I'm thinking of running my 23' through the wilderness waterway for some camping with the kids this March. Can I make it the whole way with 30" draft? Is it all no wake? I can imagine the bugs are pro's but can they be dealt with without too much blood loss.
Wilderness waterway
- Thread starter boatbasin
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in the Glades.. it's about 3' deep in some places. notes on the charts say that there are low branches so they dont' advise anything over 18' ir with high cabins.
the entire WW goes from flamingo to Everglade city, about 60 miles i think, but there are a couple of rives along the way that you can take to escape all the bugs and critters!
i don't think there are many no wake areas in there, the notes state in can be done in 6 hours...
i'd check with the park rangers first to see how low your boat has to be.
the entire WW goes from flamingo to Everglade city, about 60 miles i think, but there are a couple of rives along the way that you can take to escape all the bugs and critters!
i don't think there are many no wake areas in there, the notes state in can be done in 6 hours...
i'd check with the park rangers first to see how low your boat has to be.
30 footer? I don't see it. Tough enough in a 10 foot dinghy, at least as of a couple years ago. We are headed up there from Marathon next week and I'll try to remember to give an update; we'll take the mothership to Little Shark River and explore the Waterway in our 13 ft Whaler from there. Previous experience was from Everglades City/Chokaloskee south about 10 miles or so using a RIB. Beautiful country, one of our very favorite cruising grounds.
George
George
Thanks for the response George, but the boat is 23' with a 30" draft. The actual draft with the hydraulic bracket is more like 22" but I like a few inches below me. I am most concerned about Plate creek, Alligator creek and the "Nightmare". The NPS site says these are the rough spots, but they talk about the overhanging branches and narrow waterway, not the draft. The NPS claims 24" draft is the limit, but are they more concerned about creating turbidity than getting stuck? My height to the windshield is 5' from the waterline.
Whoops, sorry, got a little dyslexic there.
Still don't see it but would certainly defer to the rangers. On the chart, The Nightmare actually merits a note saying that it is only passable at high tide, use the charted alternate route otherwise. Might have got its name for a reason.
Our trip has been postponed (hopefully not canceled), but I will post back if we make it.
Regardless, by all means do some of it, we think its really cool and are dying to see more.
George
Still don't see it but would certainly defer to the rangers. On the chart, The Nightmare actually merits a note saying that it is only passable at high tide, use the charted alternate route otherwise. Might have got its name for a reason.
Our trip has been postponed (hopefully not canceled), but I will post back if we make it.
Regardless, by all means do some of it, we think its really cool and are dying to see more.
George