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23.06.2021 20:41:46
With the finest vessel and skilled professional captain and crew, Palm Harbor Charters ensures that your trip to our unique destinations is a captivating seafaring venture.
See full version: Palm Harbor ChartersExperience Florida; s Premier Boat Charter
With the finest vessel and skilled professional captain and crew, Palm Harbor Charters ensures that your trip to our unique destinations is a captivating seafaring venture.
We invite you to cruise the beautiful blue waters of Tampa Bay, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, and the tropical local islands of West Central Florida. Palm Harbor Charters is the local leader for an unforgettable boat chartering escape. From boating day trips to multiday charter rentals, expect an unforgettable experience like no other.
Beautiful beaches and calm seas create an unforgettable experience. You are free to immerse yourself in luxury and relaxation with our fabulous accommodations, our breathtaking views and endless activities. [links]
We were on the cruise and had a very pleasant experience. The best is that it is pet friendly.
Lorirey, Trip Advisor, 5 out of 5
May 30, 2013
The highlight of the tour is watching a sponge diver in a traditional inflated sponge diving suit descend from the boat into the river. You can watch as he moves quickly across the river floor. He harvests a live sponge and returns with it to the boat. It's a fun time and a great educational experience for children from pre-school and up.
In 1905, Greek spongers came to Tarpon Springs, Florida, to develop the world's largest sponge industry. By the mid-1930s, there were 200 boats working the Gulf of Mexico from as far north as the Appalachicola and as far south as Key West. They were harvesting $3 million worth of sponges. more
Crossing the Gulf
Lowest bridge: None
Fuel range: 76-miles or 170-miles depending on route
This is really not the "Big Bad Wolf" everyone fears. Least not if you pay attention to the weather forecast. You also need to know "your" limits as
well as your vessel's limits.
Fact is, when someone brings up concerns over "crossing the Gulf" it always reminds me of my very first Loop in 1971. Back then, the Loop didn't
even have a name. That was long before books, blogs or anything else existed about it. I even remember some of the 'old salts' in the marina telling
us "it couldn't be done" and that we would be "swept over Niagara Falls". As a result, we never had any concerns whatsoever about crossing the
Gulf. The only thing that upset our stomach was worrying about being swept over Niagara Falls. LOL - We were never worried about crossing the
Gulf because no one every told us we were supposed to be worried about it.
If you have been reading Looper blogs or forums, you probably have no idea there are actually four route options across the Gulf of Mexico from
Carrabelle. The most popular of course is the 170-miles from Carrabelle to Anclote Key & Tarpon Springs. The 2nd most popular route is 76-miles
from Carrabelle directly across to Steinhatchee.
Another route options are cruising the Big Bend Buoyage Route which curves around the Big Bend. Additionally, if one has a really shallow draft
(3-feet or less), one can “Hop-Scotch” their way around the coastline.
Having attempted all four of these routes, we suggest and prefer cruising straight across from Carrabelle to Steinhatchee.
Most Loopers, will "stage" themselves in Carrabelle until the weather forecast sounds good, and with great trepidation and anxiety, head out for
Tarpon Springs. While this is shortest distance to Tarpon Springs, it results in spending the farthest distance off shore for the longest period of time.
On this route one is 'going out' to sea for 85-miles and then returning from the sea for another 85-miles. Which, is the cause for everyone's anxiety
in the first place.
The 76-mile Carrabelle to Steinhatchee route however, means 'going out' only 38-miles and returning for 38-miles. Furthermore, the inlet to
Steinhatchee is near 5-miles long. Taking the Steinhatchee route will indeed add miles to your total distance to Anclote Key & Tarpon Springs. From
Steinhatchee it is 56-miles to Cedar Key and (depending on your draft and resulting route) as much as another 51-miles from Cedar Key to Crystal
River and another 52-miles to Tarpon Springs. So, while the Steinhatchee route puts you in a safe anchorage or marina every night before dark, it
adds 3-stops and 65-miles to your voyage to Tarpon Springs.
Two of those three stops however, are great stops, and the other is a safe stop. Steinhatchee and Crystal River are tourist destinations very
worthy of a visit, where most of us spend an extra day or two. Cedar Key which is between the two, has a safe 9' depth entrance all the way in to a
safe anchorage near a large Fishing Pier, but it has no accessible Marina or fuel. It offers a small protected basin one can dinghy to and several
good restaurants, but does not have anything else to offer. Just be aware that the Marina charted in the Waterway Guides is totally unaccessible to
the Looper. We would not advise going to the Marina even in your dinghy. The entire 'out of the channel' area around Cedar Key is no place for a
Looper. It requires a hard flat bottom boat with about a 1-foot draft. So don't plan on buying fuel there. The channel into the anchorage however is
part of the Big Bend Buoyage route. We've found it to always be between 7 and 9-feet deep.
The point is, that big bad wolf we know as crossing the Gulf, will most likely NOT be the roughest waters you cross on this voyage. Least not unless
you really foul up the timing on your departure. Based on my experience, I believe if no one talked about their anxiety over crossing the Gulf, it would
not even get and honorable mention in most log books.
For those insisting on cruising the 170-miles to Tarpon Springs, just keep in mind that during winter in Florida, daylight is much shorter. The street
lights are normally on by 6:pm in winter. It gets dark very early! We believe the only reason the 170-mile route is the most popular is because most
guide books and automatic navigational programs only reference the most direct routes. We take the 76-mile Carrabelle to Steinhatchee route every
time. Even at a 7-knot maximum hull speed, Steinhatchee has never been more than 11-hours away. We usually leave Carrabelle near midnight and
arrive Steinhatchee in the morning.
From Steinhatchee, Cedar Key is 56-miles and while there is no accessible fuel, it provides a safe anchorage, a dinghy accessible boat ramp just
feet away from a couple of good restaurants. Next stop? Crystal River, a very touristy place with lots to offer and worthy of a visit.
The Palm Beach 70 is the company’s stunning flagship model that was born from customer demand, building on the success of the iconic PB65. Featuring the same sleek flowing lines expected of a Palm Beach but with even more space, the PB70 is an incredible long-range cruiser and the ideal entertainer. Jump on board to experience what we think is the best performing 70′ monohull ever created, with superior handling and next-level performance. With quality craftsmanship, deluxe furnishings and innovative technology, our goal was to produce a best-in-class comfortable ocean-going cruiser that is equal parts welcoming, efficient and powerful, and has all the timeless appeal you associate with a Palm Beach Motor Yacht.
The coastal pilot features a semi displacement hull designed for modest top speeds in the 18-20 knot range and an efficient and sea kindly ride at lower cruising speeds. The design features a “CE - Category A” unlimited offshore rating, insuring this vessel has the sea keeping and strength capabilities to take on the most serious coastal cruises of up to a thousand miles. For example, a perfect vessel for North American cruising - from Alaska to Maine. Main deck accommodations provide for a large galley, dinette, and lounging with a lower helm station with double helm seat. This arrangement is very appealing for a coastal cruising couple as it eliminates the isolation and separation of a raised wheelhouse. When extended, overnight watches are not as often needed as is the case during coastal passages, this arrangement has particular appeal. During typical daytime cruising, without a rotating crew, the entire area is used and the person on watch can participate in food preparation, entertainment and conversation within this large and luxurious living area. This arrangement allows for quick, easy, side door deck access from the helm station, for short-handed mooring and offers all-round visibility rivaling most pilothouse configurations. more
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