Signs of Florida

3/11/22

We tied up to a fixed pier at DelRay Harbor Club Marina. This was the only slip we could find in the area and one of the least comfortable so far. Our spot was on the outside of a T-head dock so we could only secure one side of the boat. This put us parallel to, and immediately adjacent to the ICW and its related traffic. Every passing boat sent its wake our way and some passed within 50 feet. This spot was also designed for a much bigger boat and at low tide, we had to ease the the stern lines and pull in the bow lines so that Kathy could get off the boat by stepping from the roof of the cabin, to the top of the (1.5 inch diameter metal) bow rail, to the cement pier in one fluid motion, (taking care to not do this when passing boat wakes could rock us and land her in the water between the boat and the pier). In addition, a 15 knot wind blew us against the dock for 2 days and the 3 foot tidal range nessesitated tending the dock lines every 2-3 hours. Fortunately, the onshore hospitality more than made up for the docking inconvenience. However, this marina is permanently off our list.

Tough getting close

The lines needed to be tended every few hours to keep the boat off the cement dock…tough night


Maybe Kathy cant get off the boat until the tide rises…eventually, through some gymnastics and leaping…she does

In past posts, I discussed how the speed and wake instructions, posted on the sides of the ICW, tend to reflect the demeanor of the shore side inhabitants. I spoke too soon…

Transiting the ICW in South Florida reveals a new speed limit sign every 5 or 6 minutes. Each sign contains different instructions for the area that you are entering but not all information may be pertinent, because some of the instructions relate to travel in the ICW channel and some relates to travel outside the channel. However, in order to comply with the rules, each sign has to be read, understood and remembered until you reach the next sign. The signs contain so many variables that by the time we understood them we were confronted with a new one.

Apparently the Manatee know where the channel is (which is more than can be said for many area boaters)
And the manatee also know which side of the channel to swim on…smarter than they look!
More signs…you get the idea
Manatees cant swim in this channel but…
Apparently the manatees can swim in the channel here
Notice the distance between the channel markers and the white speed signs, get out the binoculars and try to read the fine print!

Here are the combinations of information that may be encountered…

There are 4 possible speed limits ranging from Idle to 35 mph.

There are 2 possible seasonable restrictions (November- May and vice versa)

There are 3 possible wake restrictions ranging from ”No Wake” (Note to Florida marine law enforcement: EVEN A DUCK MAKES A WAKE!), to minimum wake, to 15 inch maximum wake. (and were going to measure that how?)

There are 10 possible wake area restrictions ranging from; east of Channel, west of channel, within 100 feet of channel, within 50 feet of shore, including channel, excluding channel, etc.

There are 4 possible explanations given for speed reduction including; manatee zone, bridge zone, safe boating zone, and marina.

Some signs contain all categories and some just contain a few. Some signs are positioned near the ICW and some require binoculars. Sometimes the sign on one side of the ICW, is different than the sign on the other side.

Here’s the math: 4*2*3*10*4 =960 different possible combinations of signs. In short…Too many rules! In reality…compliance is random and noncompliance sometimes unintentional. The chaotic result is that everyone is on the dance floor…listening to different music.

And so, with this rant, I have purged myself of the South Florida angst and prepare to enjoy our more relaxing journey north.

Next stop…Jupiter