The Destin Intake offers a simple dive in shallow, clear water. The intake is guarded by a concrete cage which attracks a wide variety of sea life. Average depth is about 16ft.
The site is marked with a buoy (currently about 50m south of the true location and the intake is visible from the surface during clear water conditions.
Sailboat “Hagar” is a common sight on Santa Rosa Sound, often moored in front of the Fort Walton Landing. While out-and-about on Memorial Day, I had the opportunity to visit with her Captain and Owner Ray Hackney and tour this interesting vessel.
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This is Ft Walton Beach’s nicest waterfront park. Public dock access can accomodate up to 12 small boats, although the water depth of the slips closest to shore can be less than 3′ which limits their utility. Overnight docking is not permitted without prior permission from the city.
The park offers a boardwalk, multiple fishing docks, a well-equipped childrens park, restrooms, and lots of room to play. The Landing plays host to most Ft Walton civic celebrations including the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, 4th of July Fireworks, Christmas Ice Skating Rink and Lights, and much more.
The docks are almost always empty due to the overnight restrictions, but we find it’s a great place to pick people up for rides and our kids always enjoy taking a boat ride to the park.
June 2nd and 3rd mark this year’s Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival at Ft Walton Landing on Santa Rosa Sound.
Always and interesting event with 100’s of boats turning out for the ‘invasion’ and fireworks.
Shalimar Yacht Basin is a full service marina and boat yard. They offer wet slips, outdoor, and indoor dry storage, haul-out for vessels large and small, trailer storage and a yacht brokerage. A friendly, helpful staff round out their facility. (more…)
Cinco Bayou Ramp offers a 2 lane ramp suitable for most trailerable boats. Both lanes feature good pavement that extends easily 40 - 50 ft into the water. The westernmost ramp is perhaps one of the best ramps in the area for launching large cruisers as it has an even, gradual slope to the water and then a steaper dropoff beyond. This allows for walking larger boats on & off to reduce the chance for damage. Depth is a solid 4-5ft or more to the channel.
The principle disadvantages at Cinco is tight manuevering space in the parking lot and a general lack of available parking. The ramp is owned by the city of Cinco Bayou, non-city residents are required to ‘purchase’ a $5.00 pass per day (there are annual pass options) to use the ramp and park their vehicle.
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Liza Jackson offers a 2 lane ramp suitable for most trailerable boats. I have seen MarineMax and others launch large express cruisers here, although care should be taken with draft when heading south from the ramp to the main ICW channel.
Parking at Liza Jackson is limited and does require backing into a spot. It fills up quickly on weekends.
The Ft Walton Original Waterfront Crabshack Restaurant & Marina offers direct access to Santa Rosa Sound and an easy run east to Destin, north to the Bayou’s, and west to Spectre Island and Navarre.
Completely rebuilt after hurricane Ivan in 2004, the Crabshack offers bunk lifts rated for 10,000, 13,500, and 18,000 lbs as well as wet slips for larger vessels. All lift slips are covered, have 30 - 50 amp shorepower, potable and non-potable water, and nearby pumpouts. Free pumpout service is included with slip rental.
Mid-grade fuel and transient pump-outs are available.
Just west of the wet slips is a dredged channel leading to the restaurant dock.
As promised we put together the best of our video coverage. Be forewarned - taking video from a pitching deck with amateur equipment and then compressing it to video for the web doesn’t make for great quality. We do think it gives a better feel for what it was like to be there than the chopper videos. Be sure to also read our full story on the sinking and check our our photo gallery.
55 gallons of gas = $165.00
Drinks and food for 3 = $25.00
1 Wrench accidently dropped overboard = $5.00
Watching an aircraft carrier sink = Priceless!
Please enjoy our story and when you’re done, check out our Oriskany Videos, and see the full set of pictures at SLRSite.com.
A Great Way to Spend a Wednesday Morning
It’s a rare day indeed you can run your own boat offshore to watch an aircraft carrier sink. For me, it was the farthest I’d been offshore by about 32 of the 37 mile distance out of Destin Pass. We took the kids to see the Oriskany in Pennsacola last year and thought it’d be quite a treat to see it sunk. At the time, our 20′ boat was up to the task. Since then, we upgraded to our 27′ Regal which was more than adequate for the trip.
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