GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN & BOATING:
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN & BOATING: Biscayne National Park is closed until further notice. Most of that park is comprised of water.
Everglades National Park is closed, putting almost all of Florida Bay off limits. Dry Tortugas is closed as well. The closure applies to fishing guides, kayakers and pleasure boaters.
Next weekend (Columbus Day weekend at Elliot Key) is one of the biggest boating parties in the country. However, Elliot Key is closed due to government shutdown. If you go to the park's website it reads, "Because of the federal government shutdown, all national parks are closed and National Park Service webpages are not operating." This will mean limited resources deal with boating emergencies, out of control boaters and not to mention, environmental damage.
We will update this article when we have more information.
We are excited to announce the new and improved Florida By Water. Over the summer we have spent many hours ensuring that the award-winning site is ready to meet the demands of our users. During the process we felt it was important to keep the look and feel as close to the original as possible. Most content on the site can be easily located in 3 clicks or less. The following is a list of a few of the major changes.
If there is one thing most boaters love to do, it is raft up. A formal definition is “the roping together of a number of small vessels to form a raft-like structure; a social gathering based upon such a structure.” However, over the years the term has come to focus much more on the social aspect rather than the roping together of boats. A raft up is about a destination. It could just as easily be called a party spot where boaters congregate. These pristine locations are usually sandbars or small islands that are only accessible by boat. They are perfect for relaxing, people watching, playing in the water and socializing. From time to time there are organized events, but for the most part it’s just the place to be.
As the days get longer and warmer and the smell of honeysuckle starts to fill the air, my mind start to drift away to the endless boating opportunities that await me this summer. Every year around this time I find myself planning for the perfect boating season. Let’s face it, even though here in Florida we can boat most of the year, many of us tend to take a break during the winter months. (Mostly due to the fact that we think anything under 75 is not suitable for outdoor activities!)
The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) between Stuart and the Jupiter Lighthouse is a ride of about 25 miles through towering mangroves and past the gorgeous mansions on Jupiter Island. This is the southernmost stretch of the Indian River Lagoon, one of the most biologically diverse waterways in North America. There are great bars and restaurants on either end of the run, including several where you can tie up in Stuart's Manatee Pocket. In Jupiter, make sure you check out the legendary Square Grouper Tiki Bar at Castaway's Marina. ( Article by Terry Gibson.