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Has any one a guess on how long it would take by boat to get from the Ocloknee Bay in the Panhandle (Panacea, FL) to the upper Keys?? My guess is two days with a one night stay.
It depends. How fast is your boat. Can you handle running outside the whole time or will you need to run the ditch? If you run the ditch, you'll be slowed by the innumerable idle/slow speed zones. Also, the area between the big bend and Hudson area has extremely shallow water out to about 10 miles. If you have enough boat to cut diagonally across and stay in deep water, then you'll save lots of time there. I personally don't think it can be done it 2 days unless you have a big and fast boat with lots of cash for fuel.
Making that run in 2 days is gonna make for long and tough days. Hopefully, you won't be doing it in a center console boat. I couldn't do it in a Center Console. Too much wind and sunburn.
No sweat on rocks if you follow the offshore buoys. If you carry enough fuel, I'd stay ofshore until at least Tarpon Springs. If you must fuel up north of Tarpon, I'd definitely pick Crystal River over Cedar Key, Yankeetown or Homosassa due to CR having a much safer channel and better amenities if you choose to overnight there. Approach CR on a heading of 90 degrees from at least 6 miles offshore. Less than 90 degrees can get you in big trouble more than 5 miles offshore.
Buoy R-2 off CR (28-55'15//83-11'42) is about due W of CR#1. Running straight to R-2 from Panacea will keep you in safe water all the way.
A good autopilot will about pay for itself in the round trip. A chart plotter will keep you safe. Crab traps should all be all gone in a few days but, with all of the recent rain, there will be more floating debris than usual. I lost both shafts, struts, and rudders to a huge cable drum a lot of years ago.
I don't know whether Sea Tow offers a cruise plan or not but they might. It is certainly worth the inquiry.
I've ferried boats all over the eastern US and Gulf. I'd double my travel time estimate and arrive safely and more comfortable. Trying to do too much in too little time is a good program for an accident even with a competent co-captain.
The boat (Get The Lead Out) is a 33ft Center Console Donzi, which runs anywhere from 30 to 40 miles an hour depending on the sea's. It has a cuddy cabin so it is possible to sleep right on the boat, as well as she carry's 295 gallons of fuel and burns 1.5 gallaon per mile.
I've made deliveries from Mobile, Al to Ft. Lauderdale crossing over at the lake and also from the St.Pete area to Marathon and then on to Ft. Lauderdale. If you able to cruise on the upper side and run open water from the pan handle and not follow the coast or drop into the ditch to avoid bad water, it will be a two day trip, but long days. If weather affects, you then I agree with allowing for additional days for both legs of the trip. Better to plan for the worse and then embrace good fortune. After all, if you get here faster (I live in Islamorada) then you can spend more time enjoying the Keys.
__________________ "Experience and quality does make a difference but also makes no excuses"
Atitude is a direct result of either Latitude or Alititude.
Panacea, FL to the upper Keys 
