Eastern FL Anchorages – AICW, Great Pocket to Palm Beach (Statute Mile 970 to 1030)
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR DISCLAIMER!
Please Note That Anchorages Are Listed Below In A Rough Geographic Format, Moving North to South
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR DISCLAIMER!
Please Note That Anchorages Are Listed Below In A Rough Geographic Format, Moving North to South
With Federal Security Zones, such as the one this weekend at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach (/162949), becoming more frequent for south Florida boaters, many beginning Waterway cruisers may have questions, even qualms, about how to approach and navigate a Federal Security Zone. Many might be asking what role these zones will play as they navigate through Palm Beach and what should a skipper expect when approaching on-site security personnel?
If you have experienced Security Zone passage, please share your observations and advice for those for whom such passage may seem down right frightening, especially in the crowded and already intimidating waters of south Florida. Let us hear from you!
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Security Zones
Peck Lake Anchorage
Statute Mile: 992
Lat/Lon: near 27 06.847 North/080 08.540 West
Location: on the easterly waters of Peck Lake, east-southeast of flashing daybeacon #19
Minimum Depth: 4-feet
Special Comment: shoal between the Waterway and the Peck Lake Anchorage seems to be getting shallower as time goes forward
Swing Room: sufficient room for almost any size cruising craft, unless anchorage is crowded by other craft
Foul Weather Protection: Good, except with unusually strong northern or southern winds in the offing
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Anchored for two days in Peck lake. Come from St Lucie inlet and turned in at green 19 directly east toward piling structure on west side of canal. Five other boats there at the time. 7-8 feet of depth up to 100 yards off shore.. Due north gets shallow very rapidly or at least shallow enough for my 6 foot draft to be aground at low tide the first morning. Lovely deserted beach and quiet weather protected anchorage.
We are currently anchored in Peck Lake with winds up to 20 knots and good holding. The beach is really nice but cruiser’s with pets should know no dogs allowed. There are a lot of no seeums even with the wind at dusk and dawn.
We anchored at Peck Lake 5/3/11. We entered just south of Green 19 and saw nothing less than 13 feet. Head straight to the sign on the shore. We then anchored in 9 feet. Good holding. No bugs and no wind. It can be bouncy from the ICW. A great spot from which to head either north towards Vero or south to West Palm.
June 29, 2010 ~ Had the misfortune of running aground just North of the deep water area that stretches from marker 19 to the tide tower close to the Eastern shore. I wasn’t paying attention, instead, raising the main to sail out on a beautiful breeze. For future reference, stay to the North of the line between these two markers. You should have deep water as far North as 40 yards (I must have been about 50 yards or so) from this line as close as 50 yards from shore. Avoid the area to the South of this line.
We’re anchored in Peck Lake with friends and loving life. We came in at dead low tide turning east just south of Green 19. We headed toward the tower and found good water (6+’) all the way in to deeper water. There’s a nice park on the ocean just a dink ride and short walk away. It’s protected and there isn’t much boat traffic mid week. We plan to stay for a few days.
We have anchored many times in Peck Lake on trips up/down the ICW. We have always found a stop there to be pleasant with just two possible problems. If the wind falls during the late afternoon/night it can get downright buggy there. The wakes of the passing boats can be an annoyance. Other than that it is a delightful anchorage.
We anchored at Peck Lake last night with 15-20 k wind from the NW. It was a little noisy with waves hitting the hull but not enough to keep us awake. This is the third or fourth time we have stayed here and only once was the weather such that we felt like walking the beach which is a beautiful undeveloped stretch. There is room for a number of boats (there were six last night). We had 7.4 ft at low tide at N27 06 85. W080 08 58. There was over thirteen feet a little farther to the north. There are wakes from the ICW during the day.
Lake Francis Anchorage
Statute Mile: 995
Lat/Lon: near 27 04 470 North/080 07.423 West
Location: lies on the waters of the southern (of two) streams leading to charted Lake Francis, south of unlighted daybeacon #30
Minimum Depth: 4-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 31 feet
Foul Weather Protection: Excellent
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Harbor Island Anchorage
Statute Mile: 997.5
Lat/Lon: near 27 02.822 North/080 06.684 West
Location: off the western shores of Harbor Island, north of unlighted daybeacon #35
Minimum Depth: 5-feet
Swing Room: not recommended for vessels larger than 40 feet
Foul Weather Protection: Fair to good; open to southern and southwestern winds
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Hobe Sound Anchorage
Statute Mile: 998.5
Lat/Lon: near 27 01.883 North/080 06.457 West
Location: lies west of the ICW channel between unlighted daybeacons #38 and #40
Minimum Depth: 8-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Protection: Good, except in strong northeastern or southeastern winds
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Anchored between R44 and R46 on 3/27/13. Have anchored there last year also. Find good holding but somewhat exposed. Far enough off channel to limit wake from other boats. Would rate this anchorage a 3. s/v/Skye
Conch Bar Anchorage
Statute Mile: 1001.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 59.380 North/080 05.508 West
Location: found to the west-northwest of unlighted daybeacon #49
Minimum Depth: 8-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 45 feet
Foul Weather Protection: Good, unless strong southern or southwestern winds are blowing
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Hell Gate Anchorage
Statute Mile: 1002.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 58.727 North/080 05.262 West
Location: lies south-southeast of Blowing Rocks Marina and north of unlighted daybeacon #52
Minimum Depth: 6-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 36 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Good, except during strong northeastern winds
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Jupiter Anchorage
Statute Mile: 1006.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 55.987 North/080 04.985 West
Location: on the northern entrance of the loop creek which makes into the ICW’s eastern flank, north of unlighted daybeacon #14
Minimum Depth: 5 ½ feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 32 feet ONLY
Foul Weather Shelter: Very Good
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
North Palm Beach Waterway Anchorage
Statute Mile: 1013
Lat/Lon: near 26 49.734 North/080 04.165 West
Location: on the waters of the first charted basin on the western banks of this alternate waterway which cuts off to the southwest of the ICW, northwest of the North Palm Beach/Parker Bridge
Minimum Depth: 8-feet
Special Note: Holding ground in this anchorage is suspect
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 60 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Excellent
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Anchored there on 12/11/12. First time there. Nice homes surrounding anchorage. Weather radar showed lots of storms in the area. Put out 140′ of chain. Had several hours of heavy ts, wind from all directions and 10″ of rain. Boat swung 360 degrees several times and anchor held fine. Anchorage is relatively small, maybe two boats. Rate this one a good three
This is the second time we’ve anchored here and haven’t had a problem with holding but the wind isn’t very strong either, It’s a nice anchorage – over 13 feet at low tide in the center of the first basin and plenty of swing room.
North Palm Beach – Lake Worth Anchorage
Statute Mile: 1014
Lat/Lon: near 26 50.342 North/080 03.263 West
Location: lies on the charted deep patch of water in the northern tip of Lake Worth
Minimum Depth:: 9-feet
Special Note: The city of North Palm Beach may charge you for anchoring on these waters and/or limit your time to stay here. See 9/21/19 comment by Fontaine Jean-Claude below.
Swing Room: restricted only by other vessels in this anchorage
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair, open to southern and southeastern winds
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Good news! we anchored at this location, took dinghy to the bridge and walked to all teh local stores. No problems. It should be mentioned the landing for dinks is a high crime area and is highly recommended to lock your dinghy. I never had any problems of the years, but do not take a chance. No one has come to collect at anchor. A great area to rest.
The anchorage is great. Lots of room for our 47′ Sailmaster. Excellent holding in 40 mph winds. A little nerve racking to get into from Lake Worth inlet on the weekend. Litterally thousands of people and hundreds of boats and jet skis and hobie cats, plus large commercial ships, cutting back and forth across the ICW. Looked like a great party spot for the younger crowd.
Singer Island Anchorage
Statute Mile: 1017
Lat/Lon: 26 47.174 North/080 02.487 West
Location: lies east of AICW marker #37, and just north of the Blue Heron Boulevard 65 foot bridge
Depth: 7 – 8 feet
Special Note: watch out for sunken and semi-sunken craft as you enter this anchorage and choose a spot to drop the hook
Navigation Detail: Click Here For Navigational Detail of this Anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 42 feet, due to plentiful long term anchored craft on these waters
Holding Ground Evaluation: Good
Foul Weather Shelter: Good, but open to strong western and northwesterly winds
Dinghy Dock Access: dinghies can be landed at Foster Park immediately south of this anchorage
Nearby Provisioning:
Waste Pump-out Availability:
Pet Friendly: pets can be walked in nearby Foster Park after landing dinghy at public boat ramp
Rating:
Claiborne’s Review: Click Here For Claiborne’s Review of this Anchorage
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Peanut Island Anchorage
Statute Mile: 1018.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 46.476 North/080 02.494 West
Location: found on the charted patch of deep water east of Peanut Island and north-northwest of Lake Worth Inlet’s flashing daybeacon #8
Minimum Depth: 6-feet if and only if you can keep to the unmarked channel; use of a GPS chartplotter is recommended to safely enter and exit this anchorage
Special Comment: Local regulations may limit your staying time in this anchorage
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 45 feet if anchorage is not too crowded
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Lake Worth Inlet Anchorage
Statute Mile: 1018.5
Lat/Lon: near 26 46.085 North/080 02.637 West
Location: anchor on the deep water south of the Lake Worth Inlet approach channel’s flashing daybeacon #11
Minimum Depth: 8-feet
Swing Room: sufficient room for vessels as large as 50 feet
Foul Weather Shelter: Fair, open to southern and southwestern winds
Rating:
Click on Chartlet Below to Open a Chart View Window,
Centered on the Location of This Anchorage:
Greetings!
Anchored here now. Been gusting to 30 plus NE most of the night and lots of freighters coming in and out. I’d prefer we anchored south more further from the inlet but we foun a spot with 13′ and liked it. Holding well with 85 or so feet of chain out but bouncy (which is why I’m writing this at 12:44 but that’s just me. Further south about 20 vessels. Near us 5 and 3 appear to be locals. We dingied to Loggerhead Marina – just beyond Blue Hero bridge and bought drinks and used their dock to walk 2 mins to Publix. It was a wet dingy over but saved us from going to Riviera Marina, paying $10 and walking a mile to Publix. Moving to a more protected area today or just more south.
Comments from Cruisers (4)
The security zone around Mar-A-Lago should not be an issue to anyone transiting the area. The only prohibited area is zone 1 which is east of the ICW channel. The channel itself as well as the waters west of it are zone 2 and the offshore area is zone 3.
The Coast Guard is very clear on how to navigate the zones:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/rf/image_large/Pub/p8/PalmBeachPost
• Zone 1: No vessels or person will be permitted to enter this zone consisting of the waters of the Lake Worth Lagoon from the southern tip of the Everglades Island in the north to approximately 1,000 yards from the south of the Southern Boulevard Bridge on the south and eastern shore line west of Fisherman Island.
• Zone 2: All vessels transiting the second zone shall maintain a steady speed and shall not slow or stop from waters of the Lake Worth Lagoon including the Intracoastal Waterway from the southern tip of the Everglades Island in the north to approximately 1000 yards from the south of the bridge on the south and from the western shore line to the western edge of the Fisherman Island in the east. Vessels needing to wait for the Southern Boulevard Bridge to open in zone 2 are permitted to wait in this zone only for the draw bridge to raise for safe passage.
• Zone 3: All vessels transiting the third zone shall maintain a steady speed and shall not slow or stop from waters of the Atlantic Ocean from the Banyan Road in the north to Ocean View Road in the south and from shore to approximately 1000 yards east of the shoreline.
Feb 7, 2017 We anchored in Lake Worth down the channel to the east pass red “6” with no problem from USCG. Good holding and lots of mud when pulled anchor.
And what would that have to do with the security zone?
On the pictures of the zones, it looks like they extend almost to the Lake worth inlet just below Peanut Island. I was conserned we couldn’t anchor very far below the inlet channel.