I guess this would be the best forum to post this topic. Let’s see.
I have been thinking about making a trip down the Intracoastal Waterway to Key West. Have any of y’all ever made this trip? At this point I am just sorting out weather or not it’s even feasible. I only run a 19ft Sea Pro, but I the I had the thought that if I plan things right, and make fuel/food/overnight stay plans, it could be a great and fun learning experience.
What do y’all think?
I look forward to the discussion.
Matthew K. Mizell
Columbia, SC
Sea Pro 190CC
Johnson 115 4-Stroke
Been wanting to do the same thing and have been looking in to it…but a 19’ boat will be real challenging as you are not always in protected waters in the ICW. To help you plan, get Dozier’s Water Way Guide. You’ll have to get the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Guides. These are full of info about marinas, detailed navigational info, and bridge and distance tables. One possibility would be to rent or maybe ferry to Key West a good sized boat that you can sleep on and anchor out at night. Solves the problem of planning motels…sure would like you to keep me up on what you find out and I’ll do the same.
Fishing is a prefectible art…in which nevertheless, no man is perfect – Gifford Pinchot
Key West Sportsman 1720
Ice Blue Pathfinder 2200
“Kemosabe”
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I’ve done it in my 18’ skiff and a 20’ sailboat. No problem. In the skiff we hotel hopped, in the sailboat we stayed on the boat. There are plenty of fuel stops. Not a lot of open water other than crossing some sounds for short periods, and Hawks Channel in the Keys can get sloppy but manageable. The biggest aggravation to me in power boats are the miles of NO WAKE zones in the concrete ditches.
If the weather is good, I’d run a lot of that offshore instead of in the ditch. You longest leg between easy fuel will be Savannah to Brunswick, about 100 miles. In mid summer the weather is usually very stable until late afternoon when the thunderstorms roll in. Should be an easy 4 day, 3 night trip.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
I met a guy in Edisto at the dawhoo bridge who paddled from the keys in a kayak. With that said a 19 ft boat should be able to do it.
See my post under boats and motors
ZX