Across Florida Bay: Flamingo to Long Key Roundtrip Adventure

[Flex Kayakfari.com]

Tropical adventure across Florida Bay:: 'Slow it Down' brothers & sisters!

http://kayakfari.wordpress.com/trips-sea-stories-pics/across-florid...

:)

[Jay]

Fun trip.  Nice report.  Thanks for sharing.

Jay

[Amazon Bill]

Cool trip. I like the comment about filing a float plan with someone "who cares about you". :) They would have to remember you and want to notify the USCG. with only a canoe, those open waters are a bit out of the realm for me till i get a spray skirt.

[vivian]

Flex, another beautiful job with pictures and report.

Bill I have a spray skirt on my canoe and it is defiantly worth the trouble in high winds and waves. However, I wonder if rigging an automatic bilge pump and adding small float bags fore and aft might also give you some measure of safety to cross. It won't cut down on wind resistance as well as a cover.

[Kim Gass]

Filing a float plan with someone who cares is just common sense.  The Rangers will not look for you automatically.  Thats why I always tell someone that I will call upon exit. I give myself an extra day.

That said if you capsize in the middle of the bay you do not have a few days to wait before rescue. In such open water it is a very inexpensive insurance to carry a Personal Locator Beacon. If something happens rescue is notified as soon as you activate it.

[Flex Kayakfari.com]

Thanks ya'll, glad you've enjoyed the reading!!

If you're gonna take an open boat, yeah make sure you have plenty of floatation and a cover (also have everything attached to your boat). A PLB or Spot type device is def good advice. I found that I could get cell reception only once I was within about 7 miles of the Keys (I get nothing with Tmobile anywhere else in the Park). Also keep in mind that the bay is very shallow, mostly you're in 3 - 5 feet of water (or less). The bottom can be very soft, but as long as you have something to hold on to, like your boat, you should be able to re-enter without too much fuss. Plus, all that gear that goes with a multi-day trip will likely have your CG pretty low and your chances of capsize are small unless you run into a storm .. a clear forecast and a weather radio (or better a VHF) are key! In the summertime you would be really rolling the dice with the pm thunderstorms.. you just have no idea - there really is no safe place~

[Flex Kayakfari.com]

It's the time of the season,
When the tide runs high,
In this time paddling can be easy!

And let me try,
With blistered hands ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhMNHqO0aNI