out?
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explor...round/geology/...

It's amazing what the gov't does for people... oh wait....

It'll be the government that rescues froggy after his clapped-out,
poorly maintained boat falls apart halfway to Bimini.

--http://tinyurl.com/ykxp2ym- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Your paranoia shines brightly again! It must be pure hell going
through life afraid of everything. So much so that you keep your kids
in their rooms doing practice tests so they won't be hurt in that
dangerous world out there.


Froggy's boat has issues. I wouldn't leave the marina in it.
I'm sure there is no reason for your kid(s) to take practice
exams...with the genetics you contributed to them, they'll be lucky to
qualify for the Army.


--
http://tinyurl.com/ykxp2ym

On Mon, 5 Apr 2010 19:12:53 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:

My 28' sailboat is now in Stuart, Fl after transiting the Okechobee
waterway but I want to get to Bimini and then to the Berry Is. so I
need to get to Miami. However, I am now very tired of the ICW so I
would like to sail down the coast on the outside from Stuart to
Miami. If I stay within 5 miles of land, will I have any problems
with the Gulf Stream pushing me N.?

You can minimize the current by staying right along the beach in 20 to
30 ft of water but you will still have half a knot or so against you
in many places. If I were in Stuart going to the Bahamas, I'd skip
Miami and Bimini and go directly across to the Bahamas from either
Fort Pierce or Port St Lucie. The Pt St Lucie inlet can be dangerous
at times so be careful with that. There are several ways to cross the
banks and clear customs once you get to the Bahamas via this route.
Drop me an EMAIL at my GMAIL address if you want more details.

Another popular alternative is to go south only as far as Lake Worth
Inlet at Palm Beach and cross over to West End which is a port of
entry. Be advised that you will need $150 in US cash and passports
to clear customs in the Bahamas. You'll also need a yellow "Q" flag
and a Bahamian courtesy flag, both available at West Marine.

On Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:31:01 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Mon, 5 Apr 2010 19:12:53 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:

My 28' sailboat is now in Stuart, Fl after transiting the Okechobee
waterway but I want to get to Bimini and then to the Berry Is. so I
need to get to Miami. However, I am now very tired of the ICW so I
would like to sail down the coast on the outside from Stuart to
Miami. If I stay within 5 miles of land, will I have any problems
with the Gulf Stream pushing me N.?

You can minimize the current by staying right along the beach in 20 to
30 ft of water but you will still have half a knot or so against you
in many places. If I were in Stuart going to the Bahamas, I'd skip
Miami and Bimini and go directly across to the Bahamas from either
Fort Pierce or Port St Lucie. The Pt St Lucie inlet can be dangerous
at times so be careful with that. There are several ways to cross the
banks and clear customs once you get to the Bahamas via this route.
Drop me an EMAIL at my GMAIL address if you want more details.

Another popular alternative is to go south only as far as Lake Worth
Inlet at Palm Beach and cross over to West End which is a port of
entry. Be advised that you will need $150 in US cash and passports
to clear customs in the Bahamas. You'll also need a yellow "Q" flag
and a Bahamian courtesy flag, both available at West Marine.

If you haven't already done this, you'll also want to sign up for the
US Local Boater Option (LBO) which allows you to clear back in to the
United States with a phone call. Otherwise you may have to leave the
boat somewhere, rent a car, and drive to Miami which is a real PITA.

Everyone on the boat needs to have a LBO number but it is an easy
procedure. You probably have a "Port of Entry" up in the panhandle
where you could sign up.

http://www.noonsite.com/Members/sue/R2010-03-12-1

===========

How and where do I sign up?

Make an appointment to sign up for the Local Boater Option at local
ports of entry.

South Florida ports of entry include: Key West (305-296-2233); Port
Everglades (954-761-2000); West Palm Beach (561-848-6922); and Port of
Miami (305-536-4758).

=============