Safety — Southeast Florida

Write safety and navigation cards for SE Florida captains.

Inlet Navigation

Hillsboro Inlet

• •Approach: Follow marked channel carefully, shoaling on north side
• •Tide timing: Best on incoming tide, avoid outgoing tide with northeast wind
• •Wave action: Can build dangerous standing waves with wind against tide
• •Commercial traffic: Watch for charter boats and commercial vessels
• •Emergency: Lighthouse Point Marina inside inlet for emergency shelter

Jupiter Inlet

• •Approach: Well-marked channel, but watch for shoaling
• •Tide timing: Dangerous with northeast wind against strong outgoing tide
• •Rock jetties: Stay in marked channel, rocks extend underwater
• •Current: Strong tidal flow, plan for set and drift
• •Emergency: Multiple marinas inside for emergency shelter

Port Everglades

• •Commercial traffic: Major cruise and cargo port — STAY CLEAR of commercial vessels
• •Ship channels: Marked shipping lanes have right of way
• •VHF monitoring: Monitor VHF 16 and port operations channels
• •Approach: Deep water approach, well marked
• •Security zones: Stay clear of cruise terminals and military areas

Gulf Stream Safety

Current & Weather Interaction

• •Wind against current: Northeast/east winds against northbound current create dangerous seas
• •Sea state: Can go from 2-3 ft to 8-10 ft in minutes with wind shift
• •Escape routes: Know closest inlet before heading offshore
• •Weather watch: Monitor marine forecast for wind shifts

Navigation in Current

• •Drift calculation: 2-4 knot northbound set affects all navigation
• •Fuel planning: Factor current into fuel consumption calculations
• •Anchoring: Use heavy tackle, scope for strong current
• •Drift fishing: Plan for boat movement when fishing

Emergency Procedures

• •May Day protocol: VHF 16, GPS coordinates, nature of emergency
• •Coast Guard: Station Fort Lauderdale responds to SE Florida waters
• •Sea Tow/Boat US: Know membership status and local tower locations
• •Float plan: Always file with reliable person ashore

Shipping Lanes & Commercial Traffic

Port Everglades Traffic

• •Inbound/outbound lanes: Marked shipping channels
• •Cruise ship schedule: Heavy traffic Sat/Sun and holidays
• •Cargo vessels: Container ships and tankers have limited maneuverability
• •Stay clear: Give commercial vessels wide berth

Offshore Traffic

• •International shipping — Major north/south shipping route 10-20 miles offshore
• •AIS monitoring — Use AIS to track large vessel movements
• •Right of way — Commercial vessels have right of way in shipping lanes

Weather Hazards

Thunderstorms (May-October)

• •Timing: Peak activity 2-6 PM daily
• •Lightning: Most dangerous aspect — get off water when storms approach
• •30/30 rule: Seek shelter when thunder within 30 seconds, wait 30 minutes after last thunder
• •Radar interpretation: Use weather radar apps to track storm movement

Hurricane Season (June-November)

• •Preparation: Have hurricane plan for boat storage/evacuation
• •Storm surge: ICW and river areas vulnerable to surge
• •Marinas: Know marina hurricane policies and lift schedules
• •Evacuation routes: Plan early, don't wait for mandatory evacuation

Cold Fronts (October-April)

• •Wind shifts: Rapid wind shifts from southeast to northwest
• •Temperature drops: 20-30 degree temperature drops in hours
• •Sea state: Confused seas during wind shift
• •Hypothermia risk: Water temperature vs air temperature dangerous in winter

Equipment & Regulations

Required Safety Equipment

• •Life jackets: USCG approved, properly sized, one per person
• •Flares: Current unexpired flares, day/night signals
• •Sound signals: Horn or whistle, bell for boats >39 ft
• •Fire extinguisher: Proper size/type for vessel, current inspection
• •Throwable device: Type IV PFD required for boats >16 ft

Communication Equipment

• •VHF radio: Primary emergency communication, monitor channel 16
• •EPIRB/PLB: For offshore fishing beyond VHF range
• •Cell phone: In waterproof case, backup communication
• •Satellite communicator: For extended offshore or Bahamas trips

Navigation Equipment

• •GPS/chartplotter: Primary navigation, backup paper charts
• •Compass: Magnetic compass for GPS backup
• •Depth sounder: Critical for inlet and ICW navigation
• •Radar: Helpful for weather and navigation in low visibility

Card Types

• •Inlet navigation guide — specific inlet conditions and timing
• •Weather safety — thunderstorm, hurricane, and cold front safety
• •Emergency procedures — what to do in various emergency situations
• •Equipment guide — required and recommended safety equipment
• •Seasonal safety — hazards specific to time of year

Local Emergency Contacts

• •Coast Guard: VHF 16 or *CG (*24) on cell phone
• •Marine Police: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
• •Sea Tow: Commercial towing and assistance
• •Boat US: Membership towing service
• •Port32 marinas: Emergency contact numbers for all locations

Port32 Safety Support

• •Fuel docks: Safe harbor and emergency assistance
• •Local knowledge: Marina staff familiar with inlet and local conditions
• •Weather monitoring: Current conditions and forecasts available
• •Emergency coordination: Can assist with emergency service coordination