Florida – East Coast Pilot Notes
Name Harbor Phone VHF
Harbortown Marina - Fort Pierce Indian River/Taylor Creek 772-466-7300 68
Pelican Yacht Club Fort Pierce Inlet 772-464-2700 68
Fort Pierce City Marina (H) Indian River 772464-1245 9
Nettles Island Marina (H) Indian River 772- 229-2811 69
Seminole Marine North Palm Beach Waterway 561-622-7600
Soverel Harbour Marina North Palm Beach Waterway 561-691-9554 8
Cannonsport Marina (H) Lake Worth 561-848-7469 7
Buccaneer Marina Lake Worth 561-842-1620 68
Sailfish Marina & Resort Lake Worth 561-844-1724 68
Riviera Beach Municipal Marina Lake Worth 561-842-7806 11
Rybovich Spencer Lake Worth 561-844-1800 8
Palm Harbor Marina Lake Worth 561-655-4757 71
Lauderdale Marine Center New River/South Fork 954-527-0040 68
Roscioli Yachting Center New River/South Fork 954-581-9200
Lauderdale Marina Intracoastal Waterway 954-523-8507 68
Pelican Harbor Marina - Miami Biscayne Bay 305-754-9330 68
Palm Bay Club Marina Biscayne Bay 305-751-3700 68
Miami Beach Marina Biscayne Bay 305-673-6000 67
Miami to Key West
Boats departing from Dinner Key, Key Bis-
cayne and other areas S of downtown Miami
Tides p. 465, Differences p. 531
may opt to transit down Biscayne Bay before
Currents p. 648, Differences p. 710
exiting to sea, rather than returning through
Government Cut, Miami’s primary shipping
Pilotage: From Miami to Key West boats
channel. Passage out of Biscayne Bay may
can pass offshore of the reefs or transit the
also be made via a deepwater channel close
Hawk Channel between the reefs and the
to the SW shore of Key Biscayne. Slightly
Keys. The ICW also continues along this
farther S is the well-marked Biscayne Chan-
passage, but takes an even longer, winding
nel. These routes exit to the vicinity of Fowey
path though the inner lagoons harbors, man-
Rocks, marked by a 100ft lighthouse.
groves on the Florida Bay side of the Keys.
Numerous similar lighthouses mark the
Although well lit, Hawk Channel should
reefs between Key Biscayne and Key West.
only be transited during daylight, making this
Those traveling on the Hawk Channel will
a substantially longer route than offshore. For
begin between day markers R2 and G3, just
passage through the reefs, and for access to the
W of Fowey Rocks light. A description for
various Keys, it is critical to have a complete
Hawk Channel is below.
set of updated charts for this part of the coast.
Hazards: S-bound vessels from Fowey
Also be aware of the anchoring and other
Rocks Light to Key West usually follow a
restrictions that apply within the Florida
course 1-2nm off the reefs during the day
Keys National Marine Sanctuary. See www.
and 2-4nm off at night. The position should
fknms.nos.noaa.gov/ for more information.
be checked on the aids as passed. Care must
The Sanctuary extends from Key Largo to the
be taken not to get inside of the line of reefs,
Dry Tortugas, about 60nm E of Key West. Key
or any of the aids to nav marking the reefs.
West to the Dry Tortugas is a straightforward
passage where adequate charts are essential.
162