Travels From Pensacola to Destin to Panama City Beach

[donniefla1207]

I would like to know if anyone can give us the normal transit time from Pensacola to Destin and from Pensacola to Panama City. I have yet to make a trip from PNS to Crab Island or Shell Island and we want to make plans for the spring and summer. Any information on good marina's, anchor spots and tips would be great. We moved from a 2009 185 to a 2011 240 and now a 2007 280 all with in 2011. We are ready to spend time on the water now with the genset and other upgrades the others did not have.

Thanks

 

[docofthebay]

It depends on your route. You'll probably do the ICW. When I bought my boat, I brought it back by water from Tampa to Gulf Shores. I made it from Appalachicola to Pensacola in one 12 hour day including lunch in Panama City. I ran about 22-24 mph except in the no wake zone areas. Most of those were between Pensacola and Destin, actually closer to Pensacola.
If you do open water, parallel to shore, just measure the miles and divide by your average cruising speed. Just make sure you have the fuel capacity.

 

[fwebster]

I cruise at a leisurely 20-22 kts and the Pensacola sea bouy is 5.5 hours from the Panama City pass/main channel entrance. Destin sea bouy is 2.5 hours; 3 hours and a few minutes on the inside. I actually prefer the inside or ICW route from Pensacola to Destin because the trip is so pretty, however, from Destin to Panama City/Shell Island gets boring and can be a very bumpy ride. Tthe Choctawhatchee is shallow on the eastern end so a little wind gets you some waves very close together, but of little height. After Choctawhatchee, there is "the ditch" or a 20 mile land cut that is narrow with high banks where all you see is dirt for most of the trip. If you go via the ICW keep your VHF on and talk to the barge captains. Passing a long tow in the ditch can be tricky, so do what the barge captains tell you and figure out what "one whistle and 2 whistle sides" mean before you go.

 

[Hampton]

Apparently, there is an issue in the Choptawhatchee Bay Channel East of the 331 bridge (furthest East 5 miles). We have had two friends run aground there in the past 2 weeks. One did a bunch of damage. As I understand it, you have to stay well clear of the red markers (stay South). Don't trust this post - this is second hand info. If I heard my friend correctly, he stopped so abruptly he went over the steering wheel onto the deck in a 53' boat.

Fuel at Baytowne Wharf is inflated an extra $1/gallon. You can get gas at the East end of the ICW just before entering the Bay to PCB, but I haven't done so. Fuel is available at the Navy Base just to starboard after passing under the big bridge in PCB (Hathaway Bridge, Hwy 98) for military members - good fuel at a great price. Fuel further into the bay at St Andrews Marina to port, and the downtown Marina further ahead to port.

As you round the corner to starboard and head South, the next fuel stop is in the Grand Lagoon - a very common destination. You'll turn to starboard to head NW at deep water point. Fuel is available to the NE at Baypoint, but I don't necessarily recommend going in there just for fuel. Continue a couple more miles NW to find lunch and fuel to starboard just before the low bridge on Thomas drive. There is the Lighthouse Marina to starboard and Treasure island marina to port. They are just across the Lagoon from one another, but they are FAR APART - don't cruise directly across! Ducks walk around out there at low tide. Stay in the channels inside Grand Lagoon at all times. While traveling NW, there is a splitter buoy. At that point make a turn to port for Treasure Island or starboard for the lighthouse and lunch at the end of that channel.

 

[fwebster]

Grand Lagoon is sort of boating central for this area for marinas, food, bait, drinks etc. If you do venture there, be aware that the channel is well marked as John says, but a number of day markers are single markers. You find a red or green but not one opposite it. Where there is only one marker, stay within about 150 ft of the single marker. The channel is dredged and the spoils are pumped nearby.....which is where the ducks walk around.