On the hook in Fort Lauderdale

TheRealBill · #1 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010

Hi All, is their anywhere in the east Fort Lauderdale area one can just tie up to a hook. I seen that place just to the south of the Las Olas bridge and was wondering is one can just tie up there for a weekend. My Cheoy will be placed back on the South Fork and I wanted to have a place to motor to for a weekend.

I don't mind paying either...but I want to be in cove type setup...and i would need to be able to lock up my dinky dingy somewhere too...

Any other areas from Hollywood to Lighthouse Point to where I can just live "on the hook" for a weekend? Thanks in advance...Cheers! I don't mind paying either...but I want to be in cove type setup...and i would need to be able to lock up my dinky dingy somewhere too...

svsirius · #2 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010

If you want a mooring then the Las Olas moorings are your best bet. If you want to anchor then I would suggest either Lake Sylvia or the north fork middle river. Neither of the anchorages will give you landing points though.

Vasco · #3 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010

The only good place to anchor in Ft. Lauderdale is in Lake Sylvia. The water police occasionally hassle you there but they haven't been there the past few years. It's fine for a weekend. Lots of locals anchor there on weekends. If you want to go ashore dink down 17th St. causeway to the Southport Raw Bar.

night0wl · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010

If you're doing weekend trips and your boat isn't derelict, then Lake Sylvia is a good option. Nowhere to land your dink closeby, but it is a "cove" with protection from all sides. You'll have to pay for a mooring at Las Olas...the Lake (as locals call it) is free.

A bit tricky to get in if you draw more than 6 feet. DO NOT enter the middle of the lake entrance...you will go aground. There are two entrances...one involves getting almost to Bahia Mar by the Yellow Apartments and hugging the east side all the way into the lake then once you're in crossing over to the west side where there is a bit deeper water. Supposedly there are shallows right in the center of the lake as well, but I've never recorded less than 10 feet.

The other more adventuresome entrance (but one that supposedly has better depth) is to come in off the ICW/New River and hug the west shore...and REALLY CLOSE until you get to the sign (manatee or idle speed) and then cut over to the east shore and take the same course as above into the lake.

Trying to upload pics...hang on...

This is the general location of Lake Sylvia in Fort Lauderdale

This is how you enter....REMEMBER DO NOT PROCEED DOWN THE MIDDLE...the locals all get entertainment watching sailboats ground themselves in the middle of the channel. Hug either shore and cut over to the east side by the Manatee/Idle Speed marker.

Vasco · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010

Here's a pic of Lake Sylvia.

Vasco · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010

Another pic of a new house on the empty lot on the left in the pic above. took three years to complete it. We anchor there once a year, usually in December.

TheRealBill · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010

Awesome...I know exactly where that is. My CL only draws 4 feet so I should be OK but will still follow the east or west pass.

And what about this spot.
http://66.55.51.198/default.htm?cmd=...o=494236080740

It's just north of Sunrise and just west of Birch park. Believe it or not this area is actually owned by someone. Back in the boom days their was some talk of the owner selling this spot for development. The owner also owns a parcel just to the west and he was gonna make a bridge from the land parcel to the water parcel shown.

That Lake Silva is nice though...and my CL isn't too much of a derelict from 50 yards...header_new

I think...

Thanks for your help!

Vasco · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010

You'll get waked here. Southbound traffic doesn't slow till they get to the marina and northbound traffic start pouring it on when the get past the marina.

huguley3 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010

Lake Sylvia is quite nice we anchored there twice over the last couple of months. Once on the way to the keys and once on the way back. We draw five feet and I don't think we ever even touched the bottom. As was said though hug the wall on the way in/out. On our way back we were the only boat there until another showed up later in the evening.

The Las Olas marina has slips pretty cheap as well. if you are a boatus member you can get them for around $18/day for a 30' boat. Electric is on top of that with a $10 hookup charge.

The marina told us that the pumpouts they have are free. You can pull up and service yourself. We did not need it but I doubt they were lying.

teejayevans · #10 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasco

The only good place to anchor in Ft. Lauderdale is in Lake Sylvia. The water police occasionally hassle you there but they haven't been there the past few years. It's fine for a weekend. Lots of locals anchor there on weekends. If you want to go ashore dink down 17th St. causeway to the Southport Raw Bar.

Expect local ski-boats that use also, they love doing donuts around the small
lake, what pain in a$$.
Tom