Go Back  Offshoreonly.com > General Discussion > General Boating Discussion
Running from Miami to Key West, ANY ADVICE? >

Running from Miami to Key West, ANY ADVICE?

Notices

Running from Miami to Key West, ANY ADVICE?

Old 10-27-2011, 06:35 PM
  #11  
Registered
 
thisistank's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Channel Islands, So. Cal.
Posts: 13,649
Received 2,831 Likes on 951 Posts
Default

As others have said, if you're running inside it is tricky at times and like Brandon said, there's a LOT of crab pots through out (why the state allows the crabbers to put the pots in "the road" is beyond me!)

Hurricane Wilma took out many (read "most") of the visual markers so your GPS is of the utmost importance. Use the screen that shows the channel like a road and stay inside the lines!!

Stop at Gilberts in Key Largo and at the Tiki Bar in Islamorada. Two spots to get a refreshment and use the head. Gilberts is about 60 miles south of Miami (and they have fuel) and Islamorada is about 100 miles South. 150miles one way. It's an awesome run that everyone should do once in their life but to be honest...150 miles starts to feel a bit mundane like you're riding in a car about 100 miles into it.

Have fun man.

Last edited by thisistank; 10-27-2011 at 06:55 PM.
thisistank is offline  
Old 10-27-2011, 06:39 PM
  #12  
Registered
 
FunHome's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Kansas & LOTO
Posts: 2,705
Received 6 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

Go with a group like Florida Powerboat Club... on one of their Poker Runs...
FunHome is offline  
Old 10-27-2011, 06:53 PM
  #13  
Registered
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 11,650
Received 881 Likes on 478 Posts
Default

Crab pots are annoying but keep in mind they are also good depth indicators, usually in 10 ft of water +/-.

NORTH OF GILBERTS- Biscayne bay/Card Sound there is one spot in the middle of nowhere that is a very tight channel (like less than 50 ft wide). Think of a bottle neck, it is wide open then super narrow then wide open again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALw-SALL4to
A KW Poker Run video could help too!


One of FL powerboat's videos shows a few boats running outside the channel at a high rate of speed in an area with a ton of skeg/prop marks on the bottom....you cringe watching it but they all make it through
Jupiter Sunsation is offline  
Old 10-27-2011, 07:11 PM
  #14  
Registered
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 11,650
Received 881 Likes on 478 Posts
Default

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rqhw..._order&list=UL

5:45 mark is what you DON'T WANT!
Note the color change in the water
Jupiter Sunsation is offline  
Old 10-27-2011, 07:38 PM
  #15  
Registered
iTrader: (2)
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Miami Beach
Posts: 2,142
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Jupiter Sunsation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rqhw..._order&list=UL

5:45 mark is what you DON'T WANT!
Note the color change in the water
a holes tearing up the flats, although i guess if they are going fast enough they only need 12" of water.
pstorti is offline  
Old 10-27-2011, 07:38 PM
  #16  
Registered
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: LOTO
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by Jupiter Sunsation
Crab pots are annoying but keep in mind they are also good depth indicators, usually in 10 ft of water +/-.

NORTH OF GILBERTS- Biscayne bay/Card Sound there is one spot in the middle of nowhere that is a very tight channel (like less than 50 ft wide). Think of a bottle neck, it is wide open then super narrow then wide open again.
Very easy to blow past that....
redbud35 is offline  
Old 10-27-2011, 07:43 PM
  #17  
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Boca Raton Fla. usa
Posts: 87
Received 17 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by redbud35
Very easy to blow past that....
I bet you are speaking about "feather Bed Shoales" and yes it is in the middle of no where and the opening is verry narrow.
mikefili is offline  
Old 10-28-2011, 07:16 AM
  #18  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Middle River, Maryland
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by thisistank
As others have said, if you're running inside it is tricky at times and like Brandon said, there's a LOT of crab pots through out (why the state allows the crabbers to put the pots in "the road" is beyond me!)

Hurricane Wilma took out many (read "most") of the visual markers so your GPS is of the utmost importance. Use the screen that shows the channel like a road and stay inside the lines!!

Stop at Gilberts in Key Largo and at the Tiki Bar in Islamorada. Two spots to get a refreshment and use the head. Gilberts is about 60 miles south of Miami (and they have fuel) and Islamorada is about 100 miles South. 150miles one way. It's an awesome run that everyone should do once in their life but to be honest...150 miles starts to feel a bit mundane like you're riding in a car about 100 miles into it.

Have fun man.
Thanks, we appreciate all the advice!

Chuckie & Samantha

See everyone in Key West next week!
Powerboat713 is offline  
Old 10-28-2011, 02:15 PM
  #19  
Registered
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Jupiter Sunsation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rqhw..._order&list=UL

5:45 mark is what you DON'T WANT!
Note the color change in the water
how shallow is the water there? do u think they are hitting the bottom? you can see them shooting a large rooster..
PokerRun388 is offline  
Old 10-28-2011, 02:51 PM
  #20  
Charter Member
Charter Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Ted G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Edgerock Baby!!
Posts: 7,663
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by PokerRun388
how shallow is the water there? do u think they are hitting the bottom? you can see them shooting a large rooster..

The water on both sides of the channel at the featherbeds can be as low as 1 foot. The first year we did it we were right behind the pace boat in that channel and there were boats 100 feet on either side of it. The chart plotter read 1-3 feet of water all around us. If you watch in the video you can see prop marks in the sand, likely from others on earlier days of that poker run. (Stu loses his mind over that area during the captain's meeting and people still don't listen).
__________________
Chesapeake Bay Powerboat Association
www.cbpba.com
Ted G is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.