Off-Topic question re: Santa Fe River

[Jim Wyatt]

Does anyone know the controlling depths on the Santa Fe River from the Hiway 27 bridge down to the Suwanee in normal water conditions?

[FW]

Do you want to know the flood stage, "normal" river stage, or the normal river depth?

Just down river from the US129 bridge (near Sandy Point), you can hit 25 feet, when the river is low (like in the fall). I haven't been much farther down river than that.

[Jim Wyatt]

Do you want to know the flood stage, "normal" river stage, or the normal river depth?

Just down river from the US129 bridge (near Sandy Point), you can hit 25 feet, when the river is low (like in the fall). I haven't been much farther down river than that.

I am asking because my wife & I are about to close on a house on the Santa Fe in High Springs which is about 1/2 mile downstream of the Highway 27 bridge.

Currently we have a 25 foot boat here in the Keys & I figure it is too big for the river. We are looking to get a smaller boat to cruise up & down the river with.

We would use it during normal river stage depth & may travel as far as to the mouth of the Suwanee - up to Branford area and around the Ichetucknee.

I lived in Branford years ago & we had only a canoe which was fine..but are looking not to paddle as much & be able to carry dive gear and/or camping gear for more extended trips.

[fun2dive]

Sounds like an awesome location to have a boat to dive the caves/caverns from!!! When do you move in? LOL!

[cavdiver2]

I was thinking about coming down to the Keys to dive with you this summer. Will you still have the dive charters going or are you closeing up shop?

Michael

[muzz]

Jim,
Is this a vacation home or are moving north for good?
Steve

[Jim Wyatt]

Jim,
Is this a vacation home or are moving north for good?
Steve

We are moving permanently -- the wife wants to finish her MS in Computer Engineering at UFLA & I want to get away from running a charter boat & fighting the wind to do it down here.

If things go as "scheduled" we close on the house up there this week. We have a contract to sell our house here in the Keys....those things are never final until the closing happens.

We expect to start moving as soon as we close up there.

[Jim Wyatt]

I was thinking about coming down to the Keys to dive with you this summer. Will you still have the dive charters going or are you closeing up shop?

Michael

We will still have a dive op at Cudjoe Gardens Marina -- I just won't be running it day - to - day

[lonestarfl]

I live on the Santa Fe just upstream of the 47 bridge. Between the 47 and the 27 bridge there is one major shoal where the old mill used to be and the "Davis" house is now located...where the river gauging station is located. There is also thick mats of grass between Poe and Ginnie seasonally. The other significacant shoals are as follows. About 1/2 mile above the 27 bridge..just past the "hard 90* bend". The other major problem is about half way between the 47 and 129 bridge where there is a fault fracture across the entire river with a 2' "water fall" at low river levels. On the Suwannee things are easy until above Troy springs...then it takes a lot of sight navigation. The Withelacoochee is all sight navigation with one port around only shoal about 5 miles above the confluence with the Suwannee.
Now to your question...I have two river boats. I have a 21' Carolina Skiff FLAT BOTTOM with a 90hp T/T motor. And, I have a 16' alumnacraft with a 25hp tiller motor. On the Santa Fe the aluminum boat is the better choice. Many ramps on the upper Santa Fe cannot handle or do not allow larger boats or boats over 30hp. I would look for a tough/well built aluminum flat bottom or modified v with pointed bow. Wide enough to be stable and a tunnel for the outboard would be even better. It should be 16'-21" outboard powered. Tiller motors are better handling the shoals and "tight" water, but the remote steering are much more comfortable...that's why I have two different river boats.
Probably the most important item is to get someone to "show you" the river and then make you decision.
Lee

[Jim Wyatt]

I live on the Santa Fe just upstream of the 47 bridge......
Lee

That is the information I was looking for!! I certainly appreciate your taking the time to give me such a detailed & helpful answer.