Great Loop Cruising Info: Leg 7-Melbourne to Daytona Beach, FL

[@TheWizardonline]

very cool

[@jacktyler7599]

Thanks, Kim. That large building at KSC is I believe the VAB or Vehicle Assembly Building. It was originally built to make the assembly of the Saturn V rocket possible. That was of course the launch vehicle for the Apollo program. Large enough for precipitation to form & fall under the right conditions, KSC friends have told us.

[@AdventuresCG]

Jack, you are correct, that is the VAB. It is the most prominent building seen from shore. I live across the lagoon from it and have lots of friends that work cape side

[@GreatLoop]

Great info, Jack Thanks for sharing the history.

[@jride632]

Cool thing about Halifax marina is they actually have an address associated with each dock gate that you can use with Uber/Lyft or Instacart. The marina gives you this info when you sign in.

[@GreatLoop]

Unfortunately, they didn't provide us that info when we checked in, but we discovered that via Google Maps when our InstaCart was on the way so we were able to redirect them.

[@BobEstler]

Are you posting your tracks as you travel?

[@GreatLoop]

That would be the ideal, but when we're moving the boat every day it's impossible to keep up. Right now I'm about a week behind but we're not moving until Saturday so I hope to get (mostly) caught up.

[@geniousgeorge4973]

That looks way too shallow.

[@GreatLoop]

If you're referring to the area in New Smyrna near the inlet, we never had a depth issue. We draw 4 feet. As long as you can find the channel (that's the challenge) and stay in it, there's enough water.

[@geniousgeorge4973]

@@GreatLoop no thanks! Not worth chopping up an outdrive, props , impellers or blowing up motors. Marine repairs are a huge hassle and extremely expensive. Being stranded, run aground or having to be rescued or towed is not cheap or fun either.

[@GreatLoop]

@@geniousgeorge4973 Fair enough! To each their own. Our captain has over 10,000 miles aboard the Perch and was comfortable doing it. We are cautious and conservative in our approach and would not have proceeded in that direction if we thought it was dangerous. Like most cruisers, we've run aground in the past and you're right. It's not cheap nor fun!

[@geniousgeorge4973]

@@GreatLoop florida sucks anyway. The intercoastal waters stink ,are not clear and polluted. Never ever swim in that toilet water. If you get a cut on your foot wading you are at risk of a severe toxic infection, tetanus, impetigo, and possibly amputation. Sewers overflow into the intercoastal waters all the time in florida regardless of seasons. The tides only move the water back and forth for the most part except at the inlets. It is a shame but Hurricanes, tropical storms and regular heavy rainfall cuase the problem and the state of florida has not fixed the problem and ruined what was once a great waterway. Warning signs in many places on the intercoastal warn of dangers of eating shellfish , fish also eat shrimp in those highly polluted areas and should not be eaten either. Just pushing a boat off the shore is a real risk because you could step on an oyster bed or sharp rock and get a severe deep cut. Getting your boat stuck in shallow water and trying to free it should only be done with shoes and long pants on to prevent an injury that could become a serious health hazard. The ocean is also poluted and most Florida beaches are also the same risk but not as bad. Near cities like daytona doctors will tell you to stay out of the water. I know it happened to me.